For your entertainment: There was that time at the market. Lo, Tiff and I decided to go with Seap one day. The market is great, but in the back is what I call the “meat packing industry.” Fish are flopping on tarps, pig heads to your left and SNAKES to your right. I was afraid of touching anything. Ladies were chopping off live fish heads and it was awful. While our chicken was being dissected, we look over and see a woman grab a live fish the size of my arm out of the cooler. She drops it and puts it in her purse. She PUT THE FISH IN HER PURSE. I was on the swing watching 7...

My life here in Cambodia is made up of little moments.  I suppose my whole life is actually.  But I think I thought that lots of big things would happen here.  A few have.  Realistically, I shouldn't expect huge, radical things to happen all the time.  Of course,  I absolutely believe that God can do that.  I can't see things the way that God can.  I can't always see the fruit growing from planted seeds.  But a lot of times, it's finding joy in small things- a laugh from a girl who is aching inside, it's drumming on a...

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...

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...

I wake up the sound of a loud banging gong that has become so normal to me.  I roll over only to see my blue mosquito net covering me, which brings me to the realization that I am still in Cambodia.  I dress for the day and continue with my routine of spraying bug spray all over my feet, legs and arms.  This happens in a matter of seconds and I walk downstairs to morning devotions.  I flip my shoes off at the door (it is proper to do this everywhere in Cambodia, even at church) and pick a little stool to sit on.  Many mornings I am still half asleep at this...

This week as you’ll see my blog is a little longer than usual, but I wanted to paint you a detailed picture of what a typical day looks like for me:   The alarm clock goes off as Brittany routinely says, “It’s 6:00am y’all.”  I know it’s time to get up.  I open my eyes and notice the sun is already up and starting to come in through our window.  It’s the only time of the day I’m remotely cool so I want to stay in bed, yet I’m eager for our daily morning devotions.  I emerge out from under my mosquito net, get...

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...

 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...