There is something about a child's smile

There is something about the way a child smiles that illuminates the light within our souls. I have learned it is impossible not to smile back.

It is impossible not to smile back, because of the richest and pure smiles that they freely offer, even when they are standing in mud which they call their living room.

Tonight, I was overwhelmed with pain as I looked at the house that so many orphans, children at risk and abandoned children call home. Their home consists of three rooms that are no more than concrete, bamboo and a tin roof. I couldn't help but cry out to God. "Why God?" I live in a palace compared to the two rooms they have. 18 boys sleep in a room smaller than my dorm room.

In spite of my anger at God and in spite of the pain that was bleeding in my heart, I couldn't help but smile back.

As I sat stewing, an angel dressed in rags came up to me and smiled. Her eyes were as dark as the night and her smile seeming to never end. She giggled as she waited for me to pick her up and hold her.

As I sat with my angel in my arms, she wrapped my arms around her and made sure I didn't let go. Every time she turned and looked up at me, it was as if she knew that her presence was healing.

Her smile reached down into my soul and touched the place only her smile could.

Even though we stayed for what seemed like mere minutes, I fell in love with this beautiful child. I know God loves her beyond measure. He did not make a mistake when he created her or her incredible smiles.

There is something about a child's smile.

Something that can change the world.

It's the little things that mean the most!

This week God has been teaching me just how much the little things mean! This week so far has already been filled with so many of those little things!

Yesterday, I walked into Mata Coffee (the coffee shop on my language route) and the lady who works there ran up to me and gave me a big hug. I have yet to see Thai people hug anyone. Their culture is one of respect as they bow to one another and have other cultural signs of respect but they are not a huge physical touch culture. If you know me, I hug everyone... and then I hug everyone again. Hugs keep me going. In the two weeks I have been here, I haven't gotten hugs...until yesterday. It brought me to tears how that one simple act meant so much and how it solidified our friendship!

Another beautiful yet so simplistic gesture came from another Thai lady. We (Tosha and I) were walking to catch a songtao (public transportation) after class when we walked upon a old lady selling lottery tickets, on the side of the road,. We greeted her and asked her how she was when she pulled out a papaya. She started peeling it and offered Tosha and I half of it. This was her lunch and she was offering two strangers half of it. We graciously accepted her generous gift and talked with her a bit more. (As much as our limited Thai would let us!) The next day we walked to where she had been selling lottery tickets and she wasn't there. Her stand and everything was gone. She was like an angel that God sent to us when we needed to be loved on. I don't think I have ever tasted a papaya so sweet.

All my love,
Ang

Thailnd: The first week

It is truly incredible how fast a week can fly by. It seems almost impossible that we landed a week ago. It simply feels like yesterday that we arrived.

This week has been filled with many laughs and some beautiful start to friendships.
This week, we stayed with a Christian Thai couple who run the only Christian book store here in Chiang Mai. Ajaan Yongyut and P'Porn (pronounced P' Pawn) are an amazing couple! They know so many people and everywhere they go, they share the light of Christ with others. One of my favorite times that we spent together was in the afternoons at the bookstore. We would come back from our Thai lesson and sit with them and talk. We would share with them all we were learning in Thai class and we shared many laughs! We laughed mainly over how bad we pronounced something or if we didn't use the right tones and said something we didn't mean to say! They really loved on us and helped us out by teaching us some Thai and correcting us when we say something wrong. One of our last nights at the bookstore, P'Porn took us to the Night Bazaar which is a huge night market. (you can literally buy anything there!) She took us to see one of her friends who has a booth there and introduced us as her daughters. It almost brought me to tears at how much she really cares about us. She has become my Thai mother and I am so blessed to know her and to be continually blessed by her.

As I briefly mentioned before, we have been studying language this week. We study 5 days a week for 2 hours each day. Our Kru (or teacher) has been teaching Thai for 38 years! She really knows what she is doing and expects nothing but the best from her students. At first I was a little intimidated by her but after getting to know her better, she is such a sweet lady. I enjoy our talks during breaks about where we come from and past experiences we have had.  Although she has taught many missionaries including some of the ones on our team, she is not a Christian. Please pray for her that her heart will be opened and Christ will reign in her life. Please pray that the missionaries that she is teaching currently will be able to share with her and for the stronghold of Buddhism in her life to be broken.

After language, we usually go on a language route. A language route is several Thai people that we go practice our Thai with. They are people from all across the board from a lady who works at a coffee shop to business owners to market vendors. We have become friends with a lady who works at a coffee shop and after we finish language we usually head there to grab some coffee and begin our language route. P'A (the lady who works there) has really been a joy to talk with. She listens as we tell her the little bit of Thai that we can speak. Our Thai basically consists of telling her what color something is, how many their are, our names, and a few other very basic things. She asks us questions based on what we know or have said and usually we can answer. My first language mistake was I asked her how many boys she was! I totally meant to ask her how many siblings she has!!! We had a really good laugh about that!!!!


Anyway, I gotta go get ready for Church but I wanted to give you all an update of what is happening here!!! I will try to post some pictures soon!!!

All my love,
Ang

We Made It

Hey ya'll we made it!!!

We are both really tired and so . . . I just wanted to upload a video to say hey!

Check it out!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0hIK8Yyn-4


All my love,
Angela

TODAY IS THE DAY!!!!
We are flying out to Thailand in just a couple of hours!!!!
I just wanted to write a quick update to let you all know how much I have appreciated you all and all your encouragement this week!!!

I have also really been blessed by the Reach interns this week and it is hard to say goodbye to them as they fly away but God is already doing amazing things through them and will continue to do amazing things as they leave and once they arrive!

Man I love this group of people!!!!!

Tosha and I are also trying to do some Youtube videos this summer and if you want to check them out you can: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_xxlyc2EYg

All my love,
Ang

PDO. . . take two

I am now in the middle of PDO and man oh man have I been learning so much. I think, I thought I was going to know so much because I am a missionary kid but let me tell you, the Lord sure humbled me quick! There are so many things I wouldn't have even thought might effect me. There are a couple of things I want to highlight from the past two days.

Yesterday, we spent the majority of our day at a ropes course team building. We were split up into three groups and were sent out with a guide to complete certain elements. We learned just how key communication is within a team and when communication breaks down, the team starts to crumble and can fail at a task that is trying to be completed. We were able to learn about each others weaknesses and strengths as well which was really helpful as we were able to encourage each other and help one another through whatever issue we were struggling with.

Today, we had evening prayers with the sisters here at the convent. It was amazing to see such devoted women truly pouring all they are and have into the service of God. The prioress prayed over us as interns and the people we will come into contact with. I was brought to tears by their love for us as fellow laborers for God. It is such a comfort and blessing to know that they will be fervently praying on our behalf while we are halfway across the world.

Two days until Tosha and I begin our journey to Thailand. I think we are both ready to be there and are struggling to find peace in being here a few days longer. Today, I have been really struggling to find inner peace and find my mind wandering into self doubts and situational doubts. The prayer of my heart today has been that I will find the peace I need and that I will not try to solve my own issues but that Christ will have full control over these situations.

Today I am asking for prayers for Tosha and I as we struggle with finding peace in being here and for me as I have been doubting myself.

Thank you all so much for your partnership with me on this journey through your love and prayers!

All my love,
Ang