Are We There Yet?

Yesterday we had our first school field trip! We travelled in two song taws (driven by my student's dad a a friend of his) to Mae Rim. Our trip was about 45 minutes away and took us to Queen Sirikit's Botanic Garden. On the trip I had the inevitable conversation with one of my students that went something like this...

Student: "Are we there yet?"
Me: "Almost, about ten more minutes."
Student: Exasperated sigh.
Me: "What's wrong?"
Student: "I just wish we were already there."

I smiled while thinking to myself, how often in life do I say, "I just wish I was already there." There being spiritually mature, professionally skilled, or personally in my ideal life situation. I told my student that I understood but that maybe we could focus on enjoying the trip. So, now I'm reminding myself, "It all goes by so fast. Don't worry about when you will get there just enjoy the many delightful moments along the way." I hope you enjoy these pictures of my six beautiful children and some of our fun moments on this wonderful journey.

(Click on the pictures to see them full size)

More Than a Statistic

There are two students at our school, a brother and sister, who I have known are on a pretty big scholarship. Big deal. Most of the students at our school are on a scholarship of one kind or another. Today I found out why these two are able to come to school paying only a fraction of the actual cost. Their only mode of transportation is also their business. Their dad is a song taw driver. He makes between 300 and 400 baht per day. Which is about $12. However, gas costs about 200 baht per day, meaning that the total income is about $6. A family of four survives off of roughly $180 per month.

(Song taw)

Now transition with me...

It is estimated that the number of prostitutes in Thailand ranges from 800,000 to 2 million.

Rhode Island's population: 1,053,209. There are more prostitutes in Thailand than there are people in the state of Rhode Island.

Approximately 20% of these prostitutes are 18 years old or younger

Thailand is currently called the Disneyland of Pedophiles.

There are up to 600,000 cases of AIDS.

There are 1,300,000 Orphans in Thailand

Sex work has been become "normalized" in Thailand

Thai women believe that prostitution reduces cases of rape.

Back now to my student: my bright, beautiful, friendly little first grade girl. What does her future entail? When do her parents get tired of barely making ends meet and decide they need her to help make a little extra money? At what point does that become a decision a parent, a Buddhist parent with no hope, would make?

And then I think about the over one hundred children I have met face to face, who I've laughed with and talked with who have been rescued from this life of hopelessness and cruelty. Each child with an unimaginable past. One, a girl who at 5 years old was nursing her mom as she died of AIDS. Who after her mom passed away, was passed around her village, with no one taking her in, caring for, or loving her. Another a girl whose father was killed in an opium deal gone wrong, and whose mom now works in Bangkok as a prostitute. A third, a boy with scars on his face from his battered childhood and hidden scars from sexual abuse by foreign men. I then I think of the millions more who will never be rescued, and it breaks my heart.

Odds are stacked against them. Odds are stacked us as we try to fight for their freedom. However, the Lord has put on our hearts the desire to join these precious children in this battle. Our weapon of choice...education. "Education is a better safeguard of liberty than a standing army." Edward Everett. However, the ultimate battle is for their souls and is won only by the power of the love of Christ which we seek to impart as we teach each day.

Please pray that The School of Promise will be a safeguard of liberty, educating children so as to break the cycles of poverty and oppression that hold so many. Pray that The School of Promise would bring hope into the lives of our students as well as their parents through the truths of the gospel. Pray that the girls who attend our school will see their value before God. Pray that the boys at our school would grow into men of God who treat women with respect and lead their families in paths of righteousness. Pray that each child will come to know Christ and walk in a manner worthy of the gospel.

Beauty

"Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God has shone forth." Psalm 50:2

Splendor and majesty are before Him, strength and beauty are in His sanctuary. Psalm 96:6

I just wanted to share with you one of my favorite things in Thailand right now. Chiang Mai always has amazing flowers but this tree is my new favorite. They have started to bloom everywhere and they make me quite happy.

This morning we walked a to a restaurant a couple miles from our house for a Western breakfast as a special treat. Our walk took us past rice fields, cows, dozens of terracotta shops, temples, and my favorite kind of tree. So much fun! Thank you Lord for creating beautiful orange trees!

1st Grade

I love teaching first grade. Now, those are words I never thought I would say. When I was a substitute teacher in Texas first grade was the grade that most often caused to me to question my life choices. All of my horror stories were from first grade. But now for the second year I find myself teaching 5, 6, and 7 year olds.


Little children who...

• don't speak/understand English and several who don't really understand Thai yet


• when I say something in an excited voice gasp and act excited even though they have no idea what they should be excited about


• say that they want to color pictures just like I color them


• come running to me for help when their traditional Thai skirts and uniform skirts (which are all about four sizes too big) come unwrapped and are falling off


• weigh about as much as the backpacks they attempt to carry


• struggle under the weight of their chair at the end of the day when they put them on their desks


• make me smile at their childish delight of life


• tap their feet along with the praise music we listen to in the morning


• come running when I say, "Follow directions quickly."


• when they repeat after me match my tone perfectly while not always making distinguishable words


• ask after a short visit with a Thai friend whether she was speaking in Thai or English


• when praying over lunch thank God for the delicious delicious food


• speak from the Lord when I am telling a Bible story that I really want them to understand, and they recognize the story and say it in Thai for those who have never heard the story before.

Basically all this is to say that I am thankful I teach these little ones. I am thankful to be able to love them and to be one of their first teachers. My roommates and I were joking the other day that everyone remembers their fourth grade teacher but no one remembers their first grade teacher. That's okay with me, I just want them to learn without a doubt that they are loved by me and even more by God. I want them to enjoy life without the added burdens the years bring. I want them to be excited by small things. I want them to not be afraid to ask for help. I want them to come to know the Lord, the salvation He gives, and the life He desires them to live. I want them to start out with a strong foundation. May the Lord give Khruu Kae and I the strength and wisdom to teach them in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

1st Grade Class Picture 2010