Welcome to Chiang Mai!

After one van ride, three flights, two trains, one trek, one bus ride, and a pick up truck lift, my team finally arrived in Chiang Mai, Thailand! 50 hours of travel ended with us arriving at our hostel at midnight our time, noon eastern time. After sleeping on the floor and using porta potties all throughout training camp, bunk beds and indoor plumbing were much appreciated. Not to mention we’re over top of an incredible coffee shop and roaster called Bella Goose! This is the ministry my team and I are partnered with for the next two months!

I’m overwhelmed by all the joy in the little details of being here. Just waking up and remembering where I am, eating insanely delicious foods I’ve never heard of before, walking past the bakery in the coffee shop multiple times a day and pausing to look inside. I can barely contain my excitement, just ask my teammates!

My team, pictured here, is made up of myself, Amanda, Aaron, Coby, John, and Tucker. These people have proven to be such a blessing to me. From heavy theological debates to in-depth conversations about our testimonies, these people have only been kind and open-minded. I’m ecstatic to see how the Lord will move in us over these next two months, not only to grow us closer to Himself, but also to each other. I can already tell these people are family. I honored to work alongside them with our ministry partner, Bella Goose.

The cafe itself is only a fraction of all that Bella Goose is. At its heart, Bella Goose is anti-trafficking and works to help those affected or at risk of exploitation to build life and career skills so that they can grow beyond and overcome what they’ve experienced. My team is jumping in through a few different ways. We’ll be painting the interior of one of the transition homes for women and their children next week, helping develop and facilitate a new occupational training program for most of our time here, and helping out with the staff’s child care. There are a couple people on my team who are especially passionate about anti-trafficking efforts, and it’s been a privilege to see them step into a position of being able to do something about it.

The occupational training aspect of this ministry is particularly exciting for me because of my background as a baker. Our ministry partner is having me design a 6-week bakery curriculum course that will be used once the program it’s under is up and running. This course will be for people affected by or at risk of trafficking, exploitation, and abuse to give them skills to land a job and get back on their feet. I never imagined God would use my experience from culinary school and in the food service industry to further His kingdom in such an obvious and hands-on way, but here I am in Thailand doing exactly what He has equipped me to do. I’m so blessed to be able to use my skills for good and for His glory.

I’m praying my team’s efforts will have generational impacts beyond our two months here. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to be even just a little part of the healing and restoration process for these people. Thank you to all of my supporters for making this possible. I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you, and how God moved through you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Please be praying for our efforts here, that God would take them and multiply them. God bless!