Different Languages

“For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith.” 1 John 5:3-4, NKJV.

After working four years as a nurse in the Baptist medical clinic in Chiang Klang, Thailand, the clinic closed. Noi was given the option of continuing on to start a new ministry to the hill tribes, or to go do something else. As a trained and experienced nurse, it would have been easy for her to get a job at a hospital in the city.

In fact, many of Noi’s friends from nursing college called her to encourage her to work with them at the hospital in Nan. She tried to explain that she had a heart for working with the hill tribes, and that she received great joy from serving God and being obedient to Him. She told them that loving God and people is more important than making money.

The more she tried to explain, the less her nursing friends seemed to understand. It was strange and sad, but in some ways, even though they are all Northern Thai, it was as if they spoke a completely different language than Noi.  Her friends told her that she was making too great a sacrifice by staying with the hill tribe’s team. Noi didn’t see it as a sacrifice at all. Noi said, “To obey God is better than money any day.”

Pray that:

God will continue to give joy and satisfaction to His children as they obey Him and take the Gospel to the hill tribes of Northern Thailand.

God will call many Lua, Mien, Hmong and Akha to faith in the LORD.

Noi’s nursing friends will come to understand the exceeding value of having the peace of God in their lives.

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