Thankful (in Pictures) 4

21. I'm thankfkul for . . . Loaner/Donated Suits

To some kids, these just look like pre-worn suits. To our kids, these look like opportunity - an opportunity many of them never would have if it wasn't for the many volunteers that made swim club a possibility and a reality. All of our students got to join in swim club twice a week for 6 weeks and the LOVED every minute of it! Click on the collage below to see more pics.

22. I'm thankful for . . . Bible Books in Thai

2 of our 3rd graders hang out after school and read a bible story in Thai. The boy was reading it out loud, and at moments he would make the funniest cartoon-like voice which made the whole room errupt with laughter.



23. I'm thankful for . . . the chances to be silly

Yeah, and this is my job!!!


24. I'm thankful for . . . Volunteers who work their hearts out on projects to improve our school.



We recently put in a new driveway for the entry way into the school. We have some amazing people who believe in this school and we are so thankful for all the time, energy and sweat they pour into our school!

25. I'm thankful for . . . Ice Cream Fridays

Our students get a special treat on fridays if they pass math speed tests or are elected our student (star) of the week. It may not seem like a big deal, but it's amazing to see the smile on their faces when they have accomplished something and are encouraged and rewarded for their hard work.

Silly Girls

Thankful (in Pictures) 3

To view Thankful (in Pictures) 2, click HERE

I AM THANKFUL FOR . . .

16. Pigtails.

Truly - they are underrated!

17. Playing/teaching the game "Dots" with/to my students.

It's turning into some of the kids and my after school tradition.

18. Homemade Pizza.

And our pizza cutter that we received in our stockings from Sarah Berntson. :0)

19. New friends and locksmiths.

Met these little ones yesterday when I was visiting/teaching May.

This happened to be when I locked my keys in my car and we had to call a "locksmith."

5 mins and $10 later, door opened, keys in hand and a sigh of relief.

20. Markets and the culture that comes with them.

Stories

Matthew West (recording artist) had the idea of asking people to send in letters of their stories. He would rent a cabin and write an entire album based on their letters. He expected 500-600 letters. The letters started pouring in from all 50 states and over 20 different countries. He received over 10,000 letters in which he sorted through, writing songs about heartbreak, suffering, abuse, healing and faith.

It makes me think about some of the kids I see on a daily basis. What do their little eyes see? What have their little ears heard? Where have their little feet walked? It makes me think about their stories. My prayer is that the heartbreak, the divorce, the sadness and sometimes hopelessness turns into a story of redemption for them all. That through their stories, they can see the thread of God weaving each piece of each story together to make them stories of hope and love. That they realize that their Creator is a God that knows every tear that have ever fallen and will ever fall. A God that wants to be their Father, their comforter, their healer.

Here are some of their stories. Please note that the pictures don't necessarily represent the students in the stories. Also, please note that we have students that come from very diverse backgrounds and family lives. I am just stating the reality in which some of these little ones live in/with.

He is tying his shoes and looks up at me and gives me the biggest smile I have ever seen. His smile hides the fact that he is living in a children's home and is orphaned - not because his parents died but because they have been in prison for drug dealing since he was 5 months old and will be there for 10 more years.

Just a moment later, another boy says good morning and holds out his hand to greet me the American way. I shake his hand and he doesn't let go. His eyes light up at any attention from adults. His story is of a boy whose parents divorced. Mom got re-married and therefore disowned her son from a previous marriage. Dad went to make money somewhere else. He is left with his grandparents. While he receives care and love from them, he still is in desperate need for encouragement and attention.

She is one of the first people (including school staff) to come in the morning and leave in the evening. She moved from the village recently and is living with her aunt - the Administrative Assistant at our school. She is quiet and doesn't complain. She told Miss Emily that her parents told her to work hard and be the best so she could have better opportunities and won't have to work as hard as they do later in life. So, she goes at it with full force. 3 weeks into school, she has all planets memorized in order and in English.

She rides to school with us every morning and now will be riding home with us every evening. While her mom works all day doesn't have the transportation ability to pick her up, her unemployed dad just can't seem to get things together to make her a priority.

He rides his bike into the front gate of the school. At first glance, you may think he just came from down the street. In actuality, he started his journey to school about 45 minutes earlier. He left his home and made it to the main road where he catches a song teaw (public transportation truck) and drives about 30 minutes. Then, his little finger presses the red button on the ceiling of the truck to tell the driver to pull over. He gives the driver the coin out of the palm of his little hand and walks to the corner shop where he pays for them to store his bicycle. He picks up his bicycle and bikes 2 KM to our school. This process is repeated in the afternoon. However, there are times where he lingers after school. He could jump straight on his bike and leave the instant school lets out. His lingering tells me he likes the fellowship that the schoolyard has to offer.

He is told he isn't as smart as his sister. He's teased about being fat and I witness him sucking in his stomach as far as it'll go while being measured for his uniform because for once, he doesn't want to feel fat. He just got beat up by some kids recently and spent 1/2 a school day at the police station to report the incident. He has the most tender heart that I've ever seen. He plays basketball with me. I shoot and the ball hits the backboard but is no where near making it into the hoop, he looks at me with a smile that reaches his eyes and tells me "good job, teacher." The kid who receives no encouragement (besides at school), is encouraging me!

Everyone has a story. There is no way to explain why some stories have so much hardship. However, each story is unique. The one thing that I do know is each story is known in full by our Heavenly Father. Our Heavenly Father who's desire is to be at the heart of that story. To be the Healer, the Redeemer, and the Savior.

"Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother's womb. I thank you, High God - you're breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration - what a creation! You know me inside out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something. Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you." Psalm 139 (Message)

Thankful (in Pictures) 2

To view Thankful (in Pictures) 1, click here

I AM THANKFUL FOR . . .

11. Rambutan and other awesome fruit that I had never had until I moved to Thailand

12. The time that I spend with May and all that God is doing in her life.


13. Rotee stands on the side of the road (stand on the left, rotee on the right).

Rotee is basically fried dough with sweetened condensed milk poured on top and sprinkled with sugar. A heart attack waiting to happen but undeniably PURE DELICIOUSNESS.

14. Reading this book outloud with my roomies. Stories of/inspired by 5 women of the Bible: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba,and Mary.


15. The sound of the rain on a tin roof. Especially during the school day (this is theview from my 5th grade window - click on picture see larger view).

Gardener

We worked for hours and hours on pulling and trimming and stuffing bags full of weeds and thorns and roots. Then the ministry of education told us one of the requirements we had to meet before obtaining our license was making an area for a garden so the students could learn agriculture. So, we "built" a garden. We mixed concrete along side our awesome servant of a friend, Rob and we made a flat and solid foundation of dirt and built up a concrete barrier.

And we had our "garden." We didn't plant anything - waiting until we had students. Needless to say - last year we were busy enough trying to iron out any wrinkles that we found in our brand new school project and gardening just went to the back burner. And as things tend to grow - weeds took over our garden. We would have landscaping days to try to tame the jungle growing behind our school.

Just this week - Rob brought a friend who happens to be a farmer in Australia. So, Tony cleaned out our garden again. Spent hours getting things ready for our students to begin planting. And so they did. They took the tiny seeds in their tiny hands and buried them the in piles of dirt. Sweat beads pouring from their little brows as they took the watering can and watered the newly upturned dirt. And I started thinking. . . I was thinking about doing a "clean slate" blog about the beginning of this year. How this year signified a clean canvas. However, the gardening theme seemed to fit even better.

Our Gardener

I watch my kiddos dig through the dirt and watch intently as Farmer Tony shows them what to do. Even though they don't speak the same language, they want to figure out what he is trying to tell him. They didn't do it perfectly as he said some needed to be 10 centimeters apart and some ended up less than a centimeter apart. However, he lovingly came along side them. Telling them it wouldn't be perfect - but it didn't have to be. It would be great. He knew it.

I am reminded that God is the gardener of our hearts.

We got to the point where we had to call in a professional. The garden was overgrown with weeds and we didn't know what we were doing - so a volunteer came in and tranformed it. He went back to the foundation. He leveled it out and started again. Clean (as clean as dirt can be :). He used what was there and tranformed it back to what it was originally meant to be.

This is so what God longs to do in our hearts. He's just waiting for us to call in the pro. Jesus is ready to transform us but he's waiting. Waiting for us tell him that we can't do it alone. There are too many weeds. There's too much work and we can't do it all on our own. Even if we try - we tire easily and grow weary. But He doesn't. He may have to pull a lot of weeds. And it might hurt. He might have to get all the way back to the foundation. But He promises to come along side us the entire time. He promises that beauty will come of what seeds are planted. Maybe beauty we can't define or can't see - but it'll be for His Glory and that's beautiful. I'm also reminded that you can't just call in the gardener once and then call it good. It takes nurturing. It takes constant cleaning out and constant love if something of worth is going to grow and be of lasting value. Eternal value.

He makes all things new. No matter where we are at. No matter how "clean" or how "dirty" our garden is.

Planting Seeds

On this same note but in a different angle - I think of the seeds being planted. I think of the seeds of Christ's love being planted in the hearts of our students. In the hearts of these kiddos - some orphaned, some living with a grandma or a grandpa, some living with a mom and dad, some with broken families - we have kids all over the map. And my prayer is that EVERY ONE of them receives a seed in their heart that takes hold. One that inspires them. One that encourages them. One that points them to the only one who can truly satisfy - Jesus.

Thankful (in Pictures) 1

I've decided to keep a list of things I'm thankful for (inspired by Ann Voskamp, author of "One Thousand Gifts"). I am challenged to embrace God's blessings (big or small, serious or silly) and reallly make a point of recognizing them especially during this 3rd year of living in Thailand. However, I think it's always easier to understand what is being said if there is a picture - so everything I list will have a picture to accompany. I started listing things as I came back to Thailand. Please note that there is no significant order nor have I even begun to scratch the things I am thankful for (because I could list every single family member and all of my amazing friends right away)! I will try to update my blog with my Thankful (in Pictures) posts every week or two!

1) Thankful for a reunion with roommates at the Bangkok airport after being apart for 7 weeks.

this pic is obviously not in the airport, but of Emily and Amy in South Africa :)

2) Thankful for getting our car back after an accident even though things once broken are now fixed BUT things once NOT broken, now . . . well, "special."

i.e. gas gage once told us when we were on empty and now tells us NOTHING, our seats were fine but since being "fixed" they have a ghetto lean (no extra charge for that!), etc.


3) Thankful that there is never a dull moment (even when I wish there was)
Amy and I pushing our car out of flood waters after it died in the middle of the flood.



4) Thankful for a Christmas giftcard for a pedicure to be redeemed right before school started!


5) Thankful to receive daily pics and/or videos of my adorable niece!

6) Thankful for 6 lines of students

we have 1st through 6th grade this year!

7) Thankful for 50 black shoes.

Which means we have 50 little feet, 50 little ears and eyes, 25 faces and 25 little hearts to teach, love on, and share Jesus with.



8) Thankful for the little boy who lives on our school property and brings a smile to my face constantly - especially with his stinkin awesome hat he's sporting.

9) Thankful for mangoes and sticky rice.

Need I say more???

10) Thankful for conversations with my momma on the phone - ESPECIALLY the super long one we had on Mother's Day. I LOVE YOU, MOM!!!

Buttons For May

sorry for the funny spacing between paragraphs. blogger is not cooperating with me! hehe

I apologize for the long break in blogging. I went back to the US for 6 weeks. But I'm back in Thailand, back to work and back to my project with May (sorry, was misspelling it before as Mae but she, herself spells it May).

Before I went home, I was trying to think of what I could do to bless May. What could I bring back from the US that could help her start her card making business but also be something that when she runs out of it (whatever resource I brought back), she could replenish her supply easily here in Thailand. That's when I thought . . . BUTTONS. Buttons are everywhere. They aren't something most people have to buy. Generally, any home with a female living in it contains at least a small stash of buttons that have come as extras on shirts and will never be used. So, I started "Buttons for May." I intended to publish a blog BEFORE going to the States. However, through my interaction and time back home, I collected over 100 pounds in buttons and other supplies to bring back to May! I brought one suitcase this trip and will have others bring the rest to me when they come to visit (so if you want to find an excuse to come visit - bringing supplies for May can be your excuse!).

Yesterday, I met with May for the first time since I came back. Unfortunately, our translator and friend has Dengue fever and was unable to meet with us so I held off bringing her everything I collected for her. Reason being, I really wanted to make sure I could communicate clearly why this was all donated and where it came from. So, it'll have to wait until next week. However, I have included my thoughts from my time with her yesterday. Before I move on, I want to say THANK YOU to everyone who spread the word, who donated and who gave thoughts, prayers and encouragement to this project for May. I can't wait to capture the look on her face when she sees all the things collected for her.

*********************

I drive down the road that leads to her neighborhood. I pass the section that always tricks me because it's kind of a free-for-all as it's intersecting streets but no stop signs. I always feel like I missed the memo on who goes when because it seems as if the rest of the world knows how to proceed where I am always at a loss for who has the right away.

the ally that leads to May's house

I see May on her bike riding with her cousin on the back. I meet up with them and we walk down the ally towards her house. Her little cousin (he's probably 7 or 8 years old) points at a large pile of fresh dog poo and makes sure I steer clear of that and that made me smile. I walk into the area where there are about 4 or 5 separate houses, some made of dilapidated wood and some in small concrete buildings. May pulls out the completely rusted fold away table and her aunt pulls out the table cloth. We make small talk.

May's cousin who likes to pop in every now and again and watch us make cards.

I start teaching May a new card. They asked if we could start on Christmas cards because someone from the states is coming next month and they wanted to have a variety to offer. So, I start teaching her.

And I get to thinking, this time is so much more than what I realize. I wasn't too excited with the design I came up with . . . but this is more than that. I laugh as the cat with one black eye and one green eye jumps on the table and steps right on our freshly sponge painted paper and gets dirt all over the piece we just made . . . but this is more than that. We look at each other awkwardly when the Thai words I'm looking for just don't come . . . but this is more than that. I teach May and try to ignore the people who walk by and just stare and just watch and I don't understand them . . . but this is more than that.

We are making a Christmas card. Christmas. We're making something that signifies the birth of a Savior. A card that celebrates that God loved us so much that He sent His son to die for us.
And it hits me again. I'm reminded that this project is so much more than a project. This is about showing a young girl how she is so deeply loved by her Creator.

After we finished the card, I asked if I could take a picture (below) of her. Some man standing around watching started to laugh lightly. I knew May was a little uncomfortable with the attention. I walked by her and put a hand on her shoulder and called her beautiful. She made a sound that caused me to think. The sound she made was like an unsure giggle. Like her telling me she didn't believe me. That I was joking. And it made me sad. Does anyone ever call her beautiful?

So, I left with a reminder of why I'm doing this "project." A reminder that it's so much more than buttons, glue and paper. It's more than the times I feel inadequate and uninspired. It's about people. It's about May. It's about this orphan who needs to know she's beautiful. Needs to believe she's beautiful. Needs to know her creator. Needs to know that God has a plan to give her hope and a future. Hope here on Earth and eternal hope.

Please pray with me for May.

Meet Mae

I watch her walk alone.

She's about to turn into the small gloomy ally that leads to her house. She's carrying her new plastic tote in hand. And my heart breaks.

This was our second class - and my third time meeting with Mae (for the back story, click on An Opportunity). Today I find out more of her story. I knew she needed to learn a trade. She needed a way to make a living. I knew she chose cardmaking. I knew she is 16, quit school and she is HIV positive.

But that's about all I knew. I don't need to know more, but it is a priveledge to know more about her, understand what makes her her. I don't want to just teach her how to glue some paper to some cardstock. But rather, to create. To feel passionate about what she does each day. I desire to build a friendship and hopefully share Christ's love with her through the process.

So, today I learn that Mae is an orphan. Orphaned by both parents. Both died of AIDS. She was born HIV positive. She lives with her aunt in the slums. She was going to school up until last semester. Until the issues caused by her HIV kept her from making it to school enough. She and her aunt tried to work with the teachers but the requirement is that she has to make it to at least 80% of her classes. It just got to the point where it wasn't possible. So, she had to drop out of school this past term.


P.'s been involved in Mae's community and her life for a long time and has known Mae for 7 years. She and church leaders decided to help Mae start her own business. They gave her different options and she chose card making - she thought it would be a good way to use her creativity. She likes to draw and from what I've seen - she's really talented.




Like I've said, we've just started classes. But I couldn't be prouder. She is so super quiet but she is a perfect student. She does everything exactly the way I show her. She does every "homework" assignment I've given her. She does such a great job and she seems to really enjoy it. She's been making more than what she committed to in the beginning - I think she's addicted to making them. She's doing awesome.


So, I leave you with this picture of Mae and her first card she's EVER made! Please pray for me as I work with Mae. Pray that she would be encouraged. Pray for the details of making/selling/supplies, etc. of the cardmaking process. And please pray ultimately that she will understand the love our Father has for her.

Oh, and check back SOON so you can find out how YOU can get involved and help Mae in a simiple but helpful way!

An Opportunity

I almost missed it.

I turned it down at first. And not gently. But quickly. And selfishly.

My roommates and I were in our teacher's planning room on a non-teaching day working on our prep. Emily opened an update from a local church here in Chiang Mai.

"Hey Brittany, they are looking for someone to help teach card making to a girl and her aunt who live in the slums. The girl has HIV and she is looking for a way to support herself. What do you think?"

Consumed by all I had on my plate, my response went something like "uh, yeah, that would be nice if I had the time - but I just don't feel like I do."

I think Emily thought I was frustrated that she would even bring that to my attention. Granted, she brought it up because she knows that I love making cards, that I love the opportunity to channel my creativity. And maybe I could meet a need by doing something I really enjoy.

But I see it differently - at first, I kept talking in circles, trying to justify my reasoning. About a minute later, I could feel the regret - I think I too hastily turned that down. I apologized for the way that I so quickly and curtly responded (thinking that would help get rid of the lump in my throat that just showed up).

But it didn't .

About a week later, after some thought and prayer - I decided to crack open the door. An opportunity knocked. I ignored it but it hadn't gone away. There was no update to say the need was filled.

The need was still sitting on my doorstep: the girl and her aunt (okay, not literally - just figuratively :).

They were still looking for someone to help. I wasn't comfortable about flinging to door wide open. I still had a lot of hesitations.

I mean, what do I really have to offer? Yeah, I've made home-made cards before - but they were just for fun. I never considered turning it into a business. I mean I am a foreigner in this country. I don't know the first thing about marketing the cards or where to find the best and cheapest supplies.

I had a long list of excuses but in the end, I decided to crack the door open. See if there was anything that I could to help - and if not - at least I tried. I could feel good about the fact that I peeked out. Then I could shut the door and feel justified.

So, I respond to the church's email. Letting them know I have a little experience in card making but wasn't sure about the whole resource and marketing piece of it all.

It took about a week to cooridnate between that email and the day that I went to meet the girl (Mae) and her aunt.

I drove into the slums. Parked my car. Made my way through the allies, walked past the chickens, past the shabby huts, sat on the rickety bench and met Mae and her aunt.

And as I drove away from my meeting, I prayed. And then I cried - knowing that this opportunity was one from God. Knowing that the door had been flung wide open and I no longer had a comfortable grip on the door knob. That me accepting it wasn't about me. It wasn't about how comfortable I felt or how prepared or ready or able (having time, resources, etc.). I still felt inadequate about what I was jumping into - but I knew I couldn't turn around.

It was His desire. It's about Him. About His sufficiency. About trusting that He will provide where I lack. It's about following where He leads - not justifying my reasons for standing still. But moving forward. Even if it's a baby step or opening the door a tiny crack - because He can use that. And He can move us forward - He just needs us to be willing.

I'm just starting a frienship with her; just starting to teach her - just scratching the surface of her story, my heart is broken and honored that I can be part of Mae's story and watch it unfold.

TO BE CONTINUED . . . (next I'll write a post about more of Mae's story and my first week of teaching her - which was last week. Also, I'll tell you how YOU can get involved in a simple but helpful way!)

Identity of a Princess

A story from my village trip this past October.

via Google Images

She wore her princess shoes.

She dressed up in the fanciest dress she's probably ever owned. It was white with fabric white roses tracing the top. Bunched in the middle and poofy and full at the bottom.

She's quiet and timid, but the sparkle from her shoes reflected in her eyes.

The light in her eyes created a permanent smile on her face for the day.

We'd been teaching English and Chinese language to about 75 students all week. (naturally, I taught Chinese - - - or not so much).

Today was the last day. The day of the performance. The day to get up in front of the other classes and teachers and show what you'd learned that week.

No one had costumes. They just wore the clothes they had. Some washed, some unwashed. Some with holes, some without holes. Some matched, some mis-matched. Some children had showered recently, some had not.

But it didn't matter. This was a safe place. A place where, over their school break, they could go for games, fun, encouragement, smiles, and the teaching of our Father. They could play. They could be themselves.

We get to the last day of the camp. To her, it meant something (not saying that it didn't mean something to the others). But to her, this was special. This was a day to get dressed up.

There would be no parents there to watch, no one except for the students and volunteers that had been there all week.

Still, she wanted to be a princess for the day.

And my heart melted.

She's beautiful. Beaming.

It occurs to me later, after looking through the pictures that she may be one of the many who doesn't have any identification.

Many of the people in this village don't have identificatioin cards. They themselves or their relatives were born in China. There was political persecution that sent them fleeing for Burma. However, since the changes that have take effect in Burma, they've crossed the border into Thailand.

Having an i.d. card didn't mean as much to me in the past as it does now. Without an i.d. card, you aren't in the system. If you aren't in the system - public schools are hard to get into (even for primary and secondary school). Jobs are hard to obtain. College is nearly impossible to get into.

Hope fades without any identification.

Trying to be someone different and unique is hard when you are so limited. "Being anything you want," gets crushed by harsh reality.

And then I remember, the most important identification we can have is in Him. In our Father. In the one that gave EVERYTHING for us.

I never did catch her name. But even if I did, I'd still always remember her as The Princess.

I pray that she'll always remember herself as The Princess, too. That she'll be reminded every day how precious she is to our Lord and how He created her as his beautiful, special, unique, talented daughter.

As important as I.D. cards are, what's most important is knowing that on her I.D. card from the Father, under her picture it says:

Daughter of The King.

This makes her a princess.

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20