Written on July 9, 2008:
“Tonight, I met a woman more noble than I could ever hope to be.
She only has one leg because she lost the other in some kind of accident three years ago. I don’t know the extent of the accident or what happened exactly, only that it was enough of a traumatization to take her leg and leave her with huge scars all over the rest of her body.
She lives in the most make-shift of shelters that I have ever seen with eight children- some, her own grandchildren; some, no relation to her at all- because their parents either can’t or simply won’t take care of them themselves.
Most of their mothers work in the bars in Bangkok. Most of their fathers are nowhere to be found.
They have very little rice for every meal and only a few of the children get to go to school because that is all she can afford.
This woman makes some of the most beautiful silk I have ever seen.
Prang and I bought some from her tonight. Most likely the entire sum of what we gave to her for it will go towards food for the family alone because of the number of mouths to feed and the dire need of their circumstance.
Tonight, I met a woman more noble than I could ever hope to be and it was my humble honour to be in her presence.
Blessed are the poor for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Amen.”
I am starting to understand more of what I am doing here.
I am starting to understand better my role in this world.
I am starting to understand that I understand everything and nothing at the same time.
But the thing that she was lacking is not the thing that most people would assume by simply glancing at her situation or choosing to make a charity case of it.
More than being in need of the money that we gave her, this woman was in need of the dignity that is found in finally being noticed.
The confidence that comes with someone saying to her that what she is doing is not in vain and that it is indeed lovely.
And that she is indeed lovely- her heart as well as her hands and what they create.
And it is this kind of life that is changed in such a way the speaks the loudest of restoration. Especially to those closest to her, in this case, her children.
Maybe her daughters would come home, seeing that there is value in hard work and that there is hard work to be done here and that it is rewarding.
Maybe they would get themselves out of the hell that is the bars in Bangkok.
Maybe they would learn to value and love themselves and, in turn, learn to value and love their children.
Maybe, over time, because of people like this woman and Prang and her sisters and their dedication and compassion and love, this village could be changed.
Maybe this country could be changed.
Maybe this slavery could be stopped.
Maybe these captives could be freed.
Two questions had been posed to me not so long ago by whatever source you wish to call it… conscience, thoughts, Holy Spirit (I will call it the latter)… and they are questions I hadn’t really completely understood at the time, but have been wrestling with non-stop since that night that I wrote about above.
You see, we cry and cry and cry for God to come to the oppressed and to set the captives free. We call to Him to come down and meet us and them in our darkness. But the part that we seem to have missed is the part where we agree to work for it… in our waiting. We do His will in the knowledge of faith that He will come and join us and complete the task.
He has asked me, in the same way that He asks all of us:
Will you suffer with them?
Will you suffer for them?
Poverty is captivity.
Poverty is a robbery.
Not of money, but rather of dignity.
Of love.
Of hope.
Of restoration.
And not just for those that are in it… but also for those of us that refuse to run to their resuce as well because we miss out on the beauty of being one.
What am I doing with my time on earth if not setting captives free?
“To loose the bonds of wickedness…”
“To undo the straps of the yoke…”
“To let the oppressed go free…”
Will I suffer with them?
Will I suffer for them?
I pray that my answer will be yes. And not just now as these visions and truths are fresh. But that it will always be yes even after I have left this place and these realities are back on the other side of the world. I pray that I will always remember them and always respect them enough to live my life in such a way that honours them, even from afar.
I pray that I will always continue to fight back the darkness and set the captives free, for it is within our obedience that He comes and rescues. It is within our hands that His healing touch is found. And it is from our lips that His life-giving words come. If we allow it.
This is a well written piece Jamie. Very thought provoking…for us, but I think more so for you as you were in the very center of which you wrote. Many times it takes the very act of involvement to begin to understand God’s world and His plan for us. Stay strong in what you do….We pray each day for all of you and your mission. Blessings.
Jamie I have enjoyed reading your posts, as wellas those from the others. You are on the Wednesday night prayer list and Pastor Sheppard has mentioned your Thailand mission work in Sunday service as well. We are praying for you and your team. I gave Jane the link to this website and she is printing copies for Nana to read. I am looking forward to talking to you about your experiences. We all love you and what you are doing. See you in a few weeks.
Jamie I was glad to hear from you. I’m sorry you are not feeling well. I called your mom and Nana to let them know. Nana said she will be praying for you. I transferred money to your card. The web address is http://www.cumoney.com. Enter your card number and password. It is the password I use for everything. The account hasn’t been updated since 6/10, so I don’t know why there isn’t any current activity. International postings probably take longer. Take care of yourself. I love you.
Jamie, I am so proud of you and what you are doing there. I pray that you will continue to be able to touch each and every life that you come into contact with and be able to help them. I am worried about you and your stomach situation. I think it is mostly due to diet modifications. Dad said you were eating peanut butter and because of the oil in it that is not always good on your stomach. I know there is not a lot of choices as to what you eat. Do the best you can and when you get back home hopefully it will settle down again. I miss you and I love you and can’t wait for you to be home again. I pray that god will build a hedge around you and your health and help you to be able to continue your work there without problems.
Mom
Amen, sis.
I pray that we may both say yes.