Learning, Growing, and Singing

I'll need to backtrack a bit on our blog since I'm skipping what we were up to in March, but I wanted to share a bit about a recent trip I took to Mae Sot near the border in Thailand. I took a team to put on a Good Life Club children's program for a children's home I have been in relationship with (and used to teach at a bit) for more than 5 years. This home has a big need this month which I will describe at the end of this blog, but for now here is a bit about my trip and what I learned in April.

Usually, a trip like this, Adam would lead or we'd lead together and divide up responsibilities. However, after we committed to this program, Adam became unable to join us for this trip, so it was up to me to lead the team, coordinate logistics, build a program, etc and so forth. Luckily I had a great team that helped a lot and was gracious with me as I learned much about balancing, ministry, co-workers, a baby, hot hot heat, and all the other details.

We ended up doing two program- GLC for 12 and under and Jr. Ranger for kids over 12 years old. I was full-time with the GLC team during the day, but in total our HQ team consisted of 10 adults, 6 children, and 1 baby (2 cars, 3 houses, and 3 drivers-including me). If you can only imagine the crazy logistics of it all.

A teammate who was leading the Jr Ranger suggested that we do team meetings every night with some worship, devotion, and debriefing the day.... um yah good idea... why didn't I think of that? Unfortunately even though it was a good idea, I was late for at least one meeting because I was putting Eden to bed at another house and then missed a meeting entirely when I completely fell asleep putting Eden to bed and woke up several hours later. Needless to say I was exhausted with all the juggling.

The trip was fun, exhausting, worthwhile, and a great learning experienced. I realized several areas where I could grow as a leader and love people better. I was proud of the program we developed through so much hard work and late nights prior to that week. I learned about communicating more clearly, and ultimately humbled myself to realize I was in way over my head and accepted the grace coming my way from teammates. I've been reading a book called Accidental Saints, and though some people might find some aspects of it a bit controversial, my main take away was that its good to share about our short-comings because that is what people can connect and relate to, and that is where we can truly say that God is filling the spaces of our inadequacies and shining through to make something more beautiful than we could have managed on our own.

Thanks for accepting me and us in our inadequacies and please continue praying for us that we can humble ourselves in our ministry here to let God show up and do something better.

Note: Please do not share photos since they are of children at this children's home that we want to protect and not advertise. I've been given permission to share here.

Small Group discussions about our spiritual dramas.

Memory verse puzzle relay game.

Our program for the young kids was based on Jeremiah 41:10- "For do not fear, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you." The theme was superhero. We taught the kids that with God's help, they could be "superhero"- choosing to help people, do the right thing, and relying on God's power to make it happen.

Fun water games in the heat.

David and Goliath activity reflecting on using God's strength to do great things.

My favorite part of the program was at the end. We built a wall of cardboard boxes representing the Wall of Jericho. Each child had his own box and wrote a few things that he or she was struggling with and that they wanted to ask God to take away (e.g. sadness, anger, loneliness, resentment, etc). When the wall of Jericho came down in our drama, all the kids helped tear down the wall and destroy all those things (symbolically) in their lives that were holding them back from God's fullness in life. It was awesome to watch and imagine things happening in the spiritual realm.

Enjoying morning worship in English, Karen, Burmese, and Thai.

*Now for the need. This children's home (which I respect more than any other that I know) has lost funding for tuition for their kids to go to school. They need approximately $1,880 for school fees and uniforms so that all their children can go to school- and they need it by May 20th. Every little bit will help. If anyone is interested in more information, please contact me directly at aimeecwallis@gmail.com. I am passionate about seeing these kids in school, thriving, and becoming future leaders in their home country. Pleas pray about coming alongside them. Thanks!!