The first time I saw her she was playing hide and seek with the little kids in the barnyard. Running amidst hay and cows, she made the game fun for the little ones. She was quick to accept me, a foreigner in her area and we parted with hugs.

Today I went back to the slums in Mae Sot to visit the kids who go to our school. I searched for her, hoping to see her. It was important that I saw her, because it was her the Lord put on my hearts to help. One woman had donated enough funds to help two girls who are at risk of being trafficked get out of the situation. As we drove towards Mae Sot, she came to mind. Could this be the girl God had chosen?

She was nowhere in sight. A bit discouraged I prayed and waited for her to show up, as I surveyed the scene before me. Kids playing sword fighting with a stick, a man chasing a sheep, catching it by one leg and carrying it off, cows and bulls in their stalls, Burmese women with little children at work.

The first time I saw her she was playing hide and seek with the little kids in the barnyard. Running amidst hay and cows, she made the game fun for the little ones. She was quick to accept me, a foreigner in her area and we parted with hugs.

Today I went back to the slums in Mae Sot to visit the kids who go to our school. I searched for her, hoping to see her. It was important that I saw her, because it was her the Lord put on my hearts to help. One woman had donated enough funds to help two girls who are at risk of being trafficked get out of the situation. As we drove towards Mae Sot, she came to mind. Could this be the girl God had chosen?

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, BAPTIZING them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” Matthew 28:19

How many times in our lives have we heard about, thought about, or spoke about the Great commission? We had joined in this commission of teaching and preaching about 2 years ago and now we see it. What we had prayed for, plus, the seeds that were planted and watered by many previous volunteers have brought forth fruit. In the past two years, we had seen those lives transformed from withdrawn to open. Hearts change from hard to soft. Complexions change from sadness to joy. This past month, seven of our Avoda students were baptized and have become members of our church.

I never realized it would take so much patience and time in building relationships. I learned this here in Thailand. To build trust does not take one week, but months and years.

The Lord has blessed us with a few relationships that are starting to blossom. Recentlly, two ladies and a teenage girl started coming to Avoda to work. Every morning worship time,  they join us. They read the Bible with us and even went up to share what verse they like. I could see their hearts open up as they participate in discussion of Gods Truths! We have also reached a point in the relationship where we can joke around with each other and exchange gifts. Praise the Lord for these women!