I’ve been in Thailand for a month and half now. Pretty crazy… I only have two weeks left here. The air has been thick with smog for the majority of the time making it hard to breathe. It’s starting to clear up now, but replacing the dirty air is the humidity and heat.
I live amidst the city of Chiang Mai. My teams ministry is at an orphanage called Agape. All the kids are HIV positive. There I work alongside the kids making school bags, sorting rooms, and making jump ropes. I’ve painted walls and taught English. It’s a struggle considering I know no Thai and their English is limited. I’m working with teenagers which I found I actually really enjoy. My heart has fell completely in love with these kids. That’s something totally from the Lord. I started this trip up with walls and my saying of, “People are only in your life for a reason, season, or a lifetime.” And not to be realistic or anything… but pretty much everyone I meet on this trip is a season or a reason. That knowledge made it easy to not get as close to people. South Africa that came crashing down a bit and here my ministry with the kids my heart is with them.
“Jest!”
Merit, one of the teenage boys, loves me very well. He watches me work and notices when I’m hot. He then proceeds to drag a fan twice the size of his body over to me. He brings me these sour grape things to eat. Between you and me they make my stomach a little upset and don’t taste the best, but I can’t bear to turn him away so I end up eating the handful and then the refill he gives me. After classes he brings me this juice that’s only for the kids but he makes sure I’m apart of this treat as well.
Ahkai, a student of mine, who loves learning English. You might not get that perception from her in class though as she tends to be very sassy with me and more than a tad rebellious. I tease her that she actually really loves me as she steals my water bottle when I’m not looking at any given point in the day. Usually I go into slight panic trying to find it, but I’d never let that on to her mischievous self.
I could go on with each of the kids I get to work with and teach. Seeing their lives and the inconsistency as different people and church groups come through to work is hard. Being at the home for two months I’ve seen more of what their lives actually look like. Most kids come when they are babies, but that’s not ever child’s story and believe me the stories I have heard are heartbreaking! So thankful to love on these kids through the language barrier and all!
