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Thailand means "Land of the Free". Thais have the confidence that comes from being the only Southeast Asian nation never to have been colonized; even during WWII, they managed to maintain positive relationships with both the Axis and the Allies!
"Land of Smiles" is another phrase often used to describe Thailand. The tropical climate yields plenty of food for its inhabitants, and phrases like "mai pen rai" (no problem) is often uttered to express confidence that everything will be alright. Combined with a history of freedom, there is plenty to smile about. Just remember that Thais smile for many reasons, not just to express pleasant or positive emotions.
In contrast to some countries that have a history of oppression and suffering, the gospel of Jesus Christ has had little appeal in Thailand. Centuries of foreign priests and pastors have dedicated entire lives to share the gospel, with little to show for. The entertainment industry is strong and provides plenty of distractions for the Thais (and foreign tourists). Also, intensely deep Buddhist structures are at the root of their culture, and a conversion to the Christian faith can seem like a betrayal of one's nationality. Still, missionaries must be careful not to assume that they come from a more purely biblical church background than Thai Christians.
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Books
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Dos & Dont's in Thailand (Amarin, 2002) Kenny Yee, Catherine Gordon
Working with the Thais (White Lotus, 1997) Henry Holmes, Suchada Tangtongtavy
A History of Thailand (Thai Watana Panich, 1993) Rong Syamananda
A History of Thailand (Cambridge, 2005) Chris Baker, Pasuk Phongpaichit
Water Buffalo Theology (Orbis, 1999) Kosuke Koyama
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