I am learning; this is a phrase I hope I can say the rest of my life. I love to learn, but I’m realizing now, more than ever that learning takes effort, it takes commitment and sacrifice, and when we learn we grow, and growing does not come without growing pains. I am learning.
Before I even continue on this blog or write any future ones I want to establish my heart. While preparing for this grand adventure I dreamt and created all of these beautiful ides in my head. I dreamed of what ministry would be like, what living with 50 people in one space would look like, the adventure of having a team that I spent almost every waking hour with and the memories we’d make, the countries we would explore, the cultures we would be immersed in, and of course, the photos, videos and stories that would be so beautifully and aesthetically collected on my social media page. Well, things have changed. I don’t want to show you the highlight reel because it’s not the whole story and its not reality. Yes, there are highlight moments and all of the things I listed are pieces of reality, but they aren’t the whole thing. I want to be a storyteller; one who tells the whole truth, even the ones that are HOT (honest, open, transparent), the ones that your move heart or are uncomfortable, the ones no one wants to talk about or is talking about. More than those, I dont want to celebrate and talk about the wins tpp; the stories that warm your heart and that give a glimpse into this once-in-a-lifetime adventure I am so grateful to be a part of. So, that being said, this page (along with my social media) is about to get HOT, and I hope you will come along with me and meet me in this space as we experience these stories together.
On that note, let me update you on the latest Thai news! We officially started ministry – YAY! We started Monday and we have been working and lovin’ since. We are serving at an Orphanage called Agape. Agape is the home for many orphaned kids (ranging from infant to teenagers) but also the refuge and home for children and teens living with HIV/Aids. The first day was very powerful. It was full of heart wrenching awakening, mixed with empowerment and heart to come along and love on and serve this place, the children, and the staff. Avis (the owner of the orphanage) shared her story with us as well as the story of the orphanage. Im serious this woman is modern day apostle Paul! A powerhouse for the lord!! She has been in Thailand for 43 years and became a missionary when she was 18 (SHE IS 72 AND THRIVING). She had the vision of this orphanage planted in her heart as she was in a Cambodian refuge camp as a teenage missionary caring refugees and then infants and children with HIV/Aids. She is a strong and powerful woman and is definitely a character to say the least.
Our team (team Selah) is paired with another team of girls from our Squad, so there are 17 of us going to Agape, Monday – Friday from 9am-4pm. So far me and 3 other girls have spent the last two days painting baby gates for the outdoor space, as well as sanding and stripping off furniture to be re-furbished for new spaces. Other team mates have been playing with the toddlers and holding the babies. Some have been doing lawn work like mowing, weed whipping, bush trimming and cleaning up one of the outdoor playground areas. It is so stinking hot here…I have not stopped sweating! It’s wild! Avis loves to keep us busy and moving, which I am so okay with. It has been a learning thing for me in the sense that I see how God is always preparing us and how he uses everything. He wastes nothing. All those days of helping family and friends with lawn work, helping do DIY’s and projects, the “living on your own” class I took in high school, and my last missions trip I went on have all equipped me with knowledge for this very season of my life. When doing these projects I get to bond with my team and the girls from the other team. We get to laugh together, sweat together and encourage each other when we get tired. There is also a lot of time when you have your head down and it is just you and your thoughts. In this time I get to do what I love to do with Jesus the most; I get to dream. When I get tired and don’t see or get why we are sanding chairs or mowing grass or distrught and heartbroken over the reality that these babies we ar loving on and kids we are playing with have been rejected and left, I go to Him. I dream of what He can do and I know deep down anything I am thinking of doesn’t even come close to how good his reality is for his children. I think of the conversations that will be had sitting around the table and chairs we sanded and painted, I think of the memories and joy that the kids get when they play in the grass we mowed and on the playground in the yard. Hope is powerful. While there is so many good things too, there have been moments that I sit and ask why. I sit and think how I blessed I am to have a family and to have the story I do, even with all of its twists, turns, ups and downs. I don’t get it and I can’t figure it out and Im trying to process it all. I dont understand why these things have to happen this way or why this is theire story. I dont know yet, but I do know there is something I need to lear here. There is a road ahead to be had here and amidst it all, I have hope. I am excited to see all God has to teach me and my team here and to have the privilege to love and serve this place and the people here. I am learning.
I am seeing the power of love.
I am learning how big it is and how vast, how wide, how deep and how life saving the Love of Jesus is. God’s love and heart for the hearts of his children, for relationship, is actually very simple. We tend to get lost in religion and rules and this and that and at the end of the day he just wants to love us and us to love him; he’s SO relational, and he is SO good.
Im learning that I can’t figure everything out, and that its okay. I don’t need to because he is in control.
I am learning that there is a lesson in everything and Abba is ready to come along side me and teach me things, to reveal things to me, to remind me and to give me peace when I don’t understand.
That all being said, thanks for reading this far 🙂 haha
This is just the tip of the iceberg of all I am experiencing, learning and processing right now. I haven’t even told you about my local friend Pparis yet!
For now, please keep my team and our squad in your prayers as we are having these amazing opportunities to partner with these ministries and serve and love here. Thank you for reading my blog, commenting, messaging me and sending me lots of love and encouragement. Time is already flying by it feels like!
You guys are a real blessing and I thank God for my home team every stinking day! HUGS AND LOTS OF LOVE!!
-Aves
Painting at Agape 🙂
Pparis and his shop…im in love!
Heathers Birthday Celly
‘
