Someone once told me “God’s will, done God’s way, will have God’s provisions.” So, if I know without a shadow of a doubt that this is the life God has called me to, then the answer is going to be whether or not I’m following Him in His way – a daily communion where my feet fall in step with His. It’s been a crazy journey with lots of stumbling, but when I’m allowing Him to lead me in His ways, wow! It’s sure a beautiful masterpiece.
Speaking of masterpieces, let me paint you a picture of my journey and invite you to dive deep with me. Have you ever seen a baby bird, full of so much potential, fall from the nest to the depths below only to be separated from its mother because it broke its wing and cannot fly?... Some of us jump from the nest and struggle on the way down trying to figure out how to use our wings, but quickly take flight before we hit the ground. However, some us land hard on the ground separated from the fullness of life we were all intended to have. These baby birds are often left stranded and hopeless as the trees tower above them. What are they suppose to do? Where can they go? Who will help them? A smile comes to my face; Home of the Swallow. “Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself where she may have her young—a place near your altar, Lord Almighty, my King and my God.” Psalm 84:3 This beautiful ministry God has brought me to, that by far has been the greatest struggle, yet the richest joy and blessing I could have ever asked for. A ministry that goes deeper than just a job title with tasks and goals to accomplish, but rather a family full of faces and stories, walking together in our individual journeys… It’s never clear, it’s never easy, and rarely is it ever simple, but boy, is it beautiful!!... So, where do I find myself in the mix of this beautiful mess? Walking right along side of these girls through the mud of their struggles and mine, holding each other’s dirt-stained hands knowing we don’t have to do it alone. I would have never guessed in a million years this would be the life I would be living, but God sure knows my heart, and His plans are far greater than anything I could have ever envisioned. However, I have felt my heart heavy burdened for quite some time, feeling a passion stirring within me like there was something more… He has given me this unique opportunity and this humbling platform, but what did He want me to do with it?... With a gentle but powerful voice I heard Him say, “Tell their story. Let them taste and see that I am Good.” Mmm, He sure is!! In a difficult field of “work,” with such delicate issues, sharing stories is not always the easiest task. However, seeing the girls already beginning to share their stories with such confidence and using them as a testimony of what God has done in their life, I feel as though they are already being a powerful voice to bring about change to their generation… So, from their voice through me, a megaphone I shall be… * * * * Unfortunately, Penny has a story like far too many young girls have here in Thailand (and many Southeast Asian countries)… Penny’s parents had died at a young age to HIV, and unfortunately passed a life of HIV along to her. Her and her younger sister were left under the care of a distant aunt who lacked any kind of responsibility. She learned quickly the dark realities of life and the heavy burdens that come with it. At a young age, she was exposed to a life of sex, drugs, and abuse, void of any genuine love, security, and hope. It was no wonder why her future followed suite. She began working in the bars selling drugs and selling herself for sex in order to support her family. It was not the life she wanted, but what else was she to do? Having HIV, living in a village with little education, years of abuse, and even going to jail for a few years for selling drugs, she felt like her life was never going to amount to anything. Then, right when she thought her life couldn’t get any worse, she found out she was pregnant. She knew she was in no way capable of raising a child, let alone carrying out a healthy pregnancy. After all, what was the purpose of bringing a child into the world when she saw no purpose in living herself? Penny had heard about God before, but had never experienced His presence or felt His love. To her, He was just another god out there with a set of rules and judgment awaiting her. The shame was already there, so to her, it didn’t matter anyway. So, she consumed a strong dose of harmful drugs in order to abort her baby, and she didn't care if it killed her too. However, something inside of her did not allow the medicine to settle, and she ended up throwing it all back up. So, she tried again, and again. After the third time of her body rejecting the medicine, she wondered if there was a reason she was suppose to have this baby. It was the first time she cried out to God to show her what to do. The months dragged on and the war in her heart raged on, but she continued on with her pregnancy. A friend of hers, who knew about Home of the Swallow, recommended her to come stay with us. Feeling desperate, with hope far out of sight, she decided she had no other options. When Penny came to HOS there was a sense of darkness that came with her – a face full of anger, eyes full of emptiness, and a heart full of pain. The staff and other mothers came around her and openly welcomed her in love. It didn’t take long before we saw a big change in her! Life returned to her eyes (not even exaggerating) and we began to see her smile all the time, share stories with the other girls, laugh, and want to be a part of helping in whatever way possible. She told us she had never felt a love like she was experiencing at HOS and was beginning to feel hope rising up in her. She participated in the trainings, received in-depth counseling, and began to join a Bible study and attend our local Thai church. After encountering God in such a powerful way, she knew He had brought her to our Home for a reason, so she decided to fully give her life to Christ. It was a great time of celebration, but we knew the battle was going to be far from over. Her transformation really took off from there though, as she began sharing of what God was doing in her and encouraging those around her in their faith as well. With all the medicine Penny had taken from her attempted abortions, she was very worried that her baby was not going to be ok. We spent several weeks praying over her and her baby, believing that God had big plans for both of them. After a few weeks, she gave birth to a healthy baby boy! Praise God! In the weeks that followed, we were amazed to see an even deeper change in her. God was using this little miracle in her life to bring about such beautiful redemption and restoration to some of her deepest wounds. Never having received loved in her past, she was so overwhelmed to experience the love of God and to know that she was capable to love others with that same love. We saw her fall more and more in love with her son every day, and said many times that she never wants him to ever experience a life void of love and a relationship with God. She used to think that her pregnancy was a curse or a punishment for her mistakes, but she now believes her son was the biggest blessing and gift she could have ever received… What a beautiful picture of God’s redeeming love. She has begun to change her life in every way for the better and is striving to be the best she can be, especially the best mom she can be. Her confidence in herself has grown and she now believes that with God’s strength, she can do anything she puts her heart into. She used to be very timid and not disclose any information about her life, but she now shares her story with anyone who will listen. She believes God has given her a story that relates to so many other women in Thailand and wants to be an example and empower them that they can make a difference too. We have even seen this unique platform God has given her, as different organizations in Chiang Mai (that help HIV women and children) have asked her to come and share her testimony with them and offer encouragement! In a country where HIV and AIDS are very shamed and taboo to speak about, this is HUGE! We are so amazed to see her desire to be a voice on this issue, despite the perception from others! We absolutely believe she is going to be an influential leader and her story will be used in mighty ways and we pray that that fire within her never dims! When we see a girl, who has been so scarred by the world, take her story and use it as a testimony of God’s love and hope to those around her, it continues to drive us in the work we are doing and to know that our hearts are in the right place and it IS making a difference. Not just in individual lives, but in the greater community as well. We see a new generation and a new culture rising up and we are so proud of our girls for being such incredible examples to those around them. * * * * So, when I hear of so many babies being aborted and abandoned rather than being raised in loving families, I can’t stress it enough how vital this kind of ministry is here in Thailand! Millions of children throughout the world grow up without the benefit of permanent relationships with loving and caring adults. Their families have been broken apart due to poverty, illness, death, war, social isolation, violence, and relocation. As a result, children are separated and placed in institutional care, lose contact with their kin, and suffer the detrimental effects of abuse, neglect, abandonment, and homelessness. It is a global crisis that has grave moral, social, economical, and even security consequences and is one of the biggest challenges facing the Christian church that requires a response. These children are the future and God has a purpose for each and every one of them! He is the Father of the fatherless, who sets the solitary in families (Psalm 68:5–6). We believe that HOS is in a unique position to lead this effort in Thailand and to ensure that every child can stay with their family or otherwise placed into a permanent family connection to see this dream through. In step with this vision and movement, HOS is now a part of a Thailand alliance to see a World Without Orphans. Our vision is to see orphans becoming sons and daughters and our dream is that every child will grow up in a safe, stable, and nurturing permanent family and know their Heavenly Father. However, in order to due so, we need your prayers and support. We are struggling financially and are looking for people who share in our vision and believe in the work we are doing here in Thailand. We would like to ask you to prayerfully consider being a monthly donor and partnering with us in this movement and the incredible things God is doing through Home of the Swallow. Because, we simply cannot do it without you… To learn more about the work we are doing and how to become a monthly supporter, you can visit our website and follow our Facebook page at: http://www.thaiconnections.org/fcf/home-of-the-swallow https://www.facebook.com/Home-of-the-Swallow-851757721581054/ And if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask. Thank you!!
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ArchivesSupport:If you would like to financially support the work happening in Thailand, you can go online and give at: Links:Family Connection Foundation:
http://www.thaiconnections.org/ Home of the Swallow: http://www.thaiconnections.org/fcf/home-of-the-swallow Cord Ministries International: http://cordmin.com/wp/ |