Christine Tan is a Melbourne based photographer who recently spent time in Thailand . Here she shares a photo diary of an afternoon with Muana and a group of local believers .
I arrived in Chiang Mai on a hot and humid summer day in August . Muana , the Thailand team leader picked me up from the airport in his silver truck . After a warm greeting and some introductions , we headed off to visit a new faith community in the village of Sanpatong . It ’ s a 45 minute drive on the outskirts of Thailand ’ s second largest city .
We whizzed past familiar sights along the main shopping strip – a McDonalds and KFC every few minutes , cinemas , shopping centres , outdoor markets and dozens of Buddhist temples . Even Hindu shrines appeared every so often . Eventually traffic thinned out as we turned off the main road and approached the village .
When we arrived at our meeting place , I was greeted first by a smiling yet inquisitive grandmother named Kaew . She quickly offered me fruit from their longan tree and cold water . We waited outside with Muana for others to join us for food and fellowship .
Here in Sanpatong is a fledgling community of the village ’ s first known followers of Jesus . They don ’ t meet in a chapel or travel to the city to gather in a church building . They don ’ t even sing hymns as some typically imagine . Rather they meet around a table in the shade outside of a home . They share a meal , recite Psalms for worship , read the Bible and pray together . It ’ s a simple gathering , but one filled with hope , sincerity and generosity .
RESONATE ISSUE 41 | PAGE 12