On March first I said goodbye to my sweet babies in Ethiopia. It was quite possibly the hardest thing I have ever done. I wish I could explain how gut wrenching that day was. Needless to say I miss them like crazy. After we left HOPEthiopia we traveled to Chiang Mai, Thailand! After living in the middle of nowhere for three months and finding myself in a city I am living the dream. I am a big city person. Knowing that things are always happening around me and people are always on the go calms me. At home when I need some time to myself I just drive through downtown Dallas. Honestly, I can see myself living in New York. Moral of the story is I love the city. So I am thriving. The nightlife here is incredible. For dinner I just head to the night market and get some gyoza and a smoothie from street vendors. The people here are the absolute sweetest. In asian culture it is a very big thing to honor people. So all these people do is seek to honor you. They just want to serve others. Which has been so humbling to witness.
When I arrived in Thailand my parents were actually here waiting for me. They were here for PVT- which stands for “Parent vision trip”. They got to spend five days with me. Five days of ministry. Five days of meals together. Five days of exploring. Being in Thailand with my parents was a very eye opening experience. I think it has got me thinking about the next three months. The last three months. I am starting to process that soon I’ll be home. And I don’t want to go home and be the same person I was 6 months ago. I don’t want to fall back into old habits or old mindsets. There are new (healthier) habits I have picked up on my race that I would love to see come to pass when I’m back home in Dallas.
Seeing my parents was nothing but joyful. Some people were nervous to see their parents but I was absolutely nothing but joyful. Amy and Heath Carter are my rocks and have saved my life more than once. They are my heroes. Seeing them felt like I took a deep breath. It was so refreshing to see the most important people to me. And the fact that they took the time and money to come see me is so incredible. They did not have to do that. But they did. And they are amazing.
After PVT was over we were told we were going to Chiang Dao for 2 weeks. And this was kind of a kick in the stomach for me… not gonna lie. Chiang Dao isn’t necessarily a village. I would compare it to a small west Texas town. And as I have just mentioned… I love the city. The fact that they chose to send us out again after we had been living in Ethiopia for three months infuriated me. It was just my team and one more team that had to go. And everyone else got to stay in the city. So with a very unhappy heart I moved to a children’s home with 14 kids, squatty potties, no air conditioning and no windows (lizards were everywhere).
My first two days here were very bitter days. Every afternoon when I was laying in my bed just boiling, my bitterness festered. However, after we started teaching English everything changed. Me and three other girls taught the older kids. They were from ages 15 to 18. I wouldn’t really consider them my “students”. These people are my friends. They live here. This is their home. And they love it. The joy they carry is beautiful. So I decided that since they are happy I am also going to be happy. I can take two weeks.
Everyday here is so simple and sweet. The little kids always pop their heads in our room to say hi. They have pet bunnies and the kids will take them to the park with us on our daily outings. Everyday we go on ice cream runs with the older kids. Wanida and Aaron are the parents of all the children here (biological to two of the kids). And they are the most God fearing couple I have every encountered. They have really shown me what it looks like to be in a romantic relationship and have the Lord in the center. They pour their hearts out to these kids and everyone they meet. And Wanida has made some of the best Thai food I have had in Thailand.
Life is so sweet right now.
The Lord just keeps proving to me that every single thing that has ever been hard has always turned into something good.
