This reflection on the recent rescue of 12 members of a youth football team and their coach from a cave complex in Thailand was contributed by someone who has lived in Chiang Rai for a few years, serving full-time with a mission organisation. Her identity has been withheld for security reasons.

Mae Sai is the northernmost city of Thailand – a place that has been on my heart since 2001, even before I realised God placed it there.

A place that I call home, where I served in my first year of overseas ministry.

It is a town in the mountainous border district of the Chiang Rai province, sitting between Thailand and Myanmar. This mountainous town is home to a diversity of ethnic hill tribes, including Ahka, Lahu and migrants from Myanmar who come in search of better lives. 

Riding into the hills of Mae Sai, Thailand.

The development of this town over the years has not marred the simple lifestyles of these people. Though seemingly laid-back, they work hard to provide for their families. The people are warm, hospitable, and always ready to welcome you into their house for a drink or a meal.

Working with a kids’ ministry in Mae Sai opened doors for me to visit and spend time with them and their families. God used this place to teach me to cherish life and embrace the new, in whatever form it takes.

The kids and youths love to hang out and do things together. And I am now a part of that. We have driven out on motorbikes, swum in a lake, climbed hills, played games, eaten ice-cream and muukartart, and gone gallivanting at the border markets and the streets.

I have learnt to slow down and just enjoy what every day brings.

I appreciate the vast rice fields, the rolling hills and the immense skies. I learnt that it is alright to have kids hang out in my home, even when it meant that I am left with a dirty kitchen and house at the end of the day. I have seen kids’ faces light up when they are given used clothes and found out how a simple game with a rubber ball can bring so much fun and laughter.

These are not things that I would have experienced in Singapore.

And now, Mae Sai too is etched on our minds and hearts for very different reasons. The recent misadventure that unfolded on the news saw the world coming together to help a bunch of boys and their football coach, in a turn of events that was unprecedented and thankfully ended in a miracle. 

It brought the entire Mae Sai and global communities together. We were anxious and tense together. We mourned together. We cheered together. We rejoiced together. We prayed together. And let us continue to pray together. 

Free food was dished out at the base of the rescue operations.

In the physical, nations came together in teams to assist and provide aid wherever they could. One life was lost in the search for 13. Everyone was united in fighting for the same goal. Victory was shared among all.

It is in the spiritual, however, where the real war took place and continues to rage.

There were several versions of stories that spread through the rumour mill. One was that the boys had disrespected the spirit of the cave and were trapped to be taught a lesson, but would eventually be let go. Another was that the spirit was unhappy with the one Christian boy in the group.

One story I heard was that the parents of the Christian boy had refused to take part in the other prayers, which left the others disgruntled against them. Rituals were conducted in front of the cave. Families called out to the spirits for help.

A photo of Mae Sai: the official religion in Thailand is Theravada Buddhism, practiced by more than 95% of the population.

Meanwhile, Christian groups prayed and worshipped God at the mouth of the cave – and all over the world.

What do we make of all this?

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12)

This is what we are up against.

Get up and go. If you cannot do that, then get down on your knees and pray. Make a difference. Be the difference.

The wrestling between the power of light and darkness is real. The war between the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness is real. But we know who has the ultimate victory. The Victor is on our side.

Do not stop praying for the lost, because God knows who each of them is. Just as God knew the exact spot of the 13 who were lost in the cave and led the diver to them. Just as God Himself was in the cave with them and knew each of their names. We must not stop praying for the lost!

So that at the end, when we cheer and rejoice, all the glory is given to God!