on a journey: beyond the surface

This week I have been working with some amazingly unique people. Thai hardcore metal rock bands. The Gu Club Underground to be exact. The GuClub is a group of rockers who drink, party, and have concerts all over the city. Most of them can be identified by their tattoos, piercings, long hair & loud clothing style. It's easy to judge them by what's seen on the surface, especially in conservative Thai culture - but when you dig deep and spend time to see what they're really about, it's incredible.

Although most of the guys in this club aren't Christians, they wanted to have a benefit concert, giving the proceeds away to a charity or special cause. Over the years they've built good relationships with the guys from an urban ministry called WonGeneration, and through them got hooked up with a school for Burmese refugees on the border of Thailand to donate the money to. The concert was held on Saturday, with over 20 metal bands on schedule, lasting well over 10hrs. It was loud, intense, and put on for something bigger than their own fame and profit.

Being able to partner with these guys and WonGen has been a blast. It's been a rush. & I've made some amazing friends. Our film crew has been working on different projects here, from portrait shots to interviews to filming the bands and traveling with them 5 1/2 hours to the Burmese school. What started as blank stares and awkward translated conversations led to jam sessions on the guitar, foozeball games, swimming in rivers and bus rides full of laughter. We had a common goal - to help these kids - & in light of that all our differences seemed pretty insignificant. & it made me think of how easily I can misjudge people. To see them as rude or angry, or to assume there's little we share in common... when now I see such talented, genuine people. Friends. I'm in with the GuClub Underground. Now I just need to work on my hardcore face.