One happy side feature of this trip - and likely for many trips to come - has been connecting with Esther Weatherall, Highview's first home-grown, on-the-field, full-time career missionary!
She serves at Bahn Dem Rak in Chiang Mai, and since we're so close....of course we had to go pay a visit and get a tour.
This is an entirely different environment than our more rural life at Hot Springs, matching Esther's keen, in-the-thick-of-things personality. Narrow streets, lots of motorbikes, and something of an intense neighbourhood vibe. This is exactly why YWAM has moved in to provide a place for children, youth and adults to come together in a safe space and experience the love of Jesus. And this is why Esther's here.
Esther's story is her own to tell, but it's meaningful to me that she celebrated her 18th birthday while on a trip we took together visiting Hot Springs and exposing her for the first time to Thai culture and the potential of ministry here. She has since then diligently pursued her education, completing her Masters in Missiology at Providence University College before arriving for her third extended stint serving in Thailand. She's got the spunk to get herself around not just in the busy traffic of Chiang Mai, but throughout the country, and other places in Southeast Asia when necessary for conferences and visas and such.
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While our Team's purpose here was laser focused on teaching English to the children at Hot Springs, to the point that we opted out of some of the usual outings, we all felt that this little side visit with Esther was inspiring, eye-opening, and time well spent. Even down to the 'very Thai' lunch we had in a little eatery down the way.
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And oh...it was fun to be able to bring a few gifts and goodies from various folks at home who are missing Esther very much. Yes, the PS4 arrived intact!
We pray strength and blessings and wisdom and all the goodness of God's plans and purposes for Esther as we grows into all He's put before her to do and be.
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