"Teacher, I Leave Happy Now"

Ello Mate! (Learned that one from the Australian Volunteers Today)

Well, well things have been rather chaotic around here! I apologize about the delay as it has been difficult to find some space to sit down and write. Sometimes I fret about "doing this and doing that" but what's important is that I am present. Often when worry & stress consumes my thoughts I remind myself to; "Live in the Present, with Momentum and not in the past or the future". Many of the students and children have to have this mindset as well. For if they consumed themselves with their pasts or the possibilities of their futures they would never gain momentum. We teach them to live in the present by loving unconditionally and passionately in the moment. One thing that I love about waking up everyday, is that I get to go Love these children. They are my children, they are our children, they are God's Children. The Father Ray is fabulous and we love them as our own. The volunteer coordinator was telling me yesterday that many volunteer applications come in and many people are interested but only few are accepted. They have to be particular and picky with selecting their volunteers. Why is that? I ask. He replies, "Because these are our Children and we do not want anything happening to that and only want the best". This seems right! Shouldn't this be how we treat every child? Every Disabled individual? What about your neighbor or co-worker? Should they be loved and treated right too?



I have to be honest and genuine; sometimes it is hard to get out of bed! Sometimes it is hard for me to get myself to go to my next project with zest! Sometimes I'm just physically and emotionally tired and just don't want to go. A few times I felt this way and I had to call on the Lord to ask him to give me strength, give me a full servants heart and encouragement. Whenever I just frankly don't want to go and God gives me the strength and energy to keep moving something beautiful happens. Let me tell you two stories....



Last week at the "School for the Blind" we were doing a conversational session with the students. Many students are not only blind but most are disabled and severely burnt. Unfortunately, in Thailand if you have a disability or deformity you are considered "Trash" and most parent's dispose you! Whatever that looks like. You hear stories of parent's trying to burry their child alive in the ground, or they throw them into fires (which is how they usually have burns) or they just throw them in the dumpster or drop them off somewhere. The thought of someone trying to dispose of these children are infuriating and confusing all at the same time!!! They are Beautiful! Gorgeous Individuals!!! Anyways, we sit and try to get them to talk with us in English and try to make them comfortable with us. So far, all my visits have been difficult, they are afraid to talk to you, therefore you are afraid to talk to them. They are shy and closed! This visit, I decided that I was going to make the best of this opportunity. Words suffocated my heart just minutes before as I was walking towards the students and they said, "Love with a Full Heart, Live a Full Life, Life is what you make of it, Show others they are Special and Beautiful, because they are". Sooooo, I sat down and immediately threw myself out of my comfort bubble and began asking the students a million questions until I got reactions from them. I was counting up to the ten thousandths in Thai with two particular students (which was also good practice for me) and having them translate what I said back into English out loud! Every time they got the answer right I would shout "Very Good (dii mah mak)" and give them praise and reassurance through my voice and touch (not many people touch them) and as time went on I quickly saw all their faces light up and smiles get wider. When the bell rang and it was time for them to leave they didn't want to. The principal had to come over and tell it was time to go. They left with laughter. The principal then came up to us afterwards and said, "they really enjoyed you, thank you" and gave me a look I could not forgot that said a million beautiful words. The faces of the children and energy and spirits are now ingrained in my heart...and to think that I didn't even "feeeeeel" like coming today. How silly am I....Bless the Lord!

Two days ago, I decided to start working with the disabled in the pool. We help them swim, teach them how to swim and get them comfortable with the water. Some of them have never even been in water before. We want all the students to learn how to swim for exercise and in case there was an accident one day. We also do this to empower them and push away any fear they might have as well! Father Ray encourages Sports and exercise! The water was cooooold that day! I got in the water and one by one we got the students out of their wheelchairs and into the water. A few of the new students were not comfortable though. So we patiently just floated around with them on floaty boards moving alongside them or holding them in the water to make them comfortable. One girls legs were deformed and she was using the floaty the whole time. She took to me really quickly for some reason and I could see that I was gaining trust with her so I convinced her to get rid of the floaty and let me help her move across the pool chest deep. She eventually said OK and we got rid of her floaty and I took her hands and we slowly but patiently made our way across the pool. She was shaking and kept saying, "Teacher, teacher, I'm scared" with Joy I looked back at her straight into her beautiful brown eyes and with the strength of Love said "I promise, that I will never ever let you fall, let me show you". After a few more words of encouragement she made her way from one end of the pool and back and I told her how wonderful she did and said I was proud of her and handed back her floaty. She looked at me and said with pure excitement and accomplishment, "Teacher, I leave Happy Now". My heart was dewey and warm and throat was choked up! And to think that I didn't feel like getting in the cold water that day!




Amongst the many things I have learned so far, one is Life is beautiful and has so much to teach us, therefore; if you let it, give it your time, strength, energy and spirit with a willing heart you will never be dissatisfied because you already decided you were going to make that moment Full! Lean on the Lord's Love and his Strength and HE WILL GUIDE YOU THROUGH THE DAY! Let Life Show you something Beautiful....

Till we chat again,
Courtney