Chills rolled down my spine. I felt paralyzed and captivated all at the same time. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it was in that moment when I looked at the little boy and his bright smile that I realized, this is real life.
These past few days have been incredible. Our team has been working with an organization called Free Burma Rangers. They help free the oppressed by bringing help, hope, and love to people in the conflict zones of Burma, Iraq and Sudan. They train relief teams and help provide critical emergency medical care, shelter, food, clothing and more to oppressed people.
(Check out more about their organization here: http://www.freeburmarangers.org/ or Compelled by love)
Our team has ministered to hospital patients, wrote english/math curriculum for rescued kids, and done various office tasks with the organization.
The largest take-away was something that a worker told me:
“There are two ways in life.”
“The easy way or the hard way, choose the hard way because with it, you will always grow.”
This phrase came into play a lot these past few days.
One was during a hike that we did with the workers up a mountain to reach the highest temple in Chiang Mai. (Which was INCREDIBLE and super challenging)
Two was saying goodbye to a little boy who was rescued from the jungle…this one hit me the most.
We met this little boy when our team was asked to go minister to hospital patients that were rescued from dangerous areas of the jungle. We drove past homes that were for patients with leprosy and that’s when my eyes welled up in tears.
This was all a surreal experience.
We met a few kids and parents and with a translator shared a story from scripture, sang a few songs, and played some games with the kids.
The most captivating thing was seeing a little boy’s eyes light up when we handed him a balloon to toss around for a game. As I watched the little boy get excited over a balloon it left me paralyzed in thought. Wow, how much do I take for granted? All the blessings I have my life, and yet this little boy is overjoyed over a balloon?
I realized that here is a little boy that is caught in sickness and has very little YET he has joy that supersedes anything of his circumstances.
As we left, I saw the little boy waving us goodbye and hanging on to the balloon with the largest grin you’d ever see.
It was hard to say goodbye to them but in choosing the hard way of goodbye, I learned a lot.
This little boy, the hike, the organization and everything these past few days have helped me grow in having a greater appreciation for blessings and experiences in life. I’ve learned that in choosing the hard way, even if it may be challenging, growth always comes from it.
What way will you choose?
Do you want to grow or stay the same?
Be challenged to choose the hard way; with it, you will never leave the same.
