From the Laborers of Your Field

God, we were Your gardeners
We brought forth our best tools
Most righteous deeds but filthy rags
How could you use such fools?

God, we were Your gardeners
Bound to see what You would do
We tilled the ground and planted seeds
But Father, nothing grew.

God, we were Your gardeners
Watered these people with our tears
Our hearts were shattered, seeds still scattered
Who knew deep roots took years?

God, we were Your gardeners
This ground is hard as clay
With hope we trust, in faith we must
Rejoice, share, teach & pray.

God, we were Your gardeners
Wanting to bring you flowers & bouquets
Instead we'll lift these empty hands
Accept, dear Lord, our praise.

-Meghan
City Talk English Team
Thailand

We will always remember you

Our team had the opportunity to partner with a visiting church from North Carolina and taught at a juvenile detention center. We saw a glimmer of God's heart for 'the least of these.' We taught 60 residents age 18-20 who do not stand a chance in their religious systems. If their hope for a better afterlife or heaven rests in good deeds, they know they are hopeless. They are the bottom of society... the forgotten.  

When we left, they said "Thank you so much for coming and for what you have given us. We will always remember you." But God was given the glory as they were told how our time there was to show that Christ loves them. Our supervisor presented the whole gospel, gifted the center a Bible, and began a new ministry with these kids. That was an amazing thing to watch God do!

-Meghan
City Talk English Team
Thailand

There's a better home a'waiting...

We spent much this week with students having gospel conversations over dinners and market trips. We were able to talk more in depth with 12 students and 1 professor this way, both Buddhist and Muslim. One of my favorite conversations was with a student who asked me about my time singing in choirs. He asked me to show him one of the songs, so I pulled up a random video from ETSU choir archives. Thankfully it was a gospel song and I pulled up the lyrics for him. The chorus says 
Will the circle be unbroken, by and by Lord, by and by?
There's a better home a'waiting, in the sky, Lord, in the sky.

This student said he liked the song but he prefers his home currently and doesn't think he needs a better one like the song said. It was so wonderful to bridge into a full gospel presentation with someone who listened intently. Oftentimes we have to directly start these conversations and it takes a lot of energy to get people engaged, so I was encouraged at this opportunity. This was the second time I've heard the response, "That is quite beautiful. Thank you for sharing this...we do not have anything like this in Buddhism." 

-Meghan

City Talk English Team

Thailand

The Beauty of the Gospel

The Lord is good! He has allowed us to use teaching English at schools as an avenue to share the gospel in two provinces. We are blessed that God flourished friendships between us and our students. Most of our summer is spent following up and deepening those relationships in hopes of having spiritual conversations. Every gospel conversation is a blessing, providing lessons in seed-sowing and patience. Although Thai people are gracious and welcoming, Buddhist beliefs are so culturally ingrained into their national identity that a response to the gospel is very hard to elicit; however, God is not a God of limitations. He is more powerful than cultural or language barriers! Despite any discouragement the enemy hurls at us, the beauty of the gospel comes alive every time we get to tell it, giving us hope that those we share with will one day love Jesus. The Lord is sovereign and compassionate, just but merciful; He is fine-tuning our hearts to love others with His abundant love.

“The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armour of light.” Romans 13:12

We are also learning the power of prayer accompanied by dependence on the Lord to change the heart. 
Please pray: 

• God exposes Satan’s destructive cultural and religious deceptions, granting Thais understanding of their need for Jesus
• God would reveal Himself to the Thai unbelievers and grant them faith in Jesus’s Lordship
• God will strengthen and grow the church, as well as current and future cross-cultural workers
• Believers would trust in God’s faithfulness that He is moving in seen and unseen ways
• God will send or rise up more godly men and women to share the gospel, disciple local believers, and love Thais deeply
• God would give Thai believers the boldness and courage to share the gospel with neighbors and fellow Thais. 

-Kelsey

City Talk English Team

Thailand