Our church partnered with Kristin Englund and Steve and Rebecca Hoden to participate in mission trips to Thailand in January.  We helped them raise support for the trips through the 2007 Christmas card fund.  Both the Hodens and Kristin traveled on North Park University trips, but they were in different places in different ministries.  Steve and Rebecca wrote about their experiences in a March 12 e-mail.  Kristin presented a trip reflection in our church on February 17.  Both the Hodens’ e-mail message and Kristin’s colorful, polka-dot studded thank you letter are posted on the bulletin board outside Pastor Greg’s office.

For those who choose not to read the tiny print of the letters, here is a brief digest of how God used these students in Thailand.  Kristin was continually awed by the generosity of people in Thailand: “…we met with many different missions, all who were welcoming and excited to have us.  They showed their generosity through the meals they provided, the accommodations…and the fact that they let us be ourselves while loving us without strings attached.  The ministries we worked with were New Song Church, a United Nations’ Refugee Center, two schools, and the Well red light district ministry.”  She further states, “God’s faithfulness was apparent in our trip because we were able to see that through each decision on our trip, God was in control and His plan was the best…I can’t wait for another opportunity to learn about God’s faithfulness and His creation’s generosity in an unfamiliar place.”

The Hodens write, “Our group of 12 from North Park Seminary…spent a week in Bangkok living in the slums.  We lived with a Buddhist host family who spoke no English.  It was a wonderful time…we did lots of charades, learned much more Thai than we thought we could and laughed a lot.  We felt welcomed by our host parents and their three teenage daughters, who immediately felt like sisters to us.”  Then “during our second week, we traveled to Chiang Mai in northern Thailand to attend an annual gathering of Christians from all over Asia, who meet to support each other as Christians living in a predominantly Buddhist world…we were reminded how blessed we are to have Christian families, freedom and education to think, speak, and move around…we were humbled as we learned from these ‘Leaders in Obscurity’ who spread God’s love with limited resources, encouragement and support.”

In their letters, both Steve and Rebecca and Kristin express thanks for God’s faithfulness and people’s generosity to allow them to have these mission trips.  Kristin says “…through your support and encouragement, I saw generosity in practice.  Kop Koon Ka!  Thank you!”  The Hodens, reflecting on the mission trip as a time of waiting on God for direction in ministry, write “Thank you for your continued prayers during this exciting time of discernment and openness.  Thank you again for your role in our incredible learning experience in Thailand!”

(Thank you, Kristin and Steve and Rebecca, for allowing us to travel vicariously with you to Thailand and for sharing your experiences with us.  It is our privilege to support you in this way.)