5 More Days, Thailand Here We Come!!!

Last year I was blessed beyond belief with the opportunity to be a part of the 2009 Eastlake Thailand Mission Team. We spent a week serving, playing, laughing, loving, and crying with the amazing kids at the Udon Thani Orphanage for Girls. It is hard to describe the bond created after spending a week with someone that you can barely communicate with. We didn’t build the kids anything, and we didn’t cure any diseases; we just spent time with them. These girls have lived a life of abandonment; so our goal was to let them to know that we were there because WE wanted to be with THEM. We wanted them to know that THEY are important, that THEY have value, and that THEY are special. I truly feel that the bonds formed were just as real and just as lasting as if we had constructed a new building or playground. Every time I flip through some photos or watch a video from last years trip, all of the emotions come right back and I can’t wait to see the girls again.

This Sunday (March 28th), a team of 19 of us are heading back to build upon the relationships formed in the past. We’ll tack on a few side projects such as pouring concrete, planting a garden, and painting some playground equipment. But we are staying focused on our main goal which is connecting with the girls.

It is less than a week away and we sit ready to go. We feel well prepared thanks to the support of so many people; and of course all thanks to God for his hand in helping this trip come together so well. Please pray for safe travels for the team; and please, please, please, pray for the orphans! And even though the girls do not know and worship the same God that we do, pray that through our presence they might somehow come to fell and understand His never ending love for them.

Thanks for your interest and support in what we are doing. Check back over the next few weeks for trip updates. -neil everson