I'm exhausted after this last week.
Every day held a different range of emotions, a unique experience and the always present Thai heat.
Monday started off with a roller coaster of emotions. First thing, one of our girls met her forever family. I have never experienced something as beautiful as a couple walking hand in hand to meet their little girl for the first time. The moment they laid eyes on Siri . . . I can't even begin to describe to you the joy that filled the atmosphere around them. Tears were streaming down my face, down the faces of the new parents and Avis our director was smiling from ear to ear. Siri being the spunky girl she is, simply looked up at her new mom and said "Hi Mama!" My heart was bursting as she was doted on by them for the rest of the day, as they had some good bonding time.
Monday afternoon was filled with some business matters. It was another joyous thing when I held in my hands my work permit for my year here! Even though it is a pretty routine process to get a work permit here, there is still something that unsettling not knowing if they will grant it to you or not. Needless to say, I was relieved to have it tucked away into my bag as we drove out of the office parking lot!
After finishing work permit matters and my first Thai lesson, our director told me hop in her truck. Now let me tell you something about our amazing director Avis, her driving will make a saint cuss. She has certainly developed her own driving style that leaves you on the edge of your seat and a little shaken up. I took a deep breath and hopped in the truck with her to go and get my new bike! We drove to the other side of town to a bike shop where she made me ride what seemed like every bike there before I picked out the one I wanted.
My new bike!!!
Even though we went there on a business matter, I valued the time I spent in the car with Avis. I got to hear about her vision for Agape and listen as she told me just how much she cares and loves all 108 children at Agape. I was so blessed to have that time with her... even though I was holding on for dear life as we maneuvered the traffic.
Tuesday well to be honest it was hard. We had the going away party for Siri as she left to go to her new home in Italy with her beautiful forever family. What I didn't tell you about Siri is that she was the first kid I bonded with at Agape. My first day there she came right up and sat in my lap like she had known me all her life. I spent the afternoons teaching her and a few of the other kids English. Siri always refused to learn anything until she had the sombrero on. While I was extremely happy for her to be going into an amazing forever family, I was selfishly sad that she was leaving Agape. As I washed and dressed her for her going away party, all I could do was pray over her and kiss her cheeks about a million times. I was so blessed to spend my first two weeks here loving on Siri and I am so thankful to know she is going to be loved on for the rest of her life by two amazing parents!
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| Our last moments together before she left with her new family! |
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| The sombrero wearing kid! |
Wednesday seemed to fly by! I don't remember much except I had another Thai lesson and enjoyed it. My roommate Krista and I along with several guy volunteers went to eat out and as Krista and I were riding our bikes back home, Avis (our director) stopped us on the road. She was somber and told us that one of the ladies she had been taking care of passed away in her arms just a few hours earlier. Ceepah, had been a prostitute for many years and was HIV positive. Ceepah had however expected Christ in recent years and Avis along with other nannies from Agape had been ministering to her and taking care of her. Slowly over the last several years she got better and then in the last few months had taken a turn and got an infection. Avis made Ceepah a promise that she wouldn't die in a hospital. Avis took her in and Ceepah died knowing she was loved. She went to her heaven forever home Wednesday night.
Thursday was somber as we took care of the kids and then prepared for a funeral. It was a beautiful service! We sang some hymns and several people shared about Ceepah, and the impact she had made on their lives. It was a true celebration of life and a time of joy that she was no longer in pain and suffering but that she was finally in the arms of her Father. It is beautiful to me how this woman who was rejected by society, her family, her friends was welcomed with open arms at Agape! She was loved and shown dignity and respect until the day she died. I believe that is how all Christians should act toward others. Love is a fierce and mighty force that can change the course of a life and an eternity.
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So yea, this week was pretty exhausting but I wouldn't want it any other way. This is the beauty of working at Agape. You might be exhausted but you are doing kingdom work and seeing first hand how God moves! Exhausting but pretty amazing is how this week has been!
Here we go.. WEEK 3!
