Saying Goodbye to COSA
I can't believe how quickly my time at COSA flew by. I must admit, when in the thick of it I had moments where it felt like coming home was forever away... Mainly when missing my boyfriend or an appropriate cup of coffee... But now that the end has come, and it feels like I just left....
Did I not just spend 6 hours in the Shanghai airport with Rachel trying to determine what an aviation radish was? Wasn't it not long ago that I was riding elephants and taking night trains with an explosion of pink curtains lining the halls? And was it not just yesterday that I was meeting the girls at COSA that would soon become the brightest light in my life so far? It must have been?
But like in all great things in life, time seems to take these moments just as quickly as it brings them.
In the two months I spent researching and forging relationships that would build and identity of worth with these girls, I ended up learning just as much, if not more about myself then I did them. I learned of the power of relationship to build my own identity and self worth because of how these girls also invested in me... The teacher becomes the student.
Ultimately I succeeded at my mission of being at COSA. To develop a research based template, for future volunteer and intern projects, that focused activities, training, and work shops on building an identity of worth and empowerment in the girls at COSA, that aligned with the psychosocial developmental stages for their age demographic.
The goal of the project was to instate a curriculum, through work shops and activities, that build up an identity of confidence, self worth, and personal empowerment, for the purpose of increasing emotional and physical safety, developing the ability to successfully manage conflict, and ultimately empower girls to make decisions that will meet her own needs, without undermining her cultural upbringing or traditions.
Although there is still lots to refine, I am proud with what I accomplished. Yet in the end I realize that all that data, time and research comes down to something that should be simple and easy...
Jesus teaches us in the New Testament to love one another. To treat others as we would want to be treated. To lift up and encourage of brother and sisters In Christ. Scripture calls up to care for the orphaned, widowed, and children of the world and to love the unlovable of society.
To build an identity of worth in others... Is this not the same calling... To build up one another in the identity of Christ.
I experienced this first hand on one of my final days when I ran an identity building work shop with the girls called a Compliment Circle. Initially I was unsure of how this would go. Yet, the girls surprised me with their eagerness and attentiveness to the exercise. Originally thinking I would just be a facilitator... I quickly realized that the girls intended to include me in the activity as well...each going around the circle and expressing to one another, and myself, the things they loved and values about us. The impact was indescribable. Here I was thinking this would be an exercise for them... Without realizing the true impact it would have on me. To know what my relationship with them meant. It brought a different meaning to my work, my time, and the future me I wanted to be. Without planning it, or even realizing it, these girls were lifting up my identity of worth and my identity in who Christ made me to be...
It is my deepest desire that these girls would grow on to be even more vibrant, driven, loving, and vivacious than they already are, and it is my prayer that there will continue to be people who come into their lives and build relationships, set examples and encourage identities of worth within them. Whether we know it or not... I confidently believe that The Lord is working through those who serve others and build them closer toward his truth.
In closing... It is difficult to express in words how absolutely life changing my time in Thailand has been. Working for COSA for the last two months has influenced so much of the woman and I am will become. My own identity of worth has been built stronger because of you. Thank you to the girls who have changed my heart forever. Thank you to my colleagues who sacrifice so much to make the world a better and brighter place. I am sad to leave... But excited for the adventure God has for my future... as I leave I am filled to the brim with joy and gratitude.
Thank you COSA, and thank you Jesus.
- Christen
I can't believe how quickly my time at COSA flew by. I must admit, when in the thick of it I had moments where it felt like coming home was forever away... Mainly when missing my boyfriend or an appropriate cup of coffee... But now that the end has come, and it feels like I just left....
Did I not just spend 6 hours in the Shanghai airport with Rachel trying to determine what an aviation radish was? Wasn't it not long ago that I was riding elephants and taking night trains with an explosion of pink curtains lining the halls? And was it not just yesterday that I was meeting the girls at COSA that would soon become the brightest light in my life so far? It must have been?
But like in all great things in life, time seems to take these moments just as quickly as it brings them.
In the two months I spent researching and forging relationships that would build and identity of worth with these girls, I ended up learning just as much, if not more about myself then I did them. I learned of the power of relationship to build my own identity and self worth because of how these girls also invested in me... The teacher becomes the student.
Ultimately I succeeded at my mission of being at COSA. To develop a research based template, for future volunteer and intern projects, that focused activities, training, and work shops on building an identity of worth and empowerment in the girls at COSA, that aligned with the psychosocial developmental stages for their age demographic.
The goal of the project was to instate a curriculum, through work shops and activities, that build up an identity of confidence, self worth, and personal empowerment, for the purpose of increasing emotional and physical safety, developing the ability to successfully manage conflict, and ultimately empower girls to make decisions that will meet her own needs, without undermining her cultural upbringing or traditions.
Although there is still lots to refine, I am proud with what I accomplished. Yet in the end I realize that all that data, time and research comes down to something that should be simple and easy...
Jesus teaches us in the New Testament to love one another. To treat others as we would want to be treated. To lift up and encourage of brother and sisters In Christ. Scripture calls up to care for the orphaned, widowed, and children of the world and to love the unlovable of society.
To build an identity of worth in others... Is this not the same calling... To build up one another in the identity of Christ.
I experienced this first hand on one of my final days when I ran an identity building work shop with the girls called a Compliment Circle. Initially I was unsure of how this would go. Yet, the girls surprised me with their eagerness and attentiveness to the exercise. Originally thinking I would just be a facilitator... I quickly realized that the girls intended to include me in the activity as well...each going around the circle and expressing to one another, and myself, the things they loved and values about us. The impact was indescribable. Here I was thinking this would be an exercise for them... Without realizing the true impact it would have on me. To know what my relationship with them meant. It brought a different meaning to my work, my time, and the future me I wanted to be. Without planning it, or even realizing it, these girls were lifting up my identity of worth and my identity in who Christ made me to be...
It is my deepest desire that these girls would grow on to be even more vibrant, driven, loving, and vivacious than they already are, and it is my prayer that there will continue to be people who come into their lives and build relationships, set examples and encourage identities of worth within them. Whether we know it or not... I confidently believe that The Lord is working through those who serve others and build them closer toward his truth.
In closing... It is difficult to express in words how absolutely life changing my time in Thailand has been. Working for COSA for the last two months has influenced so much of the woman and I am will become. My own identity of worth has been built stronger because of you. Thank you to the girls who have changed my heart forever. Thank you to my colleagues who sacrifice so much to make the world a better and brighter place. I am sad to leave... But excited for the adventure God has for my future... as I leave I am filled to the brim with joy and gratitude.
Thank you COSA, and thank you Jesus.
- Christen