Visa runs bring opportunities in Thailand

My two months’ Thai visa has expired: situation normal. On Asia Challenge Teams, we generally have to renew our visas very frequently during our two year commitment.

However, this time, coming from an Emerging Nation as I do, I had great difficulties in the re-applying process, with much expenditure of time, energy, prayer, wisdom and finances. I think I am the most expensive missionary when it comes to renewing my visas! Each time I leave for another country I have to apply for a particular visa for my next country – even when transiting!   It’s not fair: my friends from other countries often get their visas free at the airport, which I can’t. This makes me feel like an alien.

Of course one day I will return home to heaven. But in the meantime, I need a visa. What is good about the situation is that God teaches me new things through the difficulties of applying for my visas.

Anyway, to return to my Thai visa situation: I was supposed to get a renewal for three months, not three. But, praise God, it was for free.

God also brought Seng, a tuktuk driver, to experience the love of God for the first time during this visa run; that’s the Living God, not a Buddhist god!

My local national friend and I were staying over during the visa processing time and asked our tuktuk driver to choose us a local restaurant for dinner, as the hotel food is very expensive. As he dropped us off at the night market, we invited him to stay and eat with us. He was shy and was not very open. My national friend did most of the talking in Thai, telling him we were Christians, and what it means in reality to have Jesus as our friend.

He didn’t say much, but he was also observing us, especially me. I had such joy in my heart when I finished praying for the meal, ending in Jesus’ name, when he said “Amen” together with us! When I looked at him, he smiled.

The next day he picked us up at the hotel to go and collect my passport at the Thai embassy office. The queue was very long and people were so impatient. I joined the queue, and it seemed like I was going to have to stand there forever. Our new friend came behind me and said: “Give me your receipt.” I didn’t understand what he was going to do with it but I just gave it to him, and he said: “Go and wait outside.”

After fifteen minutes, he came back with my passport. I didn’t ask him how he got it. He said: “Let’s go!” and we left. He drove us to the border where we caught a bus back home.