A rewarding place and time...

When we were completing our trip, they recommended volunteers come up with one word to quickly respond when people asked us how the trip was. So, for a quick explanation, I chose “rewarding” as I feel that accurately describes the entire experience for me. And yet, I will explain why I also felt ”redemption” represents it in the next email or post online.

Rewarding. And not just beneficial or pleasing, but truly valuable and worthwhile. Looking back at all that was offered to the missionary woman and what God provided, as well as all the work and prayer that went into it, it was so fulfilling.

At first, we, the volunteers, had all arrived by February 16th, even though I left Colorado on Valentine’s Day. For the next few days, we got to know each other, prepare for the retreat ahead—which meant constructing all the gifts to give to the women (bags, journals, pens, candy, etc.)—grow as a team, and pray immensely for all that was ahead of us—even specifically for each woman attending.

The total number was 98 missionary women and 42 volunteers. We were separated into 17 groups; each was filled with two leaders and six current missionary women (as well as a group for the head leaders). All the girls [1] arrived on Monday, and as I was among the “welcomers” and directing them where to find the material, I was shocked when I greeted one girl, and when she turned to look at me, I knew her. At first, I thought I had accidentally mistaken a volunteer as an attendee, but then I felt I knew her outside of that retreat and not seen her for a while… then I realized it was from Perth! When I was over there with YWAM from 2019 to 2020! And she told me another girl I knew from Perth was there as well! Now, how ironic is that?? Here I am in Thailand in 2024, after having moved back to Colorado, and I get to see people I knew in Perth in 2020! [2]

Of our small group, there were three missionaries in Thailand, one in Togo (Africa), one did missions work for Ukraine (although located in Germany for safety reasons), and one from Taiwan! [3] There was a table for us at each session, and we met afterwards to talk about what had just been said and how it related to our lives, as well as we ate a few meals together. Here is a picture of our dinner together on their first night. It was such a blessing as we all got to know each other and enjoy our time together in such a beautiful part of the world!

It was so neat to hear where each of these women were, and how they all were in need for more of God in their lives (as we all do… whether we know it or not). Each of them was married and had children, except for one single woman, and all of them were in various parts of their life. As one woman had four children, three away at college and one at home with a mental disability, she was struggling as almost all those kids were facing difficulties, and she just felt completely worn out. Another one as her job was medical, she felt exhausted and wondered if she was making any difference—the patients kept coming, but she didn’t feel she was giving the presence of God as a “medication.” Another one used to be a missionary in another country (not the one from Ukraine), but due to military and governmental struggles had to move out for safety reasons, and now she wasn’t sure how to help those she left behind. All six of them had different stories, but above all, it was rest they all needed. The type of rest and peace that only comes from having God be a full part of everything in your life—no matter what you’re going through or how you feel.

And not only did I meet those missionary women in our group, but I also got to know people at various times throughout the entire retreat. For example, before the initial welcome session, I talked to a girl in the lobby and we both said we recognized each other, but even with thorough examination and searching we never found out why… except for now we do! The Thrive retreat! With her, we each explained a lot about our personal lives, and now I know how to pray for her and her life in Lesotho (Africa). Also, there was a woman I met who is working in Cambodia, which thankfully I could relate by having been there as well, and we talked about her current life in Phnom Penh, but her true joy was in another smaller city six hours away. She was wondering what God could be saying to her because she felt her and her husband could reach more people through working at a rock-climbing gym in a huge and busy city, but truly enjoyed the openness and breathability in the smaller town. I also got to know another really sweet woman who was currently working in Thailand, even though she had worked a long time in India and was German (her husband was American). And it was a blessing to me, as she encouraged me enormously, even though I feel it should have been the opposite way around.

Also, each afternoon, which I felt was an important element of this trip for me, I got the blessing of being a spiritual director. As I’ve said I haven’t had much opportunity to really do this much outside of school (even though it’s been seven years since graduation), and I have longed to let God use me in the way and reason I feel He brought me to Colorado in the first place (besides Him knowing my love for mountains). I met with six women over the two days they had free afternoons, and three separately on each day. I can thank the Lord as I feel He used me, and I pray even more so than I will ever find out. At times, I wasn’t sure if I really understood what was coming out of my mouth, but I kept praying it was God’s voice and not mine. I feel it was because they never misunderstood me and only chose to go deeper on the subject.

It was my pleasure to encourage and assure them that they would never be where they are if not for following God’s direction and their willingness to share God with others. One woman in fact had been a missionary in Thailand for a few years, but still wasn’t sure if she was supposed to be there at all. She recently had to switch locations, and even though she was looking forward to her new job, she still didn’t feel at home in Thailand. She hadn’t found a church or community around her yet, and she even still didn’t like Thai food (granted she couldn’t force herself to eat it for dietary reasons… but still felt locals didn't understand and looked down on her). Then another woman felt she was in a good place in life, as she was recently married later in life, but now, even though she didn’t have to stress as much, she felt stuck in her faith: she had no real longing to draw closer to God, even with remembering the joy that it had brought her in the past. And another woman was wondering about her walk with God as she was studying about Him and His Word, but she didn’t feel she knew Him personally at all. With each of these women, I pray God gave me the words to say to strengthen and help them see more of Him in their lives and strive to know Him deeply—and definitely not from my own intelligence or wisdom (or lack thereof).

Looking back at the retreat itself, I believe God did amazing work on each of the women there—both attendees and volunteers (except I’ll get to the volunteers later). Each missionary woman there left extremely grateful for all they had just experienced and how the Lord had spoken to each of them. The speaker, who I thankfully got to know personally, said words that reached each of them individually. I kept hearing one woman appreciate this one particular part, and then another would state their gratitude for her saying another different aspect—yet it was all from the same talk! [4]

On our last time together, there was the opportunity for any woman to stand up and tell everyone anything that moved them on the retreat, but there wasn’t enough time to go through all of the women who wanted to talk! At the end, we prayed specifically for each woman in our group, for anything she requested, and took a final group picture (which unfortunately I can’t show you, as one woman is in an area that restricts any connection with Christian organizations).

The missionary women were warned that upon going back to the world they left, they may forget what had gone on because of distractions or more difficulties being thrown on them (as the devil likes to do). We were encouraged to keep our relationships going and continue praying for each other. I have thoroughly enjoyed and feel honored communicating(/texting) women that I got to know and are living all over the world.

Now as I don’t want to overwhelm your inboxes, just know it was truly very rewarding and blessed, as I saw God work there to reach so many women, who I felt were truly refreshed and renewed when they left the resort on the way back to the world they had previously left. I am truly thankful to be a part of that—it was as such a blessing for me, as it was for them. Due to time, I will write more later on a personal observation and how/why it was rewarding for me personally… as what I will call a time of redemption.

[1] I’m not referring to age or maturity, just a friendly phrase. :o)

[2] And both are also originally from North Carolina, with one I knew in middle school… total irony… or not.

[3] Which is one of my “homelands,” in case you didn’t know… or at least from my two- to four-year-old days.

[4] None of these were contradictory.