It has been a while since we blogged and I apologize for that. I’d like to blame it on the busyness but I don’t think that’s right. Thailand has become our life. I think I can safely speak for all of us and say that we have certainly adapted to the lifestyle. It is no longer strange to live in a bungalow amongst the gecko’s, Tu-key’s, squirrels, and yes even RATS! (I think there’s only one….at least that’s what I tell myself) The bugs certainly don’t bug us and the rain…well you learn to live with it. The rooster crowing at all hours of the night is normal and the neighbors’ dog stealing our bread is something we just shake our heads at. We often talk about how hard it would actually be to return to the way of life in America. Life here is simple and easy to enjoy. We daily see God’s blessings and His hand in our lives. Not to say that we wouldn’t experience this in America, but like I said…we’ve adapted.

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you…” Mathew 28:19

Is this enough?

1422, 1423,1424,..25….26… Is this enough? How many times should I give of myself in service to others?

 The word “serve “and its derivatives appear in the Bible more than 1420 times.  As Christians, we are called to a life of self-denial and humble service. We serve God by serving people. The Bible shows us that to be named a “servant of Christ” is a big privilege.  Jesus is the greatest example of service! “ I am among you as one who serves.” (Luke 22:27).

Today, I arrived in Mae Sot with Fasai and Sao, two of our Avoda students. We will be staying here for a week. Our goal…for the girls to apply what they learned…teaching children Bible. This is a wonderful opportunity for them. A mission trip. 

Amongst the chaos of having forty children crammed in one room waiting for the teacher, I heard a thin high voice singing the following: “God is so good, God is so good, God is so good, He’s so good to me.” As I came closer to her and knelt down, she became shy and the words drifted off until I could hear her no more.

Soapy and earthen scents, toothless grins, sticky fingers, holey socks, hands pulling at your skirt, worn out shoes lined up in a neat row. Joyous, just joyous! And the sound of laughter…these are the things running through my head after today.

“Today, there are 73 students enrolled” said the principal of the Avoda sister school in Mae Sot. I gather that that number changes often and constantly. Sometimes the children have to work and cannot continue their education. While they are here however, they are taught THREE languages. Burmese, because that is their mother language. Thai, because they live in Thailand. And English because of ASEAN coming up in 2015.

The trinkets that are important to a child can seem trivial to most adults.