Rabbit stifled a yawn as she sliced downward through the pineapple’s thick peel. She had been up since 4 a.m., as this morning she had traveled to the wholesale market to purchase the fruit she would sell from her vending cart for the next few days. Here’s those Westerners again, she thought as the gray sedan pulled up. She could see their adorable three-year-old boy in the back seat. I hope I can understand them today. Their pronunciation is not very good! Why do they talk to me, anyway? I don’t know them, and I don’t know anyone they know. Oh, well, I will smile and answer them, since they seem to like it.
Rabbit put on her smile. I wonder if I’ll have to talk about the weather again today. Who cares about the weather, when my boyfriend just left me, my younger half-sister is running around with a bad crowd, and my mom keeps asking me to go make merit with her again, and I don’t have the money to do so?
Today, though, Rabbit was surprised. “Do you like to read?” asked the foreign woman.
“Well, yes, actually, I do,” answered Rabbit.
“Here’s a little book you might find interesting. It’s about Christmas. Did you know it will soon be Christmas?” The woman handed her a book with a glossy cover.
Rabbit put on another obligatory smile as she took the book. We’ll see. Most nights I’m too tired to read.
But that night, Rabbit opened the book’s colorful cover. I wonder why that woman would give me a book…
The next time the woman came, she asked Rabbit, “Did you have time to read any of the book?” Rabbit responded, “I never knew Christmas was to celebrate Jesus’ birthday. I thought it was the Westerners’ New Year.”
The woman invited Rabbit to church. It took Rabbit some time to say yes, as Sunday was the day her fruit stand brought in the most profit, with the extra tourists in town.
But something was drawing Rabbit in, a curiosity, a pull that she couldn’t explain or identify. Part of it was the genuine happiness she saw shining from the eyes of those who called themselves “Christians.”
She began to attend church regularly and was surprised to find that she still made enough money. One day, the leader at the church said it was a special day, “Easter Day.” On that day, understanding of what Jesus had done for her gripped Rabbit’s heart. She wept as she confessed her faith in Jesus Christ, and her previously token smile was replaced with a new one: rich, radiant, and genuine.
Missionaries need to learn Thai language and culture. Pray for the new missionaries to be sustained by the Holy Spirit in their study of Thai language and culture. It takes most people over three years to gain fluency and clarity in Thai, and even longer to deeply understand the culture.
Literature is the most important media for sharing the gospel in Thailand. Sixty-six percent of the Thai who have turned to Christ say literature was the media that most influenced their decision. Pray for the production of literature that presents the gospel with excellent Thai language and in ways that connect to the heart concerns of Thai people. Pray for more Thai authors that can write literature that will help other Thai understand the gospel and respond appropriately to the Lord Jesus. Pray for the distribution of this literature.
Many Thai work in jobs that provide income day-to-day. They are very vulnerable because weather can prevent them from working; or if they get sick, they can’t work; or if they have family issues, they can’t work. This vulnerability makes them more open to the gospel, but also less willing to stop work in order to learn more about Christ. Pray they will seek first the kingdom of God, and that as they do, God will provide for their daily needs. Pray for the Christians who are working in these kinds of jobs to share their faith with boldness.