My time in Thailand is coming to a dizzying end. Days spent in Warren, Ubon, Sisaket, Lao Suea Kok, Ban Pla Duk and many other scattered pieces encompassed in this mysterious country called Thailand is my normal. The countless Facebook friend request, laughter with no translation, and the 500+ children I have been blessed to encounter and teach is now, unexpectedly my new life. Out of all the children one boy has consumed my mind and my heart. We met in Sisaket almost one month ago, but I can't shake him from my head. Of all the faces I've met and seen, his constantly is the only one running through my brain. I think of his soft laughter and the way he scales his pen in joy of a warm embrace. I think of the ways he bounces when he's excited and the way he starts to drool when he can no longer contain his laughter. I will never forget the chance I had to hold him tight in my embrace as his fingers wriggled and curled around my hair. I will never ever forget the words I got to say to him even though he couldn't understand. This boy was Sam.
Sam is a young boy I met in Sisaket. He is mentally challenged and lives his life in a pen. His pen is no bigger than a 6ft circle. It's where he plays, sleeps, and lives. The life he knows is encompassed in this 6ft radius. He doesn't get the chance to interact with many people, and many people rather ignore him and his condition. I got the chance to interact with Sam. I got the chance to tell Sam that he is perfect. He is so deeply loved. He is human, but not only a human but an extraordinary boy who's deeply loved by the creator of the universe and was made in a perfected image. I got to embrace Sam and squeeze him in my arms. I got the chance to hold him as we bounced around and danced until he drooled down the sleeve of my shirt. I got the chance to love on him hard.
The thing though is that I wasn't helping Sam, he was the one that helped me. He held me in his embrace. His laughter brought me laughter and joy. His desire for life and happiness gave me hope. To Sam I want to say thank you, you showed me that the love I feel for you I so much deeper than the love the Father feels for me. Sam I think you for embracing me in a time of need. I thank you for consistently consuming my thoughts with you laughter and joy in life. Thank you for bringing me hope and joy. I love you and I constantly think about you. With all my love.
Forever and always
Jazlyn
