In the last week of February I spent a week with some first generation Christians in the Nan Province of Thailand – mostly people from the “Lua” ethnic group. I went with Erin Kerber (a program officer with LCA International Mission) and Chris Sumner (a member from the Springhead congregation.) Our “mission” was to “look, […]

In the last week of February I spent a week with some first generation Christians in the Nan Province of Thailand – mostly people from the “Lua” ethnic group. I went with Erin Kerber (a program officer with LCA International Mission) and Chris Sumner (a member from the Springhead congregation.) Our “mission” was to “look, listen and learn”, which is what we did.  We met with the local missionaries, pastors and lay workers, listened to their stories, visited the villages where they worked, asked them what their greatest needs were, ate with them, worshipped with them, prayed with them, and discussed with them how we could best support and partner with them.

One outcome of the visit is our plan to go back to the Nan Province next January with a team of 8-10 people from the Adelaide Hills (and beyond). The team will focus on 2 projects:
1) To help the locals build a Hot House to grow vegetables, and teach them the skills needed to work it.
2) Equip the local pastors and lay workers in prayer ministry, to enhance their pastoral and evangelical work in the villages.

The other “outcome” of the trip was a reminder to me that I was not meeting with strangers and foreigners – I was meeting with my brothers and sisters.  They may have looked a bit different, spoken a different language, eaten different food and had different customs (like sitting on the floor for meals), but as fellow Christians, they are my brothers and sisters in Christ. We are all part of God’s family.

So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:26-28

If you would like to consider the opportunity to serve as a volunteer in mission, serving in practical ways, teaching English, teaching in the seminaries and institutions of our partner churches, or in local churches, you are invited to phone Nevin on (08) 8267 7300 or email nevin.nitschke@lca.org.au. For more information, go to https://www.lcamission.org.au/join-gods-mission/volunteer/

Read more stories about our partner churches in Thailand at https://www.lcamission.org.au/category/stories/international-partners/thailand/