24+ Praises & 24+ Photos for my 24th in CAMBODIA!
24! Wow! 24 PRAISES! The Lord is so GOOD!
Praise the Lord for my 23rd year, as it was such a year!
While reading this post, feel free to listen to this song (because God is so good, and I continue to pray for my human ability to accept the love that the Lord has for me; I pray that for you also): Belly of the Deepest Love by Tow’rs
Cheers! Here’s to my 23rd year, going into my 24th!
The Lord is GOOD!
The Lord surely blessed me during my birthday and throughout the week of. It started a week ago with mopeding around the wonder of the world (Angkor Wat), and then a mini surprise dinner party with my team & a few others, with them blessing me with memories, and ended with watching Guardians of the Galaxy 2 in theaters that night!
Later that week, we found out that Chan’s (one of the sweet teachers at New Hope School) (she is 1 day older than me!) birthday is May 4th, so we got to celebrate her with birthday cards from us & the students, cake, and ice cream! So FUN!
My team & I had the chance to stay at a hotel to get some needed rest for some recuperation of health.
On my birthday, I had a yummy breakfast, some needed quality time with the Lord, moped adventure to a mountain (Stoher is a boss moped driver, can I say incline?), sweated a lot, overlooked the city of Battambang, had 2 frappes, prayed to the real & true God in temples, still awed by the wonders and beauty of God, rooftop drinks, getting ready for the paaarrtaayyy, party on the rooftop most of my favorite people consisted of chili, cake (happy hirthday, Emily), Emma’s customized party playlist for me, twinkle lights in shape of 24, hashtags for days (#rooftopbash4dash #getwildBTB #cambodiancincodemayo), love, beautiful journal full of love notes from my favorites (most thoughtful gift), blessings, prayer, good talks, Cambodian wedding music, fun, and MORE! Wow! I feel so loved!
AND all of this just scratches the surface of the goodness the Lord has showed me on my birthday and within my 23rd year and beyond.
Thank you to everyone that I have had the honor of encountering in my life.
Thank you for all your love and support!
Thank you for all the Happy Birthday messages! I love you all LOTS!
{{To journey without being changed is to be a nomad. To change without journeying is to be a chameleon. To journey and to be transformed by the journey is to be a pilgrim.}} Mark Nepo
.
TRANSFORMATION.
>>change or renewal from a life that no longer conforms to the ways of the world to the one that pleases God >>
[continued throughout life]
word. holds a lot of weight. means a lot. my prayer. 2017 & beyond. never ending. continual. constant. to be more Christ like. journey. learning. growing. change. changing. pilgrim. transforming. transformation.
Fun fact about JESUS:
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” <>
AND how cool that we get to become more like Him each day if we choose to – – transforming into who the Lord wants us to be.
Onto some pictures and captions of glimpses of my 23rd year…
Graduated from University of Wisconsin – Green Bay with a Bachelor’s in Social Work.
End of an era working at the Cofrin Library.
Also, had the privilege to work with Curative Connections.
Training Camp –enough said.
Love my friends from around the world!
Hinematov #thetovs
New nicknames were developed —Em, Em.dash, Dashner, Ed (ask Paige Hamilton why ED 😉 ), Edgy Eddy, Street Credz Ed, Baby Daddy, China, and more–
–yes some are odd…but so am I 😉
Jubilee #thejubes
Summit #summit #tatted
Travelled to 3 continents (North America, Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia), 18 countries, even more states, and even more cities…
and still counting…
I have stepped into oceans, seas, people’s lives, homes, hospitals, more faith, cafes, temples, mosques, government buildings, fuller love from the Lord, culture houses, bars, cultures, languages, perspective, forts…
I have loved seeing my friends get baptized in Bulgaria, Greece, and Cambodia.
I have prayed around teammates, compounds, people, government buildings, bars, streets, cities, temples, mosques, cafes, homes, schools, hospitals…
Romanced by God in Romania!
We climbed a MOUNTAIN RANGE talking to strangers about Jesus and praising Jesus all along the way. I definitely would’ve not gotten through this without Jesus and community. The journey was rough at times, but it was all overall SATISFYING. Praise the Lord!
Mountain range that touches Kosovo, Macedonia and Albania.
Had my mom join me on the World Race for a week in Thailand for Parent Vision Trip!
Experiencing 4 WONDERS.
“You are the God who works wonders, You have made known Your strength among the peoples.” ≥≥Psalm 77:14≤≤
I have had rebellious moments on the Race (you’ll just have to be my friend to find out 😉 )
Blending in…ASIA!!
Being called Chinese (without telling them!).
Finding FREEDOM!
HAIR…
Sharing my heart and getting prayed over…
I have experienced different types of darkness, but always going back to Revelation because I know the end of the story, where JESUS takes the VICTORY!! LIGHT ALWAYS OVERCOMES THE DARKNESS! Where there is light, there can be no darkness! Praise the Lord! Hallelujah!
Falling in love with the people of different nations and tongues.
Having an elementary school dream…FULFILLED. Of becoming a 3rd grade teacher at a refugee school in Malaysia.
All for Jesus!
Much love from Cambodia,
Em
P.S. give or take on the 24 😛 who’s counting?
Praying to never lose my wonder.
