This week I have really felt the weight of distractions as we continue to press on physically and relationally.  It has been a great week here where progress has been made and memories have been created.  But my heart has been greatly burdened for certain people and situations back home.  Some of this heaviness was from hearing last Saturday (our weekly communication day) about life at home and things that are happening—changes, decisions, and events.  But along with keeping up to date with my friends and family, the Lord has been putting specific people and...

After living in Cambodia for almost a month and a half now, I have come to learn several things about the Cambodian culture, myself, and Jesus.  For this week’s blog I wanted to give you a recap of those things; so in no particular order, I have learned the following:   1. Rice.  Every day Cambodians eat rice for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and for the middle of the night snack.  I have gone to the kitchen to fill up my water bottle during the night and discovered some of the women eating you know what on more than one occasion.  They can never get enough of...

             It’s amazing how much God works in our lives, day by day, week by week.  During my day so far in Cambodia I have noticed that God will put a theme or a person on my heart.  Last week, the week of June 24th, God took something from our team. Now I can see that it is a blessing in disguise, but two weeks ago it broke my heart.  The children that we have gotten so close with unexpectedly went home to families we had no idea they had, or moved in with other relatives.  Within three days seven out...

 I have never been so excited for the Fourth of July in my entire life. With each day being similar to the others, something different and out of the ordinary is a big deal. We decided we would take the girls to the “Asia Hotel” aka the only place we can get fries and a “chocolate shake.” BP had ordered red, white and blue drinks beforehand and we were going to go and celebrate this glorious day. When we showed up covered head to toe in red, white and blue and were handed red, white and green drinks. I knew this would be the best-and only- Fourth of July these...

2nd Timothy 1:7:   " For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline." Early on this trip, Satan tried to use something from my past to bring me down.  Instead of bringing me down, it empowered me.  God told me he wanted me to share part of my testimony with the women.  I was nervous but I also wanted to do it.  God told me he would let me know when it was time.  Last Sunday he told me it would be this week.  I was going to tell my leader Brittany that I wanted to share. Funny thing is, before...

Yep.  Technically it’s not called “Ramen Noodles”, but, there’s this fascinating pre-packaged over-seasoned noodly substance that we eat here for breakfast sometimes.  And it tastes pretty darn similar to the beloved 25 cent college staple we all know from home.  Oh Ramen.  And sitting here at the breakfast table, my hands clutching chop sticks that put up a most heroic struggle against my steaming bowl of broth and noodles which in turn makes my face steamy and sweaty, I am filled with bittersweet emotions.  I think fondly of...

Hello world! FINALLY I'm updating a blog again! Sorry for the lack of updates, I've been having serious blogging issues. IN A NUT SHELL, last week was really, really hard. Extremely emotional. And I hope that when I get home, I can adequately describe it when I get home. But let me tell you a little story. I waited until the last minute to pack for this trip. Shocker, right? Well I did. And my bible was putting my over my luggage weight limit by like a solid 5 pounds. So my mom suggested I take an old Bible she had. I took it, but I was honestly really upset. My Bible and I have...

I want to introduce you all to a beautiful Cambodian woman named Siep.  After dinner last night, I asked her (her daughter Cindy translated) if it was okay to share pictures of her on my blog, but more importantly share her story that makes her the woman she is today.  I felt her rough hands grab my arm and begin to hug me…   Siep was born and raised in the small town of Cambodia where I am located this summer.  She was married at a young age and soon after was sold into the sex trade industry.  Siep’s husband used her for money and sold her to men for...