Category Archives: Mission Trips

As I reflect on this trip, it’s easy to feel like I didn’t do enough. Like I made bonds with these kids who are desperate for love, then abandoned them again. Left them heartbroken and missing us. Was that really worth it? Did we really do good here? Then, I remember that GROW was notContinue reading “The aftermath of the trip: processing being home”

After a quiet bus ride as our team processed leaving the GROW home, we arrived in Chiang Mai. We had booked three days at the end of the trip for our team to debrief together, as well as explore the land we were visiting. While we enjoyed the time together and excursions, I believe mostContinue reading “Markets, temples, and elephants: exploring Thailand’s culture”

As I reflect on our time at GROW’s campus, I am proud of our team for all they accomplished, and the hard work and sweat they poured into the construction and various projects for the mission. However, I am most proud of the courage they demonstrated through opening their hearts to the children and ourContinue reading “The bricks that bind us: gutting goodbyes”

After a week of labor, our team was able to complete the masonry on approximately 23 wall sections in the new girls’ home— a huge feat, especially in the mid-90 degree heat. Throughout our time at GROW, we had also learned of various projects outside of the main building that they needed help fixing on campus, including: Continue reading “Teak bedposts and bamboo railings: campus improvements”

Every day as we neared 4:00 pm and began wrapping up work for the day, our team would begin looking for the kids to arrive home from school. As soon as we saw them it became quitting time, because they were so eager to play games with us. Each evening we played volleyball, soccer, frisbee,Continue reading “Bonding and braiding: Thai games”

One of my favorite evenings on GROW’s campus was the Hot Pot night. Throughout the week, we would play with the children as soon as they were home from school and we had finished work. Physically, we were exhausted, but there was always energy to play soccer, volleyball, frisbee, basketball, and more. We got toContinue reading “Breaking bread and sharing cultures”

Before going to Thailand, our team had the idea of bringing donations with us to further the impact of the trip and involve others outside of our team. Our Shook teammates, families and friends jumped at the idea, and we were able to collect enough supplies to fill ten, 50-pound bags to bring to GROW.Continue reading “Blessings in backpacks: witnessing a child’s first gift”

The majority of our days in Thailand were spent doing construction. My mind reflects back to the article GROW published prior to us leaving for the trip about GROW being a construction site for God. It is a place where something is built for a specific purpose, but it is more than just physical –Continue reading “Constructing a home for God’s children”

Before coming to Thailand, I thought that most of the kids at GROW were true orphans and without families. However, I quickly learned that most of them have some level of relationship with their parents and siblings. The children were often rescued from physical and sexual abuse, malnutrition and more, but most of their mothersContinue reading “The villages: witnessing familial relations”