A Real Love Story

Earlier this year in March I was on a team privileged to have visited the Sawadiraksa slums in Bangkok with arrangements made by a young Thai woman who works with World Vision, and Pastor Pratuan's wife, "Gik". During that unprecedented visit to this location by "farangs" (foreigners) I met numerous women inside the depths of the slums. If you received my newsletter from that trip you may recall there was an elderly man who held me by the shoulders as I was leaving, and sniffed me beginning at my ears, going along the jaw line to my mouth. He said sensed a different fragrance and wanted to breathe it in. It was kind of neat and strange at the same time. Our team had taken many photos with permission during that day. One of the photos was of the oldest woman in the community who had wanted to dance with me. The picture was us sitting down afterwards. As preparation for our Sept. 25 trip back I'd made arrangements to return to the slums to continue to build relationship with all of the people I'd previously met. Here at home I felt led to print a few photos to take back with me, and in particular, that one photo of the Grandma who had danced with me.

Three weeks ago our team arrived in Bangkok and were to visit the slums on Monday during the day. In true Thai style, however, all the plans were changed and the decision had been made without our team's knowledge to go visit the slums on Monday night instead. The problem was we had been invited, and had agreed, to attend dinner in a private Thai home on Monday night and all preparations were made. This could not be changed. We tried re-arranging the slum visit to early in the day on Monday but were told that it was impossible because the head of the Committee was not home until 4 PM and it is he who allows entrance into the area. I really felt strongly that this photo needed to be delivered to this Grandma, so I asked if we could be taken to the entrance of the slum so we could deliver it. After phone calls were made to World Vision the same young Thai woman from March, "Bu", showed up to accompany all of us to the front gate of the slums. Once there, only "Bu" was allowed entrance and she went to the home of the Committee head to ask his wife if she'd let us in. The wife said no. When "Bu" came to deliver this news to us I gave her the photo, and she took it back inside. Upon seeing the photo the wife recognized my face and remembered her husband had previously allowed me in, so she gave exception. She said we could only go directly to the home where the Grandma was living, and nowhere else. We'd brought bags of crackers, breads and sweets with us so she agreed that we could distribute them along the route between the gate and the house.

I can't tell you how excited I was walking into the door of that Grandma's house. I knew it was a divine appointment. I could not wait to see how it unfolded. In the room was Grandma, seated on a couch, the Pastor's wife "Gik", the young Thai lady "Bu" and our team. When we showed the Grandma the picture she immediately remembered and recognized me and gave me a handshake. After about 15 minutes of small talk I felt led to ask her where the old man was who had sniffed me. She said that the old man was her husband of many years and had just died a few months ago. She was now staying here with her daughter. She began to express her extreme loneliness and how she missed her husband. "Gik", the Pastor's wife, became visibly upset that the man had died and she had not presented the gospel to him in the past, and now he was lost. "Bu" took over and began to talk to Grandma as our team began to pray in silence. After talking about our Lord and how much he loves people for about 20 minutes, Grandma began to cry and asked how she could know about Jesus. The entire gospel message was presented to her over the next half hour and then she asked "Bu" how she could accept Jesus as her Savior and Lord. "Bu", in her sweet soft Thai voice, led Grandma in prayer to receive Jesus in her heart. As she was doing this we laid hands on her to keep back any spiritual interferences, which are quite evident there. Grandma was crying and crying and then suddenly she began to smile, and hug, and smile and hug. The joy of the Lord filled her up. "Gik" made arrangements to take her to church each Sunday from then on and disciple her. Grandma is the elder in the community so this is very good news indeed. We anointed Grandma with oil and continued to pray. Sue and I anointed her doors and the door jamb (where they believe the spirits live). Several of us were crying with happiness. When it was time to go she followed us smiling and hugging all the way to the gates of the slums.

We found out later that her daughter would never have allowed us in the house, and the only reason we got in was that we arrived at the time of day she goes to the market. If it had been any other time this would not have happened. Being from a good German background I can't believe I was praising God for unexpected schedule changes :-) He is teaching me.

Be reminded that God would love this Grandma personally so very much that He would send a team from around the globe for her alone...to bring her to Him. To find His one lost beautiful sheep. If this were the only fruit of our entire trip it has infinite value that cannot be measured. Praise God He has loved us each with an everlasting love; and drawn us with His loving-kindness. When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? Ps. 8:3-4

Who can fathom this kind of love?

"For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Rom 8:38-39

Thank you,Lord,for loving us where we are and for pursuing us to (and from) the ends of the earth.

Abiding in Him,

Lynn