A Different Kind of Trip

After more than two decades of visiting Asia’s Hope projects across Cambodia, Thailand, and India, you’d think I’d have seen — and done — it all.

I’ve lost track of how many trips I’ve made, how many groups I’ve hosted, or how many times I’ve circled the globe. 

But this visit to India was different. And at the last minute, it got even more so.

For years, we’ve been working to give our staff practical tools to understand and respond to the unique emotional and developmental challenges faced by kids from hard places. With the help of Rachel Cobb — an experienced educator, counselor, and valued board member — we’ve been developing a curriculum designed specifically for our homes: simple, adaptable, practical, and rooted in our model of care.

Kalimpong was the natural place to pilot this training. We have six homes here, all close together, and our staff had been asking — persistently and graciously — for this kind of support.

The plan was for Rachel to lead the seminar. I’d be there to offer local context and moral support, with Jeremiah helping with logistics. Rachel had the clinical expertise; I had the deep relational equity. A good team effort.

But just days before departure, an unexpected bureaucratic snag kept Rachel from traveling. For a moment, I wondered if we should postpone. But after talking with Rachel, Jeremiah, and our India director Amber, we decided to move forward. The materials were ready. The time was right.

And if nothing else, we’d learn together.

So, with more trepidation than preparation, I led the three-day seminar.

I won’t pretend I brought Rachel’s depth of clinical experience to the table. But what I could offer was a willingness to listen, to facilitate conversations, and to reflect on what I’ve learned from working alongside our caregivers for the past 20+ years.

And you know what? I think it worked.

The staff — directors and home parents alike — engaged deeply with the material. They brought their own wisdom to the discussions, asked thoughtful questions, and shared candid stories from their work. Together, we explored the ways trauma shapes behavior, and how a posture of patience, safety, and attachment can help children heal.

Some home parents remarked how helpful it was to understand some of the brain science that undergirds the principle of “connection before correction.” Others expressed appreciation for a forum designed to acknowledge the real challenges of working with children who have experienced abuse and neglect.

We have a lot to refine. We’re starting to understand what worked, what needs clarification, and what topics deserve more attention in future sessions.

But this was a good start. And a necessary one.

This trip was shorter and more work-focused than most. There were fewer leisurely visits and more hours spent in training sessions. But there was also real joy: shared meals, a picnic by the river, and the satisfaction of learning together.

Today, Jeremiah and I head to Siliguri to meet with some of our university students, then on to Delhi for a bit of sightseeing and rest. But this time in Kalimpong leaves me energized!

We’re building something important here — and I can’t wait to see what God does next.

Thank you for your prayers and encouragement. I’ll share more soon from Thailand.