The flight to Chiang Mai was, for the most part, a very uneventful one. I got to meet some interesting people and had a few brave encounters with Korean airplane food. Once I landed, got through customs, and arrived at the volunteer house, one of my roommates came out to greet me and help me get all settled in. After sleeping half a day away, I finally got up and introduced myself to my other roommate. There are only three of us in the house right now, myself, Jill from Tasmania, and Ane from Denmark.
Getting myself adjusted to the time change and work schedule hasn’t been as difficult as getting used to the kids and the language barrier! Although I have picked up a lot of useful Thai words, I’m looking forward to beginning my language lessons so I can communicate more effectively. Plus, the kids seem to respect the volunteers who speak Thai much more than those who don’t!
My first week at Agape was pretty much what I had anticipated. For the most part, my job is to make sure that the kids have good doses of discipline mixed with lots of love. This includes putting kids in time-out for misbehavior, making sure they don’t bite or hit each other, being an extra playmate, and of course, giving lots of hugs and kisses! A little boy named Nattapon even gives me goodnight kisses every night I work just before going to bed.
I know that working with so many kids will be both a challenge and a reward. I just hope that I’m up to the challenge! Without it, there can be no true reward.
Getting To Know The Kids
(In this first newsletter, you won’t be seeing any pictures of the children since I needed to focus on working more closely with them and getting down the daily routine rather than taking lots of pictures. Don’t worry though! There will be tons of pictures in the near future!)
Each of the kids at Agape has their own personal story. Some are more elaborate than others, but I’d like to dedicate a portion of my newsletter each month to some of the kids and their stories. I feel that by getting to know the kids on an individual basis will help both myself, and my readers, to understand and connect with each child personally.
Tanongsak (pronounced Tah-non-sack) is one of the younger kids that I have been looking after in the 3-year-old group at Agape. He loves to play with the older kids and usually has a big smile on his face. Although I don’t have a picture of him yet, I’ll try to include one in next month’s newsletter, he is very easy to recognize by his laugh and round face!
When Tanongsak first came to Agape, he was about 1 and a half years old. His mother was so sick she was unable to care for him anymore, and decided to give him to Agape to look after. Because she was so sick (she was HIV positive) she wasn’t able to pick him up, so he was mostly left to play on the floor by himself and could barely walk.
At three years old, he is still a little behind the other kids in his age group, but has made great progress! Sometimes he’ll trick the volunteers in to giving him rides in a stroller, but we are encouraged to get him outside playing. He enjoys playing soccer, jumping on the trampoline, and swimming with the other kids. His story reminds us of what lots of attention and God’s love can do!
Prayer Requests
- Please keep my safety in your prayers! Although Thailand hasn’t had any issues with foreigner's safety for a while, it is still something that needs to be kept in mind as it can change in an instant.
- Also, I would like to request prayers for the kids at Agape. The ARV drugs are doing wonders for their well-being and immune system but there are still a lot of kids who get sick very easily and have trouble getting rid of even the common cold quickly.
- As of right now, there are six volunteers working for Agape but five of them will be gone by the end of April. This leaves just myself until new volunteers arrive sometime in June! Please keep this time in your prayers. There are a lot of kids who deserve individual attention and I’m praying that I’m able to meet their needs!
- I would also ask that you keep my family in your prayers. I know it isn’t easy to be on the opposite side of the world from them and I know they feel the same!
I would like to thank all of you who gave me your support, both spiritual and financial. This mission trip could not have been possible without you and I thank God for each of you every day.
God Bless!
Contact Information
Have any comments or suggestions?
Letters and e-mails are welcome and encouraged.
I would love to hear from you!
Letters and packages should be sent to:
The Agape Home
Attn: Alissa Hopkins
P.O. Box 95
Chiang Mai 50000
Thailand
E-Mails should be sent to:
I also have various video chat forums available to talk with people if anyone is interested. Please just contact me through e-mail so we can set up a time to do so!
If you are interested in donating items to the Agape home, please let me know and I can circulate a list of needs.
I will be giving piano and guitar lessons to a few of the kids here and would like to request some sheet music for both piano and guitar. These can be sent through regular mail and any contributions would be greatly appreciated!
**Phone calls are not being accepted at this time. Please do not call my cell phone unless I specifically call you first! **
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