What is your favorite sport?
Soccer!!!
What’s your favorite Bible verse?
2 Corinthians 12:9 “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness…” This verse is a huge part of how I ended up in Thailand. I knew that I would have so many weaknesses coming to Thailand because of the language, having never been to Asia before, the difference in culture, soccer not being a sport that girls like to play here, etc. But God kept reminding me, that’s the point. I don’t need to, and shouldn’t, rely on my strengths to succeed, but to fully lean in to God, depend on, and trust that He will provide exactly what is needed when it’s needed.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I really enjoy baking and also doing Sudoku’s. However, now that I’m in Bangkok, I like to spend my days off going to a new favorite coffee shop in the Green Lung of Bangkok called Baan Makham. It is literally translated as Tamarind House because it is out in the middle of nature where there are tamarind trees surrounding the treehouse coffee shop.
What did you want to be when you were a kid?
I have had a passion for sports since I was a little kid so I wanted to be a news anchor/reporter on ESPN which is a sports network in the United States.
What do you love about working with Sports Friends?
My two passions are kids and sports so naturally, working with an organization that combines my two passions is quite fulfilling. Deep connections can be made through playing sports together. Since coming to Thailand, it has been encouraging to learn just how seamless it can be to go from playing sports into talking about the gospel and how those two interact with each other.
What is the strangest thing you’ve eaten while in Thailand?
I don’t know if it’s the strangest, but I have eaten durian and actually really enjoy it! Durian is a fruit that is banned in most hotels and condos due to its extremely potent smell. Some people have described the smell as skunky. I know, I’m sorry to make your mouth water now, ha! But you either love it or hate it, and this girl loves it!
What is one piece of advice you would give someone who is interested in doing overseas ministry?
I had a misconception thinking that you had to be a special, super Christian to do overseas ministry, but that’s not the case at all. God uses ordinary people who are just willing to say yes so that God can do the extraordinary. Looking back at my favorite verse above, 2 Corinthians 12:9, I realized that God didn’t call me into overseas ministry because of my strengths. He was just asking an ordinary person to say yes. My advice would be to just say yes to whatever God is asking of you.
Alyssa has a heart for women’s ministry, and currently serves with our Sports Friends team in Bangkok , Thailand.
Think God might be calling you into missions? Check out our current opportunities here: www.sports-friends.org/go