THAILAND – Mang, Pohn, Russell, Tee and I are gathered under an open pavilion in a small village community near Naratchakwai. Nearby, two water buffalo are grazing beneath a cement water tower, and our meeting is about to start. This is the third such meeting coordinated by Yai Mang (“Yai,” a term of respect for an older woman), Pohn’s mother.
Yai’s evangelistic contacts have come to this pavilion to meet us, her foreign friends. We plan to first share the gospel and then invite them to a gospel outreach event planned for the following week. The first two meetings like this took place at private residences, one under a corrugated metal roof and the other in the space under a home elevated to protect it from flooding. The first two meetings had groups of three people present, whereas today’s gathering has drawn more than a dozen.
We are fortunate that the heavy rains have slacked off enough to allow our visits. The noise of heavy rain on metal roofs makes it nearly impossible to carry on a conversation. By stopping the rain, God has made a way for us to communicate.
This meeting is like the others and is being held in an open-air location to allow free movement and relief from the tropical heat. Each person shows us such warmth and kindness, which I’m sure is the result of Yai Mang’s friendship with the villagers, cultivated over many years. For a long time, she has come into this small community to sell her produce and give food to those most in need. It is as if these villagers are saying to Mang, “You are our friend, and since these foreigners are your friends, we welcome them.”
The questions today are simple and reveal that they are immersed in a Buddhist culture. The questions come from those who have likely never met a Christian, never seen a Bible and never attended a church. Their questions don’t center on theology. They ask, “How is the Christian God different? Who is Jesus? Why is life hard? Why did this Jesus die on the cross?”
While the questions seem simple, they are difficult to answer using a translator. While it may seem like a simple process, it is actually quite complex. Without a clear understanding of the question being asked, you can find yourself answering a question that was never asked in the first place. In our situation, it requires trust in the translator and dependence on the Holy Spirit.
Here’s an example. When asked, “Why did Jesus die on the cross?” we first must understand what is actually being asked before we can answer. Is the question asking why Jesus died? In that case, we might answer, “To pay the penalty for sin.” Or is the question asking why crucifixion was the method by which Jesus died? That requires a different answer: “To fulfill Old Testament prophecy.” The answers are very different because the questions themselves are different. No matter the question or answer, we still must rely on our translator and the Holy Spirit because our responses often lead to further questions about sin, prophecy and other biblical truths.
We leave wondering whether we have been successful at all in communicating with our new friends. Many leave saying they plan to come to the evangelism event and even fill out informational cards.
In the end, by God’s grace and leading, most of them did attend, along with 90 others from the surrounding community. Some have since attended the follow-up Bible study being held at Yai Mang’s home. Pray that the Lord would draw each of them to himself.
