I’ve been in Chiang Mai, Thailand for about 2 weeks now! It feels closer to 2 months though! It’s been 2 weeks worth of long, exciting, and full days in this busy city that is quickly winning my heart. There’s a lot of hustle and bustle, but I’ve been so in awe of how He provides quiet moments within the chaos that feels really regular. He knows what we need and He’s been giving me so many sweet moments of rest and refreshment in the sometimes crazy days of life here.
My team is working at a foster home this month! This home is run by an incredible American family who truly loves and provides for these kids as parents. Their vision is to partner with government orphanages in Thailand and take the children who are too sick to thrive or even survive in the orphanage setting. These sweet kids then get to live in the home until they are adopted internationally. They are taught English and other subjects, and given the normalcy of a home to help with the transition into their adoptive homes. This ministry also hires women in need of a second chance to care for the children as nannies. They’ve gotten to see so many children join new families overseas, and they are truly making a difference in the lives of orphans here in Thailand. Really an incredible place all around!
We spend Sunday through Thursday at this ministry getting to teach the kids, play with them, be friends with the staff and love on them, and just participate and help out in the workings of this big and very special family. I get to play with babies! Really a dream! The rest of my days are spent having fun with my team, doing team times (which are opportunities to grow together in our relationships with Him and each other), and getting to know these amazing people that the Lord’s given me for this season.
It’s also been incredibly cool to experience how my race is different this time around as a team leader. It’s been sweet to focus my eyes and heart on the girls on my team and be intentional in asking the Father what they need and how to love them best. It’s definitely weird in a lot of ways to re live some of last year but also special to see it all with new eyes. A lot of my day is really just tuning in to their hearts and getting to speak truth and encouragement.
My girls are incredible! Already learning so much from them and so excited for the 2ish months left to walk with them through the beginning of this season. The Lord has been teaching me a lot about noticing giftings in them and calling them out. He’s been challenging me to step into more freedom, walk out of fear of failure, and celebrate our victories big. He’s been teaching me even more that leadership looks like humility and service and sacrifice and always pointing people back to Him. I’m growing in more dependency on Him and finding deep and consistent joy in His love. I’m falling in love with walking next to people as they fall more in love with Jesus. This is really the dream!
Thanks for all the love and support! He’s been opening my eyes so much to the incredible people I have back home who have been rooting for me so hard through all this. Blessed doesn’t even begin to describe how I feel.
