We stood together watching a dozen girls playing volleyball with a few American short-term team members mixed in. As the ball volleyed back and forth, the girls freely moved around the makeshift volleyball court, chattering and laughing with each pass and successful return over the net. Some of the younger girls played around the perimeter of the field, dancing and flipping with their new American friends and excitedly showing them the badminton net and their bikes.

“They look so much like just normal little girls.” 
The American mission team leader made the observation, as we stood watching the girls play all around us. In that moment they laughed, they ran, they chatted, they hopped, skipped, and jumped just like normal girls.

            In these beautiful and frequent moments in our home, it’s easy to forget where these girls come from or why they are a part of our home. In the day to day they are just normal little girls living normal lives, but the harsh reality of the “what ifs” doesn’t lie to far below the surface.

            As we sat taking in the girls and their activities, one of our youngest caught my eye in her bright-multicolored pants and safety orange t-shirt. Always filled with bundles of energy and always ready for a new friend, she danced and hopped around with a few of the American team members. A totally normal moment for her and her new friends, but I was taken back to the fear I had a few short weeks ago that I would never get to meet her or see her and her three sisters safely back in our home.

            When I first arrived in Thailand, our girls were at the tail end of a two-month-long break from school. Within the first week of my arrival, our home grew from nine girls to fifty as they returned in preparation for school. By the first day of classes, all the girls had returned when they were supposed to except for our four sisters, including our little bundle of energy. That night at our team meeting, our in country director shared his fear for the girls as they had not been brought back in time to start school and no one had heard from them. He shared that the girls’ mother was often abusive and there had been fear in the past that their uncle might try to traffic them. We just didn't know what could have transpired during their time with their family. For that moment we had to live in the reality that our girls were in possible danger and something might have happened to prevent them from returning into the safety of our home.

            It was a sobering moment, as I had to once again process the reality of the sex trafficking industry here in Thailand and how this has affected the lives of each of the girls I have come to know and love. Yes, they are normal little girls, but they come from vulnerable and sometimes harsh backgrounds that have made their lives a little bit more precarious. Though it's often hard to see on the surface of everyday life, sometimes we are startling reminded of the vulnerability of our girls and the horrific possibility of the life they may have been sold into.
            Thank God, our fours sisters did return safely, and they jumped right back into life within our home. I have gotten the privilege to know and love on these four girls over the last few weeks, and I am thankful for their safety each and everyday as I delight in their joy and their smiles. They are happy, healthy, and safe, and they get to live the life of normal little girls. This is a gift that I never want to take for granted, for these girls or any of the other children I work with at Remember Nhu. 

            This is why I believe so much in the mission of Remember Nhu, because everyday I get to be a part of little girls being normal little girls. The harsh reality is that many little girls and boys in Thailand never get the chance to live a normal life as they are trafficked into a life of horrific slavery. It breaks our hearts to know this is reality for many and to know the faces of little ones that it could have been a reality for. The issue of child sex slavery is so much larger than our small organization, but we choose to spend each and every day working to end child sex slavery through prevention. We choose to be faithful to the little ones in our care and to spend everyday giving our kids another opportunity to be normal little kids. 

  And believe me, it's worth it! 

Written By: Remember Nhu Intern, Thailand
https://remembernhu.org/

To support Kelli's work in the field go to:
Note Kelli H. - Thailand in the notes section.


 What were your emotions going into this trip?
-I was very excited to know that I was going to be serving Christ overseas and that I was going to meet the boys that our church helps fund.

How did you feel once you arrived?
-I could not wait to go and meet all of the kids and the house parents and to see what I could do for them.

What was one of your most joyful memories?
-My most joyful memory was being able to meet Jetarin, the boy that I help sponsor. I was so glad I got to see him in person, hear his voice, and hear the things he had already learned about Jesus.

What was a challenge?

-A challenge for me was definitely the humidity and the heat since we were doing a great deal of landscaping and playing with the kids.

What did God reveal/teach you throughout this process?
-God taught me how to love people in a deeper way, specifically believers. Even though I may not know much about the individual, we are bound by the Holy Spirit. Because of this great truth, I felt as if I had know these people my whole life.

Was there a child that captured your heart specifically, any stories?
-Suradet was an amazing boy and we hung out every time we were in the same area. He did whatever he could to serve those around him.

How did you feel while leaving?
-I was sad upon leaving because I knew I was going to miss all the kids I was able to play with and build relationships with.
Special thanks to Scott for sharing the sweet love of Jesus with our kids!
https://remembernhu.org/
Staring into the mirror, Malia* looks at the small little Thai girl reflecting back at her. She studies her petite frame; from her bare little toes up to her dark head of short, black hair.  She takes in her skinny little wrists and small hands that dangle at her sides. Shifting her eyes to her small, gaps-and-teeth grin, she timidly smiles. Her eyes steadily search, moving along each part of her image but as her eyes meet their own reflection, her look deepens, almost as if to ask, Who is this girl?

As I move into the reflection behind her, I wish with all my heart she could see all that I see in her. I wish she could see past her small frame and dark hair, past her skinny wrists and small hands, and past her gaps-and-teeth grin. With all my heart, I want her to see her absolute beauty and worth. I want her to see a little girl who is unconditionally loved, fully known, and always wanted. I want her to see a little girl full of potential and brimming with possibility. I want her to see a beloved daughter of the Almighty King.

Heartbreakingly at the age of five, the world has already told her otherwise, whispering lie after lie into her little heart. The world has told her she is a burden and that she is worth little. It has told her love only comes with great conditions and people will always let her down. It has transferred her from place to place, person to person, because it’s difficult to find a safe place for vulnerable children, a child like her. It has robbed her of an education and access to opportunities that will give her possibilities in the future. It has told her she is little more than a commodity that is being preyed upon by those ready to take advantage of the vulnerable.   

Malia and her slightly older sister, Kaylee*, came walking through the doors of our home as the newest members of our family. As they arrived one midmorning, they tailed their mother, grandmother, and the RN Thai director P’Mam looking a little overwhelmed at all of their new surroundings. With big eyes, they took in the big room before them, the four walls that would become not only their house, but hopefully their home. Before long, it came time for their mother and grandmother to leave, and it did not come without tears. Yet, again in their short lives they were being uprooted and placed in a new place with new people. 

Malia and Kaylee came to our Remember Nhu home after facing years of being transferred from place to place, each time facing dangers that forced them to move again. They were born to an unwed couple, their father choosing to walk out on the family, leaving the young mother to care for three children, including one that was blind since birth. With the need to work and the desire to have a social life in the city, the young mother moves Malia and Kaylee in with their grandmother in the village, and rarely has time to visit the girls. This arrangement works for a time, but then the girls’ grandmother gets remarried, and the girls are often left home with her new husband while she works. With fear that the girls are not safe with this man, they are moved to live with their great-grandfather. He is in his late 80s and soon questions arise as to his ability to care for them and protect them from being trafficked. It is at this point, that one of our RN staff heard the girls’ story, and with a heavy but hopeful heart set out to find the girls and offer them another option.

Soon they were walking in our doors, arriving at our RN Home of Refuge. If only they could understand that this home is different, established to offer what their other homes didn't.  In this home they are safe. They are unconditionally loved and valued. They are wanted and sought out to grow in relationships. They are supported physically, spiritually, emotionally and academically. But when they’ve never experienced this before, how are they to understand? It's our challenge and joy as a community at Remember Nhu to strive to prove each of these things to each of our girls every single day.

Unfortunately, we never got the chance to prove it to Malia and Kaylee. Just like a reflection, Malia and Kaylee came and went. Their father heard they had been moved to RN, and decided he would rather raise the girls instead. So within a week of arriving, the girls were gone.

My heart breaks for them, because I know all that RN has to offer and I wanted them to experience the love of this home for more than a week. I'm sad that I won't get to be a part of helping them see the beautiful little girls they are and let them know they are cherished and wanted. I'm a little angry that their father just now decided he wanted them after years of being absent and uprooted them one more time. 

I also realize that I have to trust Malia and Kaylee to the One who loves them more than any of us here at RN ever could. Though I don't understand, He has a plan for their precious little lives. He will show them unconditional love and He will speak into their absolute beauty and worth. I just pray in the midst of the brokenness of the world they can recognize it. I also pray that even for the very short time they were in our home, they saw a reflection of themselves as they truly are and the impact of this experience will bring a little Light into their lives. 

Written By: Kelli H., Remember Nhu Intern
To support Kelli's work in the field go to:
Note Kelli H. - Thailand in the notes section.
We arrived at Remember Nhu on the 8th and went straight to church in the morning. It was our first meeting with the girls and the contacts and right away all of us guys connected. We instantly knew it was going to be a good month because of these wonderful people. We couldn't wait to get to know these girls. 


Most of our time at Remember Nhu was doing construction and preparing for the girls to move into their new home, but we also got to be with the girls just about every night for dinner. Typically we would play games, eat dinner, sing songs, and play more games. It was always a great night of fellowship and interacting with these wonderful girls. 
We also got to go to the zoo with them! All 60 of them!!! So we loaded up about 80 of us between 3 trucks and headed to the zoo. It was such a good time. The girls were so excited! We headed straight to the aquarium that had a sweet underwater tunnel and divers feeding the fish. 
We then headed over to other areas of the zoo that had elephants, tigers, pandas, hippos, and more. They loved every bit of it. And the whole time at the zoo the girls would hold your hand
Written by: World Race Member, Trevor C.
https://remembernhu.org/
http://www.worldrace.org/

Dear Remember Nhu Sponsor,

He/she is vibrant. They are joy filled. They are goofy. They are determined. They are challenging. They are playful. They are an over comer. They are optimistic. They are a miracle. He/she is your sponsored child, and he/she is beautiful and filled with life beyond what any words could express. 

In their short life, your child has faced many adversities: quite possibly poverty, a broken family, death, sickness, lack of resources, fear of being trafficked, etc. Yet, they are learning to stand tall in their circumstances and grab onto opportunities that offer them a chance to rise above the adversity and to live to their fullest potential. They are learning from the stories of their past, thriving in the stories of their present, and developing the stories of their future. 

We hope and pray that being a part of Remember Nhu’s Homes of Refuge can be an opportunity for your child to find a safe and loving place to live out their fullest potential. Thanks to your generous and faithful support, your sponsored child has the opportunity to be a part of the RN family and we get to partner together to play a part in your child’s ever developing story. 

Each and everyday, your child has the chance to live and thrive in their home.  He/she gets to go to school with all the tools and energy they need to succeed and come home to people ready to support them and help them with homework. Numerous games and toys offer a much-needed reprieve from long days at school and offer them a chance to play, laugh, and be a kid. Adequate meals are never a question in their minds, and there is always their own bed at the end of each day inviting them to rest. Love abounds around them, as house-parents and house-helpers live out the love they have experienced through Jesus Christ and support your child in their growth and development as a young person.  Your child also gets to know that there is a person across the world that loves them, supports them, and is providing them with an extended family. 
Unfortunately, not every child gets these opportunities, but by choosing to sponsor your child, he/she does. Thank you for what you do!Through your support and love, you are blessing your child, but please don’t forget that your child is greatly blessing you! He/she is saying countless prayers for you, each Sunday before they start worship, on Fridays during home Bible Study, in prayers as everyone gathers to eat dinner, and as you come to their mind. They parade around your picture in their bible or notebook and show it off with pride to any interested person, claiming you as their own. They question the new teams as they enter their home wondering if anyone knows their sponsor. They are not just a child in the world that needs help, but a beautiful individual with so much love, wisdom, and life to offer. Your child loves and cares for you with all of their beautiful little hearts. You are a part of them; you are family.
Many of you have gotten to experience this very blessing, as you have come to the homes and received the love of your sponsor child and all of their friends. For others it may only be a dream for the future, but please plan to make that dream a reality. Just one hug, one smile, one grabbing of your hand will fill your heart and change you. 

This is a wonderful relationship you have the chance to develop with your sponsored child. Love them, communicate with them, hold them up in prayer, encourage them, speak life into them, ache for them, dream with them, pursue them, and let them do the same for you. 
Be blessed and be a blessing. 

Love, 
Someone who's heart has been captured by your child
Written By: Kelli H., Remember Nhu Intern
To support Kelli's work in the field go to:
Note Kelli H. - Thailand in the notes section.

The giggles were almost uncontrollable as we swayed back and forth in the makeshift hammock, holding on for dear life and hoping not to tumble out on the peak of each sway. With a bright-eyed little girl on each side of me, I was caught in the middle of unveiled delight as each sway was greeted with bubbling laughter and beaming smiles. The moment was simple, three girls just swinging in a hammock, and yet the moment was brilliant as our hearts bubbled over with the simple delight of sharing giggles, smiles, and thrill. My heart soared into the endless evening sky as I sat captivated by the vibrant beauty present in each of the girls.

In the beginning of my time in my home, I had noticed these two little girls, but not for their giggles and smiles, but for their quietness and somberness. They seemed to hang quietly behind the rest of the girls and drop into the background whenever attention was directed their way. No matter their seemingly solemn dispositions, I was captivated by these two precious little girls, and it came with a desire to know a little of their stories.

Their similar dark eyes, pressed lips, and rounded noses had me suspecting that they were sisters, and by observing their quiet timidity among the rest of the girls I also suspected they were new to our home. These suspicions were confirmed as I asked our local director, Elsie, about the girls one Sunday morning. She filled me in on a few details of these precious girls’ lives.

Olivia* and Nikki* have been in the Remember Nhu (RN) system for a few years, as RN helped support the girls while they stayed with their disabled father. RN provided the funds necessary to keep the girls in school and provide for basic needs as their father cared for their physical needs. Recently, their father was no longer able to care for them and with the understanding that the girls did not have another caregiver or an advocate, it was decided that the girls would join our home. 

With this knowledge, I had a whole new understanding of these girls and their seemingly quiet and tentative natures. They were in a completely new and sometimes overwhelming environment trying to just figure it all out. Time and whole lot of love is what they needed to feel welcome in their new home and to make the transition.

And the transition did begin. The girls’ vibrant and spunky personalities began to emerge. Gradually, a smile or a nod of acknowledgement became more and more common. Then the girls offered a few giggles, words in Thai, or a quick hug. And finally our moment in the hammock, no hint of the somber and timid girls I first knew, but completely embracing their energy and abandon for life.

What a beautiful journey it has been as I've been able to see Olivia and Nikki blossom in this environment and to be able to experience their precious love and energy. There is often heartache and loss that lead a child into this home, and in no way can we wipe the pain away. The girls come as they are, brokenness, beauty, and all, and we are here to love them as they are and help nurture them into the fullness of who Jesus says they are. It’s often a challenging journey, but the brilliant yet simple moments of radiant joy in the hammock make it all worth it.
Written By: Kelli H., Remember Nhu Intern
To support Kelli's work in the field go to:
Note Kelli H. - Thailand in the notes section.

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