Joy, Family Reunions, and Fighting Trafficking: Our Journey in America
I am a happy man! My wife has come to visit us in America! I picked her up on Thursday Sept 28 and she is still being bogged down with jet-lag but it is so nice to have her here with us! Evangeleen won’t let me do anything with her, she wants mom to do everything with her and for her! After 4 months without mom, mom is all she wants! I can’t blame her! I am amazed at how much joy and love my wife has brought with her!
During these precious moments with my wife and Evangeleen here in America, it's not just about the busy schedules and ministry work but also seeing the little things that bring immense happiness and joy. Seeing my wife's smile as she reconnects with our Evangeleen, witnessing the bond they share, and even the shared laughter during our family meals, it's all a reminder of the blessings we have.
It has been a busy few days and the next 2 months we are here together we will super busy. We have been scheduling cooking classes with 2 churches and planning more. We will be training in TBRI, Trust Based Relational Intervention which is proving itself to be extremely necessary in our ministry. It is a trauma-informed intervention that is designed to meet the complex needs of vulnerable children. It uses empowering principles to address physical needs, connecting principles for attachment needs, and correcting principles to disarm fear-based behaviors. Here is a brief explanation of TBRI. We are blessed to know people in the US who are skilled to know and teach the skills that we need to be more effective in our ministry. While we are here we will be looking for more techniques and trainings that will benefit our kids and our ministry, that we can teach to Thai people. The techniques and trainings are really hard to find in Thailand and if they exist, they are very expensive.
As we delve into TBRI training, we are reminded of the importance of these skills in the lives of our children and the countless others we aim to reach in Thailand. The fact that we can bring this valuable knowledge back to our community is incredibly motivating. We've always believed in making a difference, and these training sessions are a significant step toward creating a safer and more nurturing environment for the vulnerable children we serve.
We are also trying to get involved with Shared hope International, their mission and our mission align perfectly:
“Shared Hope International strives to prevent the conditions that foster sex trafficking, restore victims of sex slavery, and bring justice to vulnerable women and children. We envision a world passionately opposed to sex trafficking and a community committed to restoring survivors to lives of purpose, value and choice – one life at a time.”
Collaborating with organizations like Shared Hope International underscores our commitment to addressing the multifaceted challenges of sex trafficking. Their mission, which encompasses prevention, restoration, and justice, resonates deeply with our core values. We recognize that it's crucial to have a collective, global effort to combat this pervasive issue. While we may not have a formal partnership with Shared Hope International, our shared vision of a world free from sex trafficking encourages us to seek common ground and leverage each other's expertise to make a significant impact.
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8
In the fight against human trafficking, knowledge is a powerful weapon. Training and awareness are pivotal in equipping individuals and communities to recognize the subtle signs and signals that may indicate human trafficking. By actively pursuing training and education, we empower ourselves to become vigilant advocates for those who are vulnerable. It is not only about identifying trafficking but also about knowing how to respond effectively and compassionately. Together with organizations like Shared Hope International, we can enhance our ability to contribute to the broader mission of eradicating sex trafficking and restoring the lives of survivors, one step at a time. We want to use our time here in the states effectively and we believe that learning how to do our job in Thailand better is a great way to be more effectively used by God!
Since my wife has been gone about 6 days our smallest kids have started acting out, biting and fighting each other. This is behavior that has not been there before and is showing itself because of the absence of mom and dad. We wish we could be there but our plans are never the same as God’s plans and the change always brings out the insecurities in our children.
It is an amazing blessing for Preaw. She has been the one acting out in the past and now that she feels secure in our love and in God’s plan, she is the one dealing with the insecurity and seeing herself in the smaller kids. Preaw was in her teens when she was doing things like our 7-8 year olds are doing. I have been missing them so much lately! I cannot wait to get home and love my kids!
"And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work."
2 Corinthians 9:8
We were so blessed to have had a Make-A-Wish party for Evangeleen at Chuck E. Cheese this past weekend. We were disappointed to see that, because of COVID the got rid of the play area and turned it into strictly an arcade. It was a blast though because all of Evangeleen’s friends and family were there with her to enjoy it. We had a blast playing Hotshot basketball and the classic, Ski-ball! We all had fun and with our wish makers, Connie and Vicki taking care of everything and we all had a great time!
Right now we don’t have enough money for me to go back to Thailand. I have to stay in America and continue to work. We still need about $888 more a month, before I can go back to Thailand. It is going to be really hard in 2 months when Evangeleen and my wife go back and I am left here by myself to work and support our family. I am willing because I believe in the work we are doing and believe it is the work that God called us to. By December it will have been 6 months since I have been in Thailand and been with my family.
The financial challenges we face right now are tough, but our faith and commitment remain unwavering. We know that our work is guided by God, and the support we receive from people who share our vision is essential. As we continue our journey, we are hopeful that, through your prayers and generosity, we can bridge the gap and return to Thailand to continue our mission of love, support, education and a relationship with Jesus for these precious children who depend on us. Thank you for being a part of our journey, and we hope that you'll consider joining us in this meaningful endeavor
If you are reading this I would encourage you to pray and see if God is putting it on your heart to donate monthly! Any amount helps us get to our goal!
