The last week was a rush of emotions and time restraints and scrambling to buy gifts for my family. Yes, I am a procrastinator! When you have more than 10 family members back home wanting stuff though, well, you probably shouldn't put that off till the last minute.
I knew that I would be leaving my ladies soon and that was the hardest part for me. They became family. I had learned their stories, spent time with them, seen the love they have for each other, and I wanted to stay. I wanted to see where they will end up. To see what life will bring them.
It did end with a bang though. Up until the last hour I was patiently trying to figure out if my hair show was going to happen. Sure, we all knew about it and a day was set and a rough estimate of a time, but when I remembered I was in Thailand and things just don't really happened as scheduled, I started to doubt. Lunch time came and went on my last day of work and I might have started to panic a little. You see, I wanted this to happen. I felt like these girls needed some fun and to show off what they had learned. To build extra confidence in not only the girls doing the hair, but also the ones that got to have their hair done. I felt this would be an opportunity that may not present itself again! But I forced myself to be patient and remember that I was there to serve them, not them, me.
It happened though. It was a rush getting it started, but once everyone was working, I realized this would be fun no matter how it turned out.
At the beginning of the show, I informed the girls that I wouldn't be helping them. If they had questions I would be happy to answer them or give suggestions, but I wanted this to be their own creation. To dig deep within themselves and create what they wanted to do. It was so cool seeing how well they did. To see the progress from 3 months earlier until now. It was so rewarding in my eyes.
They each proudly finished their models, looking over their styles from each angle, making sure that we were going to see what they wanted us to see, and they prepared them for a fun catwalk. We blasted the music and they all took turns coming down the runway, trying their hardest to walk like the models do that they see on TV. It was so funny and so amazing at the same time. I was so proud of all of them. Even the ladies that got to be models were radiating. I have never seen so much confidence from them. They were absolutely beautiful! And even better, they felt it!
I am so grateful that God used me in their lives. Whether it was just to give them skills so they could do better in the world than they could have before I came along, or just the fact that they grew so much in their confidence and self-esteem. It was such a gift and blessing to see them change.
I presented each of them with a new pair of shears and thinning shears....hair scissors, for those of you that are staring at the page going "what is she talking about." I told them those were for the future. To move forward and to encourage them that they can make it on their own. They are there. I also made each of them photo books with all of the hair styles we learned and pictures of each of them doing it. These were reminders of not only how to do the styles they had learned if they ever forgot, but also to remind them of how far they had come. Nothing is impossible! They can do anything they set their minds to! Especially with God and the Rahab community by their side.
The hair show was my favorite moment of the trip. Thailand was amazing. I experienced so many new and exciting things. Used a squatty potty for 3 months...haha well, there were some real bathrooms, but the point is...I just got to experience an incredible adventure. I was challenged in almost every way. Lonely at times, constantly fighting with communication barriers, and completely out of my element, but I loved every minute of it. I grew so much, changed a lot, and came back knowing that adventures are so crucial to our lives.
I would say that the most important thing I learned was that we need people in our lives. Not just the physical beings, but people that know us and love us and want to be with us even when we are thousands of miles away! God created us to rely on him and hoped that He would be enough for us, but he also created relationships, so that people could be the tangible representation of just a piece of the love he has for us. Of course people let us down, relationships come and go, but have people in your life. Allow them to be part of your adventures. Allow them to speak into your life and encourage you to be an even better version of yourself.
Through all of this adventure I learned to balance this aspect I spoke of above and giving 100% of myself to what I was doing. Each day I woke up and I completely and fully gave myself to Rahab. That doesn't mean I neglected my relationships at home, absolutely not, but I was able to concentrate on my work, learn some of the language, and build relationships with the people of Thailand, Patpong, and Rahab. I gave enough of myself that I wouldn't want to leave, but I knew that it was time. I think that is how it is supposed to be. To love and give yourself to where you are. Don't constantly be focusing on the future and what is coming next, but be present. Enjoy what is put infront of you, but find the balance and allow the people from where you come from to be a part of the adventure and to encourage you along the way! It's ok!
Thank you all for being part of my adventure. I am sorry that I couldn't post many pictures on the blog or on facebook. A lot of them, I just can't....it would jeopardize the identities of the women that I worked with. If you would like to see some....let's go to coffee or if you live far away feel free to write me and email laura.butterworth@yahoo.com and I will create a cd or something so you can see more!
Thank you so much for reading...I hope to write about more adventures and life....I love to write if you can't tell!!! I will keep writing, so keep reading if you like...
Until we meet again!
Laura
