Before I even start on what this blog is really about…you guys… I just have to say Wow…I AM SO BLESSED! Thankfulness has overwhelmed my heart. With today being my deadline of needing $13,000 and still being about $3,500 away from that goal…my squad mates and friends from back home have surrounded me with love and support, coming together in unity. Reaching out to friends and family, posting on Facebook, praying for me and even donating their own money….I am at lost for words…and you guys I love words and literally cant speak what I am feeling right now. Even before I left for the race and was fundraising in the states, the beautiful family of God came together as the church and met a need. Giving their time, money and resources. One of my roommates faced the opposition of her family, raising support while she went back home for Christmas break, donated a $1000! When she her self is in nursing school. Another roommate of mine donated another $1000 just out of her own pocket! And so many other stories I could tell of Gods goodness. I am blessed…and so thankful for the people He has surrounded me with. Thank you to everyone who is with me in this! Amazing things are happening and I have such peace that this is where I am suppose to be.
With all that being said (Takes a deep breath) Lets start this blog!
For this past month in Vietnam, I have been working with an amazing Ministry, with an amazing family who has such a passion for kids. The ministry is not an orphanage, it more so runs like a day care, but they do so much through it! Welcoming in all different kinds of kids that are in different circumstances. The love that fills this place is incredible! Today was my last day being with these kids…and saying goodbye was heart breaking. These kids stole my heart…in more ways than just one and I wanted to introduce you to some of them! Giving you a glimpse into their personalities.
I mean seriously…my heart. This little girl is so observant. She has no desire to seek attention. She looks at the environment around her and smiles and giggles at the silliness of life. When she cries, she lays her head on your shoulder and lets it all out, then moves on and is giggling 10 minutes later. When you feed her, if there are pieces of ham in her food, she’ll point at it and make you take it out, examining every spoonful you try to feed her. I pray everyday for the Holy Spirit to fill her up with Joy, and that her body is a dwelling place in which He lives. Jesus loves you baby girl.
The baby of the family! He goes from being just fine, to crying in an instant. He will sleep all day if you just continue to rock him while his sleeping, but when you stop…he’ll wake up.Oh. my. Goodness. What to even say about this one! My love for her…is a supernatural love. At first, she would cry her self blue if I even so much looked at her, but then one day she welcomed me with a nice slap in the face, and a giggle that followed afterwards. After that, we were best friends. She is so dramatic, anytime something good, funny, or sad happens she comes running to me, throwing herself on my lap. She loves to be thrown in the air…and has a bite that could break your finger right off. Teething babies….Her laugh comes from the core of her being, and it brings joy to anyone that’s surrounding her. She pushes around her chair like an old woman pushes a walker, and likes to randomly hit people to see the reaction.But what I love most is when she presses her forehead against mine, and just stays there for a minute, resting in the peace that she is loved.He may be aggressive, but he has such a tender heart toward people. He loves to show love and loves to receive it (Even if he acts like he doesn’t like my hugs…I know he does.)King of the laps! Is what I like to call this little man. If someone else is sitting on my lap and he wants to, he will wedge his way in between and kick them off! Cracks me up. He carries so much joy…he loves to sing and dance and sword fight.He will look you right in the eyes and smile at you..just for being you.The stylish one! He is always rocking a button down shirt with ripped jeans. He may look tough, but he is just a boy with a soft heart.He loves to hang off me like a tree branch! And he also loves this song called faded. Even if you play it really low…he hears it and perks up and screams “Where are you now!?” the main lyric of the song.I think the day I gave him a bath was the day he decided that he didn’t like me…but that’s okay, I still get a kiss on the check every once in a while..if he likes me in that moment. I absolutely love hearing him speak Vietnamese! He has the cutest voice, that goes up in a high pitch when he is really passionate about something. He loves wheels on the bus! Dances to it every time.I dont know what this little one has going on at home, but you see pain in his heart. And his hurt comes out through aggression. Today, he would not stop punching me and pinching me, I would calmly tell him to stop until finally, i just grabbed him and held him in my arms, and he stayed there, resting his head on my shoulder, holding my hand.Big little is what we call him! He is only 3 years old and is bigger than some of the kids that are 5! He loves to be held! Absolutely loves it! He will come running to you, giving you the biggest hug, then he will presume his rightful place on you lap.Micky is the sassiest, toughest, loving baby you will ever meet! You know she is about to punch someone when she bites her bottom lip and shakes her hips left to right. When she walks she looks like a drunk person, i think she is just too excited about life to walk straight. She loves to give you kisses! She will just randomly come up to you, kiss you, clap and giggle and dance away.She is the chill baby girl! She’ll just sit in her chair and watch everyone be fools, as she just points and smiles.The desire these kids have to just love and to be loved. The pure heart they have and how they light up when they hear the name, Jesus…. They have stolen my heart, and I dont want to leave them but I know there is more people on my path God wants me to meet!I absolutely love encountering new people from different cultures and want to continue doing what I have been but I need your support! In order to continue on the race I need to met my $13,000 deadline rather soon. Please pray fully consider supporting me on this mission.Thank you so much for reading my blogs! More to come about Nam soon! If you have any questions, or need prayer for anything please message me!
