His name is Saksit.
He was born March first and I the thirty-first. But I am older.
He was born to parents who are farmers, I grew up begging my parents for a horse.
He has never known a home other than Thailand, a year ago I didn't believe I'd ever step foot on the streets of Chiang Mai.
He has waited four-hundred and eleven days to be sponsored. To hear the words, "you've been picked!"
Tomorrow, he will.
Tomorrow, for the first time he will hear that he has been chosen.
Tomorrow will change everything.
Tomorrow, his parents will breathe a sigh of relief. And he will smile. And his mother will cry. And he will whisper, "ca t?huk k?hxng" (It's going to be okay momma.)
Tomorrow Compassion will keep a family together.
He will hold his head a little higher, stand a little taller.
And when he gets his first letter…
He will fold it meticulously, place it in his chest pocket, and there it will stay. Close to his heart. When he needs a moment of bravery, he will take it out and there he will read the words, "We love you!"
•••
There are currently five other boys from Thailand who have been waiting over two-hundred days for sponsorship. Five brave men-to-be. Struggling to feel acceptable in a culture that deems them disposable. Five boys at risk for being taken from their families. Five boys with potential to change their legacies… but they need your help.
It is without hesitation I ask you, will you show these sweet boys Compassion?
Will you, North America, fight so these boys don't have to?
Is it within your power (not your comfort) to keep a child non-orphaned?
Yep. I just asked you to sponsor a child.
I just asked you to give up coffee, or one meal out a month, or a pair of jeans… I don't know what sponsoring a child will cost you, but I can guarantee you it will reward you more than you could ever dream!
So there it is, my World Race Wish… we all get one right?
I want Teerawat (sponsored 25 October 2013), Tenachat (sponsored 24 October 2013), Kadam (sponsored 25 October 2013), Chang (sponsored 3 November 2013), and Morjeeyu (sponsored 5 November 2013) to be sponsored by the time I leave Thailand.
And I fully and truly believe it to be possible.
•••
I rejoice this morning to be able to share that today, on his birthday, Tenachat was sponsored. I don't know the story of his sponsorship. If he shares the same birthday as his sponsor, if he was sponsored in memory or in honor of someone….
What I do know is this, today he was given news that will change his life, and his legacy. To Tenachat's sponsor, thank you. I pray you are blessed beyond your expectations through welcoming this brave boy into your life.
•••
To end the day I shared stories with the girls at the cafe, sat in a circle and heard about what they liked to play when they were little. There were no stories of house, or school, or make believe. As I lay my head on my pillow I think about what it would mean to grow up as a child in a Thai village.
And, all praise to the Lamb, I think about Kadam. He was sponsored today! Sponsorship that means he will indeed have a few more years of childhood. He will know the joy of receiving and writing a letter, a pen pal. He will lay his head down tonight and he will pray for the family that picked him. He will pray for them too. In a beautiful Thai tongue he will pray thanks.
To Kadam's sponsor, you have given the gift of childhood, of make believe, of hope, and you have changed more than just one story today. With sincerest gratitude, Khamp Kun Kha.
•••
As the sun rises over Chiang Mai this morning, I think in Spanish. How I love the Spanish word for smile, sonrisa. And a sonrisa takes over my face as I watch the light come into the city. Teerawat was sponsored last night as I slept. Our 1st October Compassion boy. In his birthday month, a sponsorship!
I wonder, Does he know yet? Will he wake up with a sonrisa, knowing something good is going to happen today?
I think of my own little sister. How we celebrate her birthday all month (valapalooza) and I wonder if Teerawatapalooza was created with his sponsorship. Will he claim two celebration days for himself from here on out?
To Teerawat's sponsor, you've changed more than just Octobers forever. You have brought light and smiles to a very special boy, to his family, and to a world racer. Thank you.
•••
The day is not lost on me, and it isn't on Chang either. Orphan Sunday, the day Chang was promised he isn't and will not be regarded as forgotten. The day of adoption into the hearts of a family, a reminder of the promise The Father has for him. A small taste of the love of Christ.
Today, my prayer- for Chang and his sponsor family is for remembrance. A prayer that each would remember the spirit of adoption that has been gifted to them. A prayer of thanksgiving and blessing, that love would be shared across cultures.
Gratitude is the only thing more prevalent in my life than humidity right now… from Cambodia, to you Chang's sponsor I say, "A Khun"
•••
Remember remember the fifth of November, when Morjeeyu was sponsored. Given hope for all of the tomorrows, and grace for all of the yesterdays. Those days are past, those are no longer. He has been chosen.
The more time I spend with children, the more time I spend being honest with myself… I realize that's what we all want deep down. To be selected for blessing. Today, Morjeeyu had this most precious desire met.
To Morjeeyu's sponsor- you are part of something so special. You are now part of community, a community that will pray for you as you pray for your sweet boy. A group of people who rejoice with you over grade reports and new letters, and people like me, who will cry with you when you get an updated picture and realize he's not a little boy anymore… but rather a brave young man. Welcome, we love (with) you!
-May we not grow weary in doing good as we seek to be faithful to provide for those in need!
