The few weeks leading up to launch were seriously some of the best times. My parents had gone on a two week cruise, so I was home alone and I decided to spend that time doing some of the things that I love most. I had pancakes with Gigi, went to yoga, hung out with my best friends, and slept over at Meemaws. I pretended it was Winter for a few days and I turned the fireplace on and watched Christmas movies while drinking a whole lot of coffee. When my parents got back we went on a road trip to launch. We went through Knoxville and the Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg area. We didn’t have a plan we just stopped when we saw something we wanted to do. All three of us hadn’t been together 24/7 in so long and it was a super refreshing and relaxing time. Me and Pops got to see the Smoky Mountains for the first time so that was super cool. They were beautiful, WOW God!? We had to be in Atlanta for launch by Sunday the 9th, but we got there Friday night so that we could go to the Yellow Daisy Festival that Saturday. WR has a Parent Launch and I’m glad my parents got to come. They constantly reassured me throughout the two days that they were there that they felt really good about me leaving. When we finally said goodbye I hugged them, but I didn’t cry because I felt so peaceful in knowing that they believed these nine months are truly apart of God’s plan for me. I didn’t need their approval, but boy am I thankful for it because I know this season would have been much harder without their support. After all the parents left everything really began to set it. I looked at my friend sitting in the hotel bed, the night that they left, and I said holy cow we’re actually doing this! We left the States on the 12th and arrived to our base on the 15th. So I’ve been in Battambang for about a week now, but it has seriously felt like an eternity, in the best way possible. My teams ministry for the first month is cooking for our whole squad and our leaders. At first I didn’t think that this job was “ministry” but I was so wrong. We get to live like locals. We get to share the love of Jesus with our tuk tuk driver Mr. Sam and the people at the markets. We get to pray over other teams before they leave in the mornings. We get to decide the culture of the house. My hope for the next two weeks of ministry is that when we go to the markets, the food on our lists won’t be our main priority, but loving the ladies at the vendors or holding the babies would be. That we would constantly strive to leave room for God to show us who He wants us to pursue. I hope that we can continue to provide sustainable meals so that the teams can be focused solely on their ministry. I’m excited for what’s to come! Learning more how to listen to the voice of God and having intimacy with Him. Learning how to work as a team and use each of our gifts to the best of our abilities more so than each week before. The newness of Cambodia is starting to fade and it’s becoming more evident that Im going to be here for the next two and a half months, it’s not like a vacation and I’m going home this week or the next. This is now my life. I always thought that when I left home I wouldn’t even look back, but I have missed it so much-my family, friends, the comfort of my home, the places I always go. This is harder than I thought. It’s good though. My emotions go through waves, but I know that I am here and it’s for a reason.
