All on a Saturday Morning

It's probably not too far off to suggest that most of us fondly remember our childhood Saturday mornings being all about watching cartoons while eating ridiculously named cereal, and letting our parents sleep in a little.

Fun times.

Here, though, it's not like that.  

First, the sleep in thing is that we begin the day at 6:00 a.m. not 5:30, all adults included.  Chores are next, because it's just so much more pleasant to do them when the air is still cool.  Then breakfast, which will consist of rice and protein and some fruit or vegetable.  Thais don't seem to distinguish between meals as much as I think we do.

Chores may spill a over into the after breakfast morning on a Saturday, because we have to get everything ready for Sunday.  Having church, and the meeting room for church attached to where we live means at least once a week we have everyone over.

But after all that.  When we're done all that, we paint.

Or draw.  Or make cards.  Or string beads.  Or any other creative project we can produce with the wondrous supplies held within the mystical realms of the grey bins that live under the table in the guest house.

At the beginning, I tried to convince Yupa to keep these in a more available space so that the children can have at them whenever they like.  But she insisted they stay safe between visits, and I now understand why.  It's a bit of a crazy creative chaos deal.  Especially when you think they won't remember, oh let's say, all the beads we have in stock, so you don't put that out, but Lukmee, who's not shy about these things, politely but persistently points with her mouth to that particular bin.  

So I relent, and together we dig out those particular containers from their ever-so-neatly stored spaces, and add them to the mess.

Chaotic, but not noisy.  There's ten of them gathered around the tables and sprawled on the floor.  They are all quite focused, quite used to having to wait their turn for one of the five pair of scissors, easily moving between each other to reach for something they need.  Still, repeated snipping leaves snippets, and experimental use of paint leaves globs.  Da has even discovered the pleasing results of splaying small portions of white paint over a final project for a snow effect.  And the beads, well, they spill a lot.  Clean up will be tedious, to say the least.

Da's painting.  Snow effect is rather lost in the picture, and against white background.

Here she has recreated the art project Abby introduced when she was here last July.

I don't mind.  No one is on a device.  We don't have them here.  Everyone is focused on self expression.  They are thinking of their Sponsors, creating gifts for them for me to bring back in the large manilla envelopes with their names on them.  Beautiful, true masterpieces of childish love.  Offered as exactly what they wanted to do with their Saturday morning.  

I move among them quietly.  Cutting lengths of thread for beading.  Refilling paint cups.  Finding more paper.  Finding the glue stick.  Helping to spell out a word for writing or beading.   Receiving the finished works and gushing over them, telling them how much their Sponsor, by name, will love it.  And in the midst of it, I realize there's really no other way I'd like to spend a Saturday morning either.

At the end of the morning the paint all washes off easily.  With only the slightest of suggestion, they all pitch in to clean things up.  Even all the beads.

We operate on a shoe string budget around here.  You might think we're poor, except...for Saturday mornings.  You can't buy what happened here in the main room of the guest how this morning.  

Not for all the money in the world.

And yet....Saturdays aren't even my favourite of all the week.

Tomorrow's Sunday!!!!!!!!!!

 

Newly Arrived - Me and Some Puppies

Normally when I talk about who's new at Hot Springs, I'm introducing children.

But, fun fact, we have eight brand new puppies!  Barely a week old.

Back story to this.  Hot Springs already had two dogs, Goy and Olion, both males, to help guard the place.

Then, several months ago, three dogs were left here anonymously one morning, all rather young, one male and two even younger smaller females.  This is a common practice here, to leave unwanted dogs and cats into the care of Buddhist temples.  I suppose a Christian church was close enough.

Of course these new no-longer-strays were fed and cared for while we figured things out.  The same compassion that drives Suradet and Yupa to nurture children isn't lost on creatures in need.

Because the females were so young, and because we were still thinking about what kind of commitment we were willing to make, and/or what rehoming might need to be considered, we missed the advent of their maturing, shall we say.  No one's quite sure who the father(s) is/are, since no one's admitting to anything.  

They are still very much confined to their safe little spaces, and the mamas are still quite protective.  So our children here haven't given any names or been exposed to them much at all.  Probably for the best in terms of attachments, as the re-homing plan is now a top priority, and these little guys are absurdly adorable.  Word has it that some of the puppies are already spoken for, pets for church members and others in the neighbourhood who are happy to taken them when they are old enough.

And then of course, there's my arrival.

I am ever so grateful for a wonderfully uneventful trip here.  No crazy weather, or delays, or any problems whatsoever.  I am feeling remarkably alert and relaxed, given not just the jet lag, but the demands of the week immediately prior to take off.  

It's not hard to enjoy the weather.  Still low humidity, daily highs of 33 and lows at night around 19, perfect for sleeping with the window open.  

A solo trip is always different in it's work requirements, and I'm settling into that as well.   Highlights so far have been the arms-open, running hugs yesterday morning when I came around the corner to see the kids for the first time just before they headed to school.  And, the silly finger play a few of us were up to before worship started last night.

Can you make your hands look like the head of a snake?

Me neither.  

But that's okay.  Because we're adorable either way.

Even in these first few days of travel recovery, I am aware of the important list of organizational tasks that need to be done.  The budget for 2025, some conversations about the new property development, funding opportunities here in Thailand, and some visioning into the future.  Big things that require our good attention.  As well, I'll be preaching twice over the three Sundays I'm here.  Prayers appreciated, as always, for my valiant yet faltering attempts at Thai.  Our Bible lessons will focus on all the big things God does with our 'little' contributions, for which I personally am utterly grateful.

And so begins the first days of this time here.

Curious to see what God wants to do.

Thank you everyone for all your love and support, always!

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.

 

The Wonders of His Love

Christmas Tree at Hot Springs

 A Joyous Christmas Dance

For all you give so lavishly all year long,

for all your love and support in so many ways,

for all we know to be true about the dramatic difference it all makes

we are unspeakably grateful.

May the wonders of His LOVE

bring you JOY

this Christmas season

and throughout the New Year.

“The mission of New Family Foundation is to provide a loving home 

for at-risk and orphaned children in Northern Thailand

to help them achieve their best potential 

in education, vocation and service to society.