Goodness… it’s hard to believe our time in Thailand is almost up!
A few weeks ago, during our orientation at Garden of Hope, the ministry contact encouraged us to ask God for one child’s face, one little girl or boy to pray for, one smile to remember as we continue on our journey.
After the meeting, I stood downstairs staring at a bulletin board covered with thirty children’s names and pictures. As I scanned, I whispered a prayer: “Lord, show me the one boy or girl You want me to tuck away in my heart.”
My gaze lingered on a little girl named Tamah, and I felt a thud in my heart.
I stood there staring at her sweet face, almost in a trance, until a teammate came up behind me.
“Lauren, I just heard something about one of the kids here. A girl named Tamah.”
Tamah?!
The thudding quickened… then my heart seemed to stop entirely.
“She was sexually abused by a male family member.”
I squeezed my eyes shut and shook my head. Oh no. God, why?
Ministry this month at Garden of Hope included teaching English, and I ended up with the preschool class. One of our contacts handed me the basket of preschool materials, including examples of past lesson plans, worksheets, and behavior reports.
On top of the pile? Tamah’s behavior sheet.
I thought she was older, but it turns out Tamah is only 5.
Five years old.
And her innocence has been stolen from her.
Eleven days went by before I got to meet Tamah. She was gone during our first week of teaching, visiting relatives in the mountains. I couldn’t get her out of my head. I was so excited to find out she was in my class, and then she was out of town!
Our second week at Garden of Hope began with a David and Goliath skit. I was running around the building, trying to be resourceful and find things to use as costumes and props. The kids arrive each day at random times, trickling in from different schools nearby, and I wasn’t really paying attention as I scrambled to get ready for the skit.
All of a sudden, as I was rummaging through a cupboard downstairs, a pair of tiny arms encircled my waist, and I smiled and turned to see who was hugging me.
My breath caught in my throat.
“Sa wat dee ka,” I managed the traditional Thai greeting. “What’s your name?”
The little girl just smiled shyly and stared up at me.
“Are you Tamah?”
Her smile widened. She nodded. And my heart soared! I bent down and scooped her up in my arms, rejoicing in God’s timing.
The past two weeks, I have had the privilege of loving on Tamah and watching her interact with the other children.
She’s quiet and shy compared to most of them, but her eyes reveal the smile in her heart.
The kids love to race one another, and Tamah almost always loses because she’s so small, but she still loves to play.
She holds my hand and sits on my lap and wants to be held.
Like a child. Despite the awful reality of violation, Tamah is still a
child.
child.
Her love is pure.
Her joy is whole.
Her trust is easy.
Her smile is unashamed.
Her face is innocence.
I can only marvel at God’s goodness. At the power of
His touch. At the way He redeems stories and
restores purity. At the way He makes all things new.
His touch. At the way He redeems stories and
restores purity. At the way He makes all things new.
My God makes all things new.
