Luke 14: 12-14

Came across this verse earlier this week. For some reason I can't ever remember reading it before, but this time it really stuck out to me.  I feel like a lot of it ties to one of my favorite poems by Terrance Cardinal Cook below. 

"When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid.  But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed.  Although they can not repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."    Luke 14:12-14

The Gift of Life by Terence Cardinal Cook
The "gift of life," God's special gift
is no less beautiful when it is accompanied by
illness or weakness
hunger or poverty
mental or physical handicaps
loneliness or old age. 

Indeed, at these times
human life gains extra splendor 
as it requires our special care
concern and reverence.
It is in an through the weakest of human vessels 
that the Lord continues to reveal the power of His love. 

time flies...

So much has happened since the last post. Two weeks ago we hosted a group of 16 people from an asian american church in Fresno, California. They were super prepared, and great with the kids here at our foundation. One of the dentists on the team volunteered one of her mornings to come and go through all of our dental supplies in the dental clinic (attached to our little home), which was also very helpful. This same group will be sending a medical team in February full of surgeons, dentists, nurses, and doctors to work in Akha villages in Thailand as well as China.

Now we have another group here from Hope Church out of Maryland. They have been sending teams here annually for the last ten years or so, and have been such a blessing to the foundation here. This week they taught English at the surrounding elementary schools and the staff and I went along translating for their classes. Next week will be rice planting, along with other various projects.

I've also been working one day a week at The Sold Project, which is a non-profit just down the road from us. We just finished hosting a group of Jewish volunteers who also taught english, planted some fruit trees at the center, and came just to learn more about the issues of sex trafficking in Thailand. They were a wonderful group of young adults, and we had a great time with them. Growing up in Middlebury, IN my paths never crosses with the Jewish community, and not even in Seattle. I enjoyed time with the Rabbi of the group who was very willing to share about their faith, eating kosher, and much more. They will also be sending another team back two weeks from now. Another good friend Wade Pallister (from YWAM Vancouver) who is interested in starting a soap business flew in today and will be with us for the next week. We have had lots of visitors.

So beside helping to host teams, translating child sponsorship letters, and doing my daily tasks around here I have been cramming in my pathophysiology book with any spare moment.

Enough rambling for now...

Boy or Girl?

Our 16 week ultrasound last night confirmed that there is a healthy little baby boy growing inside me. We are feeling very thankful for a healthy little one. Most all of our Akha friends in Chiang Rai and family at home were guessing it was going to be a little boy and they were all right on. I on the other hand had NO idea, and was feeling more than content either way. I also got my first shot last night of progesterone, which was a bit painful, but more than bearable. 

We will be spending the next two days in Bangkok in search of a place for me to stay near the hospital. We aren't usually big complainers, but last night we asked to be moved to another room in our hotel. The blood stained sheets that only covered half of the mattress, along with the pubic hairs in the tub was just about enough. The "upgrade" room they moved us to came with a smelly stained carpet, a leaking air conditioner with a small puddle under it, and only one pubic hair in the tub this time. At least the bed was clean! The hospital is located in a very interesting area of Bangkok full of culture. Lots of Africans, Indians, and travelers from Dubai. Delicious Indian, Arabic, Pakistani, and Northern African food. Yum. The downside is that it is also in the thick of the center of Bangkok prostitution, which also means 50-60 year old men from about every country imaginable coming to find their pleasure for the evening. Well, off we go!!!!

Thoughtful friends.

We received an e-mail recently from some of our dear friends in the midwest who designed, purchased, and placed this stepping stone at the Lena Meijer Children’s Garden in Grand Rapids, MI in honor of little Olive. 

Thank you Brad and Jill, Tim and Elizabeth, Keith and Karen, George and Melissa, and Joe and J.T. Tears welled up in my eyes when I saw this the first time. We've been missing her a lot lately, and it means so much to know that others haven't forgotten about her even as time continues to pass by. Love you guys.