Back to the Land of Smiles

Not Veldon and me though, this time it will be Allison going to Thailand to teach English and love on children.  Since Max came home Veldon and I have talked on and on about how much we loved Thailand.  How beautiful it was and how comfortable we felt there..even though for both of us it was our first true trip out of the Americas. I have been to Canada and Mexico, Veldon had never left the U.S.  We fell in love!  Allison has talked about missions since about the time God called her to Himself.  She used to lay in bed at night and cry, wail really, about children in Africa with no water.  She has always talked about leaving her comfortable home and country and going to serve Christ in other lands.  Last spring she started really pressuring us about sending her to Thailand. We told her we wouldn't even consider it for another year.  So last fall she began exploring the IMB's website and found a place to serve in Thailand.  With our permission, and without our prompting, as a matter of fact at times I tried to distract her from it, she applied for the summer program.  She contacted references, wrote her application, which was super huge, and started the process.  She was the first to apply for this summer and the first to be accepted.  The program is now full with 6 students.  Student's must have completed their junior year in high school to participate.  I'm pretty sure she will be the youngest in her group.

Right now she is working on raising funds, and getting her ducks in a row.  We are a little behind in fund raising. We didn't really prepare because we really weren't sure she would be accepted since she just barely makes the age to go.  Of course knowledge that she would be accepted wouldn't have helped much for preparing!

I am very, very excited for Allison to travel this road. I'm excited for her to experience another world, but as a mom I am also concerned about sending her so far away, to a place we can't get to quickly. It will, obviously, be the longest she has ever been away from us.  Allison is a very mature girl, but she's also still a child and I see things that I hope won't be a hindrance for her as she works to serve Christ in this way. On the other hand our family has prayed about this, we have prayed for Allison, prayed for the finances and prayed that God would be glorified.  I can trust God with my daughter, who is first and foremost His daughter. I can trust that He is going to do a huge work in her life that I could never hope to do and I can trust that she will be a blessing to those she comes in contact with. Her life will never be the same.  As she walks this road and sees the world in a new way and from a new perspective her life will forever be changed.  

Katie is not at all thrilled that Allison, her big sister and closest friend (generally), will be gone all summer.  She is worried about being lonely, which I am sure she will be.  She isn't sure what she will do for so long with her sister gone, I'm wondering the same thing.  But Katie is also happy for Allison to have this opportunity and is excited to hear all about it when Allison returns home.