A Tribute To Two Fine Women

Four days back.

I find these first days are an experience of limbo.  My body comes back first, followed by my mind.  But my soul hangs somewhere between for a while longer, taking its time to absorb the distance and all that's transpired while I've been away.

In these first days of processing this particular trip, I am inclined to be sure to say thank you to my teammates, Andrea and Esther.  I had no doubt from the outset that it would be a stellar experience to visit Hot Springs with these two fine women, given their past ventures to Thailand and the eager, curious, honest way of their souls, each of them.

In particular I appreciate:

• A sense of mutual respect despite the 40 year age gap.
• Their willingness to fully immerse themselves in the life and culture of our Thai family.
• Their delight and joy in the children.
• How they each took initiative in various ways, contributing to music and games and language study.
• Our honest conversations around the dinner table, touching on just about everything!
• Their deeper understanding of this whole big deal being a relationship and not a project.
• Their clever but always respectful senses of humour.
• Their ability to ride with the differences in climate and culture that can sometimes wear on us 'farangs'.
•  Their commitment to Jesus and figuring out how to follow Him authentically in our ever-changing world.
• The excellent role models they are to our Thai kids at Hot Springs, and our Highview kids back home.

For Esther in particular, this picture captures her sense of wonder and worship in just about everything she does.  If you get the chance, ask her about our time on the bouncy castle with the kids.  It was an experience for sure.  But the thing is, Esther throws herself into everything like this.  And for three trips now, this has made a huge impression and contribution to the work at Hot Springs.
 

This wide delight on Andrea's face captures her total willingess to allow these kids into her heart.  This is particularly impressive since her previous trip to Thailand (not to Hot Springs) with YWAM exposed her to what it means to love them when you know you have to painfully leave part of your heart with them when it's time to go home.

These first days back, within all of what I am discovering that I have brought home with me this time, without question, I am a richer person for having spent time with Andrea and Esther.  They will not soon be forgotten at Hot Springs, for sure. 

Andrea, Esther, thank you.   Praying for us all as we 'unpack'.