international dinner

Tonight, we did something really cool called an "international dinner." Everyone was given a note prior to the event telling us where to meet and what time, as well as a people group. Most groups met and then relocated to the gazebo/pavilion on campus (Europe, Africa, Asia, Middle East, and South America as well as America). These groups all had different types of food, which represented their area's spiritual state, and, from what I can gather, were attempting to bring pieces of bread (representing the Gospel) across borders. They also had restrictions on who they could talk to and how they could act. The Americans were of course feasting on steak and fresh fruit and such and partying, until they realized the state of everyone around them.

The reason I don't know much about these groups is that I was put in a completely different group. Five of us were taken to another part of campus to an apartment where we all sat in the same room, door closed, no talking, no food, and lights out. We each had a headlamp and spent an hour and a half reading about one of the main world religions and then a people group affected by that world religion, then by praying for that people group. The five main unreached people groups are characterized by the acronym THUMB: Tribal/Animist, Hindu, Unreached (or China, if you turn the 'U' sideways), Muslim, and Buddhist. These groups are mainly in the 10/40 window, and are not necessarily more "lost" than the rest of the world- it's more that they don't even have access to the Gospel. That was symbolized by the fact that we were in total darkness, total silence, and without food. The other groups in the pavilion didn't realize for a while that people were missing, until finally someone came looking for us and brought us bread, which he had to instruct us on how to eat (more symbolism).

I was given a folder containing information on Buddhism and the Central Thai people in Thailand. This came as no surprise to me, since the Foltz family is there currently and some of my close friends are there at various points this summer. Coming into the event, I somewhat knew what was about to happen, so before starting to read I just prayed that God would use that time to develop my heart for the world. Thailand has been more in my thoughts this summer, and it was really incredible to read about Buddhism and its prevalence in that part of the world. Some of the things that really struck me included:

1. No belief in a personal God. Their goal is to attain nirvana, which is basically an abstract void and a state of non-existence. I am so thankful for my personal relationship with God. During this time it really hit me how much I value the ability to speak to Him and know He is listening and know He cares.
   
2. All desire is bad because it produces suffering, and you are trying to reach a state of no desire. As Christians, we can agree that wrong desire produces suffering, but there is right desire for God and the things of Him that produces joy and satisfaction.
3. One reaches nirvana by self-reliance. It all depends on what you do. God knows that, if salvation were dependent on me, I would never get there. I am so thankful for grace.

I can't imagine trying to live life continually striving to earn merit, never knowing if you are doing good enough. I can't imagine trying to put away all desires and seeing your purpose as coming to a fuller realization that you don't actually exist and everything is simply an illusion. My heart just began to break for these people, and as I sat there in the dark praying, tears began to fall down my face. I am so blessed in my relationship with God and the accessibility I have to His Word and to church. So often I take these things for granted here in the States. The phrase that continually kept coming to my mind was "Break my heart for what breaks Yours/Everything I am for Your kingdom's cause" from the song "Hosanna." I found myself truly praying that God could have everything I am for His kingdom.

I grew up attending Bible studies led by people on staff with the Traveling Team, and many of my high school mentors are now overseas. I went to Mexico twice as well as the Czech Republic with my youth group. Missions was always a big deal at my church, and I have never taken the Perspectives class but I have had tastes of it through various Bible studies, so it's not that I didn't have that world vision prior to tonight. My heart was more awakened to it, though. And I am excited to see how God continues to use that in my life.

My prayer for these people comes from Matthew 9:37-38 -"Then he said to his disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.' " I am praying that the Lord sends people to harvest His fields in South Asia, specifically Thailand - and I know I cannot pray this without being willing to go myself, so in this I am praying that He continues to direct me in my future, whether it be here in the States or overseas. I am willing to be a laborer in His field, wherever He wants me to work.