"Hello, Hello"

So last night was a night of beauty. We went through the gifts I brought which consisted of: Hot-wheels, Walkie-Talkies, Head lamps, and etch and stretch. We gave out most of the toys last night. We started with the hot wheels and they were a huge hit. The kids had all picked there specific cars and headed to this race track that Kit set up. It was fun to see the kids claim victory as there hot wheel made it across first. Then later on that night we introduced....walkie talkies! This was so much fun....the kids couldn't believe that this was happening. They were running all over the property saying, "Hello Hello." Hello Hello was ringing like a chorus form the building. Some of the kids would run up to me with huge smiles on there faces...offering for me to join in the "hello, hello." This continued for hours as the kids swapped off and on and realized that conversation was possible. Cell phones are common place here and they kept asking, "you dont have to pay for this?" It was so much fun!! Then me, kit, and 2 other older boys, strapped head lamps on our heads and raced outside in the night. The kids were all running around with the walkies and soon ran in terror as we chased them with the red light in our eyes. It was so much fun!!! Everyone joined in on the fun, everyone was smiling and laughing, some were even singing-into the walkies of course. For the first time there was no need for me to communicate...I was able to love on them, celebrate Joy with them, without any words. It was a night that fell from heaven and praise Jesus for it!! Sometimes I feel like the white elephant in the room, its difficult for me to know how to communicate, or what to do when I am introduced. I pray for boldness in these situations, strength to not looks so awkward and seem like the weird kid in the corner. I don't exactly know what to do...this will hopefully come with time. Pray for grace upon grace as I find my place! I am doing well here, being stretched out of my comfort zone, having to be very willing to look like a fool, but with all the hope to win the kids and peoples affection. Communication is a priceless gift...everyone reading thank Jesus for your voice and understanding. My heart will forever be changed for the child who is non-verbal, or the foreign exchange student with the difficult accent. Its worth the struggle to connect with them, I promise!! Otherwise you leave a soul feeling very alone with people all around them. I thank you Jesus for what you doing, and I praise your name in the midst.

2 days!!!

Okay, so I am here and I am alive! The plane ride was wonderful because I got to talk about Jesus to a Korean Man, and also a Cambodian man on the connecting flight. The flight however, minus the conversation, was difficult. I got very sick every time the plane would take off, and 2 days of flying was just about exhausting. Okay so I am here! I am actually in Cambodia!! We stayed at a nice hotel in the city when I arrived. I got to eat breakfast with the whole Carson family. They have 2 little boys, Joe and Sam, I believe that we are going to be best friends! Sam and Joe are both learning English, its going to be fun to help them through this process. I got to meet all the children, the following day. This was so amazing! It was so beautiful to finally see all of there faces. Most of them don't speak any english so that is proving interesting, a few have been so helpful with spelling things out through hand signals and such. the first day here Ream took me to the killing fields, this was a horrible experience. Basically about 30 years ago there was a mass genocide of the Cambodian people, Reams father and brothers lived through this experience. She took me but could not go in because the memories are to hard for her. There were hundreds of young Cambodian faces on the walls. These faces were so proud, so proud in the midst of such horrible destruction. Also they had many of the torture rooms still open and set up like they were 30 years ago. I cant describe to you fully the feeling I got in this place. Evil is what I felt, the presence of sheer evil. After that we went to the kings palace, which was huge! Gold everywhere. I got to talk to Ream about the spiritually of the country. The country is so so so lost! Buddhist and idol temples are everyone. I literally mean, intense burning, animal sacrificing, old testament, pagan worship. This moved me beyond reason to watch these people pray and donate money to there golden statues. Ream said, " they pray to a God they made, there God isnt alive, they made it." This breaks my heart for the people. Cambodia first heard the name of Jesus in 1994, no one in the country had even heard the gospel before then. Now if your sick or demon possessed, the villages will say, "go to the Jesus people, they can heal you." Reams father has been used in crazy ways for the gospel, Ream has unbelievable stories of healing, exorcisms, and visitations from angels. The Lord is moving here, the gospel is fresh, the gospel is new, and the gospel is needed. I have never seen a people in such darkness. Morals don't exist here, life is not valued, most Cambodians have no moral code. Just get whats mine, as soon as I can. Jesus I pray you can use me here! I pray that you can let me shine like a light amoungest the darkness.

So today, we went to this mountain, I went with about 30 of the kids. We rode bikes through the rice fields and through the villages. It was crazy! Here I was on a bike with 30 smiley kids all around, speaking in a language I have never even heard of, and we are headed to the one mountain(hill) in the village. We get there and hike up about 400 stairs, no lie, me and the kids huffing and puffing the whole time. We get to the top and its beautiful. 100 plus year old temple ruins. The kids play and show me through all the nocks and crannies. We saw monkeys! We ate mangos at the top of the mountain, the kids put this white stuff on theres, so I tried. It was salt and ground up chili--the kids laughed as I swallowed politely but nearly spit it out. Since I am white, I stick out, alot!! Everywhere we go in the village people stare at me. As we rode by on our bikes the villagers would gather there families outside to stare at the white girl. This is an interesting experience. I got asked at the mountain today-if one of the guys could take a picture with me. He wanted a pick because I was white. Everyone is sweet though, especially in the village, its just a new thing to be an attraction. I wish for a tan soon, so I don't stick out so bad.

The Lord is here, in the Carson family. In the kids smiles and helpful gestures. They love the Lord in such a real and life saving way. I am so excited to be a part of the Lords beginning foundation. I will soon visit Reams fathers church, which could very possibly be the first church in the country---ever! This is literally the birth of the church in Cambodian and I cant wait to see how the spirit moves. He loves his children and now he is here, in Cambodian, renewing his bride, his world bride. The wedding bells ring!

pray, pray without ceasing that I could bring light to this lost nation. I am not exactly sure how this will look but I know that its in the Lords hard to move here. I am safe, I feel safe, certain things are hard since I am white and look like the perfect person to mug, so I have to pay attention. But the people are nice and willing to let me into there huts everywhere we go. I hope to learn Khmer, I pray by the grace of Jesus that he would transform my tongue and mind to catch the language quickly. I want to be able to speak to the children, bond with them, love on them in there own language. I want to be able to communicate with the village, to show Christs love in a tongue they can understand. Please pray that I can supernaturally grasp the language.

I love you, and sorry this so long. So much has happened in these 3 short days. I am here, so safe, learning and loving all I can. I really feel at home, I didn't think that would happen so quickly. This is were I fit for these months, I am here standing in the perfect will of God.

*KFC is there only fast food chain
*I slept under a mosquito net
*I am eating tons of mango seeds, beautiful fruit, super fruit, suppose to make you younger
*Other fun facts to come later

I love you, so very much. Thank you everyone who sacrificed time, money, heart space, loneliness, friendship, thank you so much for trusting in the beautiful will of our sovereign father!

Goodbye my lover...Goodbye my friend..you have been the one

Well its the night before I leave and when I say this I mean that its about 30 mins until the family wakes to take me to the airport! I think its been just a little bit over 24 hours since I have slept:) I believe this whole none sleeping thing will be helpful on the plane ride, lets just hope I have enough sense to figure my way through the airport. Well to relay the feelings: mostly tired! After that though comes peace that transcends all understanding! Seriously the Lord has planted in me such a confident and quite spirit. I haven't been afraid once during all planning and preparation. Now its the eve of travels and nerves are still at bay! The Lord is so good and kind to me. He loves me so specifically. He has walked before me and ready the way. He waits in Cambodia for me now. I want to thank all of you involved. Seriously with out the body of Christ surrounding me, none of this would have happened. Thank you all for assisting in making my dreams come true. Also I want all the ones who are having a hard time with my leaving, those friends and that have shed beautiful and loving tears for me. Your tears, sacrifice, and love is so so so noticed and I thank you for this, from the bottom of my heart. I have been surrounded by such a heart-breaking community that loves me so well. Here are my words for you, well Jesus words, that I long to encourage you with:

Philippians 1:3-11
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+1&version=NIV
*wont let me copy/paste so the link will have to do:)

I will try to post between airports, to let everyone know all is well, I will just have to see how much time I will have. I will for sure communicate my arrival as soon as possible!

What to Come

I will soon be leaving for Cambodia, well in a matter of days, I board my plane January 27th and wont return until April 27th. I hope to update this blog at least weekly so everyone at home will be able to get updates on daily Cambodia life! I also hope that this blog will allow everyone interested to see the Glory of the Lord! I hope to communicate to everyone in the states just how the Lord is moving through these next 3 months! Also I hope to use this blog to communicate any and all prayer requests, for this is a totally new time in my life, and I ask you to bath these next 3 months in prayer!