MOVING IN OUR MIDST - Highview's Thailand Report Moves On Line for Sunday, February 16.

 

Hello Friends!

Sunday, February 16 will feature a first hand report from 

the Thailand Team from our trip in November 2024.

"Remember the Wonders" will tell some of the stories 

of how we saw God move among us 

while we visited our children at Hot Springs.

DUE TO WEATHER

THE SERVICE HAS BEEN MOVED ON LINE.

Starting at 10:30 a.m.

To join, use the link below.

Highview Community Church Google Meet

We'd love to have you join us.

Stay home and stay safe!!

Pausing in the Pictures

The pictures can't come close.

 

Sometimes when I'm missing it all more than I usually do, I look through old files thinking it will help.

It doesn't.

Well maybe a little.

So much colour.  So much sky.

And the cooler, fresher air up in the mountains.

Fully present in the moments...

...in the way being somewhere so vivid often offers.

Mostly I write about all we're 'doing' while we're there.

But today, it was more about the moments of 'being.'

I think I just needed to pause, in the midst of my preparations 

(solo trip coming up February 24 to March 18) 

and listen to my soul remind me to

"gaze on the beauty of the Lord

and to seek Him in His temple."

Psalm 27:4

Not long now.

The Fierceness of Borders and Distance

Wanmai

As I write, squalls are contorting drifts of snow around our van in the driveway.

Micah

And while my late-January self may experience various degrees of dismay, I know some kids who would be more than delighted for a chance to get out and play in all the white wildness of it.

Muay

I'll see them very soon, so yay!!!!!

February 24 to March 18 are the dates now confirmed for my next visit to Hot Springs.  This is a solo trip, something I haven't done since November 2022, and an opportunity for the kinds of interactions and ministry tasks best done when I'm there alone (or with Ken when he comes along).   More the business side of things, and visioning and long, unhurried conversations about how life goes when you're raising 21 kids.  

Photo by Anu

Tara, Jua, Micah, Goon

I wish I could bring some snow.

Jonah

We'll have to settle for an indoor snowball fight, courtesy of Karen and the fuzzy fabric 'snowballs' she sent along on a previous trip.  And that's okay, because it was pretty hilarious when we broke them out last time.

Meena

I guess if I look at the calendar, it's only been just a little over two months since I was last there.  That's not long, I know.  But so much has happened here, in my life on this side of the planet, that it feels like much, much longer.  That's kind of the way it goes for me.  Here and there.  Both and and.  Opposite time zones, identical passions.  I might have thought one would get used to it.  Except, no.  

Tharit

In describing her own torn-between-two-places heart, blogger Kristin Breitkreutz asks,

"What am I supposed to do when an unlimited love is constrained by borders and confronted by distance?" 

Tara

After sixteen years of doing this, I don't really have an answer for her.  Except to embrace the fierceness of it, the vibrancy such longings back and forth bring to life.  

Colour

On to packing then.  

While the wind howls.

 

Thai Smiles to Warm a Winter's Day

I heard on the radio this morning that the wind chill today is going to be around -20 C!   That's not over night.  That's for 'most of the day.'  Immediately I was grateful for at least three things.

Our sung new little house.

Very thick wool socks.

And the smiles of some very beautiful children half a planet away.

Saichom

In the category of 'it's all relative,' they've been experiencing some chilly temperatures of their own.  Chiang Mai has recently had overnight lows of 12 C, which right now sounds balmy to us, but picture this happening in the summer, and you're camping and/or have no source of heat.  Yeah, like that for them.

Beemai

So, since I can think of few things more warming than the smiles of Thai children, I thought I'd send along a few of them to take the chill off this day in Ontario for us, and/or whatever you're in the middle of right now that might benefit from this particular brand of sunshine.

Goon

Just eight of them today.  I'll send more another time.  For now, these are just some of our best, goofiest, most brilliant smiles.

Moses

It's probably a given, but I'll just say it here.  We're not always all smiles at New Family Foundation.  Our kids are normal human children, with a wide portfolio of feelings, and we have no problem with them letting us know what those might be on any given day.

Da

As well, the very nature of our gathered family means there are stories that brought them here.  And those stories have varying degrees of awful in them, chapters that are sad and sometimes dark.  Expecting smiles all the time is, well, ridiculous.

Lukmee

Having said that, I will add that when we do see our children relaxed and happy, gleeful and excited, and in any other way engaging with life as if they feel safe and hopeful, that is most beautiful.  Frankly, it's probably one of the best, most amazing joys of my heart.

Jua

So here's some smiley-warmth for you today.  To the Sponsors of our children (not all of which are pictured here), a HUGE thank you always.  You are so much part of putting these children at ease, providing them not just the basics of survival, but a place to thrive and grow and feel and smile.

Tangmo

Along with Suradet and Yupa, and all our children, we wish you the coziest of days, filled with whatever makes you smile.