I can’t speak highly enough of our ZOE Children’s Homes parents. This dedicated team faces challenges that many of us would back away from or simply deem as being “too hard,” but not them.
When a situation occurs that requires an effort above and beyond the ordinary, these parents rise and show their unconditional love in a way that would bring tears to your eyes. Without any biological ties to the children they are raising, these parents certainly do it in a selfless manner.

There is not a lot of training that can really prepare you for helping to rehabilitate a vulnerable child who has suffered atrocities too terrible to even speak about, the orphan who just lost both her parents or the small child neglected and left to fend for himself.
And yet these parents do it every day. Their skills are mostly learned through the daily sharing of knowledge and the on-the-job experiences of raising children like this since 2002.

Having been a parent myself for over 6 years (and a foster parent for a few years prior to that), I have realized that parenting is by far both the most difficult and the most rewarding job I will ever have (and I haven’t even reached the teenage stage yet!).
Being a parent means that you are one of, if not the, most important influence in your child’s world and your actions can have a major impact on their health, well-being and development.
For young children, who are completely dependent on someone else to look after them, having warm and nurturing care provides a firm foundation for their future years.

Parents come in many different shapes, sizes, nationalities and personality types. And just as parents come in various shapes and sizes, so too do families, which both change and grow over time.

When my husband and I were first married, we became foster parents, which saw our “family” temporarily increase and decrease frequently. We continued foster care when we had two small children of our own and many times we’d increase to 5 children for the weekend or for a two-week stint. It wasn’t “normal” as far as what our friends were doing, but it worked.

At the ZOE Children’s Homes, we have a fairly unique situation where 23 parents care for over 60 children divided into smaller family groupings. Assisting the parents we also have a support team consisting of many administration staff, guards, teachers, cooks, ministry school students and foreign volunteers.

Our ZOE parents are a mix of ages and backgrounds. Some are married, some single, some have their own biological children, some do not, some have a tertiary education, some never finished high school but all of them possess some key similarities. They are all committed. They are all accepting, sensitive, loving, concerned and involved in the children’s lives.
And they are all making a difference.

There is no one recipe or set of ingredients that make for “good parenting.” Many combinations, flavors and approaches can be used. At ZOE, effective parenting means continually updating skills, learning new practices and adapting to the changing dynamics of the family. ZOE provides weekly meetings and training to all parents with opportunities to develop parenting knowledge, skills and confidence, and provides access to professional advice and support.

While the children at ZOE are placed in a family, which is chosen to best suit their individual needs, the home really thrives on the “community” approach to raising a child. It’s a community that shares, celebrates and supports one another wholeheartedly. And, it only takes a small crisis to see how everyone rallies around to alleviate the impact and work through the temporary challenge together.
What a privilege it is to be around this amazing group of people. To see young lives restored and transformed to become happy, healthy and thriving children through the ongoing love and care by this committed team.
To the ZOE parents, you are so capable, strong, engaged and resilient… In a word, you are simply outstanding!

Like many homes, reading together at ZOE is a special time. It’s a time when parents can cuddle their children, laugh at funny stories, discuss issues and get to know one another better.
Reading is so much more than just figuring out the words on a page. It’s a chance to explore new places, discover new things, and meet new characters, knowing that all the while you’re helping a child to develop a lifelong habit of reading.
Reading brings a touch of color to life and happiness as you share in a moment side by side.

As I walked through the children’s home this morning I was curious to know why it was so quiet because I knew that the children had the day off school. How inspiring it was to see the children all snuggled on the stairs in the sunshine listening to one of our volunteers reading them stories. I just had to sit and listen for a while; the warmth of the morning sun and the enjoyment of being read to had me captivated.
And who doesn’t love a story about George? Curious George that is!

That little monkey is always up to mischief. And as he’s trying to figure out how to get out of trouble, readers young and old get to use their imaginations and engage in one adventure after another.
Research shows that families play an important role in children’s reading success. Family participation assists them to not only become better readers but also better listeners, and better students.
At ZOE this morning, our children were hearing the stories in English and Thai, which helps them build vocabulary and language skills in both languages.

As a former teacher, I love to see the activities that take place around the children’s home.
Reading is an important tool for our children to gain knowledge about the world around them.
Seeking to develop life-long learners, it is essential that children learn from a young age that reading is important, but most of all that reading is fun!

Graduations are an exciting time!

As I think back on my own Grade 6 experience, I have to say that I really loved school.  I had supportive parents, great friends and wonderful teachers, which made my learning experience a positive one and also a huge catalyst for me later becoming a teacher.

My transition from Sixth Grade to Seventh Grade was smooth.  I just had to move from one campus of the school to another.

Going to school, for me, was a relaxed and happy time.

But, let’s take a moment to consider what some of our ZOE children have accomplished in their short lives to even reach this point of graduation.  For many it has been a struggle.  Not just on an academic level but in ways that we can only imagine.  The resilience of these children, their persistence, their courage and their strength challenges me in my own life.

These children are truly inspiring!

One of our volunteers, Denise Tang, gave a wonderfully encouraging speech at graduation that left me feeling motivated and ready to go on and do great things!

I want to share part of it with you:

You were challenged to learn academically…and you did!

You were challenged to grow in leadership skills…and you did!

You were challenged to learn to work with people different than yourselves…and you did!

We are all so proud of you!  Most importantly, God is so proud of you!  He is so proud of you because you have persevered.  You didn’t give up when it got tough in school.  And because you persevered, you are sitting here ready to graduate.

As you move on from here, I encourage you to take all you have gained and discovered here and to build upon it.  The road ahead will not always be easy, but the beauty is, God is there.

Deuteronomy 31:8 “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you…”

What a wonderful promise!

These ZOE graduates each had a dream to complete elementary school…  But we know a dream alone is not enough.  Despite what happened in their past, they had to do the hard work required.  They had to set goals, focus and study to make the impossible, possible.

To the wonderful ZOE parents who stood right by these children, who believed in them throughout the ups and the downs, who helped them with their homework and supported their dreams when it all seemed too hard:  you truly are amazing!

These special parents are testament to a life given and sacrificed to see someone else overcome great odds and reach their goal.

Having the privilege to witness the achievements of these children is a great gift that I will long cherish.

On behalf of the whole ZOE family, we say “Congratulations Grade 6 Class of 2012!”  We are all so proud of you.

I first met Jessica Dodd when my husband and I came to see ZOE in 2009.  She was one of those people that I was instantly drawn to for her warmth and her sense of humor.  Since that time, I’ve seen our friendship grow to where I can’t imagine life without her.  She has become like an adopted auntie to my children and a beautiful friend to me.

Not long ago Jess told us that it was her 5-year anniversary since moving to Thailand to serve at the ZOE Children’s Home.  I don’t know about you, but I think that’s worthy of some recognition! Don’t you?

And so I have just finished interviewing her and even now after knowing her for several years, she still inspires me and encourages me through her faith and her dedication to seeing children’s lives changed.

Jessica recalls an experience about 4 days after leaving America where she had gone to visit a village with Carol.  As she sat in the small hut and watched as Carol negotiated with a local man regarding the price of buying a pig, the contrast of her life in LA hit her immeasurably.

The life that she had left

and the one that she had moved to

could not have seemed

further apart.

The other experience that Jess recalls that significantly impacted her was when she met her first rescued child.

She was the only volunteer at the children’s home when the Child Rescue Team returned, and the memory of the sadness and emptiness that consumed the face of that little girl is one that she still sees vividly in her mind even to this day.

It was then that Jessica knew that she was in the right place.  Right where God wanted her.

Many funny experiences fill Jessica’s thoughts as she reflects back on the past five years but she recalls just how interesting it has been during the times when she has been to visit some of the more remote villages where she has been the first “white” person that they’ve ever seen.   How strange it is to have so many people touching your skin and hair.  How one person can go from feeling  normal, to being so very special!  She also muses about how laughter and humor really are a universal language and how she has experienced some very funny moments in her years here.

Once you spend any time around Jessica what becomes apparent is just how ‘grounded’ she is in who she is.  Growing up she wanted to be a children’s minister and a teacher and that is exactly what she does now- and well.  When asked what advice she would give to young people starting out she said, “Find out what God has called you to do…. And do it!”

And I’m happy to report that she really truly lives by these words.

One of the greatest accomplishments that Jessica has seen within the ‘children’s ministry’ realm here in Thailand has been an increasing awareness within the Thai churches about just how much God loves little children.

From churches having no children’s program or a simple babysitting service, to seeing churches that now understand about the importance of implementing a vibrant program in order to grow and foster their children’s faith and knowledge in God.  This has been an area that makes Jessica feel a real sense of accomplishment.

Jessica has shared so many occasions of joy over the years, but what she loves most is simply hanging out with the ZOE kids.

Now that she has the language to be able to sit and hear about their day and speak to them in Thai, she loves the opportunity to joke with them and be a part of their lives.  She finds this extremely fulfilling.

Leaving the comforts of paid employment when she moved to Thailand, Jessica has seen her faith stretched and strengthened time and time again.  She says that her trust and faith in God’s provision for her finances has been tested many times but just as many times, God has displayed to her that this is definitely where He wants her.

When asked whether there have been turning points in any area of her life, Jess commented that stepping on to that plane five years ago to come and live in Thailand was the biggest leap of faith she’d ever made.

Anyone who has moved away from their family, friends and a life they loved, knows though that it is not always about just having faith.  There are many emotions that can emerge even during times when you think that you’re doing okay.  Homesickness, loneliness and isolation can prey when you least expect them to.

Jessica shared that some of the hardest times living overseas have hit when she knew that she was missing milestones within her family.  One of the toughest times was when she became an aunt and missed being around for the birth of her nieces and nephew.  She also reflects that not only did she feel sad at missing the births, but guilty that she was not there for her siblings.  Her encouragement though comes from knowing that she is here for a reason and that God is with her.

That all being said, Jessica claims that the thing that she is most grateful for in her life is that God called her to Thailand.

“I’m grateful to just be here”.

On behalf of everyone at ZOE: staff, parents, volunteers and children, I want to say a huge congratulations on being here for five years and we are just so glad that you came!

THEN, 2007

NOW, 2012