Hello Again!

Well, I’ve officially been in Thailand for a little over a month! It has felt more like a year, but in the best of ways of course! I hit the ground running moving into a new house, learning how to drive on the opposite side of the road, reconnecting with friends, reuniting with my kids and nannies and trying to make my brain remember how to speak Thai. This is now my fifth year coming to Thailand and every time I am blown away by how much I feel at home. The smell of food cooking in little shops along the streets, the roosters crowing all day long for no reason, the constant warm sun against my skin, the little bows and smiles received from friendly faces, the lavishness of the staff bringing me new treats to try each day and on and on and on I could go about the many little things I love about this country.

Agape is full of joy and has lots going on, as per usual. Over the past few weeks we have had kids leave, some through adoption, some being returned to their families, and we have had kids arrive, new faces with new stories that Agape will now be a part of. We are working on completing our Dormitory Building, updating our pre-existing buildings, getting our dental clinic up and running, remodeling our pool, and starting the construction of a new playground. I am constantly blown away by how the Lord provides in abundance for this place. For His children.

I’ve been working mostly in the office helping with Volunteer Coordinating, working on Newsletters and website updates, and in the Montessori preschool teaching English. I often sneak out to go cuddle our newborn or help get our little ones bathed after nap times, remembering to always take time to lay hands on the precious faces of our babies even in the midst of busy days.

More recently I have started Thai classes four days a week, which has been one of the most confusing and difficult things I’ve ever done. But regardless, I’m thankful for the chance to become more a part of Thai culture and for the abundant grace of the Thai people as I fumble over my kindergarten knowledge of Thai, often accidentally asking for a whale in my coffee instead of less sugar.

Life here is my favorite and I couldn’t be more thankful to be back, but that doesn’t mean everything is perfect; that I don’t miss my family like crazy, or get lonely living by myself with lack of many people to go to that really know me here, or that I don’t get tired of having to rewash my clothes after the rice farmers burn their fields and the smoke fills my backyard, or that I don’t miss the comforts of my home town and people not yelling “white person” at me when I drive with the windows down. But even in the midst of the challenges I feel closer to Jesus and hear His voice of confirmation each day that I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.

He has been teaching me so much about what it looks like to live in partnership with Him as I navigate this single life in this foreign country. Showing to me how His yoke is easy, and that He has and always will, carry the heavy yoke so that I can walk shoulder to shoulder with Him freely. What a gift!

So all that to say, I am beyond thrilled to be back in this country with these people I adore and am so excited for what the Lord has in store for the next year that I am here.