"Only A Boy Named David" and Other Clips from the Highlight Reel

 

We’re all saying it today.  How have these first few days gone by so fast?

That weird sense of time is only made more ‘warpy’ because of a transition we’re experiencing as Roger, Karen and Norma head south to Phuket for a visit with Esther.  As well as being one of our own from Highview, and Norma’s niece to boot, Esther has been serving with For Freedom International in Thailand for over a year. 

It will be a fun excursion for them, and a perhaps quieter dynamic for Angela and I who will remain at Hot Springs, and it’s all good.  But it’s also a little sad because, well, we were all really enjoying each other’s company so much.

It has gone fast.  Days have been full.  A lot of hopes for how we’d spend our time here have already seen fruition.  Particularly for Roger and Karen whom we have dubbed our ‘camp activity directors.’  Jenga and Dutch Blitz, both with ‘some assembly required’ energy spent.   Sneaky math games with dice.  For all of us, the reading.  For all of us, the opportunities to simply get to know the kids better.

Tonight at supper we imagined our ‘highlight’ reel so far. Being part of the worship team on our first Sunday morning.  Moments of comprehension breakthroughs with certain kids in our reading groups.  Karen, Angela and Norma giving a rousing rendition of “Only A Boy Named David” one evening at worship time.  The joy and wonder on the kids’ faces when they’ve seen themselves in a book.  Little mishaps with a plate full of rice that shouldn’t be so funny but are.  Working together with Dtu and Anu in simple, everyday tasks.  Watching the delight on faces building the Jenga tower for the first time.  Yesterday’s outing to Doi Sutep and today’s to the Thursday morning market.  All the good food.

But what we keep coming back to is how well we are navigating this experience together.  How easy the conversations are.  How much we’re able to talk about what we’re learning and experiencing.  How safe is the emotional environment, and how that’s providing a good spiritual space to simply give and receive. 

This is so good.  So good.  It’s been a long, long time since a Team has come.  Almost four years.  And since it’s so important that we keep sharing this thing we do with as many people as possible, it’s so, so good to realize that it can still happen in such gentle and redemptive ways.

Photo by Roger Bowman

 We deeply appreciate the extra work and loving care we receive from our hosts.  Suradet and Yupa, Dtu and Anu are incredible.  The same warmth and hospitality and welcome the children experience in this household benefits us greatly.  Most people who come here say that it’s been a place of healing. 

Some Team Members have been helping to do a little bit of my job for me in these first days, sending home pictures and anecdotes to Sponsors of their specific children.  I am hoping to get to more of that myself in the coming days, now that jet lag and the initial adjustments have settled down some.

Meanwhile, here’s a few shots of our ‘highlight’ reel.

Thank you and thank you for all the love and support to get us to this space.