One last hug
We came to this orphanage on Sunday in a bright yellow truck cab. The drive reminded me of the drive I would make to go to a camp I grew up with called Kanakuk. The trees looked like fall, and the weather felt like the beginning of fall. I had no idea Thailand could feel like this. We drove up the dirt road to enter into the village where the orphanage sat. A group of 40 children waited for us smiles spread across their face.
Our host, Peace, hugged us and showed us around. Where we are staying is the nicest place I have yet to stay on the world race. We all have a bed (bunk beds). We have a kitchen and a fridge in a house on the orphanage property. It is wonderful. On the first night the girls brought us flowers and we sang worship songs together. It brought me to tears.
The 40 children here are treated well. They are taught to play guitar and the orphanage provides them with many guitars to play whenever they want. And these kids are good. Some are 8 years old playing complicated songs with no mistakes.
We are here to teach English, run camp type events and teach the girls about their bodies and about Jesus’ love for them.
At the end of every night all the girls run to us and hug us as if we were truly in their families. Hugging goes on for a solid 20-30mins until I have to say “okay, one last hug”. I hate saying this but for the sake of sleep I have to. Every night it’s hard to leave them. Its week one and I’m already having a hard time thinking about ever having to leave here.
