A Noble Journey: Visiting Thailand for PVT and The World Race

When Alyssa left for the World Race in January we learned about the Parent Vision Trip (PVT). Each racer is given the opportunity to invite his or her parents to join them for a week and do ministry alongside them. Knowing Alyssa's route, that would mean PVT would be somewhere in Asia. I knew Cambodia or Thailand were possibilities because PVT is typically in month 8 of the race. My family all said that I wouldn't go. I didn't have a passport, and I haven't ever been on a mission trip outside of local missions. Randy would go. He has a passport and has been on many mission trips to Mexico and the US.

At launch in Atlanta we were given the book, Kingdom Journeys, by Seth Barnes. I began reading and reflecting on the words of this book. I began to ask God what He wanted me to do. Would I be willing to get outside my comfort zone? What would that look like? In late February I made an appointment to apply for a passport. Then we get the invitation from Alyssa to come to PVT, it would be in Chiang Mai Thailand in July.

As we prepared to leave the country for 12 days, people would ask if we were excited. I honestly didn't know what to say. This was going to be a whole new experience and I didn't know what to expect. Yes, we would see Alyssa, but the point of PVT isn't just to visit your daughter, it's to experience God and serve Him outside your comfort zone.

In my life, things are routine and scheduled. I have everything I need, can go anywhere I want and communicate easily. In a foreign land all that changes. Being outside of my normal life, allowed me to focus more on God.

Here are five things that I took away from my time in Thailand:

Listen for His voice and use less of mine.
Learn where He is working and join Him, even if it is hard, uncomfortable or messy.
Love well. This looks like listening more to others and loving them without judgment.
Be the Light. The motto at Lighthouse in Action is "be Jesus with skin on" Bring the light to dark places by loving like Jesus.
Time is needed, prayer is needed, workers are needed. Nothing happens quickly, you build relationships by loving like Jesus and then you pray for those that come after you to water and cultivate the seeds of love you planted.

I loved spending time with Alyssa and her squad mates. They have been loving like Jesus all over the world and they encouraged the parents at PVT to do the same.