Rocking on at Doi Saket 1

All the children from the 5 different homes in the Doi Saket area of Chiang Mai gathered together for a worship time on Monday night, February 1. Nathan got to play the guitar and RAD gave a devotional. The kids sang their hearts out. Praise God!

Pastor Ivanildo C. Trindade

Praying Before Meals

I have learned SO MUCH from these children already. They memorize Scriptures and recite them in unison in such a beautiful way. Even though they are from different nationalities, they memorize Bible verses in Thai (the language they use in school) and recite it together. Because the Thai language is a tonal language, the reciting actually sounds like music. Here in this video they are praying before their lunch. One child leads the way and they all pray together. Though you don't understand a word of what they are saying, it is so sweet to hear the prayer of thanksgiving that is coming from their little hearts. Every one of these children was without hope just a few months ago. They were destined for an uncertain life, some would end up in the hands of the thugs that control the sex industry, some would be slaves of an uncle or another unscrupulous relative. All were headed to an uncertain future. But now they have found hope in the love that is showered upon them by the staff at Grace Place. They are on their way to becoming somebody and our greatest hope is that one day they will become outstanding leaders of their country, men and women of God who will lead the way to help start a movement to incline the hearts of people in their country toward God. For this we toil without ceasing. Thank you for your part in this most worthwhile endeavor.

Pastor Ivanildo C. Trindade

itrindade@woostergrace.org

Ivanildo!

You gotta love it when little children not only make an effort to learn your foreign sounding name but also make a chant of it. I had a lot of fun teaching the children how to pronounce my name. This little girl stole my heart. She is pictured here with Pastor Mike, our gracious host who with his wife Debbie made our stay in Thailand a lot more pleasant and trouble free. Thank you!

Losing the Front Row

On our first (and only) night at Wiang Pa Pao, where Grace Place, Thailand is we had worship with the children and the staff there. It was getting late and the children were already tired of a full day of activities. I gave a little meditation and even before I started speaking some of the smaller children were already falling asleep (while sitting). It was kind of cute to watch that. Anyway, I have had people fall asleep during some of my sermons but this broke all my previous record -- at the end I lost almost the entire front row! At the end of our time we helped carry some of the kids back to the home while the older ones enjoyed a hearty snack -- hot dogs!

Jeana, helping one of the "stray ones"
Tutu, AH Director in Thailand, holding another sleepy one
RAD, trying to stay awake himself (actualy I think he was playing with the kids)
Kids enjoying their snack before bed time
Faa, holding a good portion of the front row
Pastor Ivanildo C. Trindade
itrindade@woostergrace.org

I'm coming home . . . what does that mean?

Well, in a sense, it’s a very sweet thing to say . . . can’t wait to see Debbie, Lindsay, Austin, my four14 family and even Ed and Daisy! To get a chance to reconnect with all of the things I’ve missed makes the truth of the 30 hour journey home seem like nothing.

But on the other hand, it’s hard to say good-bye here too. Good-bye to sunscreen in January, yep I’m sporting a nice reddish hue, to short sleeves, and motorcycle riding in the mountains of Thailand. Goodbye to rice at every meal and asking what it was we just ate after we’ve eaten it rather than before:)

See that’s how we cope with life, we talk about the surface stuff especially when the real deal of life seems too hard for words. Am I going to miss the children, words can’t really describe. The faces, the smiles, and now knowing the stories that came before those smiles makes leaving very difficult. When I child runs up to you and says, “I love you.” It’s not just to be polite, it’s because so many of them have seen the darkness and have now found love and hope in places called Grace Place.

I read just this morning, because it’s February, the month of love and because I’m heading home just in time for Valentine’s Day and Debbie’s birthday, these great reminders from 1 Corinthians 13 in the Message Bible. . .

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (MSG)
“Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.
Love doesn't strut,
Doesn't have a swelled head,
Doesn't force itself on others,
Isn't always "me first,"
Doesn't fly off the handle,
Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn't revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,”
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.

Oh, I’m going to miss being here alright, the pure genuineness of care and hospitality from the friends I’ve made here has been nothing short of full on refreshing. I’ve seen love given, and love received and it truly is a beautiful thing.

Oh and by the way, I’m bringing something home for you too! Because if you have in some way prayed, given, sacrificed on behalf of the very least of these and the work that goes forward, slowly with so much left to do, then how about meeting me at my office on Sunday cause I’ve got a heart full of hugs, holding hands and I love yous to deliver because you’ve cared. Thank-you Wooster Grace for allowing me the privilege of representing our Savior and you, the families of Grace who are doing the real work of ministry day in and day out, it has truly been an honor of humility that I could stand in this place for you.

My the Lord continue our heart for the world and may we be faithful until He comes,
RAD

Saying Good-bye

One of the hardest things about this trip has been saying good-bye. In Battambang, after we played and danced with the kids for about two hours, the night skies quickly covered us and it was time for the kids to go to go to bed. We started hugging the kids one by one or in groups, sometimes hugging the same child and the same group again and again. I lost track of the hugs and "love you's" I gave and received.

After a while I couldn't take it anymore. I went inside the van and wept quietly as the children came upon the window, sobbing, putting the palm of their hands against the glass, trying to smile but unable to because of all the tears flowing down their cheeks. All of our team members eventually came inside the van and off we went to a world of our own away from the emotional touch that gave us a little touch of heaven for a few of days.

Some people climb mountains for the sheer thrill of it; others participate in extreme sports. Some engage in risk behavior to get high; others apply their minds to accomplish nearly impossible tasks. As for me, I will keep coming back to be near these precious children to get my "emotional fix"...

In the picture above you can see two of the three children who are now in the G.R.O.W. home. According to Faa, the two girls who just came on January 15 were so scared and suspicious at first that they didn't let anyone hug them. They followed Faa everywhere, including when she had to go to the bathroom, and kept asking her, "What are you doing? Where are you going?" As you can see from the pictures, they got the hugging thing down now. I wish I could express to you the joy of playing with these children on the floor of the kitchen in their home or just chasing them around the house as they screamed from the top of their lungs. Yes, getting your emotional fix can be hard on the old body too.

Thank you, Wooster Grace, for allowing us to be here. In a little over an hour we will be heading to the airport to start the first leg of our return trip to the U.S. Please continue to pray for us. Jeana is feeling much better, praise the Lord. Everybody is doing well. We have loved it here, but are more than ready to come home (except for the cold weather that awaits us, it was 85 in the share here yesterday!). We can't wait to hug the ones who have truly sacrificed in order for us to be here. Thank you again!

I will be posting more pictures and stories for at least one week after we come home. There is so much to tell and so little time!

Pastor Ivanildo C. Trindade

itrindade@woostergrace.org

"Look What I Got!"

I never saw a group of kids so excited, no, out of this world overcome with joy when they got the packets from their sponsors. I was so excited to experience that I changed the settings on my camera accidentally and couldn't reset it so I just kept recording. You will get the idea of this impromptu party. Enjoy it!

Pastor Ivanildo C. Trindade

itrindade@woostergrace.org

"Welcome Committee"

This was the sound that greeted us when we arrived at Grace Place, Thailand. The kids had just gotten back from school and we arrived just in time to hear the "welcome committee" greet us with a song about the love of the Lord. I wish you all could be here to feel what we felt. But be assured of one thing -- we have conveyed your love and have hugged the kids for all of you. Thanks for giving us the privilege to come to Thailand and participate in the dedication of Grace Place, Thailand.

We praise God for the people at Wooster Grace!

Pastor Ivanildo C. Trindade

itrindade@woostergrace.org

Heavenly Music

One of the greatest joys we've experienced during this trip is hearing the children sing praises to God. I have several clips of their making joyful noise to the Lord. They really put their heart and soul into it. Often they sing with motions, many times with carefully choreographed moves. In Battambang I heard that all the choreography for the children in our home was created and rehearsed by a 12 year old girl.

It is especially good to hear these children singing because I know a little bit about their background. The sadness on their faces which they carried when they came to the homes was telling. Yesterday in church, as the AH homes were lining up to sing one by one, Tutu was pointing out some individual children to me. She would mention their nationality and give me a couple of lines about their former lives. "That little boy, he is Akha. His father beat him so hard he could not walk for three days." "That little girl, she is Lisu. She used to be left roaming the streets because the uncle was drunk all day. She has an older sister I would like to bring to one of our homes but have no sponsor yet," and on and on it went.

At first you are sad, then you realize what these children are doing -- they are singing about a God who can do anything, they are rejoicing over the beautiful nature which God made, they are telling us about the Love of God. Yes, for these ones, they have a new song in their heart and it is like the angels singing. Enjoy this little clip from this "heavenly" choir high on the mountains of Thailand.

Pastor Ivanildo C. Trindade

itrindade@woostergrace.org

"I Know Your Name"

Sometimes funny things have happened on my mission trips but this one topped them all. What you are missing is RAD asking Mrs. Pig, "What is my name?" right at the beginning of the video. Enjoy it!

Pastor Ivanildo C. Trindade

itrindade@woostergrace.org

Children Open their Gifts!

Grace Place Dedication

Hello everyone:

We just got back from Weing Pa Pao, where Grace Place, Thailand, is located, up on the mountains of northern Thailand. RAD and I rode the bikes back and we arrived safely, though I did have quite a scare with a rear flat tire. Thank God we weren't going down the mountains and it was before we hit the real curvy area. We were following the truck in front of us and after a little while they noticed that we weren't on their tale anymore, so they came back. We had pulled into the sidewalk of a big building and Tutu and Mike went to fetch a mechanic who eventually got the tire out, went back to his shop and brought the tire back fixed. Praise the Lord everything is fine here. Also, though Jeana is still coughing and had sleep in the truck last night (she needs to be somewhat upright when she sleeps), I think she is beginning to turn the corner. Please keep praying for the health of our team.

We had a beautiful day for the dedication. It started with a very chilly morning. I didn't even dare to take a shower in the morning (of the guys that were staying in the same room, including Tutu's younger son, David, and Pastor Mike) the only one who had the courage to brave the cold water (no water heater!) and the cold draft coming from the windows was Nathan. The rest of us chose to go to Tutu's parents' house, where they do have a water heater in the shower.

Around 9 a.m. the widows came with their wears -- purses, shirts, bookmarks, etc., all made by hand (it takes 3+ days to weave and sow one shirt by hand and at least 5 to do a dress). This is all done the old fashioned way, with a manual loom that seems to be as old as this country. It is amazing what they can do with this tool. Jeana was the only one brave enough to try weaving and she testifies that it is hard work. After we went "shopping" with the widows, we were treated to a delicious brunch (see a picture of one of our dishes before it was cooked).

The widows stayed around and helped. These ladies were destitute, sometimes kicked out of their homes after their husbands died. They lost property and had nowhere to go. Tutu had a vision to reach out to them. Now they built a little cottage where they live and a little hut for their weaving operation. It basically gives them a little money so they won't be forced to go to the streets to beg. Wooster Grace, through our Touching Tomorrow Mission Fund, helped fund the planting of thousands of mulberry tree which will be in full bloom next year by this time. They hope to be producing silk from those trees in the near future. Please pray for more funding and for Tutu as she keeps the vision to help these ladies alive.

After brunch at Tutu's parents home, we walked over to the Grace Place and sat down for a worship service with the children. My oh my. I wish I could describe to you the awesome experience of hearing the children pray, sing and recite Scriptures together. It was a heavenly sound!

Each one of our team members spoke at the Dedication service and I preched on the passage in the Gospels where Jesus became INDIGNANT because the disciples were trying to prevent the children from coming to Him. I observed that we still live in a time when children are considered worthless in some parts of the world but I reminded them that this is not how God feels. I ended with a message of hope from Psalm 30:5, "Weeping may remain for a night but joy comes in the morning." For these children their night is over and humanly speaking that is because of the generosity many of you have demonstrated toward these little ones who are loved by God.

At the end of our service I invited everyone to come to the front of the house. We touched the walls of the house and prayed a prayer of dedication. I mean, 7 prayers of dedication, representing the 7 nations that were present there. Pastor RAD ended with English (or his version of it...). Is is not amazing that one little home for FORMER orphans, housing only 25 people, has people from several nations -- Karen, Lisu, Hmong, Akha, Thai, etc. We are reaching the world from Wooster, Ohio. Praise God for that!

Pastor Ivanildo C. Trindade

itrindade@woostergrace.org