Upon arriving in Thailand in 1993, we were immediately faced with the process of "hiring" a household helper. We had no idea how we would go about figuring out who would be right for us, but our mentors had already been about the task of finding available girls to fulfill the task. Interview day arrived so Rob and I gathered together with Dolores and our applicant - Namthan (Sugar) and begin the process of "interviewing". The questions went something like this - keep in mind that all questions and responses were done through translation: "Have you ever worked cleaning houses before?" No ma'am. My friend has told me what she does and I feel like I am up to the task. "Do you speak any English?" No ma'am."How old are you?" 18. How long have you been in Bangkok? "about one month". Have you ever taken care of children? "I have a younger brother".
As you can see - all and all we did not have much to go by. No references. No job experience. No English or cooking skills. But she had such a 'sweet' spirit and as we spoke the Lord spoke to me as clearly as anything that we were to choose "Sugar" to come to work in our home. She would live with us in a special helper's quarters. She would clean, do laundry, cook and take care of the children when necessary. All this for less than $100/month.
We were blessed to be housed in a duplex above another family whose helper was very experienced. She was an amazing cook and was very willing to train Namthan. Namthan was a fast learner and a hard worker. I realized quickly that she watched our family closely. One day she asked to speak with us and stated that her brother was going to be ordained as a monk and asked if we could help to contribute towards the celebration of his ordination? With the help of our pastor friend we explained that because we worshiped the God of the Bible we were not able to support the rituals of Buddhism. Shortly after that her cousin visited at the house and gifted us with some tracts on Buddhist meditation. We found this to be an excellent opportunity to share some tracts and Bibles with the girls.
From that day on, for the next month, whenever Namthan had a break in her job responsibilities she could be seen sitting on Anna's little stool and reading one of the tracts or her Bible. Our Thai skills were still so limited we could not speak to her clearly about our faith, but were grateful for these tools to be in her own heart language.
One night I was home alone and she came to me and stated that she had decided to follow Christ. I was so astounded! How could someone lead themselves to the Lord! After all, isn't that our job? She had the written tools to lead her to Christ (including God's Word), but we had never been able to share clearly with her. I sat down with her and a side by side Thai-English Bible and went through scriptures related to sin and God's love for her. About how she could have forgiveness and eternal life. She let me know that she understood and that she was so excited about her decision to follow Jesus that she had already told her family!
The first year while we were in Bangkok she grew very slowly. We found that the social class stigmas were very difficult for a girl who came from up-country even among the local Believers. About a year later we felt the Lord leading us to Pattaya and wanted Namthan to come with us. She was so afraid - the reputation of the city was so bad and her family did not want her to live there. However, after going for a visit and seeing the location of our home she decided to move with us. In Pattaya we found a place that was very open and accepting of "everyone". The local Believers reached out to her, took her in and raised her up to understand that she was created to serve God. She was in regular Bible study and soon began teaching children, leading worship and doing her part to maintain the worship center and reach out to other women.
Soon after we left Thailand, Namthan was introduced to a young man whom she grew to love. They married and she moved to Chiang Mai where she continues to work as a housekeeper for the ministry office, but more important she continues to serve in her church by teaching and evangelizing. Our last visit together she was planning a mission trip to Nepal with a group of women. Her most recent ministry is to be involved in church planting by starting a house church in a Karen village. She plans to go to her own hometown and begin a house church there next year.
When I look back regarding the relationship we had with this young woman a few things stand out to me:
1. It's not always about being qualified for the task.
A. Nothing about Namthan's past had qualified her for the task of being a housekeeper or a nanny. Her qualification came through the Lord's choosing to place her in our home and our being obedient to overlook all that disqualified her for the task.
B. Nothing about our past qualified us to lead Namthan to Christ. Namthan alone was able to respond to the Spirit's yearning in her heart. She observed a family who loved one another. She observed a family who loved God. She observed a family who loved others. To her this was right.
2. It is ALWAYS about being faithful to the call and leadership of God in our lives.
The Holy Spirit spoke to us that January day and clearly told us Namthan should come to live and work with us. We clearly felt that she should stay with us when we moved to Pattaya - the Lord got a hold of her life in a big way. She has grown into an amazing wife, mother and woman of God.
Shortly after beginning this post, about a month ago, I found out that Namthan had been in the hospital for about a month for a terrible infection following a pulled tooth. She had been sick for months and is fortunate to be alive. I praise God for her restored health as she was released from the hospital last week. I look forward to spending quality time with her and her family after we arrive in Thailand. I am so proud to be known as "Grandma" Lori to her son, Sadudii "Psalms". He is taking after his mama singing songs of praise to his God - and taking after "Grandpa" Rob by eating lots of yummy ice cream.
Blessings,
Lori
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