Such as these.

Please note that the pictures do not necessarily represent the students in the stories.

He is the most enthusiastic little boy I’ve ever met and I don’t think there is a moment I’ve looked at him and his face hasn't been dripping with sweat. He’s a character. Picture this – he is waving so hard and so enthusiastically after we drop him home that he walks the old man who looks after him (who is in a wheelchair taller than the little boy) straight into a pole and just carries on like nothing has happened. Meanwhile this old man is probably thinking 'why on earth do I put up with this..' It was maybe a ‘had to be there’ moment, but it truly was hilarious! His story is a sad one though. He was born here in Chiang Mai, and was living with his Father but was being abused by someone else, so he moved down south to live with his grandfather. However, his grandfather died in the recent flooding and so this little boy has had to move back up here and is now living with his mother. She works two jobs, and so when we drop him home after school there is nobody to take care of him. He is left all alone. Nobody to ask him how his day was, help him with his homework, heat up his food for him or put him to bed.

She is a beautiful, sweet girl. She makes us laugh and tells us that all the boys love her but she doesn't love them back. She tells us what's going on in her class and who loves who and who did what. But her father has a quick temper. Her mother wants to leave and take her, but it's just too hard. She says she is scared for her daughter. We watch as this sweetheart bursts into floods of tears on the way to school. Like every other human, she just wants to be loved. Is that too much to ask?

He is hands down, one of the funniest boys I have ever met. He makes me laugh daily, and he really does have such a good heart. He doesn't care what others think - he wears his heart on his sleeve. He is sweet, and caring - most of the time - and everyone loves him! His parents have been in prison since he was 5 months old, and will be there for another 10 years because of drug dealing. He's grown up in a children's home, and while the home is a good place and he is treated well there, he can still feel all alone. My room-mate went to the hospital with him when he broke his leg. 'What's your father's name?' 'I don't know.' 'What's your mother's name?' 'I don't know.' 'Where do you live?' 'I don't know.' I watch his face crumple when, in a thanksgiving activity, someone expresses their thankfulness for a family. 

These are just three stories. There are thirty from our school, and thousands all over Thailand. The reminder of where these kids are coming from, reminds me of why I am here. What the point is. Why they need love.

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."