We are back in Canada and adjusting to eating and sleeping on Canadian time. We had a mostly uneventful trip home with a 5 hour layover in Hong Kong. Enough time to collaborate on one final blog post from this trip.
Things we learned travelling in Thailand:
1. Bringing packages of tissue is important - there is often no toilet paper. They often provide a sprayer for clean up and we suggest using it before drying off with tissue. Be warned - the water is cold.
2.. Be sure to throw the toilet paper in the trash - it cannot be flushed and fishing it out is ick!
3. Beware: Thai people love their spice - so ask about the spice level and then multiply a Thai answer by 3. We even found them dipping fresh sweet oranges in hot chili pepper - because... must have spice?
4. Practice patient presence - it takes awhile to translate from Thai to English or vice versa. And if you are visiting a hill tribe - be ready for translation from Lahu to Thai to English. You may not know what is being said for awhile. Smiling and nodding will serve.
5. Beware of tonal language when imitating Thai. For example: "soy" that rises at the end means beautiful - but "soy" without the rise means bad luck - Thai people are forgiving of blunders but may chuckle a little.
6. Riding in the very back bed of a truck with no seatbelt is not unusual - hand rails are often provided - we suggest you use them.
7. Thai people are so generous and our Canadian sensibilities say that we have more than them and make us want to refuse the gift. But accept what is graciously given knowing that it is an expression of affection and care. We bless them by our receptiveness and gratitude. Coming with some gifts from Canada is also a great idea if you have space.
8. Thai tea is not for everyone. But give it a try!
9. If a child offers you a hug - enjoy the trust it conveys. It really is the best!
10. Be prepared for a 32 hour day of travel to Thailand or back. Move at any opportunity before and after the 15 hour flight. Your body will thank you!
11. I love my ear plugs that help with ear pressure on the airplane's rise and fall.
12. When you get to Thailand, wait to sleep until Thai time says you can. Deny the impulse to nap - you will adjust more quickly.
13. Gooseberry is a great fruit to try. But eat it in moderation - it has very high fibre!
14. Go to Duke's and fill up at lunch before you visit the cultural centre. The spice level is high in almost all the authentic Thai dishes at the Old Chiang Mai Cultural Centre.
15. Mighty Oaks has created the best accomodation for our stay in Fang. You will be able to meet all needs there - and the staff take really good care of teams!
16. Conversation with Thai people can work with google translate, but David and Gan are even better!
17. When you visit schools, be prepared to take photos of playing school children - they love posing for a camera and seeing it after. It fills the gap in communication!
18. Thai people have a musical way of saying our Canadian names - embrace it and let it make you smile!
19. Be prepared to be dazzled by colour! The people wear it, make colourful crafts, and the flowers and greenery never stop! Rest your Canadian winter grey eyes on the journey so you are ready to soak it all in!
20. Thai people are cute - they love cutsie things - even the hand towel has a little purple bear face on it! It's a thing!
21. Praying with Thai people is full of energy and life as they all create a symphony of sound praying out loud together - all languages are welcome!
22. Worship at Good News church is never hurried. There will be time for Sunday School, Band-led expressive Worship, dancing with flags, testimonies giving thanks, a lingering message and the pastor will likely get you to say with him many times: Hallelujahhhhhhhhh - hold the note as long as he does and you will fit right in. The reward for patiently soaking in the moment is a shared meal prepared by the church ladies. Be ready with your most open heart!
23. There are always sweet fruits in season. Our season was orange grove paradise - and we received many gifts of oranges to share, to enjoy and to dip if we wished in the hot pepper powder - we didn't wish - but it might be your thing!
24. Honour is shown with hands together and a nod - it serves to say "hello, goodbye, thank you, excuse me" and a general greeting
25. Forks are used to served food from communal plates to personal ones. Spoons are for cutting and to put food in your mouth. You will get smiles for reversing this but most Thai people are too polite to correct you.
26. Tap water is great for hands, but use bottled water for drinking.
27. To have a hot shower with an on-demand water heater, try lowering the pressure to increase the heat - otherwise you will likely have lukewarm showers.
28. Thai people like firm mattresses on their beds. You may want to read reviews from Canadians before booking hotels. 
29. Heading to Thailand with Mighty Oaks is an amazing way to be part of something meaningful, beautiful and learn from an amazing staff and community. The people are the best part of the adventure! Thanks for hosting us, Mighty Oaks Thailand!
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Steve and Gan picked the perfect place to host our alumni in Chiang Mai last evening. The tables were set by the river with lanterns strung up all around to lend a festive flavour. The food was delicious and plentiful.
But the best part was seeing our sponsor children now so grown up and professional. Their poise and confidence was a result of their dedication and hard work built on the chance they were given to stay in school and pursue their dreams. Mom just lights up when she reunites with her girls from Mighty Oaks early days. Despite the language barrier, hugs and love communicate loudly. We kept Gan and David busy as all the Canadians wanted to have conversations around the table with our Thai friends. A few of the young women speak English well because they work in hotels or hospitals where they use it daily.
Mom took time to talk with each of the alumni and communicate her love and affection for each one. Those that could speak English allowed Mom a chance to have a meaningful conversation as she asked about their families and how life had shaped after completing school. All the alumni spoke of the difference Mighty Oaks made in allowing them to pursue their dreams and create stability and resilience. They all asked about their sponsors who they hold with fondness and honour. I love the personal relationships that have been formed over the years of exchanging letters, photos and online communication. It is special to see those bonds that unite people from Canada with Thai family.
The girls across the table from me were lively and fun. They were trying to facilitate a conversation with me using google translate when David was too busy hosting other table mates to translate for us. I was blessed by the friendly banter and funny language bloopers that made for shared laughter.
Alongside the alumni, a few special guests were added to the list. Nat, the university student I sponsor, was able to join us at the restaurant to connect! I have only met Nat a few times, but we keep up on Facebook. It was amazing to be in the same space, to hug her, take photos together, hear how she is doing and pray for her! I am so grateful to see her looking well and thriving in the big city far from Fang. Nat works at a restaurant to help with expenses while she studies accounting and loves her art courses. I pray that God will guide her steps and surround her with healthy relationships that would be mutually encouraging and support the direction God leads her to walk.
We had the chance to connect with four of our former Agape girls. Two were from early groups that lived above our rented office space with a staff Mom to care for them. Steve and I knew the other two from more recent years staying at the new property and buildings made possible by generous donations. Steve had a chance to catch up with Air while I had an opportunity with David and Gan's help to talk and pray with Dada. Moving to the city of Chiang Mai has been full of opportunities, but also can be lonely.
It was fun to hear the alumni imparting wisdom and encouragement to the younger girls. Our younger sponsor girls are new to the area and miss family and connections from Fang. It delighted my heart to hear the more established girls sharing about churches around the city that have created a sense of warm community.
The evening ended with a group photo by the water, softly lit by lantern light. While we were huddled away from the live music, Steve, Mom, Tum, Gan and David had a chance to thank the alumni for making the effort to drive in to rekindle friendships that we hope will continue to be a strength to them. Mom reminded them of how loved they are and challenged them to be all that God made them to be. Gan and David reminded them that though they no longer need support, Mighty Oaks loves to hear from them to celebrate their victories and provide a layer of protection and care when they need it. We had a circle hug and prayed Thai style for God's blessing and presence to go with them as they step into their next chapter.
Thank you for your prayers from Canada over the years that have produced such Mighty Oaks - strong, steadfast young women and men finding ways to be a shelter and shade to those around them.
Day 13:
Last night we shopped at the night market in Chiang Mai. Selena found some great 'drip' and 'bling' to bring a taste of Thailand's colour and beauty home with her. Mom and Gan bargained with the vendors as we bought in bulk more Thai goods to bring home for resale. Any profits from the sales allow us to build our emergency and development funds. Let us know if you want to host a Thai table at an event! We love to share the handicrafts that artisans from the North and Hilltribes create.
Mom was able to walk the whole time with us and we have rejoiced in her stable health after such a rough start. Thank you for praying for health for she and Steve. Thailand's sunshine has been good for all of us and we are storing it up to carry inside when we have to face the snowy grey of Canadian winter again.
This morning we played tourists as we showed Selena the umbrella factory where they hand make hand painted bamboo and paper umbrellas - a source of income for decades in the off season between crops. We did some more shopping for Thai sales and then headed to the Jewellery store where they take precious gems and inlay them while you watch.
After lunch, we had one more visit from an alumni who was working at the hospital last night and missed the dinner. She had a wonderful catch up with Mom and Gan before she had to head back to work. This young woman's work supports her and allows her to care for her family back home. She has installed cameras that allow her to keep an eye on her elderly grandmother back in Fang while her parents work. Her enthusiasm was contagious and their visit was full of hugs and photo ops. These reunions are such a joy to bear witness to.
We have our last evening in Thailand tonight and are heading off to the cultural centre for dinner. We fly out early tomorrow and will be home by late evening. Pray for travel mercies - especially since Steve is not with us to guide us around the airports and logistics. He is staying an extra week for meetings with the Mighty Oaks board here in Thailand and unrushed conversations with staff and the Agape girls.
Thank you for taking time to pray alongside us as we had this unforgettable adventure in Thailand.
We will do one final blog on our long journey home about fun travel tips we learned while we were here! Stay tuned.
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I was reflecting while sitting on our beautiful second floor balcony area trying to eat a fresh-from-the-groves orange without making a mess getting the seeds out. I haven't mastered that skill yet...
This is our last evening in Fang! We are looking forward to dinner and celebrations with the Agape girls, staff and new friends from church. Yesterday was full of meaningful connections with the sponsor children and friends from the area. Selina did a great job of capturing the day!
Called to Arise: Planting Seeds of Compassion
by Selina Mudavanhu
Friday was Teacher’s Day in Thailand, which meant students across the country were celebrating a well-earned day off. At Agape Home, the girls were especially grateful, any unexpected break from routine is cause for joy, and this one arrived with smiles all around.
For me, the day carried added excitement. I had the privilege of travelling with Mighty Oaks staff to Rapacha Boarding School to pick up Aomsin. The trip meant she would spend two full days with us before returning to school, two days to rest, reconnect, and be part of something special. Best of all, she would attend the Mighty Oaks Day Camp on Saturday alongside other sponsored children and kids from nearby churches.
This year’s camp theme, “Arise,” grew out of prayer and careful thought by Carolyn Hudson. She shared how the Lord impressed on her heart a desire to challenge children not just to hear about Jesus, but to live like Him, choosing compassion, mercy, and love in their everyday lives. It was a simple word with deep meaning, perfectly suited for young hearts.
After weeks of preparation by our staff and the Canadian team, camp day finally arrived. We anticipated sixty students, but ninety attended. A pleasant “problem” to have! Dressed in our “Arise” T-shirts, the Agape Home girls, Mighty Oaks staff, and the Canadian team gathered at Good News Church early on Saturday morning. Children arrived in groups, filling the space with chatter and a sense of curiosity. Volunteers hurried about, registering campers, handing out name tags, and distributing colour-coordinated white, grey, blue, and green t-shirts, while the MOT staff and Canadian team stood out in black. The room buzzed with anticipation.
As registration continued, the Good News Church band took the stage and introduced the Arise theme song, written just days earlier by Tum, a gifted Mighty Oaks alumni who works part time at Good News church as worship leader and a part time with our Mighty Oaks staff. Sung in Thai with the word “Arise” woven throughout, the song called children to live for the Lord. It was recorded and replayed throughout the day, becoming the joyful soundtrack of the camp.
Steve Hudson officially opened the program by reading Isaiah 60:1:
“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.”
“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.”
With those words, the day’s purpose was clearly set.
Throughout the morning, the children rotated through four activity stations led by Carolyn, Peggy, Tum, and me, with the help of wonderfully patient interpreters, Gan, David, Mook, Kookik and Noi. Each station offered a blend of learning and fun, including English lessons, music, experiential learning games, and Bible teaching. At my station, the children heard the story of the Good Samaritan and then worked together to create short skits centred on compassion. Later in the day, the groups performed their skits in plenary, proving that Bible stories stick best when they’re acted out boldly, energetically, and with just a little dramatic flair.
After a delicious lunch prepared by members of the Good News Church, the afternoon continued with lively games led by MOT staff. The church building echoed with laughter, running feet, and joyful noise. Worship followed, beginning once again with the Arise song, now sung confidently and with gusto, accompanied by actions that fully matched the lyrics.
Peggy shared an encouraging message and a song (Fear is Not My Future), inviting the children to embrace their identity in Christ and to live lives shaped by God's purpose, community and compassion. A skit performed by Nabosi, Rachel, Run, and Beaulah vividly illustrated the contrast between a self-focused life and one centred on Christ and community. The message was clear, accessible, and deeply impactful.
The day ended with prayer for the children, full plates of food, and hearts overflowing with gratitude. It was more than just a fun day; it was an invitation. An invitation for these children to arise, shine, and carry the love of Jesus into their homes, schools, and communities."
Today Mom preached at Good News church and the agape girls handed me a banner to wave during worship. I loved having a physical vehicle for my heart's overflow since I can't often join the singing in Thai. The joy runs deep here as an undercurrent for all circumstances. Generosity flows naturally from such depths and we have been impressed time and again at how lightly people hold on to things and are eager to share what they have.
My food restrictions have been tricky to navigate at times, but once they found a few dishes I can eat, those foods showed up again and again at the table to make sure I was included. I even have my own signature smoothie from the local coffee shop. I appreciate the steady care and affection the staff team shows for all of us. We have felt very at home here.
Our Thai family fits amazingly well inside our hearts. It's beautiful how the heart stretches to love others - especially when we are all encompassed in a Love that holds all things together.
Aomsin: A Small Girl Who Left a Big Imprint
by Selina Mudavanhu
"We bonded even more at the camp on Saturday, Aomsin and I, despite having no shared language, unless you count smiles, exaggerated hand gestures, and the internationally recognized thumbs-up. Honestly, we were fluent in joy.
She had a delightful habit of entrusting me with her treasures. Off she would dash to join the camp fun, leaving behind her jacket, a pack of playing cards, or whatever prized possession she had recently acquired at camp. Apparently, I had been promoted to official keeper of things.
Every so often, I’d hear my name floating through the air:
“Selina-a-a-a!” The people we met in Fang pronounced it in a way that felt musical and affectionate, like my name had suddenly grown extra syllables just to be friendlier. I’d look up to find Aomsin waving enthusiastically, motioning for me to take custody of yet another item. I’d nod, accept it and flash a thumbs-up. Communication: successful.
“Selina-a-a-a!” The people we met in Fang pronounced it in a way that felt musical and affectionate, like my name had suddenly grown extra syllables just to be friendlier. I’d look up to find Aomsin waving enthusiastically, motioning for me to take custody of yet another item. I’d nod, accept it and flash a thumbs-up. Communication: successful.
On Sunday morning, on our way to church, Aomsin greeted me with a hug and a cheerful “good morning.” That was the full extent of our verbal exchange, and honestly, it was more than enough.
At church, we sat side by side. When I answered a camp review question correctly and was rewarded with candy, I knew immediately who deserved it more. I handed it to Aomsin, and she responded with her signature gentle smile, followed by a graceful Thai “thank you,” hands clasped together, a small nod. It was so sincere that I briefly wondered if I should be thanking her instead.
After the service, we headed behind the church for the usual lunch. On our way, David prepared me gently: “After lunch, I’ll be taking Aomsin back to the boarding school. You’ll have a chance to say goodbye.”
Despite the difficult circumstances Aomsin had endured in her young life, in the last two days, it was beautiful to see her simply being a child, laughing, playing in the water, swinging, playing badminton, volleyball, shooting hoops, cycling, and running around without a care, at least for a while.
Like last weekend, I knew saying goodbye would be hard. Maybe because I knew it would be years before I’d see her again in person. David and Gan were there to translate, and Peggy joined to say her goodbyes and shower Aomsin with love.
“Please tell her that I love her,” I said, my voice already betraying me, “and that the Lord loves her even more.”
Aomsin began to cry. That did it. Any emotional composure I had been clinging to evaporated instantly. Normally, I would be calculating the damage to my mascara, waterproof or not? But this time, I didn’t care. Some moments are simply worth raccoon eyes.
Peggy and I hugged Aomsin while Gan and David gently comforted her, reminding her that it wouldn’t be long before she would come stay at the Agape Home with the other girls.
Aomsin walked with David toward the car as Peggy and I stood watching, emotion continuing to well up as we looked on. Then Peggy began to sing:
“The Lord bless you
And keep you
Make His face shine upon you
And be gracious to you
The Lord turn His face toward you
And give you peace.
And keep you
Make His face shine upon you
And be gracious to you
The Lord turn His face toward you
And give you peace.
Amen, amen, amen
Amen, amen, amen.”
Amen, amen, amen.”
I joined in, though calling it “singing” might be generous, determined all the same to pronounce the blessing upon Aomsin.
I am deeply grateful that the Lord allowed me to meet Aomsin, a child I will now be sponsoring.
As Peggy said so beautifully, “She will have a family at the Agape Home. She will be known and loved. And she won’t have to worry about being picked on.”
And somehow, in the midst of it all, this little girl, armed with nothing more than smiles, gestures, and a very effective system of leaving her belongings with me, ended up planting something lasting in my heart."
We spent our last evening in Fang sharing great food our favourite memories. The staff and girls had gifts and dances prepared for us! We had gifts we brought from Canada for them. They prayed for a safe journey back home. We leave for Chiang Mai in the morning and will share a few adventures in the city with the staff before we fly home on Wednesday morning. The time has gone swiftly - and yet has been so rich and full that it feels longer than two weeks. We are happy, full and blessed. Thankful for our Thai family!
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Day 8: Where Thai and English Meet in Worship and Prayer
by Selina Mudavanhu
"It often feels like a small taste of what heaven will be like, where people from every nation, tribe, and language stand before the throne of God and the Lamb, united in worship (Revelation 7:9-10). Many of our mornings begin with devotionals. We worship together in Thai and in English, take turns sharing what we are thankful for, and then share prayer requests.
The prayer time never follows the neat, orderly pattern of one person politely leading while everyone else bows their heads. Instead, we all lift our voices at once, praying simultaneously in Thai, English, and I add my Shona into the mix. It may sound chaotic to human ears, but to heaven, it must be a beautiful symphony.
Wednesday night’s small group was no different, except that instead of just the staff and the Canada team meeting together, the girls from the Agape Home joined us. We drove to visit a woman from the Good News Church who rents a building for her laundry business. Upon arrival, we were ushered upstairs to the second floor. It felt like an “upper room,” simply adorned with soft mats, no stained glass or chandeliers. Once again, we worshiped and prayed together in Thai and English.
This week, however, the small group followed a different format. The Mighty Oaks staff, the Agape Home girls, and members of the Good News Church took turns sharing testimonies of how the Lord had answered prayer requests they had written down and kept throughout the year. One by one, stories of God’s faithfulness filled the room. Nabosi, the house mother at the Agape Home, shared how she had been trusting the Lord to help her obtain her driver’s license, and He did. A young man had been praying for good grades, and the Lord honoured that request as well (Proof that God cares about both spiritual growth and report cards).
After the testimonies, we spent time writing down what we are trusting the Lord for in 2026 while worship music played softly in the background. I wrote down both big and small requests, for myself and for loved ones, each one anchored in Scripture. I believe in a God who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly, above all that we ask, think, or imagine, according to the power that works in us (Ephesians 3:20). The same God who answered prayers in 2025 is the One I am trusting with my requests for the year ahead.
The evening concluded in true Thai fashion, with generous servings of fresh fruit and irresistible Thai desserts. Because after being spiritually fed, it only seems right to be very well fed physically too."
Day 9: New Prospect Visit
After morning devotions with bible trivia questions courtesy of Matthew Hudson, Steve's son, we went to the home of a church member whose son is at risk of having to drop out of school from grade four. He was a cheerful, friendly boy with a sister who completed high school and works full time to help the family. Life if complicated by a father who was injured in a workplace accident and has little use of one arm. The mother also has a heart condition that limits her work. The church helped them move to this rental home in a safer area. They would love Mighty Oaks to help them keep their son in school. We keep hearing so many stories of need each day. So we love it when we see and hear fruits of the Mighty Oaks ministry from our students.
On our way back to town to visit friends for lunch, we stopped at a Buddhist temple high up in the mountains overlooking Fang right on the border with Myanmar. I went for a tour inside the temple with Selina where we wound our way up the levels to the top. The temple is part museum, part worship space. We recognized that our Western minds couldn't really grasp the significance of what we were seeing. Serpents in Christian symbolism are tempters not to be trusted, but the serpents in the art of this temple seemed lucky and welcome. At the next temple we will bring a guide to help us interpret what we see. The view from the top of the temple was magnificent and we were glad for the exercise. The rest of the team took pictures on the ground level with my Mom and Steve.
Can you find Selina and I at the top level of the temple?
The evening was spent in preparations for Saturday where I will be speaking to the youth and children at our camp day, and Sunday where Mom will be speaking at the church while Selina wrote for our blog and Steve caught up on Mighty Oaks expenses. We are so grateful to have the ministry centre to work, rest, play and meet. Steve, Gan and David did such a great job anticipating what would be needed as they designed this space. We are so grateful to be able to meet needs simply and effectively while having lots of intersection points with staff and the girls home.
Day 10: No School Day!
Because there was no school today, the Agape girls were able to join us for devotions, practice worship with the band and go out together for a special lunch. David and Selina were able to pick up Amosin from the state school early for a weekend together. I caught a few beautiful childhood carefree moments as the girls played in and near the water at the riverside restaurant. Here is Amosin on the huge swing over the water.
Tables are set on platforms all along the river. Mom, Steve, Selina and I joined Gan, David and friends on the level above to have chairs to sit while we ate.
After more prep time for camp activities, we joined the girls after dinner for some sports, sharing, worship and games. Earn shared her story of how God placed her in a family at the Agape home even before her mother passed away. She never knew her father and was mistreated by an uncle. The Agape girls have become sisters and her bond with our MOT staff is beautiful to see. Gan, David, Tum, Noi and Bo all create such a warm, fun, godly culture for the girls to grow in knowing God's love and deep care for them. Steve has also spent enough time in visits every year that the girls all look to him like an older brother. He teases and jokes with them, but tonight as Earn spoke he was moved to tears and spoke words of truth and affirmation over her as Gan translated. These bonds are a big part of what God is doing in Northern Thailand to place the parentless in families - churches - and surrounded by Jesus followers who are the hands and words of Christ speaking life and hope to one another.
We closed with the song Fear is Not my Future as we pictured Jesus beckoning us into His character and Spirit of life, peace, strength, hope and love - above all love.
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Yesterday and today have made me reflect about beginnings.
We were visiting prospective sponsor children to interview in a school yesterday and it reminded me of how Mighty Oaks began. A conversation with a teacher and principal identifying vulnerable children who wouldn't be able to continue in school. Children gathered in an office to meet my parents. A question: how many would you like to sponsor?
My mom's quick answer: "All of them!"
Mom knew the gift of an education to the future possibilities for these children and families. She saw far into the future to a moment like today.
We were scheduled to teach a few classes as a way to sustain healthy connection to schools in the area. Mighty Oaks very first sponsor child was now a teacher that met us outside the high school this morning. Mom immediately cried out and hugged her long and hard. Both were crying openly. It took a few moments for the rest of us to catch up with what we were witnessing. This 'child' has now been a teacher for 17 years. She is a high school English teacher who has two little ones of her own learning English alongside her at home. She spoke English freely with our team with poise and confidence. Mighty Oaks gave her the gift of education that she used to create a beautiful life and legacy.
Those first sponsor children have now become over 233 children whose stories were impacted by sponsors on the other side of the world who cared enough to help them stay in school and find a sustainable path for their future.
Yesterday's interviews with new prospects took place at an elementary school in Fang. Watching the little girls whisper answers to Gan to speak aloud certainly pulled on our heartstrings. All the applications for these little girls came from an area pastor who knew the poverty and needs of these families. All of the parents have insecure work as day labourers for a pittance. We are praying for the right sponsors to love these vulnerable ones to help turn their stories into resilience and hope. There were four other students who are already sponsored at this school through Mighty Oaks. The kids on the playground loved posing for our cameras. They were no longer shy out of the office and with their peers. We left with many waves and smiles as we loaded the team back into the MOT truck.
Today at the ministry centre, Mom pulled out a binder to show us the list of every development project Mighty Oaks supported for families and villages who wanted to have more reliable food sources through gardens, fisheries, frog farms, chickens, pigs and even a cow. Many water filtration systems have been installed to help families not have to purchase bottled water. Mighty Oaks has tried so many different ways to lift families out of poverty.
All of it has been a response to God's great compassion that begins in the heart and looks for ways to help!
From Snow to Sadza: When Canada, Zimbabwe, and Compassion Met
by Selina Mudavanhu
"Wednesday was the day we were scheduled to teach English to three groups of students at a local high school, a fact that felt very reasonable the night before and slightly ambitious by morning. We had prepared well, though. Steve would talk about Canada, I would introduce Zimbabwe, and Carolyn, Peggy, and I would share about the Good Samaritan. With plans firmly in place (and coffee doing its job, at least for Carolyn), we set off.
We arrived at the school around 9 a.m., and the teachers were ready for us. The first group of students was already seated, settled, and waiting, which immediately raised our confidence.
Three times, Steve introduced the Canada team, and three times he launched into his lesson with enthusiasm. The students’ reactions to photographs of Canada’s four seasons were priceless. Gasps, wide eyes, and enthusiastic “wows” filled the room, especially at the sight of snow. By the end of the lesson, they were proudly recalling the seasons, as if winter might be arriving in Thailand any moment.
When it was my turn to talk about Zimbabwe, the students were particularly taken with photos of the “Big Five,” the flame lily (Zimbabwe’s national flower), and sadza, a thick porridge served with vegetables and meat. The idea of eating sadza with your hands sparked both curiosity and delight. Though Zimbabwe and Thailand are continents apart, our shared experiences around food, language, and leisure became the invisible cords connecting us.
Carolyn then introduced herself and the Canadian team as Christians and explained that she would be sharing a story from the Bible, openly naming the faith perspective that motivates our desire to serve and connect across cultures. She read the story of the Good Samaritan to a captivated audience, so still and attentive it felt like time had politely paused. Peggy followed by exploring practical ways to apply the lesson, focusing on the word compassion. She taught the students a simple and memorable framework: see a need, meet a need, with excellence, something even adults might need posted on their refrigerators.
I had the most entertaining role: asking students to give examples of selfishness and compassion. The room buzzed with excitement, though the promise of chocolate for brave volunteers may have played a small but significant role. Their examples were thoughtful and honest, proving that the lesson had landed and that kids everywhere understand human nature remarkably well (especially when chocolate is involved).
By the end of the morning, we were tired, encouraged, and smiling, convinced once again that stories, kindness, and a few good pictures can bridge just about any distance. Being served a delicious plate of pad Thai by the school was the perfect ending, confirming that food, too, is a universal language of welcome."
And so Mighty Oaks keeps creating new beginnings - beginnings of relationships with schools, families, teachers, pastors and children - new paths of support - new ways to spread compassion - and new beginnings to restore what is not working... so we begin again. Cheers, friends, to being committed to new beginnings in us and all around us! That's what hope looks like.
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