So exciting to see Cody’s house
go from a falling apart shack to a livable structure with a solid roof and a
sleeping loft. It was fun to get to participate in the building of it as well.
My participation consisted of me holding logs in place while Billy’s dad
hammered them into place for the loft. It was cool to get to spend some time
with the grownups for a change too.
I was so honored to be invited by
Cody’s mom personally to come to the housewarming party and dedication by their
church priest after the house was completed. They invited everyone, but Ahna
and I were the only farangs who showed up, because Rob and Judy were sick. When
Ahna and I got there, we were the first to arrive, so Billy’s mom, Winnie’s mom
and Cody’s mom were saying “Oh, don’t be greng
tjai! (That is like feeling undeserving of the special treatment you are
receiving). You are like family now. You are Akha now.” And they were saying I
was doing such a good job as Sophie’s mom. They were telling her, “You need to
listen to your mom now. We loved your first mom, but now she’s gone and if not
for this mom, you would be dead! You were so sick walking around here coughing
all the time. Where would you be if not for Heather? You’d be dead!” Even other
parents who I don’t really know, but they live there too and have littler kids
not in the program, will come and say “it’s so good that Sophie is living with
you. If you hadn’t come here, what would have happened to her? We don’t know
where she would have gone or who she could have lived with.” It’s just such
validation and love from this community who loved her parents so much. I’m so
happy that they feel that way and I totally love them too.
February is also Valentine's Day, obviously, and boy do these kids get into it. I literally spent more buying V-Day junk for Sophie's friends than I did buying Christmas presents for people. I kept going "IT'S NOT A REAL HOLIDAY!" But that didn't really work, I still had to buy chocolate.
Also, we FINALLY got to go on
Flight of the Gibbon, the treetop zipline experience that is awesome! Sophie brought
a friend from school, and my friend Aimee came with me. We had a great day in
the trees and it wasn’t too hot. I loved it, and would do it again every month
if I could! I cannot stress enough: SO MUCH FUN!
February was also the month that
Ning left, which was excruciating having to deal with both her departure and
the weight of the entire program falling on the shoulders of myself, Ahna and
Orawun, with a few amazing part-time volunteers to help pick up the slack. Finally, I was so exhausted that I was
about to snap, and said straight up that we needed to close for a week so we
could get some rest. I, for one, had not spent any time in prayer or reading my
Bible since Christmas, and I was drained in every way possible. So, we closed
for a week, and Ahna and I were so blessed to be given a free night at a
private resort just outside town to rest and recenter. It was an amazing place,
and the woman who runs it is so sweet and wonderful, and made us amazing meals.
It’s such a great retreat, and we definitely left feeling refreshed.
The flower festival was this month as well, a whole weekend devoted to flowers, with a Rose Parade and everything! They closed down a whole section of the city for booths, flowers, snacks, rides and lots of clothing sales. It was a blast to walk around with Sophie and see the floats and eat lots of goodies.
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