TREKing through ASIA

Last winter I visited Thailand and India for a quick 2 week trip to capture video and interview footage for MBMSI, a Mennonite Brethren missions organization (http://www.mbmsi.org/). The two weeks in Asia complimented other aspects of my internship that included teaching a training session on culture shock to short-term mission participants on TREK. In Asia, I stayed with 2 amazing MBMSI TREK teams in Delhi, India and Bang Saen (Chonburi), Thailand, who were all phenomenal young adults, all sharing the common passion to be transformed by Jesus. Kudos to these young people for serving selflessly in far out and complicated locations for almost 8 months. As a TREK leader alumni (2X’s), I had much to share with the TREKers, especially the team leaders, and God blessed me by being able to connect well with them.

2 weeks go by freakishly fast. A lot can happen in this relative short time. Even with all my cross-cultural experiences in the past, I still find myself trying to come to terms with all of the people I met, cultures, and what was happening to me. How do I reflect on my experiences? In 2 weeks, how was God shaping my life? Was I growing closer to Jesus? Was I seeing God at work around me and through me?

I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I remember an earlier experience, several summers ago, hiking alone in the Austrian Alps. Picture this (look at that scene!): I was traversing up a canyon, countless waterfalls falling, looking like fingers, cows chomping on grass like lazy couchpotatoes, sheep spotting the steep canyon side...wow...I like sheep... On an overcast “Vancouver day” and wild alpine flowers growing everywhere, I had to stop to take it all in. Cool enough, the sun peeked through the clouds, casting this warming glow on this magnificent scene before me. Cool...then I sensed God say to me, “Ben, I created this to share with you.” I felt the same way visiting Asia. God created this world to share with me. My time in Asia was a gift from the Giver. I loved the Thai and Indian cultures; I felt very much a like "tourist" with a purpose, who witnessed glimpses of God’s work firsthand.

Here's a few snapshots:

In Thailand, the cost of discipleship is extreme, as 12 Thai believers were baptized. In a predominant Buddhist culture, these passionate Thai believers counted the cost of following Jesus with all their lives, even amidst the potential of families disowning them. Hallelujah! I need to share about Appy-lak, a two-year old orphan, the cutest kid ever, born with AIDS. I held him. Less than a year ago he was healed of AIDS through the prayers of Thai saints and the power of Jesus. Hallelujah!
(Click here to visit the footage I captured at the baptism - http://www.mbmsi.org/thailand/baptism)

Walking through a busy outdoor shopping centre, kids in raggedy torn clothes approached us, almost skipping toward us, smiling. I noticed their dirty bare feet. Greg pointed to a nearby park, “That is where they sleep.” Beside me, John was practicing his limited Hindi while holding on to the hands of a little girl. She had soft brown eyes and a smile of an angel. Seriously. Greg and John knew these street kids by name. Daily they touch the “untouchables”, as they prepare to take the Delhi public transportation system to their various areas of service. Inside me, I was torn between extreme sadness and joy. Still, Jesus was there; he was literally touching the lives of these children of Delhi.

Gandhi once said that the “untouchables” in the unspoken caste system are “Children of God.” I agree.

In one word Asia was: Refreshing! I worked for two weeks straight, gathered almost 9 hours of video footage, had quality time with the TREK teams, ignored jet lag and the stomach flu…and loved my two weeks…though it was definitely long enough away from Melissa, and it sure didn’t help my studies.

I need to raise another $900 CAD for the trip costs to break even. If you want to support this video project with MBMSI, please contact me: bfroese@mbmsi.org or oi_2shoes@hotmail.com I am in the process of editing the footage into two short videos on short-term missions for MBMSI that will be shown to churches, youth groups, meetings, conferences, etc. Thank you so much for all your support!