Thailand Mission Awareness Tour – 2001/2002

 

Erika Lapinskas writes…

This trip has been part work party, part holiday and part mission.  I think we’ve benefited some people with the work we’ve done and the witness we’ve been while over here – ambassadors for another way of life that embraces hope rather than karma and fatalism.  However I think that we are the ones who have benefited more.  So often we need to separate God from Western culture so that we can get to know Him, and not just live by the traditions and churchiness we’ve been brought up in, in Australia.  God has been working in so many ways – in the lives of the people we meet, in the lives and personalities and priorities of everyone in the team, in our relationships with each other and the kids, in the work we’ve done and most importantly in our relationship with Him.  Among the team, it has been incredible to see the priority changes in such a short time.  For example, at the start of the trip things like the food, the shopping, the massages and the toilets(!) were an issue.  Now these things take second place to people and relationships, to working and learning about God.  In Australia we are very fortunate to have a great lifestyle, but the availability of amenities has obscured our need and love for God and for each other.