Huff and Puff

Running… ok, ok, barely walking, up that last hill before completing my nine mile long run outing had me huffing and puffing like the crazy wolf in the children’s story. Yes. I have lost weight. Yes. I am getting my running legs back. Yes. I even work out at the gym (well, when it rains…sometimes) But do you think my time improves (meaning speed). Nope. What the heck is it with getting older and slowing down? Just because 40 is behind me, (ok 50) (…alright, 60) doesn’t mean the body has to go slower, does it? At my present pace the street sweepers will cross the finish line before I do.

I know. Patience. Perseverance. Discipline. And race day (June 2) will see me fly! In some ways, that has been the experience this last year of Ken Brookens as he has explored and explained and engaged a wide variety of sources in Thailand to serve at-risk and orphaned children in a responsible and sustainable way.

Students from Chiang Mai, Thailand

Exploring the opportunities (of lack of) for education for youth in Thailand can be quite discouraging. For thousands of at-risk children in rural areas, the opportunity for an education beyond eighth grade is minimal and the opportunity to pursue higher education is practically non-existent. More likely their future is one of human slavery, prostitution, unskilled hard labor, early teen pregnancy, subsistence living, and an early death. The cycle of poverty goes on and on and on… Encouraging youth to learn; providing an incentive to stay in school; offering a scholarship for higher education; all break the cycle of poverty, changes the life of a child forever, ultimately changes the living conditions of the family, and lastly, gives back to the community a leader who influences the whole village for good. Ken has seen this miracle at work in the lives of youth in Thailand and is committed to making it a reality for more.

Explaining his passion and mission to school principals, government officials, community leaders, and business professionals has taken Ken into Ministry offices in Bangkok, welfare schools in Chiang Mai, legal offices and cafes and hotels and stores everywhere in between. All that explaining has made Sustainable Hope International a government recognized NGO in Thailand. All that explaining has generated excitement, commitment, anticipation, and opportunity in Chiang Mai, Chiang Dao, and Khon Kaen. All that explaining has opened doors in Independence and Jackson County.

Sustainable Hope International has engaged the services of professionals and volunteers in churches, service organizations, community groups, and educational circles. Most importantly, Sustainable Hope has engaged the imaginations of children—hundreds of children--and encouraged them to dream and reach and excel.

My early morning running team in Chiang Mai.
It was already 100 degrees and I was the only one in shorts!

And to do all of that, there has been a lot of huffing and puffing. Not to blow houses down, but to build
up hopes and dreams in a sustainable way in the hearts of at-risk children and in the minds of those who work with orphaned children.

I will run the Hospital Hill Half Marathon, huffing and puffing up all seven hills, to raise funds for Sustainable Hope International. Join me. Partner with me by giving to the cause—the power—the miracle  of education in breaking the cycle of poverty in Thailand. Join me in supporting Sustainable Hope International.