Camp of Youth

It was three days of non-stop singing, dancing, and adventure with my new little munchkins. Child sponsorship is one of many outlets Siam-Care dedicates itself to. This youth camp was specifically for children who receive financial support from individuals overseas. They participated in activities on sexual health, child protection, and learned some important life-skills.

We bussed about three hours from the city to a great spot, far from the hustle and bustle we left behind. I'm exhausted, so the pictures will have to do the speaking.

Dance, dance, DANCE! I was afraid we were going to fall through the bamboo...

This picture doesn't do justice, but I'm pretty sure my camp days weren't filled with assorted seafood, baskets of fresh fish, and endless crab... the food was am-az-za-zing.

After lunch, the guys felt macho and bombed off the hut.

So this was pretty much the coolest activity - EVER! We went out to plant trees... in a mud swamp!

This is someone's joooob! So crazy.

The mud you're lookin at is the same goo we spend hundreds of dollars on at home in the spas. Ha.

We had so much fun!!!

Rinse off before dinner.

Such a great time with these amazing kids, and as always, my awesome coworkers. I learn so much from everyone.

Off to Cambodia for the week... please pray for safety. Happy ALMOST weekend!

What To Do

A good friend of mine passed a man on the streets of Bangkok and hasn't lost thought of him since. This man has no legs, and with one hand, pulls himself up and down the crowded sidewalks of the shopping district every night, led by an empty bowl for change. He is kicked, stepped over, ignored, and rejected by many of the thousands that pass him daily. I was asked to find him, listen to his story, tell him about Jesus, and offer a wheelchair from my friend. Easy enough, right?

As suspected, this man is under the control of a gang. He was trafficked from Cambodia at a young age, then disabled (had his legs cut off). Everyone knows the worse you look, the more money you'll bring in. What he earns is immediately pocketed by the gang leader, who has total control over these peoples lives. This man was one of oh, so many, and was hesitant to share details. If anyone were to find out he talked to us, he'd be beaten.

I brought my closest friend from work to translate, and the three of us sat on the filthy pavement for about half an hour. Before we left, I asked if we could pray with him - ALL eyes on us. He gave a sincere nod, and held our hands. My friend prayed, and I must say... I was SOOO proud of her! It's one thing for me to lie on the sidewalk holding the hands of an exile - I'm foreign, so these things are expected. But for a Thai woman who is normally so reserved and concerned about everyone's opinion, she was incredible. He knows about God, and said he prays when he needs help.

I left feeling... uncertain. How am I supposed to truly help this man? If we give him money, it goes back into the hands of monsters. He was willing to accept the wheelchair, but I honestly believe it will get sold. Wheelchair = less desolate appearance = not as much income. Please keep this man in prayer, but if you have ANY ideas on ways we might be able to help him, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE share them. I'm genuinely at a loss.

When I talked about this with Marcus, he asked about the feeling of helplessness... why God put this situation in my life... and if there's anything to be learned from it. I guess it reminds me that in many ways, we're almost always helpless. But through God's grace, and learning to depend on it, anything is possible...

Photoless posts should  be illegal, but I didn't feel it was appropriate to photograph the man. Therefore, I've included a pic from my shoot with Manny. I could be corny and say something like... "what do you really see when you look in the mirror"... but I'd rather not say anything at all. Ha.

Leaving at 7am for a three-day youth camp outside of Bangkok, then I'm off to Cambodia. Looking forward to sharing the deets. Love.

It's-a-Rainin'

Maybe He just knew. I had a somewhat bummy day... not necessarily missing home, but missing all things associated. Homemade pizza and pashta with the company of my boobear, family, and our senseless dog was at the forefront of my mind for hours. So, bum-e-dee-bum-bum, then BAM! The sky above split in two, maybe three, and sent its fury to my world. Like a 4-year-old counting the seconds between booms, I could not have loved every minute more. I love that I love storms, still.

I’ve been obsssssessed with storms for many, many years. I'm pretty sure there was even a point I prayed God would call me to a life of twister-chasing. Well, here I sit. The queen insider of all outsiders is soaking in the droplets of heaven and oooing over the bursts of skylight. This is the first downpour in Bangkok, and it was OH-SO-GOOD. The gloriously exotic flowers released the most fragrant breaths, and the sweltering heat was pounded to the ground with each layer of rain.

As I lean against the window to hear every splash, I’m taken back to a sleepover at my crib, many moons ago, when we lost electricity. Everyone crouched together for the duration of night to color by candlelight. I’m sure my parents would have preferred sleep, but I loved that night, and that storm. Thank you. I love that I love storms... 

Now you see what I see. This is outside my apartment window.

XOXO

Places and Faces

It's true. I've slacked. So much to tell, so little time. Today's post will highlight some of the people I've had the pleasure of meeting over the past month.

Speaks for itself, no?

Yaay! This is the grandmother of P' Air from Siam-Care Mukdahan. I bet she hides mad snacks in her wrinkles... I would.

This boy was SUCH a sweetheart. His mom recently died from HIV/AIDS, and he's now living with his grandmother. Their "house" sits over a completely polluted river, and no one knows how much longer g'ma will be around. He's an inspiration.

Please pray for this child... he suffers from ridiculously-cute-chubby-baby-syndrome!

We were unfortunately invited to a funeral. This was the temple where it was held.

Buddhist practice of lighting incense to honor the dead. 

This was another grandmother upcountry picking mangos from a tree for us, with just a long stick. They don't have much, but they certainly make things work. Genius.  

We attended a Thai drama. The princess of Thailand was there, too - holllla! 

Another family Siam-Care supports. This little man was CHEE-KY!

Last month I had the opportunity to spend two full days with a large group of students. They were great, and these are my boyz!

A group working on an activity.

Ok, seriously though? I've never come remotely close to figuring this out, and THaREEE kids were able to finish in under a minute... WHAT?! Sorry it's sideways... I'm good with pickies, not vidies.

WOW! from Gina Meola on Vimeo.

This picture makes me laugh. First of all, I'm convinced I'll get carsick until I'm 80. P'Leng took this picture of me because she was utterly confused as to why someone nauseous would fall asleep smiling. I too, find myself perplexed.
 

HAPPY SUNDAY! God Bless.

Three Days to Live

Noi’s limbs were weaker than a newborn’s. His skin was discolored, his feet were enlarged, and his body lied defenseless. His legs and arms wore the scars of gnawing insects and his hands curled over with scabs. His belly convulsed with every movement and he gasped for air between coughs.

The parents of this 39-year-old gem hardly accept him because he is HIV-positive. His daughter is brilliant and his wife, also infected, has stayed by his side. Through all this suffering, somehow, Noi made jokes, practiced some English, and sang to us... Thus proving his smile was equally as radiant as his attitude. Why. Why is Noi dying.

I have never held the hands of death. But if I’ve watched shows, listened to speakers, and read books on infinite human suffering around our world, shouldn’t I already understand how painful life is for so many? Was it because I had not looked into their eyes, listened to their whisper, or clasped their fingers that everything continued as normal? I’d like to think Noi has changed a piece of me, which is the least he deserves.

The amazing characteristic I find in death is that it can sometimes be more powerful than life. Every step of my Savior’s walk on earth was flawless, with every action done in love. But it was His death that saved me, forever later, from my sin and myself… ultimately offering us all life eternal.

Today was hard, as much of my experience here has been, but it was unforgettably significant. Death is one of the only certainties we face, and that alone seems reason enough to prepare for it. Noi did.

His 12-year-old massaging his legs.

A relative trying to feed him. 

His laugh was contagious, and as we shared stories, I could tell what a precious soul he had... 

Noi's liver failed and he's unable to take anymore medication. He was released from the hospital and given three days to live. That was February 19th, and he's still with us. With his fight comes hope. PLEASE join me in prayer and lift up Noi's health and his family.

The Familiar

I’m intimidated. I’m confused. I’m elated.  It’s 8:34 p.m., and I’m tightly curled in my hideously florescent, but pleasantly comfy, seat on Thailand’s “VIP” overnight bus to Mukdahan. I look out my window to watch thousands of Thai bodies making their way through the masses. They swerve to avoid passing monks, sprint to catch departing vehicles, and walk as though the hundreds of buses, yelling men, and flashing signs are a simple routine. If Adrienne weren’t here to guide my overweight backpack, and me, I don’t think I would have left the taxi.

My first adventure to Bangkok’s busy bus station is a noteworthy event in my world. But to the sea of those surrounding me, tonight is just another long trip home. It’s funny how life becomes familiar, and things once so exotic and exciting become mundane and habitual. I can’t help but think life’s excitements are more important than we make them out to be. In our work, in our relationships, in our spirituality - it’s almost too easy to let things go and lose interest in what was once a beautiful mystery or passionate interest. Maybe it’s more effort, but finding an alternative angle to life’s ordinaries seems like a feat worth undertaking.

Eat, sleep, sleep, toss, turn, sleep, eat, sleep, sleep

Now 6:27 a.m., we’re arriving at Mukdahan’s bus station. It’s small and empty – Quite a difference from the nonstop noise and movement of Bangkok. Oh Bangkok, Bangkok, the city I call home. Hello rice fields, buffalo, and bamboo huts.

I’m disheveled, I’m perplexed, I’m elated…

INSPIRATION: To the Next Level

Amazing things happen when we find inspiration. I have been blessed with eyes that see life differently. Through this, I find inspiration to tell people’s stories. Photography is the language I can speak to anyone, anywhere. It can penetrate souls when words are not enough, and with one click can capture a moment for eternity.

I am not an amazing photographer. I am not trained. I am, however, passionate. As I begin to explore this art and everything it offers, I know I fall more in love with my obnoxiously heavy camera every day.

If you haven’t listened to me gawk over my ultimate online obsession, Jasmine Star, you’re missing out. She’s brilliant, self-taught, and annoyingly helpful. Jasmine inspired me to better. At everything. She helped me take a chance and commit to what I love, even if she doesn't know it. I will be forever grateful for the role she played in my decisions, and know that God used her to bless me exponentially. 

Another photographer that has inspired me to reach farther, be bolder, and make a statement is Manny Librodo. This man's work speaks for itself. As you can imagine, I was completely starry-eyed during our entire workshop session today. Manny is ALSO self-taught (gotta love it) and has composed some of the most breathtaking images I've ever come across. Thank you, Manny, for offering your time, insight, and heart. You've got that "something extra" and our session was amazing. What a first lesson, eh?!

Thank you both for helping me to the next level.

From today... We met up at a condemned building in Bangkok with loads of graffiti, and used only natural light.

Making Time For What Matters

Coming here was part of it; being here confirmed it.

All-nighters led to miserable mornings. Deadlines forced me to create invisible friend timeframes. Every weekend buried under books was just another weekend… buried under books. Classes, internships, church, jobs, clubs, societies… School is all I’ve known for the past twenty-some years, and each was spent working endlessly. Why? To prepare for the now, durr.

Competitive doesn’t capture the nature of Newhouse… maybe cutthroat, ruthless, or bloodthirsty! Yeeeah, I’ll take it down a notch… Anyway, my goal was to absorb every minute in the classroom – for I was infinitely blessed to have a seat. I entered expecting to graduate with unrivaled skills, effortlessly fall into the perfect job, and earn the loads of money I’m totally worth. This plan, like most, was mine - Mistake numero uno. Much of my little world leisurely shattered the semester before I was set to finish. It wasn’t in my plan, and I don’t like the unplanned. For the first time, I found myself broken. Truly broken.

It was during this time that God placed me in the center of a life-changing circle. This circle was the Glisson family, and they put my greatest efforts to shame any day. Tim and Melissa Glisson pastor my church and are the remarkable parents of 14 adopted children. Yes. Fourteen. This couple died to themselves and surrendered what could have been a beautifully comfortable life together. They opened their hearts, home, and hands when I was in need, and through the love and joy only God can provide, helped breathe life back.

One Sunday, Tim stressed a simple concept: “Sooo, who are you working for?” Twenty years of school prepared me to enter the world as just another face in the masses. But Tim’s ONE teaching radically shifted my goals and ultimately launched me across the world. I knew I couldn’t build some CEO’s kingdom… there’s so much more to life.

I can recall thousands of the times I was just too busy to be the ear someone needed or the lips God wanted to use. My plans put me on a track to becoming highly productive and immensely successful… but who cares if you’re successful. God wants us to be significant. 

Maybe I should be spending my days hyperventilating over my student loans, or worrying that my aspirations will plunder any future job search… but why? Listening to the insecurities of others gets really old, and if I’ve given my life and everything in it to Christ, then He’s going to take care of every aspect. Every. I will struggle, and I will fail… but if I’m in line with His definitive plan, I have nothing to fear.

Serving God doesn’t require leaving the country and washing your dishes in the shower. It doesn’t require exorbitant amounts of money, and it doesn’t require the best skills or talents. I truly believe it takes a willing heart, an open mind, and the sacrifice of one’s self interests to experience the sweeping fulfillment of Christ. He can perform the most overwhelming of miracles, in the most underwhelming of people.

I don't want to live for myself, but I do. God, break my heart for what breaks Yours.

Some of the teenage girls we work with. 

I've admittedly been slacking on the blog. My utmost apologies...