I will try to catch you up on the last two days since I took a vacation from my tablet. Sunday we worshipped at Grace Place in the morning with all our wonderful kids.  It blesses my soul to see the kids leading worship with instruments, voices and dance.  I love to see the faces of true heartfelt worship.  It is definitely here!!!

The rest of the day can be best summed up as eating, eating and more eating. After church, which Zac and I got to share in, Dune, one of our staff and dear friend, made me coffee from the coffee beans at her house and sticky rice with mango.  Oh yummy! Before I even finished though, Philip came to tell me lunch was ready.  So I took my sticky rice and headed over for lunch.  Lunch was a feast, oh my.  It looked like we hardly touched the food, but we ate as much as we possibly could.  Then the girls took me back to their house and fed me candy and fruits.  It kept coming and coming!!! SO by the time we ate dinner with Faa, we were already still stuffed.  But we found room!

A highlight of the day, well there are so many, was a trip to Duen's house. Her husband and mother in law live within walking distance.  Several of us donned with umbrellas due to the sun, walked over with her.  I met her family.  She should me the coffee bean plants, the jackfruit trees, the mango trees and so much more they have in their "garden".  She also gave me raw coffee beans with instructions on how to roast them.  Can't wait to try it when I get home.

Monday was spent with the GROW staff in their weekly staff meeting, then off to lunch all together.  After lunch, Faa and met to discuss board items.  Zac then got a lesson on driving the motorbike.  He then rode around the property and easily got the hang of it.

Dinner was amazing. Fresh fish cooked on the fire and barbeque, stick rice with mango and coke.  We cooked and ate outside with the awesome mountain view surrounding us.  What a beautiful place this is.

We had to say our goodbyes to the GROW kids.  Once again, one of the girls cried as she hugged me goodbye.  I asked Ning to translate for me as I told her what a special young lady she was and how God had a big plan for her life.  She is so soft-hearted and sweet.  She knows exactly what she has been rescued from and is so grateful.  I cannot be more thankful to God that we were able to rescue her!!!

This was a double night of goodbyes because after we left the GROW farm, we stopped at GP to spend a little time and say goodbye.  Oh how I was blessed to sit with Toradorn and Rachonikorn bad sing "As the Dear Pants" with them as they played the keyboard and the guitar.  SO many of the kids were sitting ion small groups playing together their instruments.  Another highlight from this trip is the time Joy, our new staff, spent with us translating with the kids.  They asked many questions and had many things to share with us.  They all wanted to take turns telling us things.  Of course all the girls were amazed at how talk Zac was and only a year older than him. They took turns standing next to him to see where they came to him.  SO much fun.  We had a chance to ask the kids who traveled to Korea about their trip.  All of them said the best thing was seeing the people worship.  Toradorn did say he was afraid flying.  I guess they had some turbulence on their flights. He said he loved the city and didn't want to come back.

 Of course the goodbyes are always bittersweet. They all really want their sponsors to come like we do.  I tried to explain that we can come so many times because God has given us a different situation so it is possible.  I explained that most people in the US cannot travel like we get to.  I didn't realize how our coming so often made the kids feel about why their own sponsors don't come.  I did my best top explain, but I am not sure if they really understand or not. 

Today, Tuesday, we head back to CM and then fly off to Cambodia tomorrow.

Yesterday we spent the day at then GROW home as we celebrated the dedication of the first building. We didn't do the big grand opening that was originally to take place.  It is postponed until later in the year. We did have a private ceremony though with the kids and staff.  Because our day was spent at GROW and the policy that limits pictures I can post, there won't be a lot of pictures today.  You can visit the GROW website or Facebook page to see those pictures.

We continued the celebration with songs and games and then silly string.

I find it interesting talking talking the people here about the political situation. Most people see what is happening here to be a positive thing.  The parliament had become corrupt, money and power hungry and not for the people (sound familiar?).  The military sides with the people and are rooting out the corruption and want to establish a better government with honest humble people. It is not dangerous here as long as you side with the people and freedom.  The only difference I can tell is an occasional military personel where I didn't notice them before.

I really enjoy Bee, our new staff parent at GROW.  He is learning a lot and is good with the kids.  He speaks some English and is comfortable to be around.

The place we are staying, FullHouse, is very reasonable, includes breakfast and is comfortable.  I recommend it to future teams. Faa asked for a discount after first night, so we are paying around $22 for the first night and $17 for the following nights.  Tutu also was here and said maybe our Wooster team could stay here.  Faa asked for the better price for them too!

Well, we are off to church at GP this morning.  I have decided to use Nathan's devotional he wrote for our church as my sermon this morning since I have to "preach".

Blessings,

Jeana

 

We arrived safely and enjoyed a wonderful night's sleep at Pastor Mike's.  In the morning though we had bad news.  Pastor Mike's daughter-in-law was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer.  Mike's wife, Debbie, just arrived in the USA yesterday.  Please pray for Jodi, her husband and two young children as God takes them through this. I know Mike would appreciate it.

After breakfast at Tutu's, we grabbed what we needed for the trip to WPP and headed that way. It is pretty hot here, but in the mountains there has been rain which cools things off. So the rain was welcomed except for the fact that our suitcase was in the back of the truck. You can imagine.

We met up with Faa, checked into our hotel, a new place called FullHouse, then headed to the GROW farm.  To think that three years ago our family stood on this property and prayed that God would save it for GROW if this was where He wanted us, and to now see two completed buildings and almost completed was AMAZING!

We had time for a tour of the buildings, some snacks and a quick nap before the kids came home.  We spent only a few minutes with the GROW children before Tutu's sister, Pon, picked us up and took us to Grace Place. We spent the rest of the afternoon and evening with our kids and staff there. Of course everyone was so excited to see Zac! As we went over schedules, I quickly learned that I am preaching on Sunday and Zac is to give his testimony.  Please pray about that.  I am sure Faa will have me say a few words at the small dedication I learned we are having today at GROW.  Flexibility!!!

We have a new couple at GP.  Joy, the wife, speaks some English. She is delightful.  After Zac and I ate over by the boys house, I went back over to the girls house where I was invited by the staff to join them for more food.  They wanted me to try the different things they had prepared.  SO I did. I think this was one of the most relaxed, enjoyable time I have had with our staff here. Just hanging together and fellowshipping. 

Ning got her VISA! She will Faa will be coming to the US for national conference.  Ning will then stay with us so I can help her learn English until October.

We made it to Seoul, but Zac had a rough flight. Little sleep and no food.  Now we are in the Korean Air Lounge, and he is trying to crash.  There was a time when he would fit on one chair.

Zac and I sit at the airport in Atlanta awaiting our long 15 hour flight to Seoul, South Korea on our way back to Thailand.  We are ready to see all of our GROW and Grace Place kids.

I will try to post as WiFi allows!