Being stuck in Thailand was hard. We had a week as an entire squad being in this limbo phase of not knowing what was going to happen. The lack of information given made it easier to say ‘I’m ready to leave’. When the news came about London, it was such an exciting switch that we all immediately jumped on board, and with only 3 hours to pack and leave, we didnt waste one minute. My first week in England was one of adapting and enjoying a new environment. Everything was so new and different that I found myself caught up in it all. It finally hit me a couple of nights ago though…what did I leave behind? I didnt realize the effect that leaving South East Asia would have on me. Three months of my life was spent in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand, and it was suddenly taken away. How did I not notice? The Lord opened my eyes to so much and changed me in unique ways and I dont want to forget that. Here is a recap on what I left behind:
Vietnam
– My eyes were opened to the overwhelming world of prostitution, and my heart broke for the men and women who are so lost in their indentities, not knowing that they have a Father who loves them.
– I fell in love with the kids at the disability center. Babies and children who were abandoned and needed love.
Cambodia
– Happy Tree: An orphanage housing 91 children with HIV
– Soknang, Meng, Liseng, Bunlong : my children who I love so much it hurts. Leaving them was incredibly difficult and I miss them with all of my heart
Thailand
– The women at the well who opened up their lives to me during our times of making cards and jewelry. They were so honest about their past and how the Lord is still piecing together their brokenness
– Non, Lucky, and Beer: The three ladyboys who I met in the bars that caught my heart instantly. Night after night they sell their bodies in search of love, not knowing they can have the greatest love of all.
It was a few nights ago that my burden for this part of the world just broke me. As I sat there sobbing my heart ached. I didnt realize the effect that this situations and people had on my life and I so desperately want them to know the love of Jesus. I have no idea where the Lord is going to bring me when the race is done, and no matter where that is I pray that my burden for South East Asia would never dwindle. I pray that my heart would continue to ache and the tears would continue to fall as I cry out to the Lord on their behalf. I dont know if I have any more words to express how much I LOVE these people, so I’m just going to end with the faces that touched my life:
Meng and Soknang 
Lucky, Beer, and Non 
