“I’M IN LOVE, I’M IN LOVE AND I DON’T CARE WHO KNOWS IT!” –Buddy the Elf
I’ve fallen in love with 36 beautiful children, 2 married couples and a cook! Needless to say, my love story is far different from those movies I always dreamed my love story would echo. But what can I say- I’ve been reeled in like a sea bass, hook, line and sinker!
Place:
Thailand -> 50 hour travel day: bus, new bus, hostel, van, tuk-tuk, hostel, van…yeah -> middle of nowhere -> New Hope Orphanage
We’re thirty minutes or more from civilization in any direction. Though off the beaten path, we have everything we need to survive and more. And I love it!
The area is surrounded by land in every direction. In the rainy season there are lots of rice fields. But because it is currently dry/ hot season, the land is mostly dust. So when we play soccer in the dirt fields and someone slide-tackles, it’s pretty much a dust storm- awesome!
People:
New Hope Orphanage was founded around 12 years ago when Vandy and his wife Tevy were in the area on a mission trip to build a church. He was heartbroken by the amount of poverty and orphans he came across that he decided to uproot his entire life and move out here. (still not exactly sure where here is!) The orphanage began with 5 kids in their house. Tevy ran a small store so they could support the children and after two years they were able to build a new home and more children were able to come in. New there are 36 beautiful children living here.
As for the kids, well, you just need to see their faces…
…and now you know why I am in love!
(due to uploading errors, and lack of computer skills I’m going to have to upload the others later… but here’s 4!)
Process:
The process…hum… to show the people here that we love them, daily. By teaching them, playing Legos with them, riding bikes, giving them kisses, making bracelets, braiding their hair, playing cards, and as of today, taking them on mo-ped rides. Yes, yes it is very hard work. Just kidding! I can’t believe I am able to do every single thing I love every day. I am so thankful for this opportunity. And again, supporter, thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Prayer:
While the process has been nothing but utter bliss, I have been praying maybe more than ever before. I took three days last week to fast and to pray for this organization. This is because, well, I really do love these people. I knew from day one this place was special. And like anyone, when you love someone, you only want the best for them. So I talked to Vandy. This organization needs things in order to function. And I want you to pray with me for those things.
-they need a new building for the children (where the girls live is like spreading a bunch of 2-by-4’s over some rafters and it’s becoming more unsafe daily)
-the new building is $60,000 but half has already been raised (over the past 5 years)
-They also want to be able to feed their kids more rice and one piece of fruit daily
-This would be about $4,000 total each year
-there are 2 new boys here who do not have supporters
-support for one child is $50 each month
-this includes: food, clothing, education
-Vandy’s dream is to have a farm that is run by him and the children so it eliminates the money spent on going to town.
-this is coming along well and pretty awesome. He has the land (maybe 5ish acres)
-it will have: a fish pond, 10 cows, chickens, rice fields and pigs.
-all of this total, plus 5 more acres of land will be about $20,000
-all of this total plus other odds and ends (like a swing set) all tally out to about $60,000
So, as I have learned through raising $14,000 in 7 months, God can do great things! Money is so abstract to Him! I believe God will bring in the funds for this organization- please join me in prayer for them and pray big and pray boldly!
Blessings
