mission trip highlight: thailand 1

By Zhengqiang Li

In November, I participated in a short-term mission in Northern Thailand. As we set out on this journey, I deeply experienced the river of life flowing from God's throne. This river transcends nations, regions, races, and ages, manifesting God's extraordinary grace.

十一月我参加了泰北短宣。当迈开短宣的步伐，就体会到生命的河水从神的宝座流出，河水跨越国家地区、种族、年龄，神的恩典奇妙无比。

Northern Thailand's Chiang Rai is situated at the junction of Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar, an area known as the "Golden Triangle." It is home to many ethnic minorities, such as the Zhuang, Miao, Bai, Akha, and Manchu peoples, as well as the descendants of soldiers who fled from China during the civil war. This remote area is plagued by vices such as gambling, drugs, and prostitution. To the world, it may seem forgotten and abandoned, but God has not forgotten it. The river of life continues to flow through this place, bringing new life.

泰北清莱地处泰国、寮国和缅甸三国交界处，称之为“金三角”，有众多少数民族如壮族、苗族、白族、阿卡族、满族等，还有中国内战遗留的孤军及其后代，这地方偏僻，“黄赌毒‘’泛滥，人心空虚，在世人看来是被遗忘、被遗弃的地方，但神没有忘记这地方，生命的河水依然流经，并带来全新的生命。

We primarily served children from grades one through twelve at the New Life Center in Northern Thailand. Each morning, the children were sent to various public or private schools and brought back to the center after school. Their day began with a 40-minute devotion around 6 a.m., followed by evening worship and Bible study in Chinese. We were divided into groups to lead students of different ages in morning devotions and evening classes. Spending time with these children was a source of immense joy, and within a few days, we became friends and family.

我们主要在泰北新生命中心服事一至十二年纪的孩子。孩子们每天早上被送到不同的公立或私立学校，放学时被接回学生中心。每天早上六点多灵修四十分钟；晚上敬拜然后分组学习圣经中文。我们分不同的组带不同年龄领的学生，早上灵修，晚上上课。和孩子们在一起快乐无比，几天下来与孩子们成为朋友、家人。

Some children shared their worries, like missing their mothers who had to work far away in China, leaving them feeling lonely. Others shared their dreams, which were not always supported by their families. Some spoke of their joy at being accepted into college. We prayed for one another. Many of these children gradually came to know God and accepted Jesus at the New Life Center. They carried their faith to university and back to their families, influencing their communities in Thailand. While prayer-walking on the campuses of two universities in Chiang Rai, we unexpectedly encountered several students who had come from the New Life Center. They were still attending gospel meetings and spreading the good news. The river of life flows across generations, from youth to adults, from children to parents and grandparents.

有的同学分享烦恼，不想妈妈去很远的中国打工，感到孤单；有的同学分享他的梦想，梦想不被家人接受；有的同学分享考大学的情况，高兴地拿到大学的录取。我们互相代祷。这些孩子在新生命中心很多渐渐地认识神、接受耶稣。他们把信仰带到大学，带到家里，影响着泰国社区。我们在清莱的两所大学行走祷告就不期而遇几名从新生命学生中心出来的大学生，他们依然参加福音聚会，并传扬福音。 生命的河水跨越年龄，从少年到成人，从儿童到父辈祖辈。

We also reached out to two Thai public schools to share the gospel. In these schools, Buddhist monks often came to teach, but there were few opportunities to hear the gospel. When we asked the students, many had barely heard about Christmas, let alone its true meaning centered on Jesus Christ. Yet, we saw God’s miraculous guidance. One school had initially planned for only a few classes to attend our gospel outreach. On the morning of our visit, however, we were informed that the entire school of over 100 students would join. Excited and nervous, we adjusted our plans to accommodate this larger audience. Together with the students and teachers, we celebrated a Christmas focused on Jesus’ salvation, experiencing joy and peace that other religions cannot provide. Both students and teachers eagerly awaited our return. The river of life flows across cultures, breaking through barriers of idolatry.

我们还去两所泰国公立的学校拓展福音。这里的学校常常有和尚来讲佛论道，福音的布道却很少，我们问过学生，他们很少人过圣诞节，几乎没有听过圣诞真正的主题是关于耶稣基督的。我们也看到神奇妙的带领。有所学校本来计划安排个别班参加我们的福音拓展，当天早上我们出发前，通知我们他们全校一百多名学生全交给我们。我们激动又紧张，看到神预备的庄稼是广阔的，马上临时调整部分福音拓展环节。学生和老师与我们一起提前过了一个真正的关于耶稣救恩的圣诞节，欢乐、平安是其他的宗教带不来的，老师同学期待我们下次再来。生命的河水跨越不同的文化。甚至冲破异教的阻碍。

We also visited several branches of the New Life Center. These branches, located in Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia, were established following the vision of early gospel pioneers to evangelize along the Mekong River. Flowing through six countries—China, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam—the river traverses mountains and valleys without ceasing, much like the gospel it represents. Some missionaries even had their ashes scattered in the Mekong River. The river of life flowing from God’s throne crosses borders, quenching the thirst of all who drink from it.

我们还到新生命中心不同的分堂访问。新生命中心在泰国、缅甸、寮国、柬埔寨等有分堂，早期的福音布道先驱留下的异象就是沿着湄公河传福音，湄公河流经中国、泰国、缅甸、寮国、柬埔寨和越南六国，虽有高山峡谷阻拦但河水却日夜不间断地流，传教士的骨灰就撒在湄公河，从神宝座流出的生命河水跨域国家地区，使人喝了这水才永不再渴。

“The angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb, down the middle of the great street of the city” (Revelation 22:1-2). During this mission, I witnessed firsthand how this river of life flows through different age groups, cultures, ethnicities, and nations. It heals the people and nourishes the lives of those of us involved in this mission.

“天使又指示我在城市的街道当中有一道生命水的河，明亮如水晶。从神和羔羊的宝座流出来。”（启示录 22:1-2）我参加短宣，亲自看见这生命的河水流经不同的年龄层，不同的文化民族。不同的国家地区，这河水医治百姓，也滋润我们参加宣教同工的生命。