Song in My Heart

“O come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation.” Psalm 95:1, NAS.

Tic is a Thai believer who believes that God is using her to reach out to her family. Her younger sister has already received Christ and her brother is asking questions. Tic says that her family has changed completely since she became a Christian. Her parents’ relationship has greatly improved, and her father has stopped drinking. Tic dreams of a special day they will have when they can celebrate the whole family coming together in shared fellowship with Christ.

It has been a long struggle to achieve the hope and happiness Tic now feels in her family. When Thailand’s economy crashed in the 1990’s, Tic’s family was in turmoil. Her father had a good job, but he traveled throughout the world, and his drinking used up his earnings. There was never enough money for the family. At age 19, Tic had to quit school and go to work as a domestic worker in Hong Kong. Later she got a job in a factory that made diving suits. Although her English was limited, she believes that God brought her to an office job where she quickly made friends who helped her.

After working in the factory for just a year, Tic accepted a job taking care of an elderly lady. This experience made her realize the fragile nature of life. She says, “I felt [then] that life is very short.” She enjoyed working in Hong Kong and knew that the money she sent home to her mother and siblings was a great help. She worked there for five years.

She briefly returned to Thailand for a short time, and then she returned to Hong Kong to work in a clothing factory. She ran into an old friend with whom she had previously enjoyed drinking and partying. The friend had changed completely. Tic said, “She was not my old friend. I was angry with her and wanted to know who changed her.”

The friend replied, “Follow me. Go to church. You can see.” Tic notes that she didn’t tell her the Gospel. The friend simply invited her to come and see for herself. When she went to church with her friend, Tic said that she felt like she had come home. It was a Chinese church with a Thai missionary pastor. Tic was impressed with the Thai people she met there and with the warmth they extended to her. The first verses Tic can remember learning there were from Matthew 11: 28-30: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” For a young woman of 27 who for years had gone from job to job to help her family survive, this was good news.

The missionary gave Tic a Bible and helped her study and understand its truths. After about six months, Tic accepted Christ into her life. She was amazed at the answers to life’s questions that she found by reading God’s Word. She began to grow apart from the young man she had planned to marry when she realized that God wanted her to marry a Christian. She was able to forgive her father. She even enjoyed her work more. Tic says that her life felt peaceful and happy for the first time.

Eventually Tic felt that God was calling her to leave Hong Kong and serve Him. God confirmed that she should not worry about her work or even whether or not she would marry. She knew that God was leading her to something even if she did not understand His whole plan.

When she came back to Thailand in 2003, she shared with her family about her desire to study at the seminary. Although she was the first in her family to become a Christian, they gave her permission and agreed to help support her.

Tic overflows with happiness as she serves God. Last year as she was preparing to go on a mission trip with a team of students, her brother was curious about how she could manage it. He said, “How do you go anywhere? You don’t have money!” Tic tells him that this is God’s work—He makes a way for her to go and share the story of Jesus.

Tic loves to sing. When she is home, Tic says she sings her songs of praise “very loud.” Her family is changing their minds about Christians. She believes her younger sister came to know Christ through listening to her worship songs.

Tic has a heart to go to places outside of Thailand where Thais have gone to find work. She believes that she can help them come to know the Lord like she did and come back to Thailand to witness to their families.

Recently Tic stood in front of a large audience, and with a radiant smile on her face, sang, “I Stand in Awe of You.” All those listening could surely see that this young woman does stand in awe of the Savior who took her burdens, changed her life, and gave her hope for the future.

Pray that:

God will give Thai believers grace and boldness to witness to their friends and family.

Tic will continue to sing praises “loudly” for her King! And that her entire family will all share the same faith soon.

Pacific Rim is a region of the International Mission Board, SBC.