When Passporter Morgan Hill and her team went to the dump in Mae Sot, Thailand, she didn’t expect to find entire families living there. Her heart broke for those she saw literally living amongst mountains of trash, especially the children.
Later that night, while on a walk with her teammates in town, Morgan met a pastor named Philip who shared his testimony with her team. Philip’s story blew Morgan away—and reminded her of something incredibly important: that God is good, in every situation, no matter what, and no matter how difficult things get.
Even in the darkest night, we can trust that God is there, that He sees us, and He loves us unconditionally. And while it might still be difficult, this is why we can praise Him at all times.
Part of our ministry in Mae Sot, Thailand, is helping our host ministry with landscaping, painting, and preparing jewelry pieces for another program. I have been using a machete to shave logs that can be used for bed frames in a men’s dormitory, resulting in many new blisters.
In all the work, we ended up with a large amount of things needing to go to the dump. I expected just a simple dump run like I’ve experienced in the past in the States.
Wrong.
I realized something was very different when on the way to the dump, we stopped at a small store to buy milk.
You see, in Thailand and other places around the world, they have dumps that aren’t just dumps. For many, it is the place families call home.
On the way to the dump, we rounded a corner and found kids playing on the ground. When we offered them milk, they jumped in the bed of our truck, and we drove them to the dump.
At first glance, it didn’t look like a dump to me. At the entrance were homes, small wood and bamboo huts that families live in. Piles of garbage were separated outside of the homes, with recyclables set aside to turn in for some small amounts of money. There were also kids all over the places and stray dogs, and the kids continued to pile on the truck as we made our way through. We ended up with seven in the bed of the truck, directing us as to where to go.
I realized then that they knew this place just as well as I know my hometown, because for some, this is all they have known.
We made our way down dirt roads from one little cluster of huts to another, and then we got to the worst part: mountains of garbage about 20-30 feet high stood over the road as we made our way in this truck full of wood shavings, garbage, God’s precious children. The road under us was knee deep mud, muck, and who knows what, and the smell was unbearable.
Then the kids dumped the trash from the truck, while checking to see if there was anything valuable they could trade for money. Then we left, giving out more milk and drinks to families on our way out.
Leaving the dump and those precious children was the hardest thing I have ever experienced.
But there was still good at the end of this day. After ministry, our team headed out in the streets of Mae Sot to explore, and we passed an unfamiliar building playing what sounded like Thai praise music. We turned down one more street and found the entrance to the building, which happened to be Mae Sot Grace Church.
This was the first church we’d seen in this Buddhist nation, and we were so excited.
We slowly entered the church and were introduced to a man named Phillip, the temporary pastor. While the worship group practiced, we got to talk with him. That’s when Philip told us his story.
Phillip said his whole family was Buddhist. He was raised Buddhist, but became a Christian at age 16, when he got desperately ill and was hospitalized—but wasn’t getting better. He was lying in bed, looking up at his family standing over him, and said he felt so close to death because his body was just skin and bones.
He felt his spirit leave his body and move towards a river close by.
Then, suddenly, Jesus appeared in front of him.
Because Philip was raised Buddhist in a Southeast Asian country, he had never heard of Jesus or Christianity. But when Jesus asked him where he was going, Philip said, “I am leaving because my body is done. It is so broken and weak I can’t stay.”
Then Jesus said, “Return home to your body and I will be there.”
So Philip returned to his body and immediately was able to stand up. His healing came after that, and from then on, He began to learn about God and Christianity.
A few years later, a large storm hit and caused a massive flood at his home. Phillip was swept away in the flood waters and into the main river. Since he didn’t know how to swim, Philip began to drown.
He fought frantically, trying to stay above the water, but struggled against its power. So he cried out to God, “I know that you are God, and I know that you are a Savior. And so if you are a Savior, save me now.”
Now, this river had always been kept free of boats because it was such a dangerous river and Phillip could see three wrecked ships up ahead. But as soon as he asked God to save him, a boat appeared behind Philip and was able to pull him out of the river.
Not long after that, Philip secretly became a Christian.
When he felt God calling him into ministry, Philip decided to go to Bible school. When he told his family he had become a Christian, they kicked him out of the house—and out of their family. He had only the clothes on his back.
It hasn’t been easy for Philip, but despite his hardship, God has blessed him deeply.
God works in incredible ways. And I know He works in all the places He has been leading us to, even the hard places like the dump. Even in the places we don’t see much changing or happening, God is in it. God is here now. And I praise Him for it all.
Our God is an awesome God, in the midst of trouble and the good.
“For I consider the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing to the glory that is to be revealed to us.” Romans 8:18
*Photos by Kenzie Staich and Taylor Duggan
Sometimes it’s hard to see the good in difficult situations, like when Morgan saw the kids living in the dump or Philip almost drowned. However, those moments are opportunities to see God’s goodness, His love, and how He sees and takes care of us in those hard times.
God used Morgan and her team to love on those kids in Mae Sot, and they saw Jesus in her. And He used Philip’s sickness and almost drowning in the flood to bring this young man to Him.
Is God calling you to share His love with those struggling in hard times? CLICK HERE for 1-2 month college mission trips to Central and South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia!
