Chains

A year ago I was standing on a field in a purple robe and  throwing a graduation cap. Yesterday I was in a sihn and a flower pinned to my skirt. A year exactly has passed from graduating high school. Yesterday was a day for nostalgia not only because I graduated but also because my students graduated. That is funny to say because just a year ago I was a student and now I am teaching them. I have been in Laos for nine months and have gotten to know these wonderful people and now it is time to part. These  wonderful students have taught me so much, are such joys to teach and have made my time here is Laos the best it could be and I will miss them immensely.

Mee and Pha

Yai and Noy

Pou

Soukieng

Boua and Thoy

 I have recently been reading Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, I felt a necessity to start reading all the classics. There was this quote that has really been sticking with me:

"Imagine one selected day struck out of it, but think how different its course would have been. Pause and think for a moment of the long chain of iron or gold, of thorns or flowers, that would never have bound you, but for the formation of the first link on one memorable day."

It really did make me pause and think about the chains that we create in our lives. The faithful day I decided to come to Laos and graduation and coming to Laos and the day I left my family. These chains have linked to so many things in my life. And thinking about graduation and how many chains this will cause in my students lives, the things that they have learned at ARDA have created links for their future already. Think about how different life would be if I went to school, if I chose a different chain? I am glad I chose this chain because I wouldn't change this experience for the world. Getting to know and love these students has truly made my year here. The experience I have had here hopefully in the future will create chains to come back to Laos. This  year I though would just be a nice time away to learn and grow and serve these people but in reality God is making chains for the future. When I first came I thought that I would be the one teaching but I have learnt so much for these students. So here is to the chains we create and to the future!