One Little Girl
Playing with the children one night, I noticed one small girl in particular. As we sang songs, she would shyly smile at me, and then look away. Her dark hair and bangs framed a gorgeous little face. Her slightly slanted jet-black eyes would dance every time I smiled at her. I noticed how she did not interact much with the other children. I made it a point to pay extra attention to her, noticing her apparent insecurities. I would reach over and pinch her arm to get her attention and then smile at her, and her smile would melt my heart! Another day, at one of the meetings, she made another little girl move over so that she could sit next to me. Ever after that one memorable night, she would always follow me around and want to be right next to me. What a little love can do to an insecure heart!
Little Boy Number 1
Another day I was helping lead out with the younger children. As we were singing songs, the girls and some of the boys were enjoying it immensely. There were some trouble-maker boys who were getting bored and punching and pushing each other around. I stared him down and shook my head but then I smiled at him. His round face was very hardened, his eyes empty. As I looked at him, thoughts were running through my mind. I wondered what his home life was life, or what had happened to him in these last few years. I wanted to just go and give him a hug and tell him that Jesus loves him. I could tell that he wanted to be loved and accepted. I kept looking at him and smiling, and finally he started smiling back. A couple days later, I heard a very sad story. When this boy was little, he had been put into a cage and his parents had had beaten him and starved him. Something happened to his parents and an army sergeant took him to the school (where we were teaching) and enrolled him there. The first day he attended the school, he was very anti-social. Then he started throwing sand at all the children and would not leave the sand-box. They tried to get him to stop, but he would not quit. One of the teachers went to prepare for disciplining him, and he ran from the sand-box and hid. A couple other teachers found him, and talked to him, had prayer with him, and finally convinced him to apologize to the students. Little by little, Momo, one of the teachers, has been showing him special love. Each day he attends school, she goes out of her way to spend time with him. He is a village student, so it is more difficult, but she does what she can. He has gotten friendlier, but he still will pull away as she gives him a hug in the morning. He does not say “thank you” for things that she gives him, either. We will just give him time. He is slowly responding to love.
Little Boy Number 2
One little child was sitting there playing with some toys, but not saying a word. His friends were all around him, talking and laughing, but he just watched them and played. When I smile at him, he flashes me a big toothy grin, but does not say much to anyone. Not long ago, his mother died and not he has a step-mother. We do not know what the situation is at home, but this little boy is very withdrawn.
What About Me?
There are so many stories like these in the lives of children. Which child are you like? Do you pull away from the Lord when He shows you His love? Do you just close up in your own little shell? Do you avoid anything that would remind you of Him and His love? Jesus knows what you have been through! He understands that you have had much pain and suffering, and even if you have stepped away from Him, He is still there telling you to follow Him. Think of what He has been through for you! Won’t you quickly respond when Jesus calls you and shows you His love?
They taught us how to give chair massages and back massages (the chair massages can be pretty painful when given by a child). This is Crystal, the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Lee (unfortunately Dr. Lee was not able to make it).
Our group was very big! There were between 35-40 people that attended or taught classes regularly. The ones in the front are the teachers from Anon and then the Burmese, Thai, American, Mong, Indian, and some Malaysians are all mixed in. It was like the Tower of Babel with so many languages being spoken! I haven't learned Thai yet, but as I stay here longer, I will. :D
Another picture of our group. This is practically the whole group. There had been a few people missing before!
Traveling to church was exciting! We were in a big truck/type vehicle and there were quite a few of us in there. I hear that they usually fit many more people in them! The church we went to was very beautiful! It was new and it even had air-conditioning! I got a little chilly, though. :D I think I'm getting quite customized to the warm weather.
(a lady from Thailand, Burma, and I)
Baw Baw and I in Church
This is me, the five Burma girls, a Thai doctor and her sister. We are standing out front of the church. They take their shoes off when going into any church, house, or private building.
This is me, the three girls from Malaysia (plus Crystal, the little one) and Baw Baw.
I sure have had some exciting new experiences since I have been here! (I'm sure that they are not as crazy as I will have in the future, though). The day I arrived, they showed me two scorpions that some guys had killed (each about 2 inches long) and a little snake. Just today some boys caught one that was alive. All of the little creatures are very cute. I think you all might agree. :D
The showers are quite an adventure! They have little squat pots (oh yes, no toilet paper, just water) in the bathrooms and then, if you look closely, you might be able to see the whole in the wall that lets the water out from the shower. There is a bucket that is filled with water and then a little one to pour the water over my head, and if I want to, it is quite convenient to wash the laundry at that time, too. Just fill up another little bucket with water and wash all the clothes by hand. One night before taking my shower, I was getting all the buckets ready and walked into the bathroom. There was this very beautiful 2-inch spider awaiting me. :D I decided to step quietly and respectfully into the next room to take my shower.
I have also had my first taste of many foods. One of them is called Rambutan. It is quite a unique little fruit. Pretty good, actually. The outside looks a little scary, though. :)
I have also had fresh Durian for the first time. It is not as bad as people say that it is! Lol. It might take some getting used to, though. The smell is unique, but the flavor is very sweet. It is kind of like a custard/type consistency. 
There are some others that I can't remember the name of right now. They eat lots of cooked greens, some more interesting than others. There is a plant that they call Morning Glory that they eat raw. I told them that we have flowers called that which they thought was quite funny.
During one of the classes that we have had. They were teaching us chair massages at this time. It was a great review!!
This is me and my friend Bubbow. We went walking one morning (during the exercise time at 7:00 am). It is an Adventist school (grades 1-12) that she went to for 6 years. It was a very beautiful place. Bub-bow bought me a little note-book and a soy-milk. It was delicious! Such sweet people!
I will post more pictures later. I will have to let you see what the bathrooms are like and the "grocery stores". I hope that you all have a great week! It is quite exciting because I just found out that we will be doing 1/2 hour at church tomorrow. Fun stuff. :D
