Less then a week left here in Thailand! It breaks my heart just thinking about it. The last week has been absolutely beautiful. The girls had a five day weekend (because of a Buddhist holiday) and our team had a great time loving on and developing relationships with the girls the entire time.
Friday was the start of the five day weekend. I taught english to the girls that morning, then went into town with Peace to get medicine for my eye. We also did a little window shopping and got some fried chicken at the food market. We got home in time to have dinner and then the nightly worship service with the girls. After worship, we had everybody over to the guesthouse for movie night! We watched two episodes of Mr. Bean and I gave the girls some smarties that I brought from the USA. After the movie, the younger girls went home to bed, but the six older girls got to stay and spend the night with Anna and I as a reward for everything they do for the orphanage. The older girls are very good about keeping up with their chores, helping out whenever there's a need, taking care of the younger kids, doing laundry and helping with meals. Anna and I really enjoyed having a girls night with them, saying thank you for everything they do here. We played UNO, Twister and Fruit Ninja (yes, that's a game on my cell phone.... but they loved it! Haha!)
On Saturday, we taught english again to the girls and played UNO after class. Who knew UNO would be such a hit? We played it all morning until I had to take the cards away so they would eat lunch! After lunch, the girls had a nap and our team had some time to journal and dig into the word. When the girls got up, Anna and I played a game with them (Steal The Bacon.) Once we wrapped up game time, it was already dusk and Pastor Dave decided that we'd have another campfire! I gave them all glowsticks, which they loved waving in the air and wearing as bracelets. We had a worship time around the campfire and the girls performed a few dances to worship songs that they rehearsed. At the end of the night, we gave hugs and kisses, then the girls headed off to bed.
On Sunday, the girls wore their tribal dresses to church! They were absolutely beautiful! Anna and I played a couple songs, then I gave my testimony to the girls. I was a bit nervous before hand, but I wasn't nervous at all while giving it. In fact, I really felt a peace about it and the girls really enjoyed hearing about how I came to know Christ. That afternoon, some family friends of ours who are missionaries in India came to visit me here at the orphanage. They happened to be visiting Thailand the same time as me. We had a great time of fellowship together for a few hours before they had to head back up into Chiang Mai. Later in the afternoon I gave the girls spinning tops, which they had a lot of fun with! That evening the girls did scripture sword drills before worship. After worship I gave thirty more sweaty kisses and hugs before everyone went to bed for the night.
On Monday morning, Anna and I decided to combine our english classes and play some english games with the girls instead. We played Steal the Bacon, but used english fruit titles instead of numbers. We also taught our classes how to play Red Light Green Light, which was by far the favorite game of the month so far! After dismissing our classes, we ate lunch and then the girls settled down for nap time. Once the girls were up and awake, we surprised them by taking them out swimming again! They were thrilled. It ended up raining while we were swimming (but no thunder,) which was actually really fun! I taught two of the girls (Nonylee and Lee) how to back flip. After swimming, our team went into town with Peace for an authentic Thai dinner, which was delicious! Later that day Anna and I brushed up on our kickball skills and taught the girls how to play. We ended the day with the nightly worship service and then team bible study.
On Tuesday, we taught english to the girls, then made Faith Necklaces that were donated to the orphanage from a family that goes to my church. Faith Necklaces are necklaces that explain the process of salvation based off of the color of the beads in the necklace (example: the red bead stands for Jesus' blood when he died for our sins and the white bead stands for our purity in Christ when we accept his gift of forgiveness.) While making the necklaces, I had the opportunity to share the gospel with all of the girls. They all were wide-eyed and listening to me with enthusiasm. I told them that they could use the necklaces as conversation starters to share the gospel with their friends and they were all very excited about the idea. After making the necklaces, we all gathered together and dedicated one of the buildings here to Dave Atkins' mentors. After a busy morning, we drove to Chiang Rai to get groceries at Big C (the Thai version of Walmart.) We ate dinner at Big C before rushing home to get back in time for the nightly worship service! Little did we know that they would be spending most of their time that night studying new songs, so we didn't miss out on much. However, we got back just in time to sing the last song with them and end the night with a game. The game was a lot like Hot Potato, but with baby powder. Whoever was holding the baby powder when the music stopped got to put baby powder on someone else's face. Of course, one of the first girls to get the powder pied me in the face! When I got the baby powder, I took the opportunity to get some good Christian revenge and pied that girl back in the face. ;) At the end of the game, Peace turned out all the lights and we all had to pie each other in the face. In one moment of utter chaos, the lights went out and all thirty of the girls attacked Anna and I with baby powder. I reached out and smeared my baby powder onto the closest victim I could find! We ended the night with powdery hugs and kisses before washing up and heading off to bed.
On Wednesday morning, I walked the girls to school. Later that morning once the rest of our team and the staff were awake, we took a rode trip to one of the Karen hill tribe villages. This was the same village that Hy (one of the staff members) was raised in. At the village, we were invited into Hy's home for corn and tea. The home was just a shack made of wood and sticks. I was afraid that I would fall through the floor (the house was elevated about five feet in the air and the floor was made of sticks.) We ended up playing some worship songs for Hy's close family and friends, which was a very powerful experience. One of the staff members, Peace, also played a couple songs for everybody. After music and tea, we went and walked around the village. A couple of the highlights were praying for an ill elderly lady, eating suspicious ice cream, meeting Hy's family and getting licked by water buffalo's. After exploring the village, we went back to Hy's home and were invited in for lunch. The lunch was an authentic Karen tribal dish that consisted of fried rice, spicy chicken, corn and eggs. After lunch, we thanked our hosts and prepared for the road trip back home. Anna and I sat in the back of the truck and had a great time of worship and prayer, reflecting on our first hill tribe experience.
Once home, Anna and I painted Za-za, Lee and Esther's toenails. We then ate dinner and played Red Light Green Light and Steal The Bacon with the girls. After games, we had our nightly worship service. This night, the worship was especially powerful. Everybody was especially energetic, doing all of the hand motions, praising God and giggling the whole way through. The girls sang so loud that our ears were throbbing! We all ended up in tears as the Holy Spirit moved through the room. It was the most intense worship experience of my life! At one point, I held Gang and Mii's hands while Earn hugged me, all of us worshiping and praising God. I leaned forward and kissed Earn's head, soaking her hair with tears. Suddenly an intense peace filled my heart. There was so much love in that room. I had to stop singing for a moment, just to breathe and soak it all in. There was no way to soak up all of the love without giving some back in return. I reached down and kissed Earn's cheeks while holding the hands beside me just a little tighter. I have absolutely no words to describe how beautiful the worship was that night. There was just so much love!
On Thursday, we started the day off by teaching english to the staff. After having some time to journal and eat lunch, Anna and I worked together to finish all of our painting jobs around the house. After two weeks of painting the guesthouse walls (and floor cement,) we finally finished! That afternoon after the girls got back from school, we taught them how to play Capture the Flag and had fun painting a few more sets of toenails. We ended the day with worship and then team bible study.
On Friday morning I got up early to walk the girls to school. This morning, I decided to let ten year old May use my camera on the way to school. She had a lot of fun taking random pictures... especially silly pictures of herself, like always. I walked to school holding Bebe's hand. She kept laughing and asking me questions like, "Hannah eat Banana?" I'd smile and say yes before she proceeded by asking, "Hannah eat Thailand?" I'd laugh and tickle her. "No, Bebe! I don't eat Thailand!" Then we both would giggle as she continued asking me silly questions all the way to school.
After walking the girls to school, Anna and I taught english to the staff. I focused on teaching them different parts of the body and different types of illnesses. After english, Joyce taught the staff how to sew again. While Joyce was teaching sewing, Anna and I started making our cards for the girls. At the end of our trip, we want to give each girl a card from each of us. We had fun starting that project yesterday and each of us finished making ten cards. After making cards and eating lunch, Anna and I washed the windows and started cleaning the grout on the front porch. Before cleaning it, the grout was a deep shade of red from all of the clay that gets tracked in from outside. It has been fun doing a job that gives instant gratification! Once the girls got home from school, we played outside with them on the swing set. After about an hour of playing outside, we headed back inside for worship.
The worship that night was great, but not nearly as powerful as the activity that proceeded it. After the worship service, the girls sat down and Pastor Dave stood up to speak. He decided to speak on John 13 from the passage where Jesus washes the disciples feet. He explained to the girls that we were about to wash their feet, just like Jesus washed the disciple's feet. After reading and discussing the passage, the girls divided into four rows, one row for each team member. The people in my row were staff member Peace, staff member Hy, then May, Natnaree, Za-za, Earn, Lee, Mimi, Samo and Natigan. The first feet I washed were Peace's feet. Peace is the leader of most activities here at the orphanage, so for her, this was an especially touching act of love and service. While washing her feet, all I could think about was just how much I had learned from Peace on this trip. The way she loves on, leads, and disciples the girls here at the orphanage is extremely inspiring. On top of her love for the kids, Peace lead me and the girls into a few of the most intimate and inspiring worship services I'd ever experienced this month. I dried her feet and hugged her before she returned back to her seat.
The next feet I washed were staff member Hy's. She was the first staff member I connected with here, being twenty years old and the closest to my age. I taught english to her everyday and got to visit her village just a few days prior. Even though I'd only known her for three weeks, we already had inside jokes and a tight friendship between us. I choked up, realizing just how much I was going to miss her.
After Peace and Hy, I began washing the girls feet. The first feet I washed were little Natigan's, followed by Lee, then Mimi, then Earn. Earn was one of the newer girls here at the orphanage, being adopted only two months ago. I looked into her innocent, smiling face and whispered, "I love you." She bowed her head, trying to hide the tears.
The next feet I washed were Za-za's. She was the first girl I connected with here at the orphanage. She'd follow me wherever I went, asking me questions and begging to use my camera at any given opportunity. We learned to use hand gestures and smiles to communicate instead of words. After Za-za, I washed Samo's feet. She is one of the most knowledgeable girls here at the orphanage. She can whiz through the alphabet faster than I can! After Samo, I washed eleven year old Natnaree's feet.
Natnaree is like a little Asian version of me. She is one of the six older girls and they all look to her for advice, though she isn't the oldest. She is very good with the children and very smart as well. When trying to speak to the girls, I've learned to get Natnaree to translate for me. She is also quite the little worship leader with a powerful little voice and very skilled on the guitar. Plus, her smile is the sweetest thing ever! Anyway, I put her feet in the bucket after she sat down and began washing. It was all I could do not to break down in tears, realizing how much I loved this little girl and how little time I had left with her. After drying her feet, I hugged her and told her that I loved her before she sat down.
The last feet I washed where May's. For the last week and a half, May and I have become especially close. She reminds me a lot of my eleven year old brother, Joshua. She's has an adorable sense of humor and the gives the sweetest hugs. During worship, I've learned to watch her to learn the hand motions. Whenever we sing a new song, she's already turned to me, giggling, with the hand motions ready. As I washed her feet, I looked up at her and she smiled bashfully, hiding back tears. It took everything in me not to cry. After drying her feet, we hugged and cried together before Pastor Dave gathered everyone together to pray and close the service. After prayer, we each gave thirty more sweaty, teary eyed kisses and said goodnight.. Peace approached me afterwards and thanked me. I immediately started crying and thanked her for being such a great role model for me on this trip. We both hugged and cried together before saying goodnight. After saying goodnight to the girls, we had team bible study and reflected on the service together. before finally heading off to bed.
The last month has been a time of tremendous spiritual growth for me. With only five days remaining, I find myself getting choked up every time I kiss a cheek and every time I hug one of them in my arms. Please pray for me, that I will be able to enjoy the remaining five days here without too many tears! I am looking forward to seeing my friends and family again, but not looking forward to leaving all of the relationships I've made here in Thailand. Please pray for safe travels, in case I don't get to update you guys again before I leave. I am hoping to send out one more update before leaving, but I am not sure if I will get to use the computer again before then! I have an eight hour layover in South Korea, so please pray that I stay safe and don't go crazy waiting in that airport! Also, thank you for all of the prayers you all have sent my way from the last updates. After getting medicine (a five day dosage) for my eye, it was completely healed within three days! Thank you guys so much!
I look forward to keeping you guys updated as the trip continues.
In His Service,
Hannah Boyd
Philippians 1:21
Saturday, July 27, 2013
Friday, July 19, 2013
The Halfway Point
This last week and a half has been filled with lots of love, hugs and laughter. In the midst of all the fun and games, The Lord has also been teaching me some pretty important life lessons. Everyday I step back and try to take in everything that's happening around me... the sights, the smells and the sounds. Today I realized that it's already July eighteenth... over halfway into the month. I had to stop myself from thinking about it. At this point, I've memorized all the names and personalities behind each face here at the orphanage. For example, Natnaree is the brainiest of the bunch and Mae will only make silly faces for the camera. Creme and Tawan have to keep the younger girls (especially the little rascals, Chai and Pawn) in line. Then there's Bebe, the prayer warrior and Fii, the little girl with a big heart for worship. There's thirty girls here and it would take me all night to mention every one of them. However, I will miss each one so, so much.
The last few days have been crazy! On Thursday, the girls went to school. While the girls where gone, our team drove an hour and half out to Chiang Rai to get groceries and essential store bought items that we would need for our time here in Thailand. We got home in the evening, just in time to have dinner and a prayer session. After prayer, we had a movie night with popcorn. This was a very special treat for the girls! We had fun, watching Strawberry Shortcake in Thai, with helpful subtitles... also in Thai. ;)
On Friday, the girls stayed home from school! I taught English for the first time that morning and taught it again in the afternoon. The girls don't know much English, so teaching them was actually surprisingly easy! My class is very obedient and enthusiastic. I had to figure out how to communicate to them without a translator and at first I was unsure of myself. After class, The Lord reminded me that we all speak one universal language... the language of love. Teaching them later that day was much easier when I communicated using more actions, hand gestures and hugs instead of words. I figured out that, yes, actions really do speak louder than words.
Later on, we made cupcakes with the older girls and the doctor came to give everybody their yearly check-up. Everybody was happy and healthy! Well... except for five year old Jin-tah-nah. She's a skinny little thing, but out of all the girls, she's got the biggest dimples and sweetest smile by far. Apparently the little rash she had been hiding under her shirt wasn't so little after all... it was shingles. Keep in mind, Jin-tah-nah is only five years old. The fact that she has shingles could be a sign that there is a bigger underlying issue. Please keep her in your prayers! That evening, we had a worship session and prayed for the three girls who had birthdays recently. We celebrated with chips and soda! After the celebration, our team had a bible study and then headed off to bed.
On Saturday, we taught English in the morning and played games with the girls in the afternoon. That evening after dinner, I gave the girls their pillowcase dresses that the ladies at my church made for them. The girls LOVED them! They each had so much fun spinning around in their dresses and posing for the camera! After about an hour of wearing them, they changed back into their normal clothes so that the dresses would be clean so that they could wear them to church the next day. We ended the day singing songs around the campfire. There was no fire pit, just a pile of logs in the middle of the dirt. The girls had a great time performing some of their tribal dances for our team and singing some songs in each of their tribal languages. It was such a fun experience for us all. After putting out the fire, we said goodnight to the girls and ended the night with a team bible study.
On Sunday, the girls were up at six in the morning, giggling on our front porch in their pillowcase dresses. That morning for church, we Skyped in with a church in Ohio who support two of the girls here in the orphanage. We had a great time of worship and prayer together, then had some downtime until after lunch. At about one-thirty, we took the girls swimming at a swimming pool! They only go swimming about once or twice a year, so they had been looking forward to this swimming trip all week! I had a great time teaching them how to play Marco Polo. Of course, it was pretty hard for them to say Marco Polo, so they ended up saying Mango Polo instead. It was so cute! That evening after swimming, two of the girls (Mii and Earn) taught me how to play one of their tribal games. It was a lot like Jacks, but with rocks. You throw a rock into the air, try to pick up as many rocks as you can, then catch the rock you threw before it hits the ground. It's amazing how long these girls stay entertained by just playing with rocks. That night we had worship time, bible study, then went to bed.
On Monday, the girls went to school. I taught English to Hy and Peace, two of the staff members. Mrs Joyce taught sewing to the staff after english. Later in the day, Anna and I had fun painting the guesthouse until dinner time. After dinner, we cleaned up and went to the nightly worship service. After worship, I gave the girls a card and a gift from some friends of mine in Colorado. They loved the cards and thought the gifts (heart-shaped sun catchers) were beautiful. We then had team bible study and went to bed.
On Tuesday, our team taught english and sewing to the staff again! After lunch, Anna and I continued painting the house. Once the girls came home from school we put away our painting supplies, played with the kids, then had dinner. After dinner, we went to the nightly worship service. The girls worked on learning a new song, then we had team bible study and went to bed.
On Wednesday, Anna and I got up at six-thirty to walk the girls to school. It was so much fun! A few of the girls have completely different personalities in the morning, so that was fun to see. We then had breakfast and taught english to the staff. After english, Mrs Joyce taught sewing. After sewing, Anna and I finished painting the house, then played games with the girls once they got home from school. I gave them a small gift (bouncy-balls) that I brought in my suitcase. They loved them! We then had worship time that evening and ended the day with team bible study.
On Thursday, I woke up early to walk the girls to school. It ended up raining, so Peace (one of the staff members) ended up driving the girls to school instead. Before they left, I had a wonderful time taking silly pictures with the girls and joining them for their morning prayer time and worship service. After the girls left, our team had breakfast and then we taught english to the staff. The two staff members that I teach (Peace and Hy) are very musical as well! I ended up teaching them the song Oh Praise Him by David Crowder on the guitar and Peace returned the favor by teaching me a worship song (Yu Agasah Yaysoo) in her tribal language, Karen. I can't wait to play it for everyone when I get back home! It is a beautiful song! After lunch, Anna and I painted the front porch of the guesthouse until dinner. After dinner, we ended the day with the nightly worship service. During prayer time, the girls laid hands on our team and prayed for us. At one point, one of the little girls, Bebe, took both of my hands and prayed for me specifically. Bebe prays with passion. Of course, I had to stop myself from crying! We then ended the night with team bible study.
As for prayer requests, please continue to pray for my health! The last couple mornings I woke up and felt like my tonsils were infected. Yesterday, my right eye got infected as well and I couldn't see clearly out of it. I started taking eye drops, but it only got worse. Today, Peace took me to the market and got me medicine for my eye. Please pray that the medicine is effective and that the infection goes away as soon as possible. Right now it is swollen and red, but the pain had gone down. I am praising God that I can see progress, but am still praying for complete healing. Also, please keep Dave Atkins in your prayers. A few nights ago he fell out of the top bunk bed in the middle of the night and severely sprained his wrist. He has been keeping it in a sling and it has been getting better, but please pray for complete healing.
Most of all, please pray for the girls here at the orphanage. Five of the thirty girls here have committed their lives to Christ, but the other twenty-five have yet to step forward and make a commitment. On Sunday, we will be presenting the gospel again to them. Please pray that The Lord would prepare their hearts and that several of them would be led to make a commitment.
I look forward to keeping you guys updated as the trip continues! Thank you for your continued prayers!
In His Service,
Hannah Boyd
Philippians 1:21
The last few days have been crazy! On Thursday, the girls went to school. While the girls where gone, our team drove an hour and half out to Chiang Rai to get groceries and essential store bought items that we would need for our time here in Thailand. We got home in the evening, just in time to have dinner and a prayer session. After prayer, we had a movie night with popcorn. This was a very special treat for the girls! We had fun, watching Strawberry Shortcake in Thai, with helpful subtitles... also in Thai. ;)
On Friday, the girls stayed home from school! I taught English for the first time that morning and taught it again in the afternoon. The girls don't know much English, so teaching them was actually surprisingly easy! My class is very obedient and enthusiastic. I had to figure out how to communicate to them without a translator and at first I was unsure of myself. After class, The Lord reminded me that we all speak one universal language... the language of love. Teaching them later that day was much easier when I communicated using more actions, hand gestures and hugs instead of words. I figured out that, yes, actions really do speak louder than words.
Later on, we made cupcakes with the older girls and the doctor came to give everybody their yearly check-up. Everybody was happy and healthy! Well... except for five year old Jin-tah-nah. She's a skinny little thing, but out of all the girls, she's got the biggest dimples and sweetest smile by far. Apparently the little rash she had been hiding under her shirt wasn't so little after all... it was shingles. Keep in mind, Jin-tah-nah is only five years old. The fact that she has shingles could be a sign that there is a bigger underlying issue. Please keep her in your prayers! That evening, we had a worship session and prayed for the three girls who had birthdays recently. We celebrated with chips and soda! After the celebration, our team had a bible study and then headed off to bed.
On Saturday, we taught English in the morning and played games with the girls in the afternoon. That evening after dinner, I gave the girls their pillowcase dresses that the ladies at my church made for them. The girls LOVED them! They each had so much fun spinning around in their dresses and posing for the camera! After about an hour of wearing them, they changed back into their normal clothes so that the dresses would be clean so that they could wear them to church the next day. We ended the day singing songs around the campfire. There was no fire pit, just a pile of logs in the middle of the dirt. The girls had a great time performing some of their tribal dances for our team and singing some songs in each of their tribal languages. It was such a fun experience for us all. After putting out the fire, we said goodnight to the girls and ended the night with a team bible study.
On Sunday, the girls were up at six in the morning, giggling on our front porch in their pillowcase dresses. That morning for church, we Skyped in with a church in Ohio who support two of the girls here in the orphanage. We had a great time of worship and prayer together, then had some downtime until after lunch. At about one-thirty, we took the girls swimming at a swimming pool! They only go swimming about once or twice a year, so they had been looking forward to this swimming trip all week! I had a great time teaching them how to play Marco Polo. Of course, it was pretty hard for them to say Marco Polo, so they ended up saying Mango Polo instead. It was so cute! That evening after swimming, two of the girls (Mii and Earn) taught me how to play one of their tribal games. It was a lot like Jacks, but with rocks. You throw a rock into the air, try to pick up as many rocks as you can, then catch the rock you threw before it hits the ground. It's amazing how long these girls stay entertained by just playing with rocks. That night we had worship time, bible study, then went to bed.
On Monday, the girls went to school. I taught English to Hy and Peace, two of the staff members. Mrs Joyce taught sewing to the staff after english. Later in the day, Anna and I had fun painting the guesthouse until dinner time. After dinner, we cleaned up and went to the nightly worship service. After worship, I gave the girls a card and a gift from some friends of mine in Colorado. They loved the cards and thought the gifts (heart-shaped sun catchers) were beautiful. We then had team bible study and went to bed.
On Tuesday, our team taught english and sewing to the staff again! After lunch, Anna and I continued painting the house. Once the girls came home from school we put away our painting supplies, played with the kids, then had dinner. After dinner, we went to the nightly worship service. The girls worked on learning a new song, then we had team bible study and went to bed.
On Wednesday, Anna and I got up at six-thirty to walk the girls to school. It was so much fun! A few of the girls have completely different personalities in the morning, so that was fun to see. We then had breakfast and taught english to the staff. After english, Mrs Joyce taught sewing. After sewing, Anna and I finished painting the house, then played games with the girls once they got home from school. I gave them a small gift (bouncy-balls) that I brought in my suitcase. They loved them! We then had worship time that evening and ended the day with team bible study.
On Thursday, I woke up early to walk the girls to school. It ended up raining, so Peace (one of the staff members) ended up driving the girls to school instead. Before they left, I had a wonderful time taking silly pictures with the girls and joining them for their morning prayer time and worship service. After the girls left, our team had breakfast and then we taught english to the staff. The two staff members that I teach (Peace and Hy) are very musical as well! I ended up teaching them the song Oh Praise Him by David Crowder on the guitar and Peace returned the favor by teaching me a worship song (Yu Agasah Yaysoo) in her tribal language, Karen. I can't wait to play it for everyone when I get back home! It is a beautiful song! After lunch, Anna and I painted the front porch of the guesthouse until dinner. After dinner, we ended the day with the nightly worship service. During prayer time, the girls laid hands on our team and prayed for us. At one point, one of the little girls, Bebe, took both of my hands and prayed for me specifically. Bebe prays with passion. Of course, I had to stop myself from crying! We then ended the night with team bible study.
As for prayer requests, please continue to pray for my health! The last couple mornings I woke up and felt like my tonsils were infected. Yesterday, my right eye got infected as well and I couldn't see clearly out of it. I started taking eye drops, but it only got worse. Today, Peace took me to the market and got me medicine for my eye. Please pray that the medicine is effective and that the infection goes away as soon as possible. Right now it is swollen and red, but the pain had gone down. I am praising God that I can see progress, but am still praying for complete healing. Also, please keep Dave Atkins in your prayers. A few nights ago he fell out of the top bunk bed in the middle of the night and severely sprained his wrist. He has been keeping it in a sling and it has been getting better, but please pray for complete healing.
Most of all, please pray for the girls here at the orphanage. Five of the thirty girls here have committed their lives to Christ, but the other twenty-five have yet to step forward and make a commitment. On Sunday, we will be presenting the gospel again to them. Please pray that The Lord would prepare their hearts and that several of them would be led to make a commitment.
I look forward to keeping you guys updated as the trip continues! Thank you for your continued prayers!
In His Service,
Hannah Boyd
Philippians 1:21
Thursday, July 11, 2013
Hello From Thailand!
Our week in Cambodia went by faster than I ever thought possible! On Saturday, Anna Minnear and I led worship at the student center again and Dave Atkins preached. Anna and I had some fun window shopping at the market that afternoon before meeting with a sponsor of Sending Hope International that evening. We both enjoyed riding a tuk-tuk (basically a motorcycle with a wagon attached to it) for the very first time on Saturday as well!
On Sunday, we went to church! The owner of the guesthouse that we were staying in is also a church-planter. We went to his church on Sunday and had an amazing time! It gave me chills, listening to everyone singing one song, but in different languages. Anna and I had the opportunity to lead two worship songs for the church, as well. It was a wonderful experience! We had so much fun.
After church, we went to visit one of the orphanages that the Atkins started eleven years ago. A lot of the children at this orphanage were older, because the orphanage had been founded so many years ago. This year, five of them will be going to college! It was so inspiring, meeting college aged orphans who had benefited so greatly from Dave and Joyce's ministry. The bond between the kids in that orphanage was very strong and the love between them was immense. Anna and I had a great time singing songs, riding bicycles, telling stories and braiding hair with the girls. After spending the afternoon at the orphanage, we took a tuk-tuk back to the guesthouse, ate dinner, then had a nice, long night of sleep.
On Monday, our team had the privilege of helping out at a local school for students aged 2-15. We sang songs for the kids, played games and taught a bit of english. Everyone had a lot of fun especially playing duck-duck-goose and doing the hand gestures to the song we sang called "Every Move I Make." After volunteering at the school, we went to an indoor market and then to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum. Tuol Sleng was the place where the Cambodians were tortured before being marched off to the Killing Fields. The remainder of our day was very solemn, as we reflected on the dark history of Cambodia.
On Tuesday, we left Cambodia. After two one-hour plane rides, we arrived in Chiang Mai, Thailand, then drove an hour and a half to get to Sending Hope International's Thailand orphanage. Upon arriving, we were greeted by thirty beaming, innocent little faces. My arms were sore and my lips were salty after giving over thirty hugs and kissing thirty sweaty little foreheads. They each pressed beautiful homemade, hand-drawn cards into my hands. I read each one aloud, choking back tears. They wrote simple things, such as "I pray for you everyday," and, "I love you so much," but they each beamed with pride, as if they were presenting a novel to me. The connection I felt with the girls was immediate.
That night, we gathered together for the girl's nightly worship service. I was truthfully not prepared for what I was about to experience. When these girls praised God, there voices were so loud that it was overwhelming. They raised their arms in worship, danced around the room, hugged each other, prayed, laughed, cried and praised God during that worship service in a way that I had never seen before. It was just so pure and innocent. Some of them yelled and were completely off pitch, but they were the most beautiful worshipers I'd ever seen or listened to. I couldn't help but sob my eyes out the whole service! After the worship, the girls had the opportunity to stand up and share a bible passage or a memory verse. A few of them shared and then it was time for bed. We all gave many more hugs and many more salty kisses, then said goodnight.
Today (Wednesday,) we relaxed, settled into our campus guesthouse, went to the market to buy groceries and played outdoor games with the girls after they got home from school. I also gave them some miniature stuffed animals that a family from my church donated to the orphanage. They LOVED them! We ended the evening with another nightly worship service. This time, Anna and I finished the service with a couple songs (Father Abraham and Hallelujah, Praise He The Lord.) The girls had a great time singing the songs with us and we had a fantastic time praising God with them.
I look forward to keeping you all updated as the trip continues! We have three weeks here in Thailand. Please continue praying for my health and please pray that I can share the love of Christ with these girls as I interact with them on a daily basis. We have many things planned for the following weeks, such as teaching english to the staff and girls and ministering to the Hill Tribes. Please continue to keep me in your prayers!
In His Service,
Hannah Boyd
Philippians 1:21
On Sunday, we went to church! The owner of the guesthouse that we were staying in is also a church-planter. We went to his church on Sunday and had an amazing time! It gave me chills, listening to everyone singing one song, but in different languages. Anna and I had the opportunity to lead two worship songs for the church, as well. It was a wonderful experience! We had so much fun.
After church, we went to visit one of the orphanages that the Atkins started eleven years ago. A lot of the children at this orphanage were older, because the orphanage had been founded so many years ago. This year, five of them will be going to college! It was so inspiring, meeting college aged orphans who had benefited so greatly from Dave and Joyce's ministry. The bond between the kids in that orphanage was very strong and the love between them was immense. Anna and I had a great time singing songs, riding bicycles, telling stories and braiding hair with the girls. After spending the afternoon at the orphanage, we took a tuk-tuk back to the guesthouse, ate dinner, then had a nice, long night of sleep.
On Monday, our team had the privilege of helping out at a local school for students aged 2-15. We sang songs for the kids, played games and taught a bit of english. Everyone had a lot of fun especially playing duck-duck-goose and doing the hand gestures to the song we sang called "Every Move I Make." After volunteering at the school, we went to an indoor market and then to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum. Tuol Sleng was the place where the Cambodians were tortured before being marched off to the Killing Fields. The remainder of our day was very solemn, as we reflected on the dark history of Cambodia.
On Tuesday, we left Cambodia. After two one-hour plane rides, we arrived in Chiang Mai, Thailand, then drove an hour and a half to get to Sending Hope International's Thailand orphanage. Upon arriving, we were greeted by thirty beaming, innocent little faces. My arms were sore and my lips were salty after giving over thirty hugs and kissing thirty sweaty little foreheads. They each pressed beautiful homemade, hand-drawn cards into my hands. I read each one aloud, choking back tears. They wrote simple things, such as "I pray for you everyday," and, "I love you so much," but they each beamed with pride, as if they were presenting a novel to me. The connection I felt with the girls was immediate.
That night, we gathered together for the girl's nightly worship service. I was truthfully not prepared for what I was about to experience. When these girls praised God, there voices were so loud that it was overwhelming. They raised their arms in worship, danced around the room, hugged each other, prayed, laughed, cried and praised God during that worship service in a way that I had never seen before. It was just so pure and innocent. Some of them yelled and were completely off pitch, but they were the most beautiful worshipers I'd ever seen or listened to. I couldn't help but sob my eyes out the whole service! After the worship, the girls had the opportunity to stand up and share a bible passage or a memory verse. A few of them shared and then it was time for bed. We all gave many more hugs and many more salty kisses, then said goodnight.
Today (Wednesday,) we relaxed, settled into our campus guesthouse, went to the market to buy groceries and played outdoor games with the girls after they got home from school. I also gave them some miniature stuffed animals that a family from my church donated to the orphanage. They LOVED them! We ended the evening with another nightly worship service. This time, Anna and I finished the service with a couple songs (Father Abraham and Hallelujah, Praise He The Lord.) The girls had a great time singing the songs with us and we had a fantastic time praising God with them.
I look forward to keeping you all updated as the trip continues! We have three weeks here in Thailand. Please continue praying for my health and please pray that I can share the love of Christ with these girls as I interact with them on a daily basis. We have many things planned for the following weeks, such as teaching english to the staff and girls and ministering to the Hill Tribes. Please continue to keep me in your prayers!
In His Service,
Hannah Boyd
Philippians 1:21
Friday, July 5, 2013
Hello From Cambodia!
Hey, Everyone!
These last few days have been AMAZING! We arrived In Phnom Penh, Cambodia on Wednesday and settled in at the Cambodia Samaritan Home guesthouse. After a good night of sleep, we traveled to Battambang to scope out (for the first time!) the 30 acres of land that has been donated to Sending Hope International. We spent the night in Battambang, then traveled back to Phnom Penh the next day (yesterday.) We ended the day with an outreach event, where Dave Atkins presented the gospel and Anna Minnear and I led worship!
That was just a quick breakdown of everything that happened! I can't wait to share all the details with everyone once I get home! One of my favorite things we've done has actually just been running around in the rain! The rain and the air are both SO warm and the rain drops are so big! Yesterday Anna and I had the greatest time just running up and down the streets getting soaked! We've also enjoyed trying all the new foods... even though half the time we have no idea what we're eating. ;) I have wifi in the guesthouse until we leave for Thailand on Tuesday. Please continue praying for my health, as I am still adjusting to everything here in Cambodia!
In His Service,
Hannah Megan Boyd
-Philippians 1:21
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