WHAT’S UP WITH ME
Right now I’m in Myanmar! It’s our first day here and my first impressions have been good. We are living with our ministry hosts in a small apartment in Yangon, the largest city in Myanmar. Our host, Teacher Mang, has made an awesome impression too! He took us around the local area showing us some of the bakeries and restaurants and malls that we will want to spend a lot of time at in the next four weeks. The bakeries look delicious and are super cheap! We’re all excited about that! He also treated us to lunch! I’m already amazed at his warmth and generosity. We are going to be teaching English and using that as a way to build relationships in the community. Although we don’t have beds (and won’t normally have food provided) we have WiFi, a toilet, a shower, and a kitchen. Once again I’m very grateful! Also it’s weird to deal with such large bills. About 1,500 kyat equals 1 USD.
A WOMAN OF CRAZY LOVE
Although I’m in Myanmar I wanted to write a blog about one of our ministry hosts in Thailand, Wanida Yakoh. Hearing her story encouraged me to live more sacrificially and with a “crazy love.” I hope it will do the same for you.
My first impressions of Wanida came from my teammates when they visited Chiang Mai for Christmas (Joe and I were still there as I healed from my blood clot). They told me that she is an amazing cook! They all praised her for it especially since she had told them to not expect much. Once I arrived, the food did not disappoint. While her humility had already been recognized, once I met her I immediately discovered her warmth. She is sweet, gentle, and kind. She is married to Aaron (for almost ten years now), a genuine man of God whom is a joy to be around. They have two of their own children, Sam and Yim (ages 9 and 7) while also providing for another 15 children at their home: Fountain of Hope in Chiang Dao.
Wanida grew up in a small village 45 minutes away from Chiang Dao. Her mother was a very a strong follower of Jesus. Her father was not. When she was 15 years old her parents divorced. This was unheard of in her town. There was a lot of gossip about her family and her. She was looked down on because of what had happened to her parents. Not only that, but nobody expected anything from her. When her father left them they had to find a new family. They found a family willing to take them in but Wanida was still very hurt by all that had happened. She felt isolated and alone.
One night when her pain was particularly strong she opened the Bible and read the account of Jesus dying on the cross. It moved her in a way it never had before. Even though she was looked down on by so many in the community she realized Jesus treasured her just the way she was. She remembers crying so hard that tears stained and soaked through the pages of her Bible. The next morning she decided to commit to following Christ for the rest of her life.
After living with her new family for 7 years she left for Chiang Mai to attend a Bible school. She attended a school for three years and then taught interdisciplinary study and English at that same school for another three years. After these six years she heard of a program called Youth With A Mission (YWAM). This program focuses on discipleship and missions and is located all around the world. She worked with them on staff for four years. During this time she was stationed at a base in Chiang Mai. Much of her ministry involved going to a small village outside of Chiang Rai and caring for the children there that had no one to provide for them. Many had had parents that split and then left them. Through this ministry the Lord put children in need on Wanida’s heart. She felt a calling to love these children who had been deserted by everyone.
She vigorously prayed about this vision and how to put it into action during her time at YWAM and after; she prayed about it for a total of 8 years before anything substantial could be done. During this time she met Aaron, a man of Christ who supported her vision. They married and continued work to put Wanida’s vision into action.
In 2014 they were able to start Fountain of Hope (an orphanage) and bring some of the children Wanida had first met back in her YWAM days to live with her husband and two children there at the orphanage. They now have 15 kids to provide for not including their own. They feed, house, and educate these children, while also loving them as their own and raising them in the Lord. Throughout these last five years that Fountain of Hope has been open Wanida and Aaron have had to rely on God so much. They’d had to have faith that He would provide. They use funds from their crops to provide for much of what the kids need and their expensive schooling. Their crops are not enough though. They regularly have to pray for provision and put trust in the Lord. And He has come through for them! They have always had enough. They’ve always had exactly what they needed.
Adding to the already faithful and testing lifestyle that Wanida lives she faces constant mental torment from much of her extended family. They think that she is crazy to give up all that she has to provide for children that aren’t even her own. They think she is crazy to not have her own house or nice car or any fancy clothing or jewelry. They don’t understand why she lives the way she does. She does it because she knows the Lord wants her to focus her finances here at Fountain of Hope with the children. It’s difficult for Wanida to live with this “crazy love”. But despite the fact that much of her family has so much more and that she has sacrificed so much she says she is so happy. She is happier than those in her family with more. It’s not that she doesn’t want all the things her family think she should have (and that they themselves have) but she lives according to Matthew 6:33: “Seek the Kingdom of God first and then He will add all of these things to you.”
Throughout her life Wanida has come to realize that God has a plan and it’s better than her own. She prays to God every day for provision. Her faith is built up every day as she seeks the Lord and He shows up. She has realized that sacrificing her own desires to live with crazy love is the best way to live.
In so many ways she is a mother. She provides for her children’s basic needs: food, clothing, shelter. She is a great cook and a humble teacher. She is sweet and kind and so understanding. And she would sacrifice anything for her children. As I talked with her on the last night I was in Chiang Dao and she shared her story she encouraged me in so many ways. I realized then that even though we have two very different cultures; very different interests, gifts, talents, passions, and desires; two very different lives; yet we are apart of the same family. She is my mother. We are united in Christ. Even though I’m thousands of miles away from my biological family how wonderful it is that Christ has blessed us with a family far greater and grander and more glorious. No matter the sacrifices I make in this life; no matter where I go or what happens, I will always be blessed by God to be apart of the most loving family of all.
Right now Wanida and Aaron rent the orphanage and their original contract there expires in a couple months; they talked with the owner to extend the date for a year. They have land they want to build their own home on to be the new Fountain of Hope site. (That is where my team and I have been working the past month). It will cost $30,000 U.S. dollars to build the house. That’s a large amount in Thailand. Aaron and Wanida are making a real difference in the lives of children. They are so clearly led by the Lord and doing His will in a wholehearted and loving way. If you would like to donate any amount of money to her just comment or get into contact with me and I’ll let you know how you can do that. They would appreciate it so much and it will be put to good use, so please prayerfully consider.
THANK YOU ALL
Also I just want to thank all of you who wrote responses to my last blog. I felt really encouraged and I really appreciate all the wisdom and guidance I received. I still have a lot to consider and much to pray about but I’ll keep you posted on my future plans. Thank you all so much for all your faithful support! I appreciate you all a ton! God bless you all. And stay tuned to hear more about Myanmar!
Last thing: Noah is in the hospital right now with a intestinal infection. Please be praying for him. Also B (Blake Bohning) went home a few days ago. He has been sick for over ten weeks and has returned home to seek American medical attention. His goal is to be able to come back as soon as possible with good health. Pray for peace on our team as we navigate the change; but mostly pray for B. Pray for health and peace as he figures this out.
