My favorite moment in Thailand yet.....

The last few days have been full of exciting times...everything from riding and feeding elephants, going to a fabulous dinner at the cultural center where we experienced great food and entertainment, to trying to solve a massive lice outbreak crisis at the homes. :)

However, Sunday is the day that has made the most impact on me, by far. As a child, I grew up going to a small church in Bremerton, Washington. There were probably about 30 of us who met in this small, old room. Each week we would sing old hymns. Sometimes we would use an overhead projector and a simple keyboard, and everybody would sing loudly even if they were entirely off-key. This last Sunday I felt like I traveled back in time when I went to church with my new Thai friends. When the music began, and the people started singing, I couldn't not hold back my tears. My tears fell quickly as I listened to the familiar tune of "How Great Thou Art" and and "Old Rugged Cross" and looked around at the beautiful children from the homes of Remember Nhu singing the same songs I did at their age. I was so impacted witnessing it...knowing what these children would have faced, had they not been rescued from being at risk of being put into the sex trade. This last Sunday I was so touch by the fact that these children are now provided with the opportunity to experience childhood a little more similar to the one I had...a childhood where I had felt love, peace, and safety. Sitting there in the service I was reminded how amazing it is that the same Spirit who has impacted my life, is the same one who has moved in these girls as well.

Among these girls were two sisters, Kia and Ea (pronouced "Gee-ah" age 10, and "Ee-ah" age 8). There are from the Hmong hilltribe of Thailand. Their father died, and so they had quit school to help their mother. When Remember Nhu offered to take in one of the nine children of their family, their mother asked them to take in the two of them. They are always together, and smile and laugh all the time. By looking at them, you would never guess they have only been in the home for two months...they are so well adjusted. These two girls are now in a place of safety. And I loved sitting with them at church.

Following the service, was hands down THE most moving experience of the trip to this point...a baptism of a Thai couple, Ton and Maam. They became Christians through their friendship with Carl and Laurie. They gave their testimonies about how they were raised in the Buddist religion, but through experiencing the love of Christ's through friendship, they now know Jesus Himself. Ton's Buddist parents were even there witnessing the entire thing! Words cannot even descibe that day and the celebration we had!

So now it is after 11:00pm...I just got home for a second attempt of killing this lice that is rampant at the homes (pray us leaders don't get it too!). THANK YOU all for praying. I definitely feel them. All my love you each of you.... :)