The year 2011 for me began with the bold decision to take a gap year from my study of Arts/Law.

What does one do in a gap year? Apart from work, soul-searching and travel, I signed on to a legal internship in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand, to hopefully get a sense of social justice- themed human rights law.

The three-month placement was with a non-government organisation called Bridges Across Borders Southeast Asia, Clinical Legal Education (BABSEACLE). This grassroots organisation sets up legal aid centres throughout Southeast Asia with two objectives.

It aims to improve access to justice for the poor and marginalised, and train local students of law to be responsible and ethically concerned lawyers, who will go on to effect social change.

My tasks involved helping to write university textbooks about legal aid, and teaching legal aid at university.

I ended my trip with a whirlwind week in Bombay, India (now known as Mumbai). Mumbai is a city of contrasts; at once India’s economic capital, as well as home to one of the world’s largest slums. I then spent a somewhat quieter week in scenic, sleepy Laos.

Some of the deepest impressions of my trip were left by people I met. There were refugees who had faced persecution in countries such as Burma, now known as Myanmar, which borders Thailand. They were only able to get legal documents to live in Chiang Mai through the efforts of Thai law students trained by BABSEA CLE.There was a Thai policeman trained by Australian police, devoted to bringing human traffickers to justice. Many victims of these human trafficking rings end up working against their will in Australia.

I met transgender people who had been shunned by their families, government and society, and in some cases, rejected even by the large transgender community in Thailand. I met 13-year-old rape victims from the hill tribes cut off from their communities, forced to flee with their babies to Chiang Mai despite not speaking Thai or holding Thai citizenship

In India, I joined a march in protest against the country’s deep-seated and devastating corruption. I met Indians who cared deeply about their nation’s integrity, and who refused to tolerate the suffering of the people of India.

These encounters I had with social injustice left me depressed, yet hopeful. Witnessing and being a part of BABSEACLE’s work showed me the value of grassroots legal aid in empowering people.

It is essential work not just from a humanist perspective but also from God’s calling to us: “Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.” (Isaiah 1:17)

Apart from having my underlying beliefs and attitudes challenged, and being spurred on “toward love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:24) by the passionate and dedicated individuals I met, I was encouraged to see God at work in other ways in Chiang Mai.

Living in a nation of predominantly Buddhists, and working in a secular organisation, I was surprised by the Christians God placed around me. There were Thai and Western missionary neighbours, Christian intern friends, and BABSEA CLE staff.

These followers of Christ from around the globe encouraged me. It was also affirming to see the church so openly present in Chiang Mai, and reaching out to marginalised groups such as ethnic minorities and orphans.

God also used non-Christians to encourage me in my faith. One of the more bizarre examples of this was when one of my intern friends who considers herself agnostic told me I needed to start reading the Bible and praying more.

I was also inspired by devout Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims. They were not ashamed of their faith and beliefs like I so often found myself being. They spent hours meditating, and fasted regularly, while at times I struggled to find five minutes to say a quick prayer before I went to sleep.

This challenged me to be more honest and authentic in my faith. In turn, God gave me the opportunity to live and share the gospel with those around me.

There is so much about Thai culture and my experiences that I have not been able to share here. What I have, I hope has been of interest. I pray this insight into my experience encourages you to know that no matter where you find yourself, God does find ways for you to use your strengths, your weaknesses and the people and circumstances around you to grow you further into His likeness, impact His world and bring glory to Him.

If you have a particular interest in any of the issues I have raised, I would be delighted to talk with you about them. Alternatively I could respond to any “Letters to the Editor”.

* Anna Meulman worships at RAFT.