All my adult life, I’ve been considered a flight case. From 16-22 I never stayed at a job longer than six months, I had a lot of things I wanted to do and a lot of places I wanted to go. But I finally reached a point where I was tired of being considered flighty, so I started staying in places for at least a year. But I still had the desire to travel and explore more. I knew this wasn’t all life had to offer, there had to be more.
Which led to me signing up for the Race. That “more” I kept desiring, ended up being a relationship with the lord. I left on this journey with no expectation of how I was going to change as a person, I just wanted to love on some orphans and live like the locals. After four months of incredible, but not quite satisfying, months of ministry, I’m finally loving on orphans! I knew I was going to love Cambodia the moment we arrived, there wasn’t anything that stood out, but it was a feeling in my soul, one this flight risk has never felt before…a feeling of finally being where I belong, finally being where God has called me. The kids make it even more perfect. After going to Madagascar and seeing homeless kids and feeling helpless and wondering if they got hugs at night, God opened my eyes to other “homeless” children. But I know these children get hugs, and I know they know Jesus loves them. In no way does this lessen my ache for the babies of Madagascar, but it was a nice reminder that everyone’s circumstance is different and God is working powerfully in everyone’s lives, even if you can’t see it.
Cambodia is everything I expected from the race and so much more. I live with no AC, a chicken is constantly trying to lay eggs in our room, we always have a slight chicken smell to us from being in a village, I cuddle kids, and goof off with teenagers. This is a life I could lead forever (but with AC…) its not perfect, I wake up at 2am drenched in sweat, our shower is difficult to use, a chicken wants to lay eggs in our room and we smell like chicken. Heat exhaustion and dehydration are real, but they become less bothersome when a little babe comes and jumps in your arms for nightly snuggles or you get to watch them worship your King. Everything becomes better watching 2-16 year olds praise and worship Jesus, everything. New Hope orphanage has stolen my heart, and I don’t want it back.
I might be a flight risk, but I’ve found where I belong in Cambodia. I don’t know what this means for life after the Race, but I’m open to whatever God asks me to do, I’ll go where He sends me. I have six more countries to venture to and $2,000 to raise, if you have a heart for helping others, please consider making a donation and helping me bring Jesus love around the world.
