I want to thank you for the opportunity you've given me to serve as a medical missionary in Thailand. As a kid who grew up in that part of the world (Philippines) I always wondered if I would get the chance to be the missionary instead of being just the recipient of such service. Your generosity has done just that for me. Partnering with Upward Twist and Medical Missions Outreach to minister to the Thai people provided me with such joy and peace to be doing what God has called everyone of us to do - to go out into the world and share the good news of God's love.

My wife and I got to go on this medical mission trip together. We went to the Surin, Thailand located about 480km northeast of Bangkok. Here the people lived simple lives and yet met our team with an abundance of generosity and hospitality. We learned about the kindness of the Thai people. Thailand also referred to as "The Land of Smiles" has about 71 million people and that only about 1% identify as Christians. We, as missionaries, were presented with such a group that had been taught that the path to enlightenment is through good works and keeping to the precepts of Buddhism. It was such a wonderful opportunity for us to share with them that our message is that Jesus Christ died for every single person because He loved us and he didn't ask for anything in return for such a sacrifice made on the cross. Apparently it was such a foreign concept to the Thai people when we first presented this idea of a free clinic to them during the early planning stages of this trip. The government officials even made specific inquiries with our host missionaries stating that surely we had more than just sharing the Gospel as our agenda for a free week of clinic. It is an amazing thing to learn about how this trip came to be and how the local government loved the idea so much that they wanted to be a part of this initiative to serve the local community. God showed his mighty hand yet again for the furtherance of his work.

One of my favorite things during this trip was our Sunday morning service at the local church. It is an awesome thing to hear different languages blend so well together singing the same praises to God in worship. It demonstrates our unity in Christ no matter our backgrounds, geography and status. The Thai believers sang their praises unreservedly and wholeheartedly as if they were proclaiming to everyone who walked by that they were different and that they have something in their hearts that others did not have and they were right. We went there to try to be a blessing to them and serve the people of Thailand but I went out of that church instead being ministered to and blessed by their testimony and their love for God.

During the clinic, my wife and I served as patient educators after the patients have seen providers and have been prescribed medications. We had a wonderful translator, Miss Wee, who shared her testimony with us. She was excellent and was a blessing to my wife and I. We taught our patients about diabetes and hypertension management, medication-specific practices, and other disease-specific topics. Our team of 56 saw 1,473 patients. The local church members shared the Gospel with everyone who came to our clinic and got their contact information so they can follow up with them. We saw people from all walks of life in the clinic. We had teachers, farmers, government officials, and even monks come by. Isaiah 55:11 says "So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." God's word went out and was heard and seen and experienced by at least 1,473 patients and 56 team members not including the government officials and local volunteers. Overall, it was an amazing and fruitful trip. I want to thank you again for partnering with me and helping me serve in Thailand.

In Christ,
Adrian Uriarte