Lauren
Lauren McKenzie (far right) was the student leader of a team that went to Thailand to teach English during summer 2008. Here, she shares about the opportunity to teach in Southeast Asia.
Why did you choose to participate in this experience?
This trip was actually my third to Asia, but it was my first trip to take with Evangel University where I was given the opportunity to lead a team of students.
Having been to Asia before, I had developed a burden for reaching the people of Southeast Asia. I really wanted to lead my team over to Thailand and watch my team members’ hearts be broken for this nation, as mine had been before. I wanted to be a part of helping other young people become passionate about Southeast Asia.
What was a highlight moment?
I was really given the chance to get submersed in the culture, and because of that I was able to do many things a tourist would normally not be able to do. I was able to plant rice in a rice field, ride water buffalo, cook authentic Thai food, and introduce our Thai pastor to pancakes.
However, I think the highlight of the trip was when the students had a teacher appreciation day called Waicrew. The students spent the whole day before preparing for Waicrew by making these amazing flower arrangements. Then, on Waicrew the students went around to all teachers to give them flowers and give them wishes for the next year. It was a fun and unique experience.
How has this experience had an impact on you?
Toward the end of our stay in Bahn Phue, Amanda and I finished teaching at the high school. While we were teaching I didn’t think too hard about the significance of what we were doing. To me it didn’t seem like a big deal — we were just teaching English. It was just something simple that we wanted to do to help. However, when the teachers repeatedly thanked us, I realized that we had somehow impacted these teachers’ lives in a way we couldn’t understand.
God works in miraculous ways. I began to understand that one of the most powerful ministries is the simplest one of all: the ministry of love and servitude. I saw this simple ministry open doors I never thought could have been opened and touch the hearts of those who could have never been touched.
I’ve learned to look for these opportunities and be willing to serve another and love another besides myself. Just having the philosophy down is not good enough. It’s the actual act of denying myself, my comfort, my tradition, and my way of doing things to show my love, and ultimately Christ’s love, for this person, people, or culture. It’s easy to say it but not so easy to live it. I’m continuing to work on it.