Hey everyone! It has been 1 month since I’ve posted a blog…..which means I have all that much more to share with you(: Since last I blogged, I have spent my final days with my host family in Thailand! Raem and Nan, along with their adorable children, will hold a special place in my heart. Whether it was helping Nan mix concrete at the rice farm, painting bible verses and fun pictures on their kitchen walls, spending the day at the local school’s sports tournament, or simply hanging out at home with the kids. This last month in particular, I felt God’s presence and guidance so much more than ever could have imagined. With Cambodia coming up so quickly and a team change on the horizon, I was at a loss for what to expect; however, I found my Father in prayer. I often went to bed with a peaceful heart, knowing that God had everything under control. In that, I spent my last days in Thailand enjoying the loving family I had been staying with and spending time with my amazing teammates the Lord blessed me with. But now…..I’M IN CAMBODIA!!!
One 15 hour bus ride later, I found myself in Phnom Penh getting ready to go out and serve in whatever way the God had planned for us. This is also where I met my new team! I’m now a member of Team Sellah, along with Katie Wolford, Hannah Esposito, Laurie King, Diego Galvao, and my new team leader, Matt Shirey. For this season, God has called me out of team leading so that I follow a different path he has set out for me which I look forward to with all my heart.
God has amazing things set on the path before me and every other child of His on this squad. Walking into the unknown will always be a challenge, but it was never meant to be done alone. Challenges and trials are before me, but the one who carries me through them is far bigger than anything I could imagine. Just take a minute and think about that. Try to imagine the greatest thing you can think of, try as hard as you can. Pretty amazing huh? The human mind can imagine some pretty incredible things. But wait, God is bigger than that!!! Walking into Cambodia, a country worse of than Thailand, with new people we had never lived with before seemed pretty challenging/intimidating/scary, but our God is greater than that and he walks before us! Fear is faith in the enemy, and that is something I choose not to have because I already have faith in our Father! God is good, and he loves us with all he has, so I choose to return him the favor(:
Cambodia isn’t quite the same as Thailand…..actually it isn’t the same at all! The economy is much worse: Thailands exchange rate was 35.5 baht to 1 dollar, where as Cambodias exchange rate is 4,000 riel to 1 dollar. Isn’t that insane??? Things are also much more expensive here than they were back in Thailand. Buddhism isn’t as big of a thing here either. While it’s still quite popular, Islam is also a pretty common sight. Another thing I noticed was that your average person isn’t as friendly as in Thailand…..but you wouldn’t think that if the first place you visited was my new ministry site!
I am now staying in Sway Kroum at the Hope Center orphanage! There are at least 20 orphans that live here with Ron and Rachel, our new ministry hosts. The first day me and my team arrived, we were met by kids, young and old, callings us brother and sister and asking if they can help us with our bags. It was something I totally didn’t expect haha. I actually prayed before we left Thailand that I would get to visit an orphanage, which just goes to show that prayers don’t go un-heard! For this month, I will fasting from Wifi, so don’t be alarmed if you don’t get an update from me before December 4th. This country is beautiful and full or history and culture, and I can’t wait to share with you everything God shows me(: I also just want to say thank you to everyone who helped me get here. Through support and prayer, God moved many hearts in this journey and its amazing that I get to be a part of it. Next time you hear from me, I will be just arriving in South Africa!! Thank you everyone and God bless! (:
