Who could have known that such a seemingly insignificant decision would open a whole new horizon for our mission here in Khon Kaen?
“I think I’ll take Daniel to the violin group this afternoon,” Ricardo said, reaching for a glass of water to cool the heat of the somtum he had just eaten. We were attending the Thai Adventist church during our language study stint in Bangkok and had noticed children bringing their violins to church after the potluck each Sabbath. We asked about it and learned that Dr. Ruth, an Adventist dentist, had organized the group to give children the chance to learn and serve through music. Since then, we had been planning to take Daniel to join them.
“Sounds like a good idea to me,” I said.
On that first Sabbath, Dr. Ruth immediately put Ricardo to work. The volunteer music teacher from a local school typically was there to help, but she had recently given birth and wasn’t able to come as frequently. Before he knew it, Ricardo was tuning violins, helping the kids with their form and conducting them in the pieces they were preparing for 13th Sabbath. Gabriel and I pitched in on the piano when the regular accompanist didn’t come.
The immediate effect of this decision was that we were suddenly connected to a specific community as members with roles, not to mention the discovery of a venue where we could practice Thai and learn more about Thai culture. Ricardo also quickly recognized the power of music to break down barriers and open doors, especially when working with children. We learned that Buddhist parents did not seem to mind at all when their children sang songs about Jesus and played Christian music. Neither did they object to attending religious programs in which their children performed. Indeed, they beamed, snapped pictures and took video. We began to dream about how such events could be used to build bridges and increase people’s hunger to know more about the Gospel.
Over the remaining few months of our time in Bangkok, we participated in a number of performances, including a program in honor of the queen’s birthday that was attended by the mayor of Bangkok. When the department of religious affairs in the Ministry of Culture held a program honoring the king’s birthday at the Royal Thai Government House of Thailand, our group was invited to perform. During the Christmas season, the group played in several places, including a large mall. We even took a trip to northern Thailand where we performed in churches, hotels and hospitals.
We have returned to Khon Kaen excited at the prospect of using music as a tool to open the community to ministry, but acutely aware that we need divine direction for each step of the way. We’ve made some interesting discoveries already and are praying for wisdom as we look for open doors. For example, while riding around Khon Kaen looking for housing that would allow us to start teaching some classes out of our home, we discovered an instrument company with an attached music school that offers classes on the weekends. Ricardo wondered if it might not be better for us to focus on helping in an existing school. We went in to check out the instruments, and while Ricardo was trying out one of the violins, the owner offered him a job teaching at her school if he was interested!
We left the store greatly encouraged and with an even deeper sense of our need for God to direct our steps as we begin our ministry here. Stay tuned for further developments!
