His name is Chan. That mischievous grin was usually on his face while he was going about his day. He repped a gold chain around his neck and a single gold bracelet on his wrist. The school uniform was a white shirt with navy blue shorts, which he also wore. He had a case of the sniffles and a runny nose, which I found myself constantly wiping.
This boy stole my heart.
At first, he would shrug my hand off if you rubbed his back. He refused to participate in the songs, exercises, or group activities. Chan was a stubborn little thing. There was one day in particular when I realized how much he tugged on my heart. He was fighting to keep his eyes open. He resisted the attempts to have him stand up to sing and dance. Shortly after, he laid his head down on his desk and observed everything else around him from there. I started rubbing his back, and he continued to shrug my hand away. Eventually, he gave in to me and his tiredness. He was out. The kids yelling their alphabet and numbers didn’t even phase him. Our ministry host who was also the teacher said that he could stay asleep during class because maybe he was up late last night. It broke my heart. This little boy who was resisting all of these things finally gave in.
I prayed a lot for him. For who he might become or what he might go through. What he was currently dealing with and and for his family. My heart longed for him. I felt helpless. God continued to remind me that no matter what happens in his life, he is in my life right now. The least I can do is love him. Love him exactly where he is at. Love him with everything I have, because that’s how we’re loved by our Heavenly Father. That’s what we are called to do, and that’s the least we can do. I am called to love Chan when he’s at his lowest, and love him when he’s finally saying his alphabet. It hurts, but it feels so so good. I don’t know what Chan will do in his life, but I do know that God spoke to me and reminded me of a valuable lesson through this little boy who had a running nose. I am called to love people. You are called to love people. We are all called to love them for who they are and where they are at in life right now.
This little boy stole my heart, and I’m perfectly okay with that.
As I have loved you, love one another. John 13:34
Love knows no limits. 1 Corinthians 13:7
Let all that you do, be done in love. 1 Corinthians 16:14
Cambodia treated us well. The little kids stole our hearts, and the older ones became our friends. Our ministry host’s family inspired my team and reminded us how God truly provides. God’s is definitely working in Cambodia, and it was awesome to be apart of it.
Now we’re in Thailand! WOO HOO! We’re living at a place called Lighthouse in Action and my team’s particular ministry is helping out at Zion Cafe and Hostel. It is all squad month so all 40 of us are all together. Half of us are living at the Hostel, and the other half are staying at Lighthouse. They’re about a 15 minute walk apart. This ministry works closely with sex trafficking victims and gives them a life outside of that. A few teams will be building relationships with the girls at the bars, some teams will be chatting to Monks and hanging out with kids in the slums, and the other teams will be working at the Cafe and Hostel which employs women that have gotten out of the bars. My team’s ministry is in the Cafe and Hostel. Our main goal is to speak life into these girls and love on them. This whole month is focused on building relationships and investing in people and I couldn’t be happier. I’m personally super super stoked for this month and it’s already been beautiful seeing God work. I’ve already fell in love with this country and everyone in it. I’m also the Beauty for Ashes Coordinator for our squad. B4A is the women’s ministry and so this month I will be organizing a retreat! WOO HOO! God is definitely going to move this month and I’m super pumped to watch it all happen and be apart of it!
So! Here’s to Thailand and loving people exactly where they are at.
