Well, here we are! Dianne Wilson and I arrived in Chiang Mai nearly two weeks ago and have started working at Agape. What a crazy week – a new home, a new job, a new set of wheels and a brand new community! After all, your world has to change if you want to change the world.

I’ll let Dianne tell you about her transition into life here, but for me, it’s been quite the adventure. I have been rostered on doing a split shift, that is, I start with the toddlers from 6am to 9am. This is one of the biggest joys and honors, as you get to be there to see eleven small faces awake to a new day. Showers are then followed by “ging cao” (breakfast) and then some playtime before devotions at 8am.

I then return home for the middle of the day (to sleep for some!) and set off on a trek to somewhere, mostly unknown. Before I left Australia, two close friends of mine on different occasions spoke out over me that my relationship with the Holy Spirit is going to the next level. Having time in the middle of the day to adventure with Him is certainly a good catalyst for deeper intimacy with God.

I then prepare to go back to Agape at 4pm, to eat dinner and hang out with the toddlers some more. They are showered and head to bed at 6:45. I am used to being with kids during the middle of the day due my work at schools, so being more like a big brother or parent and being there for mornings and bed time is something I treasure.

My day concludes with then popping upstairs to spend time with the older kids – once again, one of the highlights of my day. The last two nights has included parties with lots of “khanom” (junk food) and myself, who can speak the tiniest bit of Thai, teaching some of the boys, who can speak the tiniest bit of English, how to speak French using Google Translate on my phone! Quite a laugh…

All I can say is that Jesus is the best friend to all, loving unconditionally, laughing uncontrollably and defending so reliably. Great is Thy faithfulness!