I knew it wouldn’t be easy, dropping Aomsin back at school.
The four of us, Nabosi, Aomsin, Earn, and I, buckled up and headed toward Rapacha Boarding School.
Silence. The kind of silence that’s loud. My mind kept rewinding the last two days with Aomsin, replaying every smile and moment, as if I could somehow stretch the weekend just a little longer by thinking about it hard enough.
“Please ask Aomsin how her weekend with the Agape girls was,” I said to Earn, our very patient translator.
“It was wonderful. I made new friends,” Aomsin said. Then, after a pause, she added, “I don’t really have friends at the boarding school.” She explained quietly that some of the other students weren’t kind to her.
Silence again. The kind that sits in your chest.
“Please tell Aomsin that I will pray for her,” I said. I hoped she understood that prayer isn’t just a polite thing Christians say when they don’t know what else to do.
The engine roared to life and the conversation shifted to lighter topics because sometimes small talk is an act of survival.
Soon, the main entrance to the boarding school appeared. We parked outside. “Cars are not allowed inside on Sunday,” Nabosi explained in Thai, which was immediately translated for me just in case I was tempted to argue with Thai boarding school rules.
I closed the car door almost at the same time Aomsin did. My eyes went straight to the blue plastic bag she was carrying, the one holding all her clothes from the weekend. My heart sank. If only I’d noticed it earlier, I would have bought her a proper bag at Tesco Lotus.
We approached the desk where a school administrator collected a piece of paper from Nabosi. I assumed it was official confirmation that yes, we were indeed returning the child and not attempting a very slow kidnapping.
The four of us took a picture. By then, emotions were bubbling dangerously close to the surface. I reminded myself: Be strong. Adults are supposed to do that.
I asked Aomsin if I could pray for her. She nodded.
By the time I said “Amen,” the brave composure she’d been holding onto cracked. Aomsin broke down and cried. I hugged her tightly, whispering assurances that in just a few weeks she would come to the Agape Home for good. I knew she couldn’t understand my words, but I desperately hoped she understood the hug. Sometimes love doesn’t need subtitles.
The drive back was hard for me. Quiet again.
Then Earn broke the silence with perfect timing:
“So… what is your favourite colour?”
“So… what is your favourite colour?”
And just like that, the world reminded us that even on the hardest days, life gently nudges you forward sometimes with a completely random question.
by Selina Mudavanhu
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Last evening we celebrated a dinner with the alumni from Mighty Oaks. We hosted them here on the Mighty Oaks property. David was busy trimming the grass, setting up party lights and pulling out tables and chairs. When the team and agape girls got back from the Children’s festival, they all moved as one to create beautiful table settings and dinner party flair.
We were ready. The food had been prepared and delivered, the girls headed home for their own routines. And we waited for the guests to arrive.
Gan worked hard to communicate with all the alumni that have settled in the Fang area. She had promises from some to attend and many maybes.
Thai time is a little more casual it seems. The first guests arrived half hour after the appointed time. But they came bearing gifts and fondness for the staff and founder or Mighty Oaks. The hospitality gift of choice was oranges, oranges and more oranges. (They are fresh and sweet - we sampled some today!)
Everyone wanted photos with Mom and Steve. There were teary thank yous as many of these graduates recognized how their life trajectory changed the day they met my parents. Around the tables were several teachers, a young man working at a bank, a mother of two who is a government administrator, a nurse and young adults with honest work that supports family life.
What struck me was how many had travelled some distance to have a chance to connect with my Mom and Steve, Gan and David again. Many were some of the first sponsor children with Mighty Oaks. Mom asked about family and knew each one personally. It was emotional as the former students eagerly shared updates with Mom about their lives with a trusted advisor. Some spoke enough english to carry on a conversation with our team, others required an interpreter. Gan had a very interrupted dinner as Mom asked her to help her catch up with these young adults. One student lingered to the end to have a quiet conversation and prayer time.
Our hope in gathering these former students was to rekindle some connection between them. Faith is not a solo flight. All of us need a healthy place of connection and belonging. It was music to my ears to hear the laughter and lively conversations happening in the cool of the evening. I couldn’t understand most of what was said, but I could hear the spirit of it.
Mom took time to speak out the challenge to each of them to arise and shine God’s unconditional love in their days. To be assured of God’s care for them and the dignity of all people as image bearers. She called them to continue to seek their purpose, use their gifts and extend kindness.
Some listened intently, others politely, but all with respect for one who has lived boldly what she speaks. Mighty Oaks would not exist without that early decision to rise up and use the freedom of retirement years to pioneer a way to live love - a love that protects vulnerable children - a love that sees possibilities - a love that shines as a beacon of hope and perseveres until those hopes become reality.
Steve and the staff prepared gifts for the alumni to take with them. Tum is organizing a way for this little community to stay connected on social media. We know we all thrive best when we belong to an encouraging, loving community.
This was echoed again at church this morning.
There is a reason Mom and Dad partnered with local churches. They needed many hands and hearts to wrap around our sponsored children and families. Mom was delighted with the rekindling of friendships at Good News church this morning that span 25 years. Our MOT staff offer regular leadership to the church and are truly ministry partners.
The children fill the space at the front before church. They are happy to see one another and are at ease in this church that cares for them. Selena shared the story of Zaccheus and the verse from I Corinthians 5:17. The children explored the story together as Selena led them to consider how Zaccheus’ encounter with Jesus changed him.
Mom repeated her challenge to “Arise, shine for your light has come.” Selina and I shared testimonies of God’s faithfulness in calling us higher into purpose, wholeness and community. The church gathers around tables for a meal after Sunday services to foster deeper community.
Little Amosin had to return to her boarding school today. It was an emotional parting. She has felt so safe and welcome at Agape home and did not want to return to a school where bullying is common. She has two months to finish out her term before she can move in with the Agape girls permanently. Selina prayed with her before they parted. Please join us in praying for God’s protection and care over our youngest agape girl.
Today was Luta and Selina’s shared birthday! We had a special dinner followed by a cake and mango sticky rice! It was fun to shower our friends with blessings, gifts and a joyful spirit. We filled the table with laughter, silly banter, deep sharing, and communal eating where all platters are generously passed around until everyone has enough.
This is the kind of world Jesus talked about. A place where everyone belongs and everyone has enough. Shalom, friends!
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As my mom shares stories of their early years of founding a sponsorship program in Thailand, it is clear that God was providing vision, people and resources to build Mighty Oaks.
The name came from a scripture Mom and Dad felt captured the heartbeat of their dream. Isaiah 61 talked of One who would bring good news to the poor, restoration and wholeness to all. “They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.” (v.1-3)
The dream was to see resilient strength grow in the children who were sponsored. That poverty would no longer leave them vulnerable to traffickers promising work in the south. Mighty Oaks would insulate the young from the dangers of being moved far from all support and taken advantage of. Instead, they would be planted in a nurturing environment with possibilities to become all they were made to be.
It was clear early on that there was a need for a home for girls that lived too far from town to attend school and for emergency housing for girls who lived in unsafe situations or who lost their parents. The home was the first building erected on the plot of land a large donation allowed Mighty Oaks to purchase. This meant there was no longer need to pay rent for office space and the girls home that began on the floor above. The girls home is always full. As soon as space is available, it is filled by a young girl in need of a caring home. Care is presently offered to the girls by some Agape Girl graduates.
Because the ministry building where teams are hosted is on the front of the same property, the girls in the home have privacy, but can enjoy connecting with staff and teams that stay here. It also means that our team has chances to eat, play and connect with the girls when they are not in school or busy with homework and activities.
Today was a half day with the agape girls!
The Day a Little Hand Found Mine
by Selina Mudavanhu
"We left the Mighty Oaks property early on Saturday morning, armed with enthusiasm. All the Agape girls, the staff, and the visiting team from Canada somehow fit into two cars and set off for Rapacha boarding school.
The mission: pick up ten-year-old Aomsin for the weekend.
The entourage: impressive. Slightly overwhelming. Definitely unforgettable.
This little girl has no one to call family, and for the very first time, the government had asked whether Agape Home could make space for her. That alone made the drive feel sacred.
When we arrived at the school, we waited only a few moments before seeing Aomsin escorted by three teachers. Steve Hudson stepped forward and presented her with a gift bag containing chocolate and a cozy blanket. It’s hard to say whose heart melted more at that moment: hers or ours. Her face lit up instantly, the kind of smile that starts at the toes and stretches all the way to the ears. Gratitude radiated from her, and within seconds, every single person in our group was smiling just as widely.
Aomsin dashed off to collect her clothes for the weekend and, just like that, clicked with the other girls. They spoke in Thai, which I do not, but the warmth of the welcome needed no translation.
Our next stop was the fairgrounds, where the Day of the Child celebrations were in full swing. Imagine crowds, vendor stalls selling everything from clothes to food, amusement-park-style attractions, and people everywhere. It would have been very easy to lose a child or an adult if you blinked for too long.
Amid all the chaos, Aomsin quietly reached for my hand so she wouldn’t get lost. And just like that, I was undone again. We didn’t share a language, but we shared smiles. We walked through the fair together, her occasionally tugging my hand to point out something cute or fun she’d spotted. It felt as though we’d known each other for years rather than minutes.
At one point, Gan handed me sticky corn to try. My first thought wasn’t Is this good? but How do I break this in half to share with my new little friend? I offered it to her, and she accepted with another beaming smile.
We bonded further at the animal cages. She tapped me repeatedly to make sure I didn’t miss any rabbits, goats, or particularly fuzzy creatures whose species I could not identify but fully appreciated.
I knew our friendship was officially sealed at lunchtime. Aomsin chose to sit at my table. She got her food first and promptly seasoned it with an impressive amount of hot pepper. I was still waiting for my food when the unexpected happened. With her chopsticks, she carefully fished out a piece of meat from her own plate and offered it to me.
I did not see that coming.
The selflessness, generosity, and kindness of that moment were overwhelming. Two hours earlier, we didn’t know the other existed. Now, here we were two people from different parts of the world, connected by smiles, shared food, and a bit of improvised sign language.
Sometimes, family doesn’t start with words. Sometimes, it starts with a held hand, a shared corn cob, and a piece of meat offered without hesitation."
And this new little girl found a sponsor - Thanks, Selina for making Aomsin part of your family!
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I woke up early on our first morning at the Ministry Centre in Fang. After the exhaustion of travel, we all went to bed by 8:30 on Wednesday night. This meant my mind was awake and ready for action at 4:30 am. This is remarkable for one who has been a night owl. I am now on rooster time.
At orientation on the first evening with staff, we looked ahead at preparations needed for hosting alumni dinners, offering leadership at a school, church and camp. Now that I felt rested, my brain buzzed with possibilities and began crafting a talk for our camp day. Our theme is “Arise, shine for your light has come.” Isaiah 60:1-2
We saw glimpses of the beauty of that light all day long.
Time with the staff to share and pray is holy time. Our worship together, the sincerity of faith expressed, the vulnerable sharing of prayer requests knit us together quickly regardless of the language barrier. David and Gan are amazing at interpreting not just the words but the spirit behind them. Gan and Mom made all of us tear up as they spoke about how meeting one another changed the movement of their lives. Gan came to work for Mighty Oaks as a young woman searching for her purpose. Mom found a partner to pioneer a ministry with. I could tell that Mom is not sure if she will be able to share moments like these in person again, so is making the most of her time here. She shared her heart with each person around the table and encouraged us all with insight and care. After praying Thai style - all voices speaking over one another prayers meant for God’s ears but the holy murmur felt by all - we climbed aboard the MOT truck.
The light of Christ shone before us to beckon us into our first day.
It was a half hour drive to the Lahu village Mighty Oaks has partnered with for twelve years. Two of our Agape girls, Rachel and Bo - came from this Hill Tribe village to get further education beyond grade six.
Pastor Surachai is Rachel’s father and leader of the Lahu village church. Their story is an example of God’s redeeming power at work. The Lahu people were driven out of Myanmar and arrived as refugees in Thailand. The tribes were allowed a plot of land in the mountains to settle, but they had to earn or buy Thai citizenship. The christian Lahu people asked their chief for a place where they could live out their Christian values as they follow the way of Jesus. Since that time, they have become a light to the villages around them. Mighty Oaks has partnered with them on development projects and has been blessed by their spiritual maturity, joy, faith and prayers. Mom tears up as she talks of all the children of the village praying for her many years ago - fervent prayers in another language whose Spirit could be felt. The elders joined the youngest voices and respected all with space and time to let them pray what the Spirit put on their hearts. The pigs donated by Mighty Oaks have helped create a sustainable source of protein to supplement the gardens they have scratched out of the mountainside.
The village prepared to lead us in a communal dance, with music from drums and small wind instruments fashioned from gourds and bamboo. Video link here! I tried out the gourd instrument - but only succeeded in making joyful noise. Rachel and Bo were immediately engulfed in a community that loves and cherishes them - enough to let them pursue education in town. The community blessed the girls with the gift of possibility and discovery. They released them from the nest to grow and explore what God has in mind for them. Bo and Rachel have been taking time to intern with Mighty Oaks as they care for the younger girls at the home. If they had stayed in the tribe, the necessity of survival would have resulted in early marriage and a hope for the best through hard work living off the land the village tends together. Community is the strength of the village. Together they work, play, dance, pray and thrive.
In the evening we spent time hearing more of Bo’s story after playing games and laughing a lot with the Agape girls. Bo is so grateful for the love she has experienced in a home where she was chosen. After years of schooling and living with the staff of MOT, she has learned of her value in the eyes of God. She is not a second class refugee and foreigner, but a beloved child of God who is worthy of living into her hopes and dreams. After completing the highest level of education available in Fang, Bo is heading to Chiang Mai to complete her BA in accounting in May. The plan is that Rachel will take over leadership at the girl’s home for an internship with Mighty Oaks. Bo never thought she would have the opportunity to learn and become in the ways that Mighty Oaks has provided. The girl's home is a place full of light, hope, and healing under the shelter of God’s unconditional love.
Our Canadian team felt a deep connection with the girls. Without language, we found ways to connect from the heart as we basked together in the light of Christ.
A Sermon Without a Pulpit
by Selina Mudavanhu
I enjoy listening to sermons on Sunday mornings at my church and on YouTube. Sunday sermons help me start the week with clarity and purpose, while YouTube lets me revisit messages or hear fresh perspectives whenever I need a spiritual reset. Together, they keep me growing, grounded, and inspired to live out my faith.
Yesterday’s sermon, though, was different. It wasn’t delivered from a pulpit. It was lived out by the Lahu people of Northern Thailand, one of the people groups with which Mighty Oaks has partnered and supported in various ways over the years.
Here were the “mini-sermons” they preached without saying a word:
- Letting their light shine,simply: we heard stories of how they live out Jesus’ command from the Sermon on the Mount: “Let your light shine before men” (Matthew 5:16). No fancy setups. Just faithful obedience woven into everyday life. While surrounding communities struggle with drug addiction, one non-negotiable stands firm in their village: no drugs. Instead, they choose the way of Jesus. They are deeply committed to not being of the world, just as He was not of it (John 17:14-16).
- A transformed mindset: Rather than conforming to the pattern of this world, they’ve clearly been transformed by the renewing of their minds (Romans 12:2). At the very top of the village stands a church both physically and spiritually. Their pastor lives among them with his family, not above them, embodying shepherding at its finest.
- The Great Commission in action: They don’t just read Jesus’ words; they walk them out. “Go and make disciples…” (Matthew 28:19-20) is a lived reality. With the support of Mighty Oaks, believers from the community head out every Saturday to share the message of Christ. Ordinary people. Extraordinary obedience.
- Generosity that refreshes: And after a beautiful communal dance performance, they truly “preached” again, this time with food. We were refreshed with all kinds of delicious treats. In the spirit of Proverbs 11:25, may they be blessed and refreshed, just as they so generously refreshed us (and our very happy stomachs).
No sermon notes. No smoke machines. Just a village quietly shining and preaching one of the most powerful messages.
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"I’ve heard about Mighty Oaks for years. Back in Canada, the Hudson family has shared at our church more times than I can count. They always come armed with stories, photos, and updates about Mighty Oaks’ current students as well as the alumni, kids who are now adults doing real-life things like teaching, enforcing the law, working in aviation in hospitality. (Basically, living proof that hope has a future resume).
So when I signed up for the Thailand trip, I thought I knew what I was getting into. We had meetings. There was an itinerary. I was informed. Prepared. Emotionally ready. Or so I thought.
Fast forward, we arrived in Fang after a 16-hour flight, followed by another 3-hour flight and a 2-hour drive from Chiang Mai. At this point, I had been running mostly on airplane snacks, optimism and excitement. Jetlagged, mildly disoriented, and semi-questioning my life choices, I arrived at the Mighty Oaks Foundation property, which houses its offices, ministry center and the Agape Home for girls.
Then the girls came out to greet us.
And that’s where everything I thought I knew fell apart in the best possible way.
I wasn’t prepared for the emotions. Or the visceral reaction. Or the way my heart seemed to forget it was supposed to stay neatly inside my chest. What I saw in the girls’ faces was innocence, gratitude, and pure joy. What I received were hugs that somehow bypassed exhaustion and language barriers. These were not polite hugs. These were full-on, “we are genuinely glad you’re here” hugs.
In that moment, the love of Christ stopped being an abstract theological concept and became something tangible, something you could see, feel, and experience. It was embodied in the work of Mighty Oaks, in the faithfulness of the Hudson family, and in the generosity of supporters who may never meet these girls but have changed the trajectory of their lives.
Standing there, jetlag and all, I realized I was witnessing Matthew 25:40 in real time:
“Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
Except this time, “the least of these” hugged me first.
And I think that’s what undid me the most.
Sometimes Jesus doesn’t show up with a sermon or a miracle. Sometimes He shows up in the arms of a child whose life has been redirected by love and reminds you why any of this matters at all."
~ Selina Mudavanhu
For the sights and sounds Peg recorded from our ministry center this morning, visit our Mighty Oaks Webpage at https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1CQsQHpf2b/
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