Almost On Our Way

Well here we are, the Thailand 2012 Team.

It's only a matter of days now, and 11 Highviewers will get on a plane that will take us half way around the world to our adventure. We will be working alongside Pastor Suradet and his wife Yupa to provide an ESL Day Camp for neighbouring children in a small community just north of Chiang Mai. And when we're not "in camp mode" we will be living with and loving on the 17 children that have become our Thai family, sleeping there, eating with them, playing chess, doing puzzles, and visiting around the area to gain a better understanding of culture and language.

And it will be life changing!

We have to get there first. And the packing is important. And the handing off of responsibilities here, making sure we're spending time with our faithful families who'll stay home and support us by pulling extra weight when we're gone. Sorting out the carry on from the checked bags. Finalizing the finances. Going over the lists.

It's big job. And it's a long way. And it's really, really different from what it's like here at home. And we'll be tired and disoriented and hot a lot of the time. And an ESL Day Camp, why, we've never done that before!

But what our souls will gain in the exchange makes this so, so worth it! We will never be the same again.

And what we hope of course is that there will be some precious children that might say the same about our visit. That somehow, just by being there, by our time there and our ongoing sponsorship support and love, we can bring hope to kids who would otherwise be caught in a destructive cycle of poverty.

Can't wait to see our beautiful children. There's new ones since my visit last year. And Saiy is graduating, oh my. A young woman now. And Thim, my own sponsored girl, growing up so lovely. And all of them. Miki and Bee and Bao and Nut and Entorn and Boy and Beeyung and Somchai and Yawalek and Rompo and Fruk and Bee and Kanopit and Wirapong and Wirachai...all of them. Can't wait to meet the new ones. Can't wait to see my kids.

What a gift. What an adventure this whole thing has turned out to be.

On our way.