New Video Up and Running!

After a little over a month of editing, picture collecting, and revising video formatting, my video is ready for viewing! The last video had a sound problem due to formatting, but this new one is good to go. Please feel free to take a look and tell me what you think.
This video is meant for showing to my home church at Southwinds Church of Christ and should be easily downloaded from my YouTube account. You can access my YouTube account by clicking on the videos section located at the bottom of this page.
Thanks again for all of your support and I look forward to hearing your comments!
God Bless

Financial Status

I discovered this past month that I am a bit short in funds and, although I have been budgeting, there have been a few unforeseen costs such as going to the doctor. Since I have been the only volunteer at Agape for the past month and a half, there have been a few extra costs pertaining to the volunteer house; there are usually at least 5 other volunteers to split costs such as gas for the stove and general household items. With just myself I've had to take care of these by myself, which is by no means a complaint, it just tends to add up over time. If anyone would be willing to donate funds, please let either myself of Gena Hopkins know! I appreciate everything you all have already done for me, and I know that you're all praying for me as well. If you can't donate, then please keep up the prayers! I'm a firm believer in the power of prayer and that God has His hand in this situation, as He does in all other situations.

May Updates!

Sorry this entry has been so long in coming! This past month, I met with quite a few new challenges and obstacles. Being the only volunteer, outside of the volunteer supervisors, was a bit more of a challenge than I had previously thought. Of course I still loved working with the kids, and I never went into Agape dreading it, but there were days when I felt like, it would be so nice to have someone on a shift with me who could speak English and help me with the kids! The Agape Home has been a little short staffed recently, so it’s usually just myself and one other nanny with nine kids until the third nanny finishes her morning duties and joins us.

Although this is just a small obstacle to have to overcome, I feel that the kids would have greatly benefited from another volunteer or two. It’s a little difficult to entertain all the kids and get to know them on a more personal basis when you’re busy trying to keep the kids from picking on each other and from getting into trouble!

This is just a small obstacle, really. There are so many other things that could be difficult for me right now, such as homesickness or being lonely at the volunteer house. As it is, I feel blessed that I haven’t had to worry about those as much as I had anticipated. Knowing that volunteers are coming and that I can talk to family and friends makes it all much easier for me to deal with.

One of the biggest challenges that I have had to deal with this last month has been breaking up the routine and structure of the morning schedule at Agape. As a volunteer, I have access to quite a few different activities and supplies that the kids are able to use. When you work by yourself, you tend to let yourself fall into a predictable routine and you can fall into the trap of just doing the same things each day because it’s familiar and a little easy. With more volunteers, it’s easy to think of creative ways to have the kids spend their mornings before the morning worship. You wouldn’t think that this would be tricky to do; just think of things to do each day and let that be that. But even in doing this you can fall into a daily routine.

So, I’ve been doing a little experimenting with arts and crafts projects to keep the kids on their toes so to speak so we don’t always watch videos and play dress-up and color. And it makes it special when you get to do so many different things and the kids love to be creative! It is a challenge to always be thinking of things for the kids to do, but I welcome the challenge and I’m glad that I’ve gotten this opportunity to be able to do all the things that I’d like to. I doubt that I’ll get this chance again once volunteers come and it’s a good way for the kids and I to bond until then.

I have also been sick this past month with the rainy season starting and all the weather changes taking place. I’m doing much better now, but it’s never fun to be sick and then have to work with kids whose energy never seems to abate! I love the kids to death and would much rather be able to keep up with their antics than have to sit out because I’m under the weather.

Prayer Requests

- Please keep me in your prayers since I have been the only volunteer all month! I don’t want to get burnt out and any prayers for my patience would be greatly appreciated!

- Also, I’d like to ask that you remember the kids at Agape in your prayers. We have had quite a few with fevers recently, and although the ARV drugs are doing wonders for them, they still get sick frequently.

- I ask that you keep my Thai lessons in your prayers as well. It might seem like an odd request, but if I’ve learned anything since I’ve been here, it’s that the kids respect the fact that you can speak Thai and the fact that it helps lessen the language barrier’s restrictions is a bonus as well.

- We will be getting new volunteers in June and I ask that you keep their travels in your prayers as well. Pray that I will be an encouragement to them when they arrive and be the best host I can be.

-Please keep my finances in your prayers as well! There have been a few unforeseen costs that have come up while I’ve been over here, and prayers would be greatly appreciated!

- I would also ask that you keep The Agape Home in your prayers. They have been struggling with keeping staff members and have been pretty short staffed recently on top of a lull in donations being made to the home. The economic conditions throughout the world are struggles for the Thais as well and just ask that God’s hand be on the situation.

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!

Pictures and Videos

I have a video that's been a long time coming, but will be up in the near future. Please feel free to watch it on YouTube and, if you belong to a church, to share it with your church family. It should be fairly easy to rip it from YouTube, and I encourage you to do so!
There will be more pictures coming too, both of the kids and of my trip to Burma for my visa renewal. My visa renewal marks the half-way mark of my trip, and I just can't believe that I've been here for three months already. It seems like I've only just gotten here, but I've already made so many long lasting friendships. I know these last few months will soon be over and I'll be on my way home, which makes the upcoming trip home bittersweet. Leaving friends and those that you've come to love is always hard.
In times when I find myself not looking forward to leaving, I just remind myself of Philippians 4:8. It's amazing how God's word has an answer for all situations isn't it?
God Bless you all!