A few highlights from this past week:  ((Disclaimer: it might help if it is read like Dwight from The Office))  *Cambodian sunsets  *Learning/accepting tears are beautiful  *Praying over the streets of Cambodia *Handing out toothbrushes to street children *Witnessing complete joy and appreciation from said toothbrushes *Love  *Sarah getting attacked by a monkey *Loving on children at an orphanage *Leaving orphanage missing a piece of my heart, because a darling girl held me tight and repeatedly told me not to forget her in Khmer.  *Jeremiah 1:4-10 *Attempting...

      God has truly exceeded my expectations this week in every way possible. He has used me as a tool to show his love to the lost and less fortunate, and I am so grateful. There is a little boy, Pirome, that lives at the center my team and I teach english at every day. He is actually really good friends with Sotan. I noticed Sunday afternoon that he was looking like he was in a lot of pain, so I asked our contact if he was alright. Our contact told me he had a fever and was in extreme pain because his two front teeth had cavities in them. Most Cambodian people can't...

Our group started doing street ministry this week, and in the saddest scenes I could have ever imagined, God revealed to me a part of his heart I had not known up to this point…. We broke off into small groups one day to hand out toothbrushes to people on the streets. Our translator took my group into the slums of the city. I honestly had no idea that this part of the city even existed. To me, a "rich" American, nearly the entire city looked like slums…. but where we went on this day is where the outcasts of the city and their families live, which naturally is far...

Week 8. Looking back on this week there are so many points to which my mind can send off towards. I was allowed to experience some of the moments that have defined themselves as the most powerful in my life thus far. My heart raced forward as my eyes poured over some of the most beautiful people I’ve met. God’s true masterpiece is the human race. He made so many variations of characteristics and personalities in each individual. It is a breathtaking moment when we meet someone who comes from a different world than us. Different live, culture, foods, smells even skin color… all of...

I had no idea what to write about this week.  I feel like I have to many jumbled up thoughts to present a thorough and organized blog, so I decided to write out a bunch of random thoughts I've had while in Cambodia. We'll see if this makes any sense at all. Roots Man, I've had a good life. God protects me and blesses me beyond belief.  For a while, I questioned, ''Why me? Why did he give my all this and plant my faith so deep?" I wondered why he didn't allow me to get beaten and bruised and tossed about the way others do.  But it's...

God revealed a lot to me this week through our community outreach and I would like to share that with you. Here is a rundown of this week; 　 Day 1- Prayer walk On our first day of outreach we got an opportunity to walk around the city of Battambang and pray. This was an awesome experience because we went out and prayed out loud for the city and its people. Not only was it cool pray out loud for the city, but is was even more awesome to know that when we pray we pray with power, knowing that change is going to happen. Praying over Battambang got me thinking. Why haven’t I...

  When I have questions, I really enjoy researching and digging for information, so that I can better understand whatever issue I’m looking into.  So, I did some researching! I still have a lot of digging to do, if I wanted to satisfy my professor in my Research and Statistical Analysis course—BUT I have been blessed in conversations with a few different Cambodian people.  The things that they had to say have sent my mind reeling with more questions.  But I am starting to piece together the larger picture of Cambodia from listening to the people and their...

So here I am, yet another morning with no students of my own to speak of… and here comes Huah! Barrelling through the room and up onto the stage, watch out! The 4-year-old Cambodian NINJA MASTER! He does somersaults! He punches! He kicks and "flips"! What can't he do? When this adorable, little 4-year-old is feeling the ninja calling, he gets into it. He believes with his whole, toddler heart he has been transformed into a 9th degree black belt, Karate Master. Now, let us biblical, shall we? This story was spoken to me during feedback just the other day and I have...

Hello lovely people! Have you ever heard the saying “Preach the Gospel and if necessary use words”? Well, don’t get me wrong, I’d much rather be able to sit down with someone and discuss the Scriptures with them, because the Scriptures are SO powerful (as they are the Word of God). But, guess what? I’m in Cambodia and not many people can speak English here and I cannot pick up their language overnight. I literally cannot speak the Gospel to them, unless I have a translator, which are far and few between. At first I was so frustrated by this because I want to...