It takes a village...

There is an old african proverb that says "It takes a village to raise a child."

In my life these days, there are so many children who need to be nurtured, loved, disciplined, taught, and prayed for. Most of these children do not have parents, or if they do - their stories turn my stomach and tear at my heart. Now that they are here I, along with the staff, have become teachers, mentors, sisters, and mothers to each of them. I watched the movie 'August Rush' last night, and the scene where Evan goes into the church and hears the choir had me almost to tears (it helps that I love gospel!).

"sometimes it takes a different kind of love to raise a child... hang in there with me...don't give up...sometimes it seems impossible and that's why we pray"

PRAY. Pray impossible prayers. Pray for hope, for love, for affirmation, for assurance, for strength - not for me, but for the girls that are quickly stealing my heart, and becoming my own. Poverty and human rights issues can often be so daunting, so overwhelming that it is simply easier to look at other things. Sex trafficking is an issue that few people care to bring up in conversation, much less go to battle against. But this organization would not be able to support these girls without physical, financial, emotional, and spiritual support. I would not be here... It takes a village.

Life in a Children's Home ~ Patience and Personal Space

As the first few weeks of transition begin to fade, life is becoming more rhythmic, and the girls here are getting more and more comfortable with me. I am starting to realize the value in patience and personal space. Living with 35+ young girls makes me appreciate my mother :). Patience is needed in abundance and my ideas about personal space need to be completely eradicated. With approximately 15 new girls moving in soon, and summer break quickly approaching, I am finding myself planning and valuing "quiet time" more than I ever have in my life. Daily walks have become a great time of body and soul rejuvenation (I found out your secret Mama!). The trifecta - peace, prayer, and a Thailand tan :).

I have suddenly transitioned into an older sister - and one who is often caring for girls who are in need of constant attention, and affection. In general, the girls have so much energy! - from the 5 to the 15 year-old, they are constantly active, giggling, and often making me laugh despite the language barrier. It is never quiet, never organized, and never boring. What a contrast to living the majority of my days in corporate America - with my average day comparatively private, efficient, and orderly. I am re-learning to appreciate the blessings of laughter, squealing :), and community. Even if that means sacrificing the 20 square feet of private space that I have (my bed) to the 6+ girls that just want to be close. Yesterday throughout the course of the day I had four different people napping on my bed at some point in time. Everything is shared - and has to be!

The young women that call this home come from such distressing circumstances, and as they begin to open up to me about their lives, I am finding my heart swell again and again hearing their stories. They accept each other as "family" almost instantaneously and it is a wonder to watch them care for each other. From haircuts, to homework, to consoling the little ones from nightmares, I am constantly blessed by the love that overshadows all things. The organization and the home itself are built on the idea of Agape - God's unconditional love - and the verses on love from 1 Corinthians 13. <3

"If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.  For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." 
~ 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Striving for agape and learning from the only one who can only truly give it...

Communication

From what I have seen so far, here in Thailand communication is basically always an issue. Interpersonally, locally, and internationally, there is always a challenge whether that be anything from the language barrier to the internet connection. Right now I am one of two English speaking people living in a house of almost 50 people and am writing this on a Word document as I watch our internet freak out between being “online” and “offline” back and forth (though if you are able to read this it means I was connected long enough to copy and paste J). 

There is one communication source though that I am finding always works, always proves faithful. This source is quickly becoming my lifeline… Jesus. The source of always open communication who will never leave me or forsake me. He is the one who has opened the door to communication, and is actually waiting on me.

I will confess right now that I have never been someone who is “good” at praying. I am not disciplined in a morning/nightly routine or even at sporadic prayers throughout the day. Now don’t get me wrong – I fully believe in the power of prayer, and really enjoy gatherings like Solid Rock’s “Seven” and meeting for prayer groups. I am just terrible at spending significant time praying on my own. It is hard for me to sit in silence, to stay focused, to tell things to God who I know already knows them.

As a person who is 100% an extrovert and is energized through physical interactions, I have a hard time purposefully separating myself from "my energy source". All of that is changing though as I am adjusting to this new environment.  I am finding that the LORD is a never-ending, reliable source of communication. In the book I am reading, and in my devotional the last few days I am learning more and more about relying on God as the best relationship, the strongest relationship, and the most fulfilling relationship we have. Just talk!

As I am finding wayyy more free time on my hands than I am used to – he is teaching me to spend time with Him – to pray, to seek, to be still, and to know Him. A friend and I were recently talking about discerning the voice of God and his desire to really be able to distinguish God’s voice. I came across John 10:4-5, which says: “When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.”

Unless we spend time, just TIME, with God. In reading, praying, listening, and in truly abiding – do we really know Him? I want my relationship with God to go deep into the depths of my soul. To truly be ROOTED in Him. Even writing now, I don’t know how I ever missed the importance, the foundational need, for time and communication in that desire. We were built for relationships, and as the worldly forms of communication are failing (or frustrating) me, I am finding that it is forcing me to turn to a truer form, a better form of communication. One that is strengthening the relationship that gives more than I could ever ask for, or desire.