What do you do when you find out a little girl in Thailand is praying for helpers to come and help Papa Al of Compassionate Hope Foundation? You lean in a little closer to hear how God is going to answer her prayers.

At least that’s what I did…since the only reason I was sitting in Al Henson’s office that day was because my husband was compelled to come and ask how we could help. Coincidence? You can decide for yourself, but we knew God was doing something special. So, I leaned in to listen closely and…

I heard the whisper of my long-ago prayers…summed up in one word.

Please stay with me while two seemingly separate stories unfold the reality of one story. One story. One word. One amazing God.

Over twenty years ago I began learning about a group of people on the other side of the world that experienced horrific abuse simply because they became Christ-followers. Deeply concerned and armed with a map we turned our little kitchen into a prayer room for these persecuted Believers.

We truly believed that God allowed us to know their plight because He wanted us to help.

We had limited financial resources available and a growing family of our own. A teenager and toddlers in the same house! Weeks, months, and even years passed with pitiful little funds to donate and our prayers were becoming weaker. How could we know we were making a difference? Not one clue.

The passing of time left our walls with little fingerprints that no longer washed off. It was time to paint and freshen things up. No indication that our prayers had made a difference. I am sad to say that I folded my map, took down the pictures, and filed it all away in a lonely, defeated place. I didn’t even realize the disappointment that wrapped that part of my heart until I heard the word…

Cream

You see, Cream is my all-time favorite word, and Cream is also the name of the little Thai girl asking God to send helpers to Papa Al. How does a young child on the other side of the world end up with the name of MY favorite word? My husband asked her biological mother about it one afternoon when they met in Thailand. Her reply was a shrug and these simple words through a translator, “I just liked it.”

How did Cream end up on my list of favorite words over twenty years ago? It came through a game I played with my kids. Nothing special. I still shrug these baffling words, “I just liked it.”

I would love to personally share with you this story and many others! Contact us to schedule a time to hear more about how God is moving to answer the prayers of this little girl.

You can help us make a huge impact in Southeast Asia!