What a fabulous journey we had! Here are some excerpts from the debriefing questions I was recently asked to do for Remember Nhu:
Questions:
What were your emotions going into this trip? (Boarding the plane, packing and preparing, fundraising, etc.)
Preparing for the trip, I was most nervous about navigating the airports, especially through China. I've traveled internationally before, but this was the first time I was the only adult and responsible for getting us where we needed to be on schedule. I knew there were many people praying for us in this specific way, and yet I was still so surprised and overwhelmed by God's hand being evident in our travels both to and from Thailand. Despite the odds being against us several times with delayed flights, etc, we cleared every customs and security checkpoint with very little scrutiny, were never charged for checking the 6 large suitcases full of donations for the children in Thailand and made every connection.
How did you feel once you arrived?
Rounding the corner out of customs in Chiang Mai, I immediately recognized (our RNhu team coodinator) Laura's smiling face and was so relieved that we made it! At that point, I had no idea what the plan was, but knew we were in good hands and I was up for anything!
What was one of your most joyful memories?
I loved learning new card games and chopstick games with the kids and house staff in the down times before and after dinner! Even though the language barrier meant it took us longer to learn how to play, their determination to teach, patience in our misunderstandings and desire to make sure we were included in the fun was so touching. The kids would beam like proud parents when we finally caught on!
What was a challenge?
The language barrier was definitely my biggest challenge, but we all learned ways around this and the kids are actually quite good at understanding basic English, even if they are a bit timid and unsure of themselves when speaking.
What did God reveal/teach you throughout this process?
God reaffirmed for me in a big way that He is in control. I'm a bit of a control freak at times and love my lists and schedules, however on this trip I had no idea what we would be doing beyond our arrival and departure dates. Normally this would have been a huge stress for me, but I found it to be quite freeing. When you aren't so worried about a schedule, you are more open to the God-moments as they present themselves -- more willing to take time for relational connections and appreciation of the world around you.
Was there a child that captured your heart specifically, any stories?
There is one boy who I really connected with. Every time we visited his home, he was eager to play games, sit with us at dinner and hang out afterward. He loves Superman and would often strike a Superman pose and was delighted when I, a 37 year old mom, would proudly return the favor. On our last day we posed together for a photo, which then turn into a group photo of Superman poses. He gave me a goodbye hug and whispered in my ear, "I love you, Superman." I love you, too little man!
How did you feel while leaving?
I felt a lot of things while leaving. I knew I would miss these people I had met and connected with, but also knew they were in a good place. I would love to return and see them again someday, but that's in God's hands. I am a real believer in what Remember Nhu is doing and am thrilled to be a voice for the organization. Every one of these children is worth our time and resources. Every one of them is beloved to our savior and should therefore be beloved to us.
Now that you're home, has your life changed in any way?
Two days after returning from our trip to Thailand, I spent a week counseling at a high school church camp. Contrast two weeks spent in a place where innocence is being protected and children are able to be exactly that -- children -- with a week spent with teenage girls here in the US who shared stories of sexual, emotional and physical abuse, feeling pressure to look a certain way, act a certain way; I'm heartbroken that children are still being taken advantage of, not just in foreign countries, but right here in our own neighborhoods. I'm now looking for ways to be an advocate for all children, both near and far.
What’s one thing you would like to share with the R-Nhu community?
At one point while in Thailand I was asked, "What were you looking for God to teach you on this trip to Thailand?" For a moment I had no idea how to answer to that. You see, as crazy as it may sound I didn't come to Thailand with any specific expectations. It's not that I wasn't open to God teaching me something, but I think sometimes God tells us to 'go' and desires that we obey without expectations. That's how it was for me. God said, "Go", and I went. I said yes. I'm still unraveling the lessons from my experiences in Thailand, but most importantly, I obeyed and for once it was without a single thought to what was in it for me. That was worth every second, every cent, every ounce that it cost me.
How did you feel while leaving?
I felt a lot of things while leaving. I knew I would miss these people I had met and connected with, but also knew they were in a good place. I would love to return and see them again someday, but that's in God's hands. I am a real believer in what Remember Nhu is doing and am thrilled to be a voice for the organization. Every one of these children is worth our time and resources. Every one of them is beloved to our savior and should therefore be beloved to us.
Now that you're home, has your life changed in any way?
Two days after returning from our trip to Thailand, I spent a week counseling at a high school church camp. Contrast two weeks spent in a place where innocence is being protected and children are able to be exactly that -- children -- with a week spent with teenage girls here in the US who shared stories of sexual, emotional and physical abuse, feeling pressure to look a certain way, act a certain way; I'm heartbroken that children are still being taken advantage of, not just in foreign countries, but right here in our own neighborhoods. I'm now looking for ways to be an advocate for all children, both near and far.
What’s one thing you would like to share with the R-Nhu community?
At one point while in Thailand I was asked, "What were you looking for God to teach you on this trip to Thailand?" For a moment I had no idea how to answer to that. You see, as crazy as it may sound I didn't come to Thailand with any specific expectations. It's not that I wasn't open to God teaching me something, but I think sometimes God tells us to 'go' and desires that we obey without expectations. That's how it was for me. God said, "Go", and I went. I said yes. I'm still unraveling the lessons from my experiences in Thailand, but most importantly, I obeyed and for once it was without a single thought to what was in it for me. That was worth every second, every cent, every ounce that it cost me.
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