Hey everyone!!! Last time I wrote I talked about how normality was just starting to grow and feel natural, and now it truly feels comfortable. The schedule is tight, the days are long and the phone calls home are less. Very soon I will have been in Thailand for a month…unbelievable to be honest but that means that tomorrow is my last day doing ministry at the orphanage. Throughout my 9 months on the race I will most likely be switching my ministry every month. The purpose of it is to keep me healthy, allow me to learn more about the culture of every country, and to build relationships with everyone.
For this first month I loved being at the orphanage!! Learning about everyone who worked there, how it came to be and all the preparation that goes into making it so beautiful. The work hasn’t been easy physically or emotionally but it was one of the most rewarding things I’ve done in my life. When I first started ministry at the orphanage and heard my first task I thought Bud, my ministry leader was kidding. I felt as if the task would be too big for me to handle and I wouldn’t be able to complete it like he wanted us too. I soon realized that my team and I were more capable of things then we gave ourselves credit for. Bud is an incredible man who showed us everyday what life is like when you give it all to Jesus. Hearing his story and spending time with him was so encouraging. He showed me what truly pushing myself physically is like. I would be dripping in sweat everyday taking on tasks I never imagined me doing in my life and conquering them with a smile and feeling fantastic. He was so caring and treated us so well. He truly made me appreciate the world and all its beauty even more then I did before!
During our time at the orphanage my team and I got to spend two wonderful weekends with the kids there. Their souls bright and joyful. They were all so talented and unique. They had hearts that were so full of the Lord and gave everyday to Him. The younger girls could not speak English quite as well as the older ones but they didn’t need to speak for me to know what they were thinking. Their smiles and laughter filled up the room we would be in and all I could do was sit in awe at all of them. One day we got to go out and see a hill tribe village. I truly did not know what to think or expect before arriving. The village was filled with beautifully hand made huts that the families would make together. All around plush green plants and trees making the area look magical. While I was there I had the opportunity to talk to a girl who came along with us from the orphanage. She is in college online and had a smile that would light up a room. I got to share about parts of my life with her and she did the same. We laughed and loved on each other and I was able to pour encouragement and wisdom into her. I learned so much through her and want to strive to love life as much as she does. She just sparkled and had a persona about her that just made my heart feel something I never have before. I hope to see her again in my life because she is unlike anyone I have ever met!
So as this month comes to a close I am so grateful for everything I have learned and experienced! Can’t wait to see how the orphanage grows in these next months and hopefully one day I can see all those wonderful people again! Excited to see what the next month will look like for my team and I! Thanks again to everyone for making all this possible!!
With love,
Tatyana
