Greetings from Thailand! This is Jamie, and I will be trying out my writing skills on behalf of the team.
This is a rather long update but full of awesome details!
After a successful flight from Siem Reap, we all crashed
Tuesday evening. On Wednesday afternoon, we traveled from Chiang Mai to
our Grace Place home in Weing Pa Pao. Words cannot describe our children
there. Upon our arrival, they were a little shy, but it didn’t take them
long to warm up and play. I think we somewhat destroyed the Longans fruit
tree with the children picking up fruit to eat. We were sticky but had a
great time. We took jump ropes along for the children to play with, and
that was a big hit as well. While the children were eating their supper,
we ate supper with Tutu’s parents and the widows there. They literally
“killed the fattened pig” for us. In Thai culture, that is how you show
honor to special guests that come to visit. We felt very honored to eat
with them. Another team who is with us here is visiting from Asia’s Hope
Canada. John and his wife Cathy and teenage children Amy and Jesse
brought popcorn to cook for the children. We cooked it in a big metal pot
over an open fire, and waited for the popping to begin. We signaled for
the children to come watch. They stretched out bamboo mats for the
children to sit on, and they all enjoyed fresh American popcorn. It
tasted good and brought some beautiful smiles to the children’s faces.
Priceless. The widows showed us their silk worms and explained their
process for selling raw silk. They raise the silk worms until they spin
their silk cocoons. They then boil the cocoons and wrap the silk around
to make a raw skein. They then take the raw silk to town to have it
processed and made into scarves. The raw silk is very rough to the touch,
but once it is washed, it is the silky softness we are accustomed to.
After playing with the children a little longer, we traveled the 1 ½ hours back
to Chiang Mai.
On Thursday, I had the opportunity to visit a boy (AKA Mick) that my family has sponsored for approximately 8 years through Compassion International. I was able to arrange a day trip to spend some time with him and his mother. Jeana and Zac hung out and rested as Jeana was feeling under the weather from what we think was a virus. She is now feeling better and on the mend. J Praise the Lord! The Compassion staff picked me up, and we traveled to a nearby elephant camp where you watch an elephant show, ride on an ox cart, ride an elephant through the mountain camp, and take a 35 minute ride on a bamboo raft on the river through the mountains. It was an experience of a lifetime. Once again, I cannot put into words what it was like to meet our sponsored child for the first time…tears came to my eyes when I saw in person what I could only see through pictures before. He is even more sweet and loveable than I could have ever imagined. They are definitely a family who strongly loves the Lord and wants to serve Him no matter what the cost. It Thai culture (strongly Buddhist) that is huge. Mick played keyboard at church and is actively involved in Bible quizzing. He has scored high in his Bible quizzing and is currently quizzing in the book of Joshua. Mick’s mom operates her own clothing shop, and she made Bruce a very nice burgundy shirt (after having asked us what size). It is a beautiful shirt. She wanted me to open it up and make sure it would fit him (because she saw pictures of how muscular Bruce is), and I assured her it was perfect. J She was thrilled. I will remember today for the rest of my life. Get ready girlies, the next time I want to bring you all to meet him and experience Thailand and Cambodia!
On Friday morning, we went to Starbucks (Thai style) and went shopping. (Now, what more could a girl ask for?) The idea of shopping was just a little too much for Zac, so he enjoyed Pizza with Tutu’s son, Daniel, while the girls went out! In the afternoon, we picked Zac up and met up with Faa to picked up the GROW children at school. After school and the children changed their clothes, out came the sidewalk chalk and water balloons! What a hit! Hot weather, water, and children…a perfect combination for FUN! They had a blast! While Zac stayed back to play and eat with the children, Jeana, Faa, and I went out on the town. We went to dinner and tried some “wheatgrass” detox and nutritional drink that is supposed to cleanse your body of bad bacteria. Well, let’s just say…it would definitely kill something…it was definitely AWFUL stuff. It tasted like we were drinking a liquefied version of hay. We laughed so hard and vowed we were never drink wheatgrass again. Ugghh! From supper, Faa took us to the night market, which was phenomenal. I have never seen so many shops and people in all my shopping experiences in the states. We definitely shopped until we dropped…we didn’t leave the market until around 10 p.m.
On Saturday, we traveled back to Wieng Pa Pao to spend the day with the children. On this visit with the children (which would also be our last day with them), we broke out the water activities once again. Zac had brought all the fixings for Slip and Slide Dodge Ball. Let’s just say, the children and their clothes would definitely not have to be washed…just rinsed and dried. There were suds and children slipping and sliding and laughing and smiles galore! Wow…thank you Lord for rescuing these precious, precious children. They all have stories of suffering and pain, but they are safe here…just like the old song says, “Safe in the Arms of Jesus.” They love the Lord so deeply, and they know what they are saved from in every sense. Thank you for loving these children. There is a sign on the new boy’s home that was donated by a family from our church. The last sentence of the sign reads…”God’s kids live here.” Amen!
This morning, we woke up and enjoyed another delicious breakfast that Tutu prepared for us. This morning we enjoyed omelets. We then went to church at Asia’s Hope and worshiped with the children there. During the children’s Sunday School time, we taught them to sing, “This Little Light of Mine.” They did a great job singing it in English, especially the part that goes, “hide it under a bushel, NO! I’m gonna let is shine, let it shine, let it shine.” J One thing I have experienced while on this trip is the amazing wholeness and oneness in worshiping God, even in another culture and in a different language. We serve the same God. Just like the lady told us in Cambodia, we are “same, same but different.” After signing Zac played “Simon Says” with them. There were three kids he just couldn’t trick so they were declared the winners. The Zac told them that just as those three never stopped following Simon Says, they all should never stop following Jesus. This evening, we are planning to meet with a group of college girls and minister to them from our hearts. Please pray that God would empower us to speak from our hearts the words he wants them to hear.
We want to thank you for all of your prayers and love for these children, the staff, and the widows in Thailand and Cambodia. Because of Jesus and your love and obedience to Him, these children have a bright hope for the future.
