I just got back from a long-awaited trip to the field in Thailand. It’s hard to pick highlights, but there are definitely some moments I will remember. One of them was the time we were waiting in the girl’s hall, after teen night at the home. I was leaning on a post when someone tapped my arm from behind… it’s one of the little girls, looking up to me with a shy smile and her arms out, asking for a hug… she snuggles up against me and I put my arms around her, holding her close. And suddenly, I find myself praying… for the peace and love of God to fill this heart that needs it badly. And again, there are more… almost like they sense what’s happening and all want some of it, too.

While I didn’t actually teach, I ended up helping with some of the classes. It was so much fun to be a part of that… the language barrier makes it harder, but not nearly as complicated as I had assumed. These little kids have their own peculiarities as a group. I have never seen children this picky about having ultra-sharp pencils and they trace things on paper like it’s rocket science. Some of them are better at coloring things than I am. And while teaching itself does not sound that exciting, there is so much more to it than simply getting them to memorize and learn things. The relationships that are formed and the ways we can love on them and impact them through class time… it’s a unique and valuable opportunity to impact them for eternity.

The medical room was another highlight for me… again, it is so much more than just providing care for their bumps, bruises and the occasional injury. The children know they can come in at 4pm every day and someone will care for them… whether it’s an infected insect bite, itchy skin, a skinned knee, sore throat or sometimes they just need a little TLC. They have to get their showers before coming to the medical room, so you’ll see little troops of 4-5 children with damp mops of hair show up and point to where it hurts… One little guy came in with some sort of fluid draining from his ear, but he seemed more concerned with the spot on his chin, while there was no sign of pain from the ear. He got both issues looked after… the ear with a solution to hopefully treat any infection, the spot on the chin with Healing Elements salve, the go-to for all sorts of skin issues. Some emergencies warrant a run to the hospital for more complex injuries… lately, a few children had burns that needed to be treated, or the occasional broken toe. Sometimes they are running fevers or not feeling well and need a quiet place to rest and recover. For all of this and more, the medical rooms have been a tremendous blessing.