Hello, friends! 🙂
There are many things that I have been processing… I hope you are OK with me doing that now, at this time, with you. 🙂
Where to begin?
Well, after I talked with you last Saturday, my team and I went to the Killing Fields. As you can imagine- that was hard. One of my teammates didn’t make it very far in due to how emotional the whole situation was, so she bowed out. Another teammate went with her to keep her company, but because of that, I decided that I was going to be the strong person and walk through the entire memorial (if that’s what you want to call it? Lack of a better word at this point).. I walked through it all- there was a guided audio tour that we took with us, and it was very intriguing to see/ hear all of what had happened in the location that my feet were standing on. During the tour the only thoughts I had was “how is it possible that one man had such power to endanger and claim so many people’s lives?” Very similar response to the Holocaust Museum… God revealed a lot to me, and I’m honestly still learning it- how they wanted power, they have free will, there is sin in the world, I know that’s too short of a summary, but that’s where I’ve gotten at this point. I don’t know where God’s hand was/ is, and I’m not sure what I want to do with that information yet.. (sorry if this is too much detail)!
Otherwise, things have been good! I did not teach this last Monday, (my host made spaghetti which I got all excited for, but I ate it and my stomach did not agree with it).. Getting sick in a squatty potty- well, that will take some getting used to.. lol I have been since trying to watch what I eat and how much I consume. I want to take care of my body..
I leave this school by next Saturday, and then I travel via bus for 8 hours to Siem Reap. We as a squad (all 37+ leaders), will be there at a guest house (with AC and an out door pool- praise God!) I will then be able to enjoy Ankor Wat and the squad as a whole. While I’m excited to be with my entire squad and to explore a new place, I don”t want to leave the school. I have enjoyed working with the kids and teachers, and it will be hard to leave. 🙁 It will be alright, but im just a tad sad about it.
Next month- oofta, that will be a good challenge… We don’t know what our ministry looks like quite yet, but there are only four options; Bar girls (buying a share of time from one of the girls selling herself), monk chats, working in the slums gathering children, or working in the cafe. Emotionally, I am trying to talk to Jesus and rely on him a lot.. It has been quite the challenge, but I know that if I don’t- next month in Thailand will be extremely hard. (Prayers about that would be much appreciated! 🙂 ).
Those are alllll of my updates, beside the “I rode in a Tuk Tuk and thought I was going to die” or “I went into the Russian market and had to barter and felt super scumy” lol.
I appreciate you all reading my blogs and I hope that you feel like you’re apart of my journey, because honestly, you all are. I love each one of you very deeply and am in awe at how much you continue to be intentional with me while I’m over seas. I will try and post more pictures within the next two weeks.
I had previously mentioned us being done with our ministry in Cambodia by This upcoming Friday, October 28th. With that being said, I will not have internet for the next two weeks. My next financial deadline is Nov. 13th and I am in need of $2,000. I will not have internet from now until after the 13th, so if you could all be praying that I meet my deadline, I would greatly appreciate it! 🙂 Also- if you feel lead to partner with me financially or prayerfully, I would appreciate that as well!
Thank you all for your words of wisdom, encouragement, but also your prayers! I have been extremely blessed by each of you- THANK YOU!!!!! 🙂
With Love,
~Mariah
