Delights

Me and Yupa, hand in hand.

Delight yourself in the Lord 

and He will give you the desires of your heart.

Psalm 37:4

Some things you know will be delightful when you sign up for them.

It's only hours now until I board a plane and travel again between the two homes of my life.

I can say it in Thai now, and do often in these last days.

One stays, one goes home with me.

"I have a big problem.
Chan mee banha yai.
When I am here I miss my Beloveds in Canada.
Ma tee nee, kiteung tookon Canada.
When I am in Canada, I miss my Beloveds here.
Bai Canada, kiteung tookon tee nee.
It hurts a lot.
Jep jai mahk!"

Yes.  It does.  Sometimes I wonder if I've done a wretched reckless thing with my heart.  Other times I know I have.   Sitting here under the shade of Yupa's porch, I give myself a little chance to weep.

But never in a lifetime of lifetimes would I give away the delights I have so undeservedly received because of what the Lord has done in making this love happen.

Many who've been here from Highview would agree.  Something about this place grabs at our deepest longings to connect in ways that really mean something.  Something about these kids captures the places in our souls that would otherwise forget the joy of simplicity and life and family.

English learning.  They are so eager!

Something about these heroes of sacrificial love for the long haul, who open their arms and their home and their hearts, making themselves so vulnerable, at great personal cost, breathe new life into our hopes..

Nine years of these delights.  Who am I that I should be granted such lavish wealth?

Even in the brutal complexity that is life everywhere but somehow manifests itself more harshly here; even in the hardships and stresses and even agonies of lost loved ones; even in that, I wouldn't trade it for anything.  Even when it's almost impossible to live between the two.

And I did say it was delightful, right?

Porn and Kratae, two of the older girls now.

Capturing the delight is difficult to do, even if I were an eloquent writer or an accomplished photographer.  We have had such amazing photos taken by other team members in the past, that I hesitate to post my modest attempts at catching those moments of life here.  But since I'm on my own for this trip, I'll try anyways.  And maybe, just in the 10,000 words each is worth, some of the delight might peek through.

Eg by the nightly campfire.

Porn and Ahjahn Ruth

Da and Bell, best friends, sporting Christmas paper hats.

Deborah, also with a paper hat.

Ahjahn Jaroen and Pi Daow.  Jaroen tells me this is his first pizza in 15 years.

Rompo, one of the big boys now, on the guitar for Sunday worship.

Ahajahn Suradet leads worship for the first time in five months.

A little grainy, but this picture is sooooooo Praweet!

Eak catches a mouse and...well, perhaps I won't mention what happens next.

Jaroen's wife Dtu, a sweet soul with an lovely, generous laugh.

Oh there are many more I could include.  But the sad task of packing awaits me, as does a mandatory, pre-flight-afternoon nap.   So I leave it here.  These simple delights that nourish the deeper places of me.  And my only hope is that in all this I receive, I may been able to leave something good behind. Oh I hope so. 

Safe home now, oh my soul.  That other wonderful home you have on the other side of the planet.  How rich you are.