Each year, Lancaster Bible College Journey Teams travel to the furthest corners of the world to live out the gospel message by bringing hope to the hopeless. Whether working at an orphanage in Haiti, helping to build a church in Jamaica, teaching English in Germany, doing sports camps in the Philippines or being involved in street evangelism in Thailand, the service of these teams leave a lasting impact on the places they visit and the people they meet—not to mention on the lives of the individual team members. Trips are planned throughout the year and are open to all LBC students to participate. 

READ MORE: Check out all three Spring 2024 travel opportunities here.  

From May 14-27, a team led by Dr. Ed Scheuerman, Director of the Intercultural Studies program, is serving in Thailand to engage in various ministry opportunities, such as assisting a local church planting team in a Thai village, encouraging local missionaries, helping with a vacation Bible school at a local church, learning about Buddhism, prayer walking, learning about how to care for missionaries serving overseas, assisting with ESL lessons with Thai college students and helping with a wheelchair ministry. 

Note: Most recent posts are at the top. New to this Thailand Journey Team blog update? Start from the bottom!

Update #15—By Tim P.

Hello friends and family!

As I write this update, I’m sitting on an airplane to Seoul, South Korea, beginning our team’s journey back to the States. Our trip home is slightly shorter than our journey here, but we still have plenty of time to reflect on the past two weeks we had in Chiang Mai. The past two weeks have been such a meaningful experience for each of us, and I know that it will leave a lasting impact on our lives, even for years to come.

After two weeks of serving and learning, the LBC Journey Team to Thailand says goodbye to new friends at the airport before embarking on the trip home.

We spent our last day in Chiang Mai debriefing our trip, considering what God has taught us and preparing for the journey back. For me, debriefing was a helpful activity for thinking back over the past two weeks and processing some of my days here. But we aren’t done yet. When we return to the States, we will continue to debrief our time in Thailand. Please be in prayer for us as we do this!

I’m sure for our group there was a mix of emotions leaving Thailand. Although I was prepared to leave, saying goodbye was still sad. There were many meaningful relationships made here, and such special memories we shared together. I am thankful for our hosts, Zach and Kara, and the many other cross-cultural workers and Christians here who made our time here so great! Two weeks felt much, much longer than I ever anticipated. It was truly an incredible experience and so worthwhile.

I’m saddened to think that my time with my teammates is coming to a close! For the past two weeks, every time I got off a plane or a bus, I knew I would continue to be with my team. But now, that is no longer true. Our group spent the past 14 days together almost continuously, and although there were times when I wished to be alone, it was great to spend this time with them! I’m going to miss them.

Before the trip, we prayed for our team to be unified. But, to be honest, I’m not sure I even knew what I was asking for. It was so beautiful to watch this in action as the 14 of us students lived together for two weeks straight, caring for each other, listening to one another and having fun together. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen such a unified team in my own experience! It was truly inspiring!

The Bible talks about how sweet it is when brothers dwell together in unity, and Jesus said that the world would know we were His disciples because of our love for one another. Although we weren’t able to speak much Thai, I hope and pray that the Thai people saw our smiles, our joy and our love for one another, and that it impacted them for Christ.

Additionally, we are so thankful for Dr. Ed and Carol’s leadership and care throughout this trip. Their intentionality in planning this trip, seeking out opportunities for us and being attentive to our needs was a blessing throughout. Almost twice a day, we would gather in their room to study Joshua, pray, discuss plans for future days and talk through how we were feeling. Having that space to think and process was definitely needed, and I am thankful for them allowing it.

When I think about this trip, I consider the hours upon hours that our team collectively spent in prayer before we even left. To be completely honest, as a busy college student, fitting that time in my schedule was not necessarily convenient or desirable. But it was so worth it. Something I’ve learned throughout my life is that following Christ is not often easy or comfortable, and yet I never regret doing it. Seeing God answer literally every single one of my prayers for this trip was so encouraging to watch!

One of my prayer requests was that our team would be a blessing. Oftentimes, it takes a lot of preparation and work for the missionaries in-country to host short-term mission teams. I prayed that we would be an encouragement to the cross-cultural workers and Christians here, and I saw God answer that prayer abundantly. I am so thankful we could be a blessing to those who sacrifice so much to serve overseas! This answer to prayer, along with feeling that we were able to impact Thai people for Christ through some of our different activities made this trip feel like a huge success!

In considering coming back to the States, I can’t help but emphasize that this story isn’t over. While our time in Thailand has come to an end, there are still many cross-cultural workers who will continue to serve there long after we’re gone. The challenges and discomfort that I experienced briefly is their day-to-day reality.

When I spoke to one missionary couple, they were open about the frustrations of serving in another culture. They said they love their life, which was so inspiring to hear, but admitted to the challenging and sometimes discouraging reality of missions work overseas. While there are many exciting stories out there about missionaries, these people are the true heroes in my mind! Their faithfulness is so commendable!

As I return to my home, I do not want to forget the people here in my prayers! The amount of prayer it took for me and my team to be here for two weeks showed me just how much these long-term workers need our prayers before the Lord. I am so excited to get their updates and pray for them for the next few years, seeing what God continues to do in Chiang Mai!

It’s 4:03 in the morning here on the plane, and we can see a distant and beautiful horizon.

*

It’s now 8:35 a.m. It’s still morning. We have been traveling on May 28 for about 17 hours. We’re about 10 hours into our 14-hour flight, which will land us in Washington, D.C. These flights are long and grueling, but the Lord has been gracious, sustaining our group through travel.

*

Well… it was 8:35 a.m., but now it is 6:26 in the morning. I think my phone is about as confused as I am!

I know this update is long, but I would like to share one last thought: There were several moments throughout this trip that were very much outside of my comfort zone—like eating lunch in a river or staying at a Thai family’s house. And yet, these are two of my favorite memories from the trip. The uncomfortable moments became the most life-giving and joyful experiences! Staying at our Thai family’s home was incredibly uncomfortable for me, and yet it felt like home. I truly believe the hardest part about going back to the States will be the lack of discomfort I feel. I’m going to miss it.

*

We have now arrived back safely. Thank you all so, so much for your faithfulness in reading some or all of these updates and praying for us throughout our trip! It means so much that you would care about us in this way! God bless you!

Update #14—By Abi Grace C.

Dear praying friends and family,

Thank you for your continued prayers! Today was our last full and bittersweet day in Thailand. Dr. Ed and Mrs. Carol set aside today as a day to prepare our hearts and minds to return to the U.S. We set out at 8:30 a.m. to a lodging in the mountainous jungle where we read and discussed the final chapter of Joshua. In chapter 24, Joshua gathered the nation of Israel and challenged them to decide who they will serve and worship—the LORD God or the idols of the nations around them. When Israel chose commitment to the Lord, Joshua’s response is not the commendation we may expect. Instead, He told the people that they could not serve the Lord; they were incapable. God is too holy and jealous to be served by them. Yet the people insist they will be faithful to the Lord who had done such great things for them. This made me think—how seriously do I take my commitment to the Lord? Do I truly understand how incapable I am of fidelity to a God so holy and consistent and that such a commitment is a BIG deal?

After our time in Joshua, we each spent an hour alone, answering some debrief questions that Dr. Ed and Mrs. Carol had prepared for us. One of the questions that stuck out to me was: What was difficult for you on this trip?

The difficulties of this trip looked a bit different for me than for some of my teammates. Having grown up overseas and traveled to Asia before, I was disoriented by the familiarity of this country, not by what was different. Chiang Mai reminded me so strikingly of the countries I have visited before that at times I felt dizzy. It felt like I was walking in memories of the past. Since leaving my home country three years ago, that dizzying loss of place and people is something I carry with me daily. However, the Lord did a beautiful thing during this trip by reminding me that, while the past is a gift to treasure, there is so much beauty where He has me now. He taught me this through one of my favorite things: flowers.

Here’s the story: My abuelito (Spanish for grandpa) was one of the most gentle and passionate men I’ve ever met, and my early childhood sparkles because of him. He loved nature, and one of his favorite flowers is one with pretty white petals that grows on a tree I’ve only seen in Peru—and found in Thailand. I wish Abuelito could see my world now, and how far the Lord has brought me. As I sat in sadness thinking about this last week at the preschool, a little girl came up to me, and I gently placed two of my grandpa’s special flowers in her hair. Soon, I had swarms of little children handing me flowers and asking me to put them in my hair and theirs. Now, those flowers hold memories of tenderness, laughter and hope, the very things I missed most from my grandpa. This little picture opened my eyes to see that God is doing SO much in, through, and around me. There are more flowers to be found right where He has me, but sometimes I need to let go first—let go of the security and comfort I crave, and commit myself to fear the Lord.

Please pray for us, as we process these past two weeks and re-engage with our friends, churches and families in the U.S. Please pray that we would not forget the Lord and what He has done these past two weeks, but daily reconsider our priorities and recommit ourselves to the Lord with humility.

“The people answered and said, ‘Far be it from us that we would abandon the Lord to serve other gods; for the Lord our God is He who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, from the house of slaves, and did these great signs in our sight and watched over us through all the way in which we went and among all the peoples through whose midst we passed.’” Joshua 24:16-17

Amen, so let it be with each of us, Lord.

Update #13—By Helena V.

A boy makes a sacrifice at a Buddhist temple.

Today has been one filled with much darkness and much light. For the past 12 days, our team has been predominantly interacting with Christians at ministries in Thailand, but today we drove up Doi Kahm to visit a Buddhist temple on the mountain. This temple is massive, full of brightly colored statues and positioned high enough on the mountain that we can see it from the place we’re staying. Inside the temple, everywhere I turned I saw people praying on their knees or burning incense. For many of our team members, there was a feeling of heaviness as we walked around this place of spiritual darkness.

The Buddhist religion is one largely based on fear of evil spirits, which is why many Thais pray for protection and do good deeds to collect “merit.” Throughout the day, I contemplated my security and hope in God. Unlike Buddhists, I can personally know and have a relationship with a God who loves me. I can rely on Him because He is bigger than any statue or carved image. I know that He listens to our prayers and that the cloud of darkness on Doi Kahm was penetrated by them in some way today.

In stark contrast to our temple visit was our morning at Safari Church, which is exactly what it sounds like—a church service held at a safari! I found it ironic how we were singing, “You’ve got a lion inside of those lungs, get up and praise the Lord,” meanwhile there were actual lions just down the road from us! The message we heard was on Psalm 46, and something that stood out to me was verse 10: “Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted in the earth!” I am grateful that God has provided me with eyes to see what is happening in Chaing Mai. Yes, the darkness and spiritual oppression are real, but God is at work, and I have confidence that through Thai believers and foreign missionaries, Yahweh’s Name WILL be known and exalted here! Psalm 46 also talks about God as our refuge, which parallels the themes of the book of Joshua that my team and I have been studying daily. Through all we have seen and heard these past 12 days, the Lord of Hosts has been with us and will continue to be as we make the journey home tomorrow night.

Finally, we enjoyed our last night in Thailand eating dinner and chilling at the [name hidden] home. This was a great time to fellowship, have fun (the girls watched an American Girl movie together!), and express our gratitude to Zach and Kara for being our wonderful hosts before another long day of debriefing tomorrow.

While I am ready to go home, I know it is going to be a sad time of goodbyes tomorrow and I am mentally preparing for that. I have grown an appreciation for this country—and not only its rolling hills, delicious food and exciting transportation methods (tuk tuks are now my dream car). I have grown to appreciate the warm and hospitable people who live here. They look out for the community, love to laugh (both with you and at you), and always seek to honor others with a smile. Whether or not God calls me or my teammates back to Thailand in the future, I pray that any small part of what we did here helped make His Name known and that He will allow these two weeks to have a lasting impression on how we carry out our part in the Great Commission.

Thank you to all who have taken the time to read these update posts and intentionally pray for us. My teammates and I are humbled and grateful, and I know I have felt empowered and put at peace throughout this trip because of it!

Update #12—By Liana M.

Hello prayer warriors!

Today gave our team the opportunity to take a deep breath after two full days of ministry and constant social interaction. In the morning, we had the opportunity to visit a beautiful café in the mountains to spend some time together and/or journal. In the afternoon, anyone who wanted to finish some last-minute shopping could go to Warrorot market again. We regrouped in the late afternoon to welcome missionary families as they dropped off their kids for a babysitting night. Although this seems like a very normal (maybe even boring) thing to do, this was quite impactful to the missionary couples who are far from the family and friends who they might have relied on to take care of their kids now and then. While we played games with the 13 different children, their parents were able to have a date night and have some conversations that didn’t need to be focused on kids or ministry. We were so glad to offer this special time to the parents and have fun with their children!

Overall, today was a very restful day. If I’m honest, calm days like this are hard for me. I look at the flourishing ministries of the Thai believers and missionaries here and how busy they are, and I can’t help thinking things like, “I should be doing more!” or “I’m wasting time.” I think of the people who financially supported me, and I feel the panicked urge to do, do, do so they know I was worth their time, prayers and support. I know I’m not the only one on our team who struggles with this!

“I’m not doing enough.” This is a common thought for me, but I keep myself so busy that I never think it through. It’s only when I have moments of quiet like I did today at the café—event though it may be hard to be still!—that I can consider the meaning of my thoughts. “I’m not doing enough” … for what? What would be “enough”? Why does that thought fill me with such shame and fear?

I’m a highly motivated person, but I’m realizing that much of my life is motivated by this desperation to do “enough.” This is dangerous! How can I reflect Christ when, instead of being compelled by the love of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:14-15), I’m driven by fear and panic? How can I share about who God is when I haven’t taken the time to acknowledge the beauty of what He’s made, meditate on what He’s done and receive His love and forgiveness? How can I share Good News of freedom and joy when I’m actively living a lifestyle of shame and unrest?

When I take these moments to rest and process (something that goes directly against my flesh!), I come to realize this truth: I don’t need to prove I’m worth the space I take up in the universe. Jesus died for me before I did a single thing to try to please Him. I can’t be more loved, supported, forgiven or seen than I already am! It’s out of this place of thankfulness, peace and clarity that I can live in confidence of my identity in Christ and serve, pray and give with real joy.

In the days leading to, during and after our flight home, our team will have a lot to think through and process. Please be praying for us that we would:

• Be able to process well. It’s difficult to clearly think through the past two weeks when so much has happened and we’re tired! But we don’t want to forget the things God has done during this time or bottle up the thoughts and emotions we need to process.
• Not be weighed down by guilt, shame or a need to prove ourselves. Resting is necessary but hard, especially when you’re coming out of a time of service.
• Be changed by our time in Thailand. Whether or not we feel like we did “enough,” it’s my prayer that the time we spent serving, experiencing and listening will take us a step closer to Jesus. May our time in Thailand deepen our love for the gospel!

Update #11—By Abigail W.

The Thailand team interacts with a volleyball team.

Today was full—full of countless ways of answered prayers in how God allowed us to taste more of HIS goodness and ways. Yes, there are both incredible and not-so-pleasant things, but through it all, the goodness and patience of the Lord remains. Words and pictures only begin to scratch the surface to describe today.

Picking up from our last update, I awoke this morning to the sound of birds and bleating goats from the homestead I stayed at. Our team found ourselves in groups, scattered across various parts of Chiang Mai in several Thai family homes whose children go to the preschool where we have been serving. We had a wonderful time connecting with the Thai families over meals and seeing what everyday life is like in their homes. Additionally, most of them are Buddhist, and so we had the honor of representing Christ to them, with words and actions. We have been told often that while they can hear about Christ; it is often not until they see Christ shine through the actions of believers that they come to know Him. I was grateful for the opportunity to connect closely with the Thai family, and the Lord gave me a greater burden for each of these children who come from Buddhist homes where they are taught to gain merit for salvation. Yet it is beautiful that they get to hear and see the gospel lived out in the lives of the teachers and staff at the Christian preschool.

We rode back with the Thai families back to the preschool where our team swapped roles from the day before. Half of our team helped with outdoor work, while the other half helped to teach English in multiple classrooms. We got to connect with the students in ways we couldn’t yesterday since we spent time with them the day before and in some of their homes.

After the children left, we took time to pray over the teachers who are leaving such a great impact on these children’s lives. From here, we drove to a volleyball court where we connected with a group of high school students by playing volleyball. With it being the rainy season here, we soon made our way out of the pouring rain for a change of plans—plans that the Lord was directing and knew all along. We instead got to play games with them that provided an amazing opportunity to connect with them in ways we would not have been able to had the rain not come. Additionally, we got to share the story of the prodigal son through a skit, share testimonies, sing songs, pray over them and enjoy a meal together.

Leaving all these children was not easy, but we said bye to them with hearts that are full and prayers that they will come to know the One true God, Jesus Christ. We may never know the impact we had in them, but they may also never know they impact they had on us. It is a precious thought to know God knows them by name, and that we get to trust them into His hands.

I have been reflecting over this trip on how God faithfully does His work as Sovereign Lord, leading us where HE wills. He allowed it to rain when it did, He placed us in specific Thai homes for a reason, we connected with the children we connected with for a reason, God allowed it to rain when it did, and we may not know the end of these children’s stories. Yet also, on our end, He desires that with open hands, we trust HIM with our heart, words and actions. It’s not enough for me to say that I should surrender, push past my comfort zone, etc. Fully trusting the Lord ought to show with my WHOLE being. And how worthy our Lord is that we serve Him with our everything! This doesn’t mean for only today or right here, but for every moment and season and in every corner of the earth. Yet this begins by depending on Christ and relying on His Holy Spirit’s leading as we listen. And the beautiful thing of getting to trust the Lord, is that we can know Him more, and His name can be known in greater ways as we live it out with our whole beings which magnifies Christ! Yet one question remains, do we trust Him—fully?

Thank you for how each of you are praying and supporting us! It means a lot to us to know you are supporting us in prayer as God is the One who goes before us. Please continue to pray as we embrace each moment of all the Lord has for us in the remainder of the trip.

Update #10—By Leah L.

Hello friends and family,

Today we started off with an early breakfast and devotions, talking about Joshua 20 and how Christ is our city of refuge. This was a great encouragement as we walked throughout our day. We then piled in the van and headed over to Good Kids Preschool, where we were able to welcome the kids and sing some worship songs to start off their day. Then half of us went inside to help in various classrooms while the other half went with Dtom to lay turf on the playground. Praise the Lord that the sun stayed away for the first part of the morning while we were outside. It felt so nice to have a cooler morning.

We stayed at the preschool for lunch and then took a five-minute van ride to the nearby primary Thai government (public) school. At this school, we were able to work with first- -through sixth-graders. With Dtom’s help, we introduced ourselves and were able to play some games with them. We showed them many pictures of different people with jobs, and we taught them the English words for these jobs. We played a game like telephone where the students had to act out the occupation to one another and pass it down the line—let’s just say, there was lots of laughing involved! We also played a version of musical chairs with the students. We sang “Jesus Loves the Little Children” and we were able to explain to them what the song means.

It was very cool to share the love of the Lord with these students and to teach them some English. Before we left, Dtom asked us to pray over the children that were in front of us. This was an incredible opportunity and experience. Even though these students did not fully understand what we were saying in our prayers, it is amazing that the Lord does. Phracêa thrng sæn di means God is so good in Thai. Dtom led us in singing “God Is so Good” to these children in English, and then we were able to sing it in Thai, which was amazing.

Seeing how God works even when there is a language barrier is one of the coolest experiences. The students handed each of us a bracelet that they had hand made at the end of our time with them. It was very special to spend some time with them, connect with them and laugh with them. They then walked us back to the van, and we were sad to say goodbye to them but so thankful for the opportunity to share the love of the Lord with them.

When we returned to Good Kids Preschool, we were able to relax and hang out with the children before many of us were picked up by some of the families. These families offered to let us stay the night and experience life in a Thai home. Pray that these home stays would go well and that we would be a blessing to these families! Today was a long day, filled with much laughter and joy. We are so thankful that God has allowed us to share this gift of laughter and joy with others. Thank you for your prayers! God is so good!

Update #9—By Marci L.

Sawadee ka (hello), family and friends!

Thanks so much for following along on these updates. Today marks almost the halfway point of our time in Thailand. It’s crazy to think back over the past week and remember the many “highs.” The times of hearing missionaries share their stories and being deeply challenged by their passion for God. The times of riding in the songthaew, laughing and debriefing. The times of learning the language and culture and interacting with the Thai people. The times of observing and praying.

This trip has also included some “lows.” Times of not having energy and being hot. Times of recognizing my own selfishness. And times of really seeing my constant need for Jesus, over and over again. God has answered many prayers and showed His character in beautiful ways, and I’m excited to see what He will do in the next few days.

*

Friends, coming back and writing this at 12:19 p.m. Today is not going as planned, but God has better plans. We are still constantly learning more about the Thai culture. They are very sabai (chill) and can make a last-minute change of plans. We were planning to help teach English at a local Thai university today but were notified last night that it’s canceled because of a Thai holiday.

Flexibility is important in ministry, and for those of us who like to do things, it can be hard to give up scheduled plans. I’ve been thinking about what God wants to show me through this happening. Throughout this week, I have been reading the Psalms, and “dwelling place” has been a constant theme. God has been showing me that He wants me to be still and know He is God. He will be exalted in the nations. In this nation.

Am I willing to simply be and dwell in His presence? Is that enough for me? Do I realize He is in control, and He wants to reveal Himself to me wherever He calls me—and in whatever I’m doing, even in the seemingly mundane moments of the day? He wants to show me that my identity lies is Him, not in what I do! It’s only from this position of being in His presence and recognizing who He is that I can effectively “do” what He’s calling me to do.

*

Well, it’s 9:10 p.m. Today was assigned as a day of rest, and that is what we did—shopping, doing laundry and spending time reflecting and getting rejuvenated and ready for the next few days. We spent the evening with Zach and Kara and their family, ate some yummy north Indian food and spent time debriefing and laughing together. Lastly, we had our daily team meeting, which involved a lot of planning, laughing and praying for the next few days.

If you get nothing else from this update, please get this part. PRAY FOR US. The next two days will be very intense. We will be going to a preschool, doing an English camp at a Thai school, having homestays with Thai families, helping with sports ministry, and having the opportunity to share testimonies and do a gospel skit for some youth and adults. I am super excited for this opportunity, but I also feel my own weakness.

• Pray that we would each seek God personally and have an attitude of worship as we go through these next few days.
• Pray for joy in the intense moments and the heat.
• Pray that we would be willing to ask for help, acknowledge weakness and lean on God’s strength.
• Pray that we can show God’s love to the many Thai kids and adults with whom we will be interacting.

Thank you so much for partnering with us! God does work through prayer! “We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” 2 Corinthians 4:7

Update #8—By Emily K.

Hello friends and family! Today is our sixth full day here in Thailand. I cannot wait for each of us to come back and share how God has been working in our lives as we continue to serve in Thailand. God is so good and faithful, and I think that each one of us has seen this more clearly in our time here.

To start the day, we took time to prayer walk around the old city walls. This was an opportunity where we had the chance to ask God to see what He sees, to look with His eyes—His eyes of love on the Thai people. Through this walk, God was able to open my own eyes to the spiritual darkness around me. As I passed Buddhist monks, spirit houses and temples, I asked that God’s light would permeate throughout this country. But I was also reminded of all the times that I choose to put other things before God, just like these people do. God reminded me of His rule and kingship over my own life. I love that we serve a God who listens and talks to us while we talk to Him.

After our walk, we spent time at RICD (Rajanagarindra Institute of Child Development). This center provides services for disabled children in their development process. There are many therapies offered there for children and their specific needs. One service is providing wheelchairs for those who need them within Thailand, and this is known as the wheelchair project. The wheelchair project caters to around 4,000 children with disabilities within a year. This institute is joined with the Thai government and allows many in Thailand, and beyond, to be reached with their physical needs. This builds many bridges for the gospel to be spread through the country. God is doing amazing things here!

The team spends time at Rajanagarindra Institute of Child Development (RICD).

For dinner, our group was able to host John and Denise, missionaries here in Thailand. We were able to hear about their journey in becoming church planters. It was such an encouragement to hear their hearts and their yearning to see the gospel known in Thailand. I absolutely loved hearing their love for the Thai people and their love for our Thai brothers and sisters in Christ. I was shown through their story, again, God’s faithfulness and sovereignty.

Thank you for your continual prayers and encouragement! Keep praying that we would live lives of service. Serving is a lifestyle, not something we turn off and on. Pray that our team would continue to look more like Jesus and less like ourselves. Praise God for his grace and mercy as He is allowing us to play a small part in the big things He is doing and will continue to do in Thailand. We’re excited to come back and share more with each one of you.

He will be exalted among the nations, He will be exalted in the earth!

Update #7—By Abigail B.

Today we had the opportunity to visit two ministries that provide support to workers. These ministries allow workers to remain on the mission field and serve all across this region of the world. This is a very dear ministry to my heart. As we were preparing for our day, Dr. Ed talked about how, in the army, it has been said that there are 20 support workers for every one soldier on the front line. This is true of missions as well, the role of support workers in keeping missionaries on the field is imperative. As a missionary kid, growing up I saw countless missionaries come and go. Sometimes, people had to go back to their sending countries sooner than they planned or expected for a variety of reasons. Mental health, a traumatic experience, lack of necessary support for their children and so many other reasons. The ministries we visited today focus on meeting these needs. So, what are these ministries?

First, we visited Grace International School (GIS), a well-known school all across the region. The school provides high-quality education for missionary kids so that parents can continue their ministry. The facility and support available for students at GIS were incredible. They have occupational therapy, special education, ESL, resources for homeschooling families, school advisors and counselors to support students from the States, Asia and Thailand. The school was birthed out of a partnership of several mission agencies that collaborated with their resources. God’s faithfulness and provision for this school throughout its history is evident. Next year, GIS will have 600 students in attendance from 85 different mission agencies.

The second ministry we visited was The Well International. The Well provides member care support for workers through counseling, debriefing and transition support. Similar to GIS, The Well was birthed out of a partnership between several mission agencies coming together to provide support for workers. During our time at The Well, we learned about the necessity of member care and what services are available to workers.

Today was a very special day for me. For those who do not know me, as I mentioned I grew up on the mission field. I attended an international school through sixth grade. Visiting GIS allowed me to look back and reflect on my own childhood. I think about the impact the teachers made on my life, the way that attending an international school allowed my parents the ability to serve in the capacity that they did. Walking through the hallways, hearing about the opportunities available at GIS and listening to the playful laughter of the students, my heart was filled with gratitude. I am grateful to the faculty, staff and teachers who are educating, loving on and caring for MKs the same way my teachers did. Talking with teachers and staff, it was encouraging to hear how much they loved working there, how passionate they are about what they do, and how they are so excited and honored to partner with the work of missionary families as they serve in Bible translation, agencies leadership roles, sex trafficking ministries, church planting and so much more. Knowing that their children are being cared for and supported at GIS, workers can step into the ministry God has called them to.

GIS allowed me the opportunity to look back and reflect, while The Well encouraged me to look forward to the future. I am pursuing my master’s degree in marriage and family counseling because I saw the need for people to come alongside and support missionaries. Growing up I saw and experienced the stressors, I watched people go home because of burnout. But I also saw the other side, where it was hard for people to speak up when they were struggling, it was shameful to admit you needed help or support. Over the years, there has been so much growth in recognizing the need for member care, for offering support to workers. Providing a space to process, to be real about the stressors of this lifestyle. For a long time, I have felt a deep desire to be a part of providing this support to workers. Providing a safe place for workers to share about the hard things, to reach out and ask for help, to help them process and walk through the many transitions this life requires. Serving with an organization like The Well would be an absolute dream. I am thankful for those that are leading the way in providing support to workers around the world. I look with hope to the future and what God may have for me in partnering with this work.

If you take anything away from this update, I hope it’s this: The ministry and work of a missionary cannot be done alone. There are so many different roles and people who make it possible for missionaries to “be on the front lines.” Those roles include teachers at international schools and counselors providing member care. But, I want to encourage you, it goes even further than this. Support roles in missions include the prayer groups that meet and faithfully pray for workers, those who financially support, those who receive newsletters and have committed to praying, churches that raise and send workers, mission agencies that train workers and so much more. I believe we all have a role to play in the work God is doing around the world. What does your support role look like in missions?

Update #6—By Susannah C.

The Thailand Journey Team enjoys lunch after church.

Today marks our fourth full day in Thailand! The previous day left us all sore and tired from all the rowing on the water rafts! But thankfully, today is the Sabbath — a time to rest in the Lord. We ventured into the jungle to attend San Pa Tong Community Church in a nearby village; the sermon was preached in Thai and English. Upon our arrival, each of us were greeted with welcoming arms and big smiles!

In today’s service, we heard from a guest speaker. He spoke on John Chapter 21, while breaking his sermon down into three main points: Jesus calls us to be fishers of men, Jesus calls us to be His shepherds, and most importantly, Jesus calls us to be His followers.

The guest speaker pointed out that we are living in a time between Jesus’ death and before He comes back again. Moreover, the calling to be fishers of men is not only for Peter, but for all of us. The guest speaker challenged the audience: What exactly are fishers of men? Certainly, it means to bring people into the kingdom of God and to go tell of the Good News. This vocation is not finished in our lives. We need to continue to tell the gospel of love to the Thai people and other nations. Furthermore, we are all called to be fishermen. You may be working in other jobs; however, are first calling is to be fishers of men and spread the gospel truth in order to grow the kingdom of God.

Next, the guest pastor spoke about how Jesus desires to see every little sheep to maturity through the help of the leaders. He made the connection that the church is like vocational school. Furthermore, the church is a place to learn how to be fishers of men — a school that teaches us how to be shepherds. We are called to take care of flock among us. Surely, Jesus urges all of us should be shepherds!

Lastly, the guest pastor discussed the last section of John Chapter 21. In this section, Jesus tells Peter how He’s going to die, but Peter didn’t want Jesus to die. Without hesitation, Jesus says He must die. Surely, death is a way to show that God can use people who are willing to die. Jesus told Peter he was going to die a similar death to His own — his arms stretched out wide, tied and bound. What must be taken from this passage is the love of Jesus overflowed Peter’s heart; it was changed from the inside. He was willing to walk the way of death for Jesus. For Matthew 16:24 states, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” The pastor voiced that this is most important vocation! We must be followers of Christ and WANT to follow Him.

Following the sermon, we all took part in communion. The pastor physically broke bread on the stage to give a good visual of what the Last Supper may have looked like. Two helpers passed out the bread and wine (juice) to the whole congregation.

Directly after the service, we all ate lunch as a church community. We were able to sit with the Thai congregation and try our best to speak with them. Since the church was kind enough to make us lunch, we offered to help dry the dishes!

To end the day, we all journeyed to Chris and Marie’s house for dinner. In addition, another couple joined the night, David and Courtney. Both couples serve as overseas missionaries in Chiang Mai, and both are originally from the U.S. and are a part of the Pioneers organization. Overall, today was yet another successful day learning from other missionaries experiences and hearing God’s Word!

Update #5—By Karis B.

Hey friends and family! On day three of our time in Thailand we spent some quality time feeding elephants at an elephant sanctuary. This was such a fun experience and an amazing (and cute!!) picture of God’s beauty in creation!

After hanging out with the elephants, we went bamboo rafting which was SO FUN but much more difficult than we expected! Many of us fell into the river, got our boats stuck on rocks and nearly lost a few personal belongings along the way. Bamboo rafting required teamwork, communication and patience. I was steering a raft that I got stuck many times and even collided into a few of the other rafts. As we were floating down the river (during one of the rare calm moments), I was reflecting on God and how He is in control of all things. Controlling that raft was difficult and required the help of several others at times. Navigating my raft through the river got me thinking about God and His control over all things. I am so thankful that God is ultimately in control of my life, not me. If I were in control, then, like the raft, I would be turned sideways half of the time and would get stuck on the rocks in my path constantly. Revelation 4:11 says, “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”

Let God be praised for His sovereignty and creativity! Also, I am thankful that we don’t walk the Christian faith alone. We belong to a body of believers who can give our raft a little push when we need it.

At the end of our third day, our team went to a Saturday night street market where we were not only able to shop but could also interact with many of the Thai vendors in their native language. Our aim is to represent Christ well even if we are not mentioning him by name.

Thankfully, our team has been adjusting to the Thailand time zone difference, though we would still appreciate prayers for energy and alertness throughout the day. We also could use prayer for continued hydration from the extreme heat and that we all remain healthy. Finally, please pray that the Thai people will be blessed by the interactions we have with them and that God will continue to open our eyes to the work He is doing in both them and us.

Update #4—By Micah J.

Hey! Second full day in Thailand, done.

Luke 12 was my Scripture reading this morning, and Verse 47 stuck out to me the most for the day: “The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows.” I read that and I was convicted. Trips like this – in the best way – are so fun. All of us on the trip are on the same age, we all are seeking similar things, we love Dr. Ed and Carol, and it’s incredible to be in a country like Thailand and experience new and exciting things every moment of the day. But what about Jesus? What’s His goal for us being here, for my being here? Those were some of the questions I was asking myself before preparing for the day, and I’m not sure of the answers.

Today was amazing. We got to hear stories from missionaries, the passions that drove them to the field and some of the persecution they encountered while there. We got to go to another market and taste and see what it’s like to engage with the many tribes and tongues that inhabit Thailand. We ate my favorite meal so far. We laughed. I didn’t see anyone cry (but someone probably did). We got to spend two hours learning basic Thai from our amazing teacher. She remarked how she was grateful to play a little part in God’s work as a Thai teacher, and I love hearing the fragments of people’s hearts that we get to hold when they say things like that. Finally, we had dinner with a couple and got to hear more about their ministry to the Chinese Muslims. God is good indeed!

I realize more and more that each one of us on this trip are just in the beginning of a long race ahead of us. The most beautiful thing is that for each of us this trip will play some part in path God has laid out ahead of us. On this trip, we hear so much from those who are ahead of us and all the things God did while they were our age that got them to where they are now. I’d ask that you’d pray for us. That the seeds God is planting through this trip would grow in each one of us, that we might look back and see God more glorified through the people we’ve met on this trip and the greater exposure to who God reveals Himself to be through His world.

Thank you all so much for reading and praying for us, God is with us always!

LBC students take in the culture of Thailand at the outdoor Hui Market.

Update #3—By Dylin B.

The LBC Thailand Journey Team gathers at the Ping River.

Today was culture day! To start off our morning, Zach and Kara gave us an orientation presentation about various aspects of Thai culture. We learned about various social norms and how to navigate interactions with people.

Following orientation, we traveled to Makro (Thailand’s version of a Costco or Sam’s Club) to grocery shop for the week. We split into small groups of two or three, and we were each given a few items to shop for. We were challenged to find the most interesting item that we could come across — we encountered some interesting foods!

Following our shopping time at Makro, we experienced a market for lunch. We enjoyed a variety of Thai dishes and fresh fruit smoothies!

After this market, we traveled to the Warrorot market by the river. We explored the various shops and stands, experienced buying items with Thai baht and navigated the busy atmosphere.

In the evening, we enjoyed dinner at [name hidden]’s house. They kindly and graciously opened their home to us for a meal, fellowship and reflection. We went for a walk throughout their neighborhood following dinner, and then we had a chance to hear about their call to serve in Chiang Mai, how they maintain spiritual health while serving on the mission field and how they serve as a family.

It was a great day of exploring and acclimating to the culture of Thailand!

Today was a day filled with joy. I have always been able to clearly hear and discern the Lord’s voice, even from a young age. Yet over the past couple of years, this has diminished from my life for a number of reasons. I questioned if I would ever experience this again in my life with confidence as I have for many years. From the moment back in December when God called me on this trip to the time I spent walking amidst the market by the river today, God has faithfully used this trip to bring this back into my life. What a joy it is to be experiencing the fruit of processing, wrestling with questions and bringing pain to the Lord’s feet in Thailand. God has been faithful, He is faithful, and He will be faithful. I am not naive to think that the pure joy I experienced today will be present each day of this trip, but I am confident that the same God who has carried me to this point will faithfully continue to do so.

Please continue to pray for our physical health and strength! It is very hot and humid here — we are intentionally seeking to stay hydrated! We are also experiencing some jetlag, and we expect to struggle with this tomorrow afternoon. Pray that we would be attentive and open to what God is teaching us tomorrow during our Thai language lesson despite the exhaustion. Please pray for the hearts of the people that we will encounter and interact with. Pray that we would boldly proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ when given the opportunity and that God would use us as vessels to accomplish His purposes.

Update #2—By Sarah M. 

Friends and family! As you are reading this, your loved one is safe and sound on the ground in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The haze of travel has been the reality of our trip so far. We have no concept of time or day! Our journey began at 1:30 a.m. on May 14, and as I write this, it is 9 p.m. (Thailand time) on the 15th. Over 24 hours of just flying.

I could continue on writing all the details of our travel day. How we almost missed one of our flights because of delays or the level of exhaustion we are all currently experiencing. But I want to share something the Lord showed me on our 16-hour flight.

There reaches a point on long flights that the attendants ask everyone to close their window shades so the plane can be dimmed for those who want to sleep. A once lit-up space becomes dark, and at the slightest raise of the window shade, light floods the darkness and illuminates the entirety of the plane. Light is such a powerful thing. The smallest sight of it changes the entire environment. Those sleeping awake at the sudden burst flowing in, and it takes time for everyone’s eyes to adjust to the light that at one time was normal but now has become a foreign thing.

Friends, we are that small sight of light going into a place of darkness. Piercing the darkness, changing the environment.

John 1:5 says “The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.” The Lord has gone before us, and only He knows what challenges we may face, but as a team we are clinging to the hope that the darkness cannot overcome the light. We are praying that those trapped in darkness, those sleepers, would arise in the light of Christ and experience the power of who He is.

What an honor that we, a team of 16 unworthy people, get to be this light in the darkness. We will not be overcome.

We would not have reached the point of me being able to type this on a plane without your prayers and support. We are here because of the goodness of the Lord and the people He brought us to be a vessel of that goodness.

Prayer warriors, would you continue to pray that we would shine bright? That the name of our precious Savior would be glorified over any situation we may encounter, good or bad. That as our eyes adjust to the darkness of the land and the people of Thailand adjust to the light of Christ, would you pray for grace for our team?

Thank you, from every heart on this team, for reading this, for praying for us and showering us in continued support.

Until the whole world knows Him and lifts Him high.

14 LBC students and two leaders are excited to embark on the 2024 Journey Team trip to Thailand.

Update #1—By Dr. Ed 

I write this approximately 24 hours before our Thailand Journey Team assembles for dinner before a late-night departure for the airport. As the Director of Intercultural Studies at LBC, I’m thrilled (along with my wife, Carol) to be taking these 14 students to Thailand. We lived and served there the last 12 years of our 23 years on the mission field, and our eldest daughter and her family have returned there to serve as well.

The team is made up of students from a variety of majors. Yet God has already begun to knit our hearts together. PLEASE PRAY that this would continue. Some have never traveled internationally, and some are veteran travelers. We will be visiting a number of different ministries and contributing to a few local church planting efforts. PLEASE PRAY that we will seek to be a blessing to all we meet.

The rest of our updates will come from the students over the next two weeks. Daily, we will be going through the book of Joshua in our devotional times together. This is my favorite book of the Bible, and I love how it chronicles the entering into the Promised Land. PLEASE PRAY that God would encourage each member of the team to consider what He has for them in His future.

To God be the glory!