One Day in the Life of a Short-Term Missionary

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28 : 18 - 20

6 o’ clock in the morning. Daylight is already streaming into the large room which takes up the whole of the wooden hut. Pastor Somchai and his family have moved out of this hut to make way for the sleeping quarters of the Singapore team from Bethel Presbyterian Church.

Somewhere in the distance, a rooster has been exercising its vocals since a while ago. The early risers in the Singapore team are busy tidying up their sleeping bags, with the hanging mosquito nets around them providing some privacy. The remaining sleepers quickly get up to take their turns in the two toilets. Toiletries have been placed in small baskets in the toilets for shared use. Some team members find it refreshing to take an early morning shower.

6.30 am. All are gathered for the morning devotion and seated around the tables at the outdoor dining area. This dining area has been dug out specially by the local Christians from a hill-slope next to Pastor Somchai’s house.

Worship songs are led by a team member. Another team member gives some thoughts and insights in a short devotion for spiritual nourishment, as the rest of the group take sips of their hot coffee, tea or ovaltine. The schedule for the day is then given by our team leader and a debrief held on the experiences of the day before.

7.45 am. Breakfast, cooked by Somchai’s wife and family, is ready. The breakfast menu is varied for each day and always comes with cut fruit (mango, pineapple, honey dew or dragon fruit). The “kiam muay” (porridge with pork slices and vegetables) tastes especially good and reminds one of mom’s cooking back home. Rice is also served for breakfast on some days, with a cooked meat-and-vegetable dish, fried egg plus soup. The Singaporeans do the dish-washing after breakfast to help out the locals who do the cooking, and not because of any hygiene reasons.

9.00 am. The girls squeeze into the passenger cabins of two 4-by-4 half trucks (can squeeze in max of 5 passengers each). The guys in the Singapore team and the local Christians climb into the open back of the trucks. When it rains, the Singaporeans pull raincoats over them while the locals seek cover under a tarpaulin in the back of the trucks. Thank God, the weather is good most of the time, though the sun can be burningly hot at times. The two trucks bring the Singapore and local teams to visit Christian families in the village. The Christians are uplifted during the house visitations with Christian Thai songs and prayers for them.

Singapore and local teams praying for Christian lady recovering from stroke.

12.30 pm. Back in Baan-Orn village, another well-cooked meal awaits the Singapore and local teams. Lunch is different for each day – rice with meat-and-vegetable dish and soup, or “hor fun” (much like what we eat back home), or fried rice, served with fruits. The Singaporean team in the dish-washing roster brings the used utensils to a stand-pipe tap to wash.

1.30 pm. The different ministry groups in the Singapore team get ready for the activities planned for the afternoon. For the Medical Clinic, tables and chairs are set up for registration, doctor consultation and dispensary in the church premises in Baan-Orn In/Out. All through the afternoon, the local church leaders work tirelessly in the frontline to pray for patients at the Medical Clinic and share the Gospel with non-Christians.

Singapore team providing medical care to locals.

Over at the Baan-Orn school, the PA system (borrowed from the church) is set up in the large hall where the children assemble. For the Children Program in the school, the two Thai interpreters chip in to help the Singapore team with the games, teaching of new songs and dance steps, and art and craft.

Vacation bible school for the children.

6.30 pm. Dinner is usually rice, a meat-and-vegetable dish, soup and fruits. All the dinners, except one, are cooked by Somchai’s wife and family. The chicken rice dinner cooked by the Singapore team for the Village Heads, local church leaders and their wives receives much commendation.

8.00 pm. Activities planned for the night are underway. In the church office, classes are held for the local Christians on “Basic Christian Living” (new Christian follow-up course). The hunger for God’s word is evident in the participants’ ready willingness to continue the class beyond 9 pm even after working in the day. In the sanctuary, a small group of young children learns simple action words in English eg clap your hands, stamp your feet. Another small group of local youths gathers in the church’s open annex hall to learn conversational English.

Local church leaders poring over training materials.

9.30 pm. The Singapore team closes the day with another short devotion and debrief on the day’s experiences and observations. Members feel blessed by the people in Baan-Orn.

10.30 pm. Lights are out. Gentle snores can be heard amidst the whirring sound of the two electric standing fans …….