Continuing the legacy of date night with Dad

Hi Daddy!

I was reminded of you because of what we're doing tonight. We're taking each of the kids in the safe house out individually, one a night, for date night! They need some special one on one time to know they are loved and special. These kids have come from abusive families and have lived on the street, begged for money, picked through garbage of people's meals to find food. And now they are in a loving home, being well taken care of, fed and clothed and every need provided. They get to go to school and go on fun outings like going to playland and to a waterfall (where we took them last week). They must think they've gone from paupers to princes and princesses. I just read a scripture last night that reminded me of this:

He stoops to look, and he lifts the poor from the dirt and the needy from the garbage dump. He sets them among princes. He gives the barren woman a home so that she becomes a happy mother.
Psalm 113: 6-9

We're taking them to this amazing place that we call the jungle restaurant that has huge jungle trees and vines and curvy paths past a lake. It's a bit like going to disneyland. The kids are each going to receive a gift that encourages them in their interests (art, photography, etc.) that we've noticed in them.

Thanks for all the dates you've taken me on Dad, and for telling me I'm special and encouraging me in my giftings (so I could come here and do this for someone else).
I love you!
Rachel

Living the life I've dreamed of

It's been amazing getting to know the children in the safe house for street kids. Spending time with them, hugging them, playing together, feeding, changing and bathing the little ones, praying and singing "Yes jesus loves me" with them (it's so cute, the 2 year olds do the sign language and shake their little fists up and down and sing along), but it's also VERY tiring. I'm freakin' exhausted! And it's been less than a week (with 6 kids) but 12 hours a day + is nuts. I don't know how mom's do it EVERY day ALL the time.

We're trying to start homes that have a mom and a dad, and no more than 7 kids per house, so they feel like real families not institutions, and so the kids can get the love, care and attention they need. It's such an incredible difference between the life they grew up with (begging on the streets, sleeping there at night, getting beaten, living in fear, hungry, dirty, cold, tired, etc.) to where they are now.

They've been living in the safe house for a month now, they have all the food they want, real beds, people who love them (they KNOW this, they surprisedly remark "she loves me!" to other people in thai). They're learning to share, be kind to each other, clean up after themselves, take care of themselves (bathe every day), and even get to have toys, go to school, watch tv, go to the park and tomorrow we're going to a waterfall! They're starved for love and attention and always cuddle up with us, but are more secure than they were last month. They laugh and smile all the time. And the house is full of love. It's so awesome to see the ways they are growing and changing.

But pray that I and the other staff get rest, don't get sick (cause we're starting to), know how to love the children, and that all their needs would be met and they would rest securely in the love we give them and the love of the father.

Things to do before I die #17: Start an Orphange.

I love that I got sent a reminder of this today via email. I made a list sometime during college of 43 things to do before I die, and randomly every 6 months or so, the site will send me a reminder of one of the things. Today it was a reminder to: Start an Orphanage. It's just awesome, because although I'm not starting one, I'm joining a ministry organization that is, and I spent the whole day (my first day here in Mae Sot) with 6 orphaned kids at a safe house, and pretty much my whole next year is going to be like this.

I also made a pact of sorts during college with a friend of mine (Yo Haz!) that when she was finished with med school in 8 years (making the year 2008) that we would start up a street kids home. She was gonna do medical stuff and I was gonna love and care for the kids. Well... it's not exactly happening in India (yet! Who knows...!) but it's kinda funky that this is where life (or God) has taken me and I end up doing that very thing in SE Asia in 2008.

Living the Dream (as my friend Courtney would say!)
I love that this year is going to be full of adventures and that my awesome organization is so flexible and has given me freedom to pursue the things I love. So when my friend asked me "What is your Dream?" I said... "I think I'm going to be living it this year!" Doing art with kids, Getting to be a Photojournalist of sorts, writing stories, learning a new language, digging into a new culture, living with Karen hilltribe people, helping refugees, street kids and orphans. Wow, God is amazing and has blessed me with such a sweet opportunity. Check out the website Compasio.org to learn more about my org.

What's on YOUR list of things to do before you die? Please post comments in response! :)

Wow, what a full two weeks this has been. It has been one of the best short term trips I've been on. It was very sad to part with all the good friends I made (both Indonesian and American team members).

We spent Sat-Weds at an orphanage in Kalimantan (Borneo) hosting an arts camp again. We had dance, music, art and creative writing classes for the kids. We also had some fun Indonesianteam building camp-type games involving cheering, blindfolds, bananas, leaking water cups and flour. (only ONE kid threw up after choking on a banana so we consider it a success). There was also a game where each team was given 5 minutes to create a costume for a jungle queen or king, using only things you can find out in the jungle. Those kids were SO creative and wrapped banana leaves, vines, flowers, together to create amazing outfits and headdresses! Then we had a fashion show with their green outfits.

Our goal was to let these kids know they were special loved and valuable. One special memory was sitting in a classroom while Olivia (a team member) read "You are Special" by Max Lucado to the kids. I think the kids understood the message of the story, that it doesn't matter what people say about you or what stars or marks they give you based on your looks or performance, all that matters is that the creator made you unique and he loves you the way you are. The kids ended up turning this into a play and performing it on the last day. They also sang, danced, and displayed their artwork. I think it was a week they will never forget, and hopefully the message sank deep into their hearts that they are loved, beautiful and precious to God.

There was also an amazing Indonesian film crew that came along and made a short film while we were there. So the children got to see themselves on the TV which was very exciting, and probably made them proud of their culture and stories portrayed in the film.

I'm about to begin the next phase of my journey and travel up to Chiang Mai and then onto Mae Sot and begin working with the Burmese and Karen people there. I'm excited not really knowing how everything's going to look yet, but knowing God has good things in store. There are more people that are going to be joining the team and coming on staff, so pray that our hearts and visions come together and we'll be a great team! :)

Thanks for all your prayers and emails, they keep me going!
Love,
Rachel

Indonesia

June 21, 2008 

Hey Friends, Just wanted to let you know I've arrived in Indonesia. I'm here with a group of five people and we're going to be doing an arts camp the next two weeks. I'm excited to see how it goes and toget to know the kids at the schools here in Malang, and then out to the jungles of Kalimantan. I'll be helping lead the visual arts program and we'll be doing lots of painting and helping kids dream and tell their life stories. So please pray that goes well and that the children's lives will be spoken into. 

Indonesia