A Day in the Life
My name is Somchai and I am ten years old. I live in a small town in central Thailand, surrounded by rice paddies so green they almost glow. When the wind blows across the fields, the rice stalks all lean the same direction like they are bowing, and the sound is soft, like whispering. My country is called the Land of Smiles, and I think that name fits.
Every morning before the sun is fully up, I hear a quiet rustling outside. That is the monks walking through our neighborhood in a single line, barefoot, carrying round metal bowls. They wear orange robes the color of a ripe mango. My grandmother waits at the gate with a pot of warm rice and sometimes a small bag of fruit, bananas, rambutan, or sliced papaya. She kneels and places the food into each monk’s bowl without saying a word. This is called tak bat, and it is something Thai people do every day. It is very quiet and very gentle. The monks do not say thank you out loud, they close their eyes and whisper a prayer instead.
After the monks pass, my family eats breakfast together. My mother makes joke, which is rice porridge. She cooks the rice until it is soft and soupy, then puts sliced ginger, a cracked egg, and fried garlic on top. On some mornings she fries up leftover pad thai from the night before, flat rice noodles tangled with bean sprouts, crushed peanuts, and a squeeze of lime. I eat fast because I do not want to be late for school.
At school we learn Thai, math, and English. Before class starts, every student in the whole school stands in the courtyard for the national anthem while the flag goes up. We also pay respect to our teachers with a wai, you press your palms together in front of your chest and bow your head. The higher you raise your hands, the more respect you show. Do you have a way of showing respect to your teachers?
In the afternoon, I go to Muay Thai practice. That is Thai boxing, a martial art that uses fists, elbows, knees, and shins. Before every match or practice, we do a slow dance called ram muay to show respect to our teachers and our families. The dance is serious and beautiful, not silly. My trainer wraps my hands in cloth and I practice kicking the heavy bag until my shins sting. I want to be strong, but my trainer says Muay Thai is about discipline more than strength.
On weekends, my family visits the wat, our local temple. The temple has a golden roof that shines in the sun and statues of the Buddha sitting in different poses. My mother lights incense sticks and places marigold garlands at the base of the statue. The air smells like sandalwood and smoke. I sit on the cool marble floor while the monks chant, and the sound fills the whole building like humming.
What do Sundays or weekends look like in your family?
I am Thai. We are gentle with strangers, loyal to our families, and proud of our traditions. My grandmother says that being Thai means you carry kindness in your hands wherever you go. I carry it in my wai.
Fun Facts
- Thailand is the only country in Southeast Asia that was never colonized by a European power, the name “Thailand” means “Land of the Free.”
- There are more than 40,000 Buddhist temples (wats) across Thailand, and many Thai men spend time as monks for a few weeks or months at some point in their lives, even boys as young as ten.
- The floating markets of Thailand are famous around the world. Vendors paddle wooden boats loaded with tropical fruits, grilled seafood, and noodle soup, and customers buy food right from the boat.
- Thai people eat with a fork and spoon, but the fork never goes into your mouth. You use it to push food onto the spoon, which is the utensil you eat from.
- Elephants are the national animal of Thailand and were once used in royal ceremonies, farming, and even warfare. Today, elephant conservation camps work to protect the roughly 3,000 wild elephants still living in Thai forests.
How to Pray for the Thai
- Pray that Thai families who visit the temple each week would discover that the God who made them wants a real relationship with them, not just rituals, but a friendship with their Creator.
- Pray for Thai children like Somchai who are growing up surrounded by Buddhist tradition, that someone would share the story of Jesus with them in a way that makes sense and feels like love.
- Pray that the small number of Thai Christians (less than one percent of the population) would be bold and kind as they share their faith with neighbors and friends.
How Kids Can Help
- Pray: The next time you see the color orange, a sunset, a fruit, a shirt, let it remind you to pray for Thai children who see orange-robed monks walk past their homes every single morning.
- Learn: Find Thailand on a map and learn why it is called the Land of Smiles. Try doing a wai greeting with your family at dinner.
- Share: Tell someone about the Thai people and how few of them know about Jesus, in a country of nearly 70 million, less than one percent follow Christ.
- Give: Ask your parents about supporting missionaries and local churches working in Thailand to share the gospel with Thai families.
Scripture to Remember
“The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The LORD is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made.” (Psalm 145:8-9, ESV)