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!