Swey-sdie! Hello! On my first day in Phnom Penh our team went to the Tuol Sleng (or S-21) prison. During the Cambodian genocide the evil power of Khmer Rouge tortured and killed over 20,000 people in this prison. Of the 20,000 prisoners, only 7 survived and only 2 of them are still alive today. I met one of them; his name is Chum Manh (pictured below) and he told my group and I his story. Chum Manh stared into my eyes as he recounted to me the story of the atrocities the Khmer Rouge did to him and his family- I began to wonder, "Lord, can you really make despicable evil like this turn...

Hey there friends! So, I have more news for you. We have moved from our treehouse. I miss our squatty potty, no lie. One of my teammates has hearing aids, and the constant humidity, no air conditioning thing was taking a toll on them. So we moved to a HOTEL. I honestly felt like I was cheating the first few days. Although, my back is loving the mattress. The only thing is that we’re surrounded by buddhist temples and monasteries in this area. For the past week we’ve woken up super early to chanting on an outdoor intercom that can be heard for a few blocks. I’m talking, 3am...

We have arrived in Cambodia! So glad we’re finally here. After a few days off in Phnom Penh, we took a five hour bus ride to Battambang, a smaller city where our ministry site, TransformAsia, is located at. I love it here. My team is wonderful. The time adjustment was fairly easy on me, we’re all going to bed super early, like 7 or 8pm early, and waking up just as early, just like Cambodians. It’s crazy how easily we’ve adjusted, God is good 🙂 When we first arrived in Phnom Penh, our contact met us at the airport. His name is Sothea, he’s a youth pastor...

Christ the Cornerstone… Eph2:14 “For Christ himself is our peace who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall ..” The first full week of ministry in Battambang Cambodia has been incredibly powerful! God is constantly overwhelming me with his perfect truths about how he feels about his children and all of his creation. He reminds me that he is a beautiful and mighty warrior fighting for his love to be known by his daughters of Cambodia. God started our week with us attending a Sunday morning church service with the girls who had been...

Hey everyone! I have officially survived one week of Cambodia. I can honestly say even though it has only been a week God has stretched me beyond my confort zone in every way possible. I am so thankful for the support around me because if I wouldn't have had their support and God on my side, I know I wouldn't be here. When we got to Battambang we moved into a home that we all call the "treehouse" because it honestly looks like one. We also had a shower outside and a squatty potty. After spending one night there I began to think to myself, "I can't do this for...

A short story from ministry: This afternoon was such a blast.  Our contact Sothea was busy setting up sound tech equipment for a big show they’re having on Monday night (and guess which lovely group of Americans is doing a drama!), and the girls were either rehearsing their dances or in class most of the day.  So, I spend most of the day with two 8 year old boys Mung and Lee, and Chotan who is 13.  Chotan is such a delight to me.  I’ll post a picture of him and another delightful little guy Perron.     I taught Chotan how to play Twinkle...

I have learned a lot here in Battambang—an entire week without internet or a cell phone gives a person PLENTY of time to think, even aside from the work we have been doing at the women’s center.  First of all, this week was full of building relationships with the women and neighborhood kids at the center.  When we are not at the center, we have been preparing English lessons, Bible study devotions and sermons—or just exploring the community that we live in and enjoying the people here.  We ended up moving from the outside of Battambang to the heart of the...

This was written on 9/11/11… This is the first day since that I have had internet. This day is a day to remember, and a day to honor. Remember the men and women and children that became victim to this infamous day, and remember the heroes… the firemen, the rescue teams, the police, and the countless volunteers who responded on this fateful day 10 years ago. Honor those who live on after the attack, and honor those whose lives were lost because of this. But also remember us. The team of 14 amazing young women God set forth to travel to Cambodia to fight the army of lies and...

At last we have completed our first week in a new country. It has been a week that has humbled my spirit as well as affirmed what God has been teaching me and speaking into me for the past year. Prior to leaving on this trip I asked Jesus to place me in the darkness assured in my stability and reassured by my preparation that I could stand in the midst of it without faltering. I waited for days and months patiently to see what exactly it was that God was preparing me for that I would need such strength for. I now know exactly what it was. Cambodia. Our first day here we walked through...

My team arrived to the location of our first ministry sight in Battambang, Cambodia last week, and we began our work with the girls of TransformAsia on Monday. This past week has been a week of introductions and building a relational foundation with the girls we will be teaching. Next week, we are all set to begin English classes and Bible studies every morning and afternoon, Monday through Friday. We will also be teaching Bible studies on Sundays.             Since we arrived in Cambodia nearly 2 weeks ago, I have come to realize...

We've finally made it to our first ministry site in Battambang, Cambodia, where we will be for the next two months. I'm going to be honest, our first day at the center meeting all the girls was tough for me; we were greeted with joy and smiles, and my initial reaction was, "Why are we here? They each seem so happy, what is God possibly going to do through us here, when there is already evident joy?'' Those thoughts raced through my head throughout the first day, and after returning to our 'treehouse' to turn in for the night, I realized how selfish I...