Hello Everyone:
This blog will be pretty short and straightforward in that as the title implies; however, it is certainly no less worthy based on fewer words or thoughts. We have been at Nikki’s Place Agape Home since the beginning of the month and I must say Thailand has been a real blessing, both in the people we have met and the work we have been able to do (having a car also rocks). The location houses over 100 orphan children and gives them education, a place to stay, great community, and shows the meaning of agape love. This month our team (and each of you through your various means of support) has been able to help out by painting several walls, playing sports with the kids, sharing in devotions, and of course, brickmaking for a perimeter wall (I am also hoping for the chance to “build a wall” but I digress).
Anyhow, the mission here has been wonderful and many thanks to everyone who helps make Agape Home a reality. I would encourage anyone seeking a worthy cause to look into their organization and assist as you feel led.
On a side note, since most of our current mission involves manual labor, it gives the mind a much needed break from analytical/ critical thought throughout the day along with a certain satisfaction from seeing tangible accomplishments. That being said, there can always be things to ponder and everyday can be filled with those moments that can reveal God’s nature. To briefly elaborate, I think to the Biblical references of God and light, along with the parables or candles and bushel baskets. As I have previously thought of the connections with God and light, I think of how the Bible speaks in terms of eternity, which in our carnal setting is difficult to fathom because we are bound by a thing called “time”. While in Nepal I found myself reading Einstein and his Theory of Relativity and be sure I claim no ability of fully understand this, but I do think it was logically fun to see the relation to light, time, and in the Biblical context how that could define eternity. It is also fascinating to God creating this “light” in Genesis 1:3. Anyhow, I am still working on seeing where that thought goes, but it is a neat concept. What could even be a more fascinating insight is looking at the properties of light we can see (by see I mean physically observed, I am not a physicist so accept this as a very layman’s approach, outside the ridged context of em waves, radiation, etc). As I was on the back porch earlier tonight, there is a pole light through the trees on the adjacent property. I was standing still and as smoke or particles in the air drifted in my line of sight, they became visible and it was brighter because of that. One can also think of a laser and how you can turn it on and not see it if the air is clear; rather, you can only see it once it hits an object or you can even blow smoke and see the beam. But we need to recall, the laser is the same either way, it is just the light reflecting off of the substances that make it more visible to us. That being said in the most simple sense, I think it gives some insight on why light is used as a symbol of God and how that translates onto each one of us to reflect His light for the purpose of adding brightness into the world.
To everyone back home and abroad, I send you my best and below is a picture of just some of the lovely kids here along with their faithful caretakers.
