Its that time of year

Treehouse!

Our Thai Friend's incredible painting

Greetings from Thailand!

It has been almost two weeks since we have seen blue sky, or the sun or mountains.  The smog has blanketed our city and it is emotionally and physically taxing---crazy toddlers desperate to get outside and play, and weary adults putting on masks every time we leave the house.

There is something so frustrating about man-made misery.

In theory, the solution is simple and obvious, but in reality it seems impossible to bring about positive change.

Many of us share those feelings of frustration, whether you are passionate about your faith, or the environment, or caring for vulnerable children.

Good work is messy.
And slow.

I find myself wanting perfect solutions to broken, messy situations.
But they often don't exist.

Uncle Jabez teaching Ez the guitar

The kids table took over the adults table

Two of my favorite mentors!

Andy and I were fixing something at the office, and (in a rare occurrence here) it went very smoothly.

We both smiled, grateful for at least something that could be solved easily.

For all the problems we face, which have no easy answers or ready-made fixes, it can feel like a relief to buy a part, screw it in, and call the job complete.

When you enter into relationships with people, you are choosing to get messy.
Because people are complicated, life is unpredictable, and rarely are there easy answers.

Sometimes we have to remind ourselves of that truth.

Nothing is harder than to do some real good in the world.
And nothing is more messy.

We in the nonprofit world are always trying to get people to support our work so we can continue to try to make things better.

But one unfortunate side effect is that we often gloss over the messiness of the actual work.
If you believe all the marketing, the world should be in tip top shape in just a few more years.

We sure love the Parker family (and eating)

A clean workshop!

"Go fast Dad!" - Ezra

Starting a fund for our next car...

But once you get in close, you start to see the mess.

If only most decisions were between good or bad!  How easy that would be.

But most of our struggles are between better and worse.
The best we can do in a bad situation.

We never give up looking for a better solution, but often we have to make decisions with imperfect means. 

And there is a subtle pressure to dress things up.

"Maybe people won't want to support this work if they knew all the problems we have?"

Several times I have caught myself or others worrying more about our reputation than our actions.
It is easy to do.

And Aunty Maria!

Dave's welcoming party!

Dinner with the college kids was a lot of fun

And especially when we feel the watching eyes of others.
But why should we be ashamed of the messiness of good work?

God never told us not to be messy, but he did tell us to always be honest and truthful.

Even in the stories about Jesus' life and ministry, we see setbacks, rejection, even failure (not failure to do what God wanted Him to do, but failure to convince others).

It's messy.  It's disruptive.  Some people don't like it, or approve.
Despite our best intentions and efforts, sometimes it fails. 

Anyone who wants to do some good in the world will need a relentless persistence and optimism.

Because you will find messes you cannot easily fix.

You will find people who are irritated with your efforts, and people who oppose them.
You will find people uncomfortable with the changes you are trying to bring.
You will find perfect theories obliterated in the mess of real life.

But if we don't give up, we shall see a harvest.

We discovered horses near our house

Kids are the best thing in the world.

Date night: Ice Skating in Thailand? Yes

Imperfect work is the only kind we are capable of. 
There is something beautiful about good emerging from imperfection.

After 5 years working here in Thailand, wanting to do good and to learn to do better, I cannot think of a single perfect thing I have done, but I can still see a lot of good that has been and is being accomplished.

Perfection is not required to do good in the world. 
But a willingness to get messy is.

You will have to release your perfect solutions and learn to work with what is.

We work with kids, and kids, as every parent knows, are messy.
No good parent would be content with anything less than the best we can do for our kids.

We will fail.  But we must not give up.

Prayers together

Thankful for this incredible couple who has helped us so much.  Thank you Pii Boot and Jay!

So many meetings this month

I wish I could ensure a good life for every child in our care at Faithful Heart. 
I lose a lot of sleep over those kids.

But I am not here to fix all their problems.  Only God can handle a task of that magnitude.

I am here to commit to them in the mess.
I am here to climb into the mud with them and say:

"Well, however this goes, I am with you.  We will figure something out together."

I suppose you could feel cleaner if you closed your eyes to the mess, or pretended it wasn't there.
All of us will be affected by the messes of others.  And they will be affected by ours.

Amazing...

We miss you Drew!

15 minutes for 60 cents.  Ezra is not so sure

No matter where you are, no matter what the good is you are trying to do, keep at it.

Don't worry about the mess.
Don't worry about the imperfection.
Keep reaching for the best, and accept the present.

Maybe we don't need all our messes cleaned up, but someone willing to stand with us in the midst of them.

Lots of Love, in all our messes,

Matt, Audrey, Ezra, & Sienna