Ok, so here’s an update on where I’m at, what I’m doing now and a quick snippet of out time in the ME (a more in detail blog of Marka church will come soon!) This is by no means all there is to what we have experienced. There will be another blog soonish on both the ministry’s from Jordan and Thailand.
Starting from where I left off last time, my whole squad met in Istanbul Turkey for our last team changes! So we all said our last goodbyes to our 2nd teams and found out new ones! This process involved balloons, a jeopordy style game with each question about a person from the squad, drawn cartoon characters and colored papers! It was really fun and at the end, we met our last teams on the race! We are team goodwill. There’s 2 people on my new team that I had been on my first team with so that’s been pretty special and 3 more new friends that I get to know and live along side of for the last few months of the race! Pic will be attached somewhere! We got our new teams then packed back up and left for Jordan, or the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (HJK). We got to Amman, Jordan in the evening. Met some really brave workers there that gave us a really great meal and a mini orientation then we grabbed our stuff again, said goodbyes to the squad and everyone headed to their locations for the month! My team specifically went to the little town about 15 mins away from the greater Amman area called Marka! We got to help serve with marka church for our whole month there and it was awesome. Most of their congregation are refugees from various surrounding countries that had left their homes due to the isis threat. We worked closely with many individuals and families that had experiences so much heartache and pain. We saw their faith and it is such an amazing thing. Their faith despite the hardships they had faced is so inspiring. They really welcomed us in and we got to know and show them that they, the members of the persecuted church here in the ME had not been forgotten. We got to pray for them and all in all, the Marka church does so much and it was unforgettable. (More on Marka church later!)
Then after a big 3 day REVIVAL in the ME my team and I packed up and met our squad at the airport and left for Thailand! The date was may 21st when we left Jordan. Then after 50 hours traveling we made it to Chiang Mai, Thailand! (including a 12 hour night train from bangkok to chiang Mai)
We had a few rest days there, then we had PVT (or parent vision trip) where 11 people from our squad had their parents come out onto the field with us! It was really fun and funny to see my squadmates parents and have that opportunity to say “ahh ok, I understand why you are the way you are now” lol. It was good. Then the parents left, we had another day of rest, then onto debriefing our time in Jordan. it was really great to see my squadmates and just hang out with them for those few days during our rest days, pvt and debrief. To see how they’ve grown. I also got to pet some elephants too! And then from there we went our separate way. My team has the awesome opportunity to be the only team from our squad that is not living together and based out of Chiang Mai. That comes with it’s ups and downs. There’s some fomo (fear of missing out) but also the perk of having space to ourselves! We moved to a lil house in a cute little gated community near Doi Saket, about 30 mins away from Chiang Mai (so we still have the opportunity to head into the city every now and then) and we are working with the organization called Remember Nhu (more on this later too!). It has been such a cool experience and I fully support the organization and what it stands for. We’ve only been here with the ministry for 2 weeks but it’s been so worthwhile. Thailand in general has been so awesome. Super hot and humid but I think we’re getting used to it! It’s been full of color, delicious foods, awesome people and lots of smiles and laughter.
Only about 45 more days until I’ll be home in Maryland!! How crazy, I don’t know where the time has gone.
Anyway, that’s all for now! More to come later!
Love you all,
Jordan Dexter
Awesome Jordan!
Looking forward to more updates and pics. Praying
Love from Dad & Mom
Hey Jordan! We are so proud of you. Let God keep using you. Reach out to the children of Thailand and share true hope with them. Be present and be safe. We’re praying for you and love you.
Mom and dad
Jordan- you are such an inspiration, praying for you. May God continue to bless you and guide you.
2 Timothy 4:7-8
New International Version
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.