Constant Love

“Let your father and your mother be glad, and let her rejoice who gave birth to you.” Proverbs 23:25, NAS.

Da, who is from the Karen hill tribe in northern and western Thailand, was blessed to be a part of a Christian family. She was the youngest of twelve children and grew up in a small village. Although her father was not a pastor, he filled an important role in the church as a counselor. He would listen to people who would not take their problems to the pastor. Da was greatly influenced by her father. Through his guidance and another person in her village, she accepted the Lord at age 12.

As a teenager, Da had the opportunity to leave her village to study in the city of Nawg Pak Nam. It was her first experience of being in the minority group. After her protected life with a large family in a small village, Da found life in the city to be confusing and stressful. She was the only Christian in her school. She wanted desperately to be like the other students. She felt pressured by them and began to lose interest in going to church.

Da says, however, that God had a plan for her. She found a friend in the city who took her to church. Moreover, whenever she went home on school break, she would sing in church. These experiences helped strengthen her relationship with the Lord.

Da’s father had always wanted one of his children to serve God in full-time work. He put his hopes on his youngest child. Although Da admired her father’s service, she thought it was too difficult. She knew how he struggled with the many difficult problems that people brought to him.

Many of her non-Christian friends were making plans to study in the city, and they urged her to come along with them. Da considered this, but she did not feel God’s direction to follow this plan.

As she pondered whether or not she should go to seminary, she wanted to know that God was truly calling her. She didn’t want to do it just to please her father. Da began studying the Bible with a missionary from America in Pattaya. In a short time, God confirmed His call on Da’s life, and He made a way for her to go study at the seminary.

Da’s first year of seminary was marred by the death of her father. Just before the end of the school year, her brother called her at school but did not tell her that her father was sick with cancer. Not knowing how serious it was, she stayed at school until the end of the term. When she returned home, she hardly recognized her father. She was shocked to find out that he had been in the hospital for five months. Da had only two days with her father before he died.

At first, she was very angry. She thought God did not love her and that everyone had abandoned her. With her father gone, she felt she had lost her spiritual mentor and guide. A friend helped her to see things differently. Finally, she found peace in knowing that God had allowed her to see her father before he died and that her father was no longer in pain.

Da’s spiritual strength is growing daily as she continues her studies at the seminary. Last year she went on a mission trip to Myanmar. Although she was anxious about being in a country where English is often the common language, God gave her several opportunities to give her testimony in her native Karen language. She believes that God will give her more opportunities to serve Him among the Karen people. She says that although many Karen people say they are believers, they are not strong in their walk. Da wants to encourage them as others have encouraged her.

Da’s favorite scripture is Psalm 23. It reminds her that God’s love never changes. She has first hand experience that one’s whole world can be turned upside down in just a few days. But she clings to the truth that God’s love is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Pray that:

God will use Da to strengthen the church among the Karen people.

Da’s testimony of God’s unchanging love will draw many to saving faith in Jesus.

Many believers will be like Da’s father, with the dream and desire to see their children serve the Lord full-time.

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