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

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

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

Pillowcase Dresses (Part 2!)

   Well, only four days, two hours, fifty-two minutes and forty-five seconds until my plane leaves for Asia! Not like I'm keeping track or anything. ;) I have a countdown application on my phone that I keep checking constantly. I am so excited! I can't wait to finally meet those orphan girls and give them all a great big hug.

I took this picture one week from my departure date. :)

    

      Last Saturday me and some of the ladies from my church got together and finished the pillowcase dresses that we were making for the girls in the orphanage! In two afternoons, we finished thirty dresses! Here are a few pictures of the dresses. 

The final thirty dresses!

They are all so different and unique! 

They're packed and ready to go!
I won't be bringing them in the tubs, though. :)

     All of us ladies had so much fun making these dresses together. I can't wait to give them to the girls and share the pictures with you guys! I want to be updating my blog while I'm there, but I'm not sure if I'll be able to upload pictures from my camera since I'm not bringing my own computer. If I can't upload pictures while I'm there, I'll make sure to upload them once I get back!

     I'm almost done packing for the trip and I'm anticipating it more and more each day. On Sunday, my church will be commissioning me and we will also be finishing up the book of Philippians. It should be a fun day with friends and family! Of course, it will be my last Sunday with my church family before leaving for Asia, so it will be sad to say goodbye! I keep reminding my little brothers that it will only be for a month, but to them a month seems like an eternity. :) I know that it will be a life-changing experience and I'm really looking forward to making memories that will last a lifetime!   

My Prayer Requests:

Pray that I can find my way through the airports, that I'll be able to sleep on the airplane and that I'll be able to adjust to Cambodian time quickly! Please also pray that I'll adjust well to the heat. I know that I don't do well with hot weather, so I've been praying that I won't get heatstroke and that the heat and humidity won't shock my system. 

Do you have any prayer requests? If so, comment the request below and I'll be sure to keep you in my prayers!

James 1:27 (KJV)

"Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction and to keep himself unspotted from the world."

In His Service,

-Hannah Boyd

Philippians 1:21

Debt-Free

     Going into college, my main priority is to graduate debt-free. For me, that means that if I don't have the money to pay for classes then I won't sign up for them. I won't buy anything that I can't afford and I won't register for classes that I don't have the money for. That seems like a pretty basic concept to me, but as I've been sharing my debt-free goal with more and more people I have been surprised to have received a couple negative responses! The negativity isn't because people oppose my goal, but it is because they think that it's impossible (especially if I won't take loans.) Despite the discouraging comments, remaining debt-free continues to be a conviction of mine.

"For with God nothing shall be impossible."

Luke 1:37

     In the height of my discouragement, I completely forgot that it wasn't just my goal to graduate debt-free... it was God's goal for me as well. I knew that He wanted me to graduate without debt, but at that point, I had no idea how he would do it. Remaining debt-free seemed impossible, but I had faith that if His will for me was to have no debt, he would provide the means for me to do so.
     The next day I had the opportunity to meet with a financial aid counselor from the college to discuss the costs for the upcoming year. I was prepared for discouraging news, but our meeting was exactly the opposite of that! The counselor told me that the aid I was going to receive would cover my tuition (all of my classes!) And since I would still be living at home, I'd be getting free room and board as well! I immediately smiled as I realized what had just happened. The Lord had provided, once again! Isn't God great?! I am thrilled to be entering into my first year of college knowing that the Lord has provided and I'll be completing it debt-free!

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 

in all your ways submit to Him, and he will make your paths straight." 

Proverbs 3:5-6

I'm a high-school graduate! What?!

     Well, I am officially a high-school graduate and I am so proud to say that I was home-schooled through all twelve of those years! I doubled up my schoolwork during my last year of high-school and ended up graduating in three years instead of four! So, technically it's been eleven years, not twelve. :) But, anyway, now I'm a year ahead and just super excited to see what God has in store for this next season of my life! 

My favorite cap and gown picture!

Me with my brothers!
Left to right: James, Joshua, Me, Grant and Ethan.

Me with my family and my grandparents.
Top row: Joshua, G'ma Sharon, G'pa Bill and Grant.
Bottom row: James, Mom, Me, Dad and Ethan.

My daddy bought my mom and I roses!
I am so privileged to say that I was educated and discipled by such an admirable woman. There were afternoons when we wanted to give up (I'm thinking of tears over math pages,) but there were so many more beautiful moments that made everything worthwhile. I couldn't feel more proud of my mom and dad for sacrificing such a big portion of their lives to home-school my brothers and I. My mom's a Proverbs 31 woman! I wanna' be like her when I grow up!

 

     The graduation ceremony was beautiful and the whole day ended up being really special and memorable. We went over to my friend's house after the ceremony and had a fun evening with close family friends!

     My parents have also offered to take me and a friend out to Palm Springs this weekend as a graduation gift. I was SO blessed and shocked when my dad told me! So, this weekend my dad has the boys at home while the girls are out vacationing in Palm Springs. I almost want to stay home just to see what happens when the girls of the house are gone. 

     Watch... we'll come back and they'll all have Mohawks. ;)

In His Service,

~Hannah Boyd

Philippians 1:21

Pillowcase Dresses (Part 1!)

     I am SO blessed to have so many people that are getting involved and helping me as I prepare for my trip! I am leaving exactly a month from today (today being June second!) Yesterday some friends of mine opened their home and hosted a fun girly sewing day! We made dresses out of pillowcases for the girls I will be ministering to at the orphanage in Thailand. As the girls grow, the dresses will grow with them and turn into shirts. We had so much fun doing this together that I'm sure we'll be making more for future trips!

Cara (top right) and Amanda (bottom right) making their pillowcase dresses for the orphan girls.

Hard at work! 

Making the dresses.

Left to right: Audrey, Mrs. Hollis & Mrs. Heidi. with their first finished dresses!

Left to right: Amanda, Cara & me with our first dresses!

Left to right: Me, Amanda & Cara with our second finished dresses!

     The dresses turned out beautifully! Each one is so different and unique, just like the sweet girls who will be wearing them. We ended up finishing thirteen in one afternoon, with each dress taking about thirty minutes to make. Altogether we need to make thirty, so we will be getting together some time soon to get the next half done. Each dress will be sent off with a picture and letter from the person that made it, to make the experience more personalized and special for the orphans! I just can't wait to watch the girls choose and enjoy their pretty dresses. It should be a beautiful experience!

I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

John 14:18