Well, the last few days here at Agape have been so much fun. Friday, Kris and I got to teach the preschoolers...that was a lot of fun, and as you can imagine, a lot of work...35 little 4-year olds just brings a lot of energy...we had a great time though...Friday night, there was a fair in the next town and we got to go to that and take a few people from Agape...it was so cute. They even had a little ferris wheel that we got to ride...and I had my first experience eating fried scorpions! I'm not gonna lie...it was scary putting that thing in my mouth...even when they're dead they still look threatening...anyway, that was probably my first and last experience eating scorpion, but you're supposed to try everything at least once right?
The weekend was really busy, but also a lot of fun...Saturday, we got to go help the kids collect leaves (I know it sounds really funny doesn't itThey collect these huge leaves to use for the roofs...I've seen it in a lot of bamboo houses, but I hadn't seen the whole process before, so it was fun to be a part of everything with theleaves...Andrea and I thought it was really fun...the kids of course, thought we were crazy because to them it's hard work...but, it was awesome to see them all working so hard and workingtogether...they are really great kids...they didn't even complain.
Then, saturday afternoon, we got to play games with the kids and do some fun little crafts...the water games were especially fun because it has been so hot here lately...it feels like summer...Then, one of the girls came out to help me do my laundry like the girls always do (theyare such good helpers)...so we ended up having a water fight after we did the laundry and that was a lot of fun...and much needed in the heat...Later, Kris and I had a session with the kids on teeth andtaking care of their teeth...we were able to give them all new toothbrushes and toothpaste that a friendfrom church had donated for me to take, so they all loved that too!
Saturday night, I finally got to do my teaching session with the older kids (13 and up) and teachCPR...Several of the staff were able to be a part of that, so I was grateful for that..the kids seemed to really enjoy it...I made them all get partners (boys with boys and girls with girls of course...we didn't want it to turn into some matchmaking session) and they all did such a good job..no actual mouth-to-mouth of course...but, it was so much fun and I was so glad that the kids enjoy it.
Sunday, we got to go to a village for a special service for the King's sister (anyone who is royaltywho dies is mourned for over a period of 100 days...so all the teachers have been wearing black at school since I've been here...and there is some special service they're supposed to do, but it's Buddhist, so the Christians in the area decided to still honor her, but not to participate in all the Buddhist ceremonies and traditions)...it was basically just a church service with a special thing at the end for her...It was awesome that we got to visit the village though b/c I hadn't been into one of the churches in the smaller villages yet...we also met a girl from Norway at the service who has been working with YWAM in Thailand for 7 years...it was cool to hear her story and to listen to her speak theKaren language (the language spoken by the Karen tribe...which all the children at Agape can also speak).
So, today was my last day at Hoi Bong...Kris and I did our presentation on teeth and brushing your teeth...it was so much fun...we did a lot of interactive things, which they all loved...it was awesome too b/c at the end, we had enough time to sing a song with the kids...so, we sang "We are walking in the Light of God." Cru Dam, one of the teachers at the school, was translating for us and she told the kids what the song meant so they could understand...it's so cool b/c this is a public school and we are able to freely talk with the kids about Christ there...not only that, but Cru Dam is Buddhist and can be a bit hostile toward Christianityat times...but, she was right there with us singing along and doing the moves...it was a small step...we haveto keep praying that God changes her heart...
So, tonight was my last night at Agape...it was very hard for me...I got to share a short devotional with the kids and then they had this little ceremony where they put this necklace (that Pastor Winai's wife had made) around my neck and sang to me...one of the girls came up front to talk about me and thank me for coming....then they all gathered around me and after they finished singing to me, they prayed for me...it was so touching....I cried myeyes out...Then, at the end, they all lined up to give me hugs and tell me they loved me....We ended by celebrating the time we'd had together by having cookies and punch...it was a lot of fun...after that, we didn't have any more tears,but just took pictures and sang and played and had fun together...Later as I was packing in the room, some of the kidscame in to bring me cards and pictures they had made for me...Two of the boys also made me these really cool glass plaques It is very tedious work...Andrea said they have to cut each letter out with these knives...Sakchai, one of the boys who madeone for me, was working on his for over an hour and a half...it was really cute too b/c whenever i walked by (they were all working on stuff outside), he'd try to hide it so I didn't see it..It was really neat that he gave me that too because he is one of the children that I will be sponsoring when i go back home (If you want to sponsor a child, visit the Agape website: www.blesselca.org )..So, it was extra special to get that from him...
It has been so neat to form so many relationships with these kids...They are all so amazing and all so full of God's love...I will miss waking up every morning to the sound of their voices singing praises to God...I will miss the huge smiles that are always shining on their faces...I will miss their hugs and their "I love you's" every morning and every night...and of courseI will miss Thailand in general...It is a beautiful place with beautiful people...This has been such an incredible experiencefor me, but I know that it doesn't end here...I know that I will take these children with me in my heart and will continue to be a part of their lives in sponsorship and in prayer...And, I pray, that one day, and hopefully one day not too far off from now, I will be back here again...Because Agape is a place that really fulfills it's name...Agape means love and I have truly experienced love to the fullest in this place...
Monday, February 11, 2008
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Reunion
Well, today was a great day...I think one of the biggest highlights of my trip was coming back to Agape tonight. As much as I loved the clinic and traveling around Northern Thailand, there is such a sense of home here at Agape. When I got back to Agape, I got so many hugs and just felt such a huge sense of overflowing love both frommy heart and from the hearts of these kids. They all kept giving me hugs and kisses and telling me how much they missed me. I don't even want to think about what goodbyes will be like when I leave to go back to the states. For now, I'm thankful to be back.
The clinics went really well and I got to see a beautiful part of the country. It was a little different kind of experience because I joined the team halfway through their trip (they went toLaos for a few days to do clinics there before meeting me for the Thailand clinics). Most of thegroup was older....50's to 70's...so it was definitely a different crowd...They had a lot of greatstories to share and a lot of wisdom to offer me, though, so it was neat to work with them and hearabout what God has taught them throughout their lives. I was amazed at Al, the oldest on the team. He was in his 70's, but you'd never guess because he is so sharp and so physically fit that he kept up with everyone else so well. It was fun talking with him because he was a missionary in Thailand for 20 years and then moved back to the states several years ago. So, he spoke Thai and told us abouta lot of his experiences in Thailand, which were really amazing.
Well, the place that we went to was beautiful. We were right on the Makong river and had a lot of patients who came over from Laos for the clinics. In just a few days, we treated over 200 patients. We were also able to share Christ with them and saw several people make decisions for Christ. I don't know the exact numbers, but God does and that's all that matters. There were several doctors there, so they didn't need me to treat patients (besides thefact that I've only been a "doctor" in Africa and I know that the American doctors know a lot more than I do), so I got to do the pharmacy stuff. I was mainly in charge of filling the prescriptions that the doctors wrote for and explaining the medicine to the patients (througha translator of course...my Thai isn't that good...yet :) So, we had 3 days of clinic up in the mountains in this village called Huay Jor and then headed back to Chiang Mai where the team headed out.
Kris and I spent an extra day in Chiang Mai to do some fun stuff and tour around. We went to thiselephant show that was really incredible where the elephants actually paint pictures and play dartsand do all kinds of crazy stuff...It was so fun to watch! I got my first hug from an elephant! They were such sweet animals! We also went to this place where you can watch the people make the umbrellasand fans...it's amazing all that goes into it...doing everything by hand...that was a lot of fun to see...it really blows my mind how hard the people here work and yet make so little money...it's reallysad, but it's awesome to be able to share Christ with them and to know that there is hope beyond this life...Someone made a really powerful statement to me one day...they said "For those who don't know Christ, this is the closest to heaven they'll ever get. But for those of us who know Christ, this is the closest to hell we'll ever get." Isn't that powerful to think of? These people spend their whole lives in hardship and suffering, just trying to make enough money to get by and many of them don't knowthe hope they can have in Christ to be in heaven for all eternity. That definitely gives me inspirationto share Christ more and more...whether in Thailand or Africa or America, people need Christ.
Well, anyway, that's my little sermon...I'm preaching to myself really...just processing everything right now...one other cool thing that happened in Chiang Mai was that I got to see the night market...it's hugeand it's really interesting to see all the different tourists from all over the place that go there....but,I was looking at some stuff at this little booth when I heard someone call my name and what do ya know, twoof the YWAM girls was standing there! It was so crazy! So, we all went to Starbucks to catch up...it was myfirst time to Starbucks in Thailand...we had a good view of the night market through the window...it was almostlike we were sitting in America looking out the window into another country...so crazy! Anyway, the rest of the YWAM girls were meeting there, so I got to see all of them and catch up a little before they had to head back. That was a fun little reunion.
So, today, Kris and I took our bus ride and came back to Mae Sot. It has been fun getting to know her as well, because she has been working in missions for 19 years and has so many amazing stories abouthow God has worked in her life and led her through some incredible times. It's so awesome to meet someone with that same heart to just travel and use her medical abilities as an open door to share the gospel in so many places. We have had some great talks and I'm excited to do ministry with her at Agape.
Tomorrow Kris will come with me to teach at the Hoi Bong school where I was teaching before I left for clinic. Then, this weekend we're gonna do some dental teaching for the kids at Agape and do some other fun games and crafts with them...we'll also do some CPR teaching for the staff and older kids. Then, monday, we will do some similar teaching at the school and tuesday I head out...it's so crazy how fast time has gone by! I don't feel ready to leave....But, Lord-willing, I will be back...I love Agape too much to not come back...
So, that's all for now...thanks again for your encouragement and prayers!
The clinics went really well and I got to see a beautiful part of the country. It was a little different kind of experience because I joined the team halfway through their trip (they went toLaos for a few days to do clinics there before meeting me for the Thailand clinics). Most of thegroup was older....50's to 70's...so it was definitely a different crowd...They had a lot of greatstories to share and a lot of wisdom to offer me, though, so it was neat to work with them and hearabout what God has taught them throughout their lives. I was amazed at Al, the oldest on the team. He was in his 70's, but you'd never guess because he is so sharp and so physically fit that he kept up with everyone else so well. It was fun talking with him because he was a missionary in Thailand for 20 years and then moved back to the states several years ago. So, he spoke Thai and told us abouta lot of his experiences in Thailand, which were really amazing.
Well, the place that we went to was beautiful. We were right on the Makong river and had a lot of patients who came over from Laos for the clinics. In just a few days, we treated over 200 patients. We were also able to share Christ with them and saw several people make decisions for Christ. I don't know the exact numbers, but God does and that's all that matters. There were several doctors there, so they didn't need me to treat patients (besides thefact that I've only been a "doctor" in Africa and I know that the American doctors know a lot more than I do), so I got to do the pharmacy stuff. I was mainly in charge of filling the prescriptions that the doctors wrote for and explaining the medicine to the patients (througha translator of course...my Thai isn't that good...yet :) So, we had 3 days of clinic up in the mountains in this village called Huay Jor and then headed back to Chiang Mai where the team headed out.
Kris and I spent an extra day in Chiang Mai to do some fun stuff and tour around. We went to thiselephant show that was really incredible where the elephants actually paint pictures and play dartsand do all kinds of crazy stuff...It was so fun to watch! I got my first hug from an elephant! They were such sweet animals! We also went to this place where you can watch the people make the umbrellasand fans...it's amazing all that goes into it...doing everything by hand...that was a lot of fun to see...it really blows my mind how hard the people here work and yet make so little money...it's reallysad, but it's awesome to be able to share Christ with them and to know that there is hope beyond this life...Someone made a really powerful statement to me one day...they said "For those who don't know Christ, this is the closest to heaven they'll ever get. But for those of us who know Christ, this is the closest to hell we'll ever get." Isn't that powerful to think of? These people spend their whole lives in hardship and suffering, just trying to make enough money to get by and many of them don't knowthe hope they can have in Christ to be in heaven for all eternity. That definitely gives me inspirationto share Christ more and more...whether in Thailand or Africa or America, people need Christ.
Well, anyway, that's my little sermon...I'm preaching to myself really...just processing everything right now...one other cool thing that happened in Chiang Mai was that I got to see the night market...it's hugeand it's really interesting to see all the different tourists from all over the place that go there....but,I was looking at some stuff at this little booth when I heard someone call my name and what do ya know, twoof the YWAM girls was standing there! It was so crazy! So, we all went to Starbucks to catch up...it was myfirst time to Starbucks in Thailand...we had a good view of the night market through the window...it was almostlike we were sitting in America looking out the window into another country...so crazy! Anyway, the rest of the YWAM girls were meeting there, so I got to see all of them and catch up a little before they had to head back. That was a fun little reunion.
So, today, Kris and I took our bus ride and came back to Mae Sot. It has been fun getting to know her as well, because she has been working in missions for 19 years and has so many amazing stories abouthow God has worked in her life and led her through some incredible times. It's so awesome to meet someone with that same heart to just travel and use her medical abilities as an open door to share the gospel in so many places. We have had some great talks and I'm excited to do ministry with her at Agape.
Tomorrow Kris will come with me to teach at the Hoi Bong school where I was teaching before I left for clinic. Then, this weekend we're gonna do some dental teaching for the kids at Agape and do some other fun games and crafts with them...we'll also do some CPR teaching for the staff and older kids. Then, monday, we will do some similar teaching at the school and tuesday I head out...it's so crazy how fast time has gone by! I don't feel ready to leave....But, Lord-willing, I will be back...I love Agape too much to not come back...
So, that's all for now...thanks again for your encouragement and prayers!
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