M300 Ministries - Home of the Mighty Warriors - Reflections Thus Far-Thailand

There is much that I don't understand as of yet regarding the Thail culture and Buddhism but I want to share some quick observations as I get ready to run off to a class on Buddhism in about 10 minutes. It is tough to find time to update as things are clicking and things are happening very quickly in Thailand.
First let me say that Thailand markets themselves as "The Land of Smiles" and it is so. Everyone here has smiled. Even Ronald McDonald smiles and performs the cursory "WAI" folding of hands and cursory bow greeting.
Somehow I am sure that not everyone is smiling here but so far in the past three days everyone has smiled the most beautiful smiles. The place is clean and crime seems distant and remote. The police presence is minimal civil police. I am not use to doing missions in such a place. My background has been in Latin America where AK47's, heavy military presence, suspicion, gangs and violence are the order of every day. Of course it use to not be this way in Latin America and it ebbs and flows depending on who is the ruler. Back to Thailand and saying that I am impressed and motivated. I feel a direct connection here to my past experience in missions. Oddly I feel at home and at ease moving around among the Thai people.
Sadly I must confess that I at times feel motivated to apologize for other men being here who are heavily engaged in the prostitution trade and abuse. I feel really sad for the Thai girls and ladies who are on this path and engaged in this lifestyle. I am saddened by men and women and children who bow to graven images instead of to the one and true living God. What do you say to people who prostrate before idols and other men? What do you say to the sex tourist who trade money for souls? What do you say to the Thai's who have known the evils of our own people during the war years when G.I's traveled to this land for R&R and the sex trade? (Of course not all GI's but our own history in these lands is bleak, dark, troubled and skewed. How do you witness about the awesome power and love of Jesus Christ when you go to a Thai movie theater on a whim and see "Angels and Demons" because someone told you that it was good? When you sit there with the Thai's and comprehend how they are seeing the wills of the Catholic church as being representative of Christianity it makes me of necesity want to explain to them that "Who is the Christ?" is not the Catholic church and it political system of governance. It was interesting that at the start of the film the national anthem was played and everyone had to rise to it before the show. Actually at 8 am and 6 pm everyday the national anthem is played and everyone has to stop to pay respect to the anthem and the King. Do we stop everyday to honor or King Jesus Christ? Here it is a must that talk about the king be done in reverance and respect and so it is with the King of Kings all done with reverance and respect. Ok not too bad for a 10 minute writing while eating breakfast and chatting with team mates. We call is multi tasking and in missions it is Missions tasking. Have a great day in the Lord whether you are in Thailand,USA, Pakistan, India, Indonesia, Burma, Laos, Cambodia or elsewhere! Yesterday I got to cry a bit because that song...He can move the mountains...just knocks my breath out no matter where I am in the world. Let is take your breath away as well. SAWADEE

Wayne Gaines
Founder/Director
M300 Ministries

P.S. Feel free to drop me a note while in Thailand.