With jet lag still upon me, I find myself with that strange
but familiar sense where my mind and soul are catching up with my body. My body always arrives first. Later, by days usually, my mind and soul, reluctant
to leave and lingering behind, finally arrive home, always in their own sweet
time.
I found it disorienting at first, but by now I welcome
it. There seems a heightened sense of
what’s real, what’s important, in the midst of this weirdness. And it’s a great time to report on what’s up
at Hot Springs right now.
Abundant Life
It’s why Jesus said He came, “...to give life and life
abundant.” John 10:10. And it’s long been a feature of the family
He’s gathered under the wings of Suradet and Yupa. The past two years, however, have been
shadowed by a necessary grief. In fact
this month, August 31st to be precise, marks the second anniversary
of their own son Bee’s death in a motorcycle accident. To say the grieving is over would be untrue
and unrealistic. We will always miss
Bee. It will never be okay that he’s not
here. But this visit seemed to be full
of fun again, in a way that the earlier days of mourning could not allow. And
actually I would say that this was one of the most enjoyable aspects of my two
weeks there this summer. I just simply
had a lot of fun.
It wasn’t even in the little outings we did – like taking
the kids out one Saturday (at a ridiculous cost of $30 to feed 14 lunch AND ice
cream, AND bring home 10 more ice creams for those who were planting rice that
day). Or my day of shopping for
Sponsors’ and Supporters’ thank yous and little trinkets for my own grandkids –
which was fun for sure. But it was more
in just the regular rhythm of rising early for morning worship, working on ESL
and Bible lessons and emails and blogging until lunch, resting in the heat of
the afternoon, and then welcoming the children home after school. It was in the reading for Book Club, and the
mistakes I made in language learning, and the inside jokes we added to our
collection, just from doing life together in such a sweet, unhurried way.
In these moments I have such a close-hand view of how
they’re all doing. And I am happy to
report they’re all doing oh so very well.
School and homework and sports and helping to plant rice and doing their
own laundry and singing, singing, singing all the time. There’s hardly a moment when someone’s not
singing at Hot Springs. Yes, life
abundant. That’s what I’d call it. And I was again amazed that I get to be part
of it.
Redemptive Story
I mentioned this briefly in a previous blog and many have
asked for the bigger story. It’s about
Fruk and his older brother Philip and a homecoming wrought out of much
pain. Hard to know where to start, but
let’s just say that Fruk first came to Hot Springs because his mother had
abandoned his alcoholic father, and by default, both her boys. Fruk, the younger of the two, did well at
Hot Springs, grew healthy and strong into adolescence, showing a fair talent on
the guitar, and often leading morning or evening worship times. But the mid teen years found him all angsty,
and challenging the rules. When it
became more conflict-ridden than what was good for the whole of the family,
Fruk went to live with Yupa’s parents, helping them around the house (a common
Thai tradition), and continuing in school.
But when Bee died, he took it hard, and that’s when his older brother
came back to get him.
Philip, eight years senior, all this meantime had been
dealing with drug addiction himself.
Hitting bottom, he sought out his dad who, by this time had turned his
life over to Jesus and was several years sober.
His father told him to pray to Jesus for help. But Philip, in his own words “don’t like
Jesus!” at that point in the story.
However, he ‘pretended’ to become a Christian believing this was
necessary to be accepted into a treatment plan operated by Christians who were
connected to a juvenile prevention program.
In the course of the program, Philip had a genuine experience with
Christ, and went on to serve in the prison ministry there in Bangkok.
When he came for Fruk, the idea was that he would help
his brother finish high school in Bangkok and go from there. Fruk did finish high school, but just after
graduation a new crisis changed things again.
Their mother died in a car accident, bringing them both back to the
Chiang Mai area.
Now there were a set of grandparents (mother’s side) with
no one to care for them. Philip made the
difficult decision to leave ministry, get a paying job in construction and
support his family. Fruk is now in
university studying music.
But here’s the one piece of the story that only comes
into focus at the point where Philip and Fruk come to live at Hot Springs. Philip
and Fruk are the sons of Yupa’s brother.
They are her nephews. And this is
family. And in a beautiful, healing way,
the losses everyone’s suffered are coming together like broken pieces, creating
a beautiful mosaic of redemption.
Philip contributes to a large part of the fun I described
earlier. His clear giftedness in music
and speaking is a decided asset to Hot Springs, both in caring for the children
and in leading the church. Fruk’s own
spiritual journey is back on track, and he is now a loving, respectful eighteen
year old, excited about his future, studying hard at university, settled
finally into the family he’s known since he was eight.
Personally, seeing Fruk so happy and focused and helpful
was such a gift. My first visit to Hot
Springs, he was the darling, and I have the videos to prove it. And now, here he is. Having fun.
Loving Jesus. Launching into an
adult life full of potential. Oh my
heart.
I’ve Got My Work
Cut Out For Me
During my time there two important meetings
occurred. One was with Asia’s Hope Director
John McCollum along with the Thai National Director Tutu. We met together all five of us, to chat about
the challenges inherent in Hot Spring’s location on un-deeded land. Several
strategies were laid out with some action steps in place. New things are coming down the pipe, not the
least of which will be a significant building project toward a proper dorm for
our kids.
An important piece to the strategies suggested was to
search out partners to join with us in this beautiful work. So, right now that’s what I’m doing. As Missionary In Residence, this piece alone
would mean I have lots to do, even without the teaching and pastoral components
I bring to Hot Springs when I’m there.
The other important meeting was a Staff meeting with
everyone at Hot Springs who serves our children. Suradet and Yupa are in charge. Then there’s Jaroen and Dtu, a couple who
have now been there for two years helping with everything that needs doing, a
list I would give but it’s way too long.
Just imagine having 20 kids in your care and go from there. Philip was also part of this meeting as he is
considered support staff as well.
While I make it clear that Suradet and Yupa are the
bosses, when I’m there they very much like to use this time to fill me in on
the little details (who’s wetting the bed, who might need braces, who’s
improving at school, like that), and ask for my thoughts on some of these
things. My own goals in these Staff
meetings are to encourage, and then encourage some more, and then encourage
again. I acknowledge that this is the
team that’s doing all the work. I sing
their praises and pass on all your love.
And then we go out for lunch. And I sit around the table in awe that I get
to eat with such superstars of mercy and grace.
My next trip is scheduled for end of October through
November. During that time I will be again
combining the work done teaching there as part of a credit towards my degree,
something called a Directed Reading and Research course which is rather
longishly entitled “Incarnational Cross Cultural Christian Education:
Strategies Towards Reciprocal Learning”.
My weeks there will count for part of the requirements of the
course.
So no, if you’re asking, I’m not retired. I’m reinventing the work I’ve done all these
years towards something I believe God has been fashioning for me right now.
And I am overwhelmed
and grateful
to be allowed this season,
this opportunity,
this ministry,
this life.
