Do we have to say goodbye?

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...