Well you know those months when there are a thousand things that have happened and you sit back and think….my goodness there has been a lot going on!  That sums up many of the months at the ZOE Children’s Homes!

New rescued children, new ZOE parents been hired, the reservoir has been lined, we began stage 2 of our pig farm (and have eaten a few of them –yum!), plus hosting visitors at the home, conducting training for the staff…the list goes on!

We have recently began a child sponsorship program to allow people to partner with ZOE and assist us as we care for the orphans and those rescued from or at risk of human trafficking.   I have the privilege of getting together with each of the kids and asking them how they are feeling, what special moments they have enjoyed over the past month or so, and find out any special highlights or achievement that they have achieved.

For me this process has become such a wonderful time of encouragement.  The overwhelming thing that stood out to me, as I sat and listened to the children talk and reflect on how they felt about the last few months, was how happy they are!  For many of the kids the thing they said they were proud of was being able to hand wash their own clothes, or being good at helping clean their room or family area.  They take such pride in their home, they take such joy in completing tasks that benefit those around them and they celebrate each other’s achievements along the way.

It’s a funny thing coming from Australia after being bombarded over the years with advertising to make us all think we need to spend money on a gismo to make us feel better, to the stark contrast of being in Northern Thailand and not seeing any television or reading any advertisements!

What has happened for me is that I have begun to take more pleasure in the “simple” things in life.  Not as much worried about getting the next thing, but learning (very slowly) to be content with what I have and looking for someone else to help, who really could just use a bit of a hand.

As I look over my notes from the interviews, most of the kids are not happy because of what they have, but they are excited about what they can do.

We are blessed to be able to be over here volunteering at the home.

I just want to say a BIG thank you to those that have become sponsors of the ZOE Children through the new Guardian Alliance Child Sponsorship Program.

The ZOE kids are now getting to experience the joy of living in a home that is safe.

So I hope you are also having fun and can find the time to take pleasure in some of the “simple” joys of life.