Currently I’m in Siem Reap, Cambodia!
Why there?
Let me tell you a bit of a story.
As early as October of last year, Elton Yoder’s visited the States for a wedding. Their family has been living in Cambodia for about a year and a half. They wondered if I would like to come help them when their baby is born and then stay until they return to the States again in May. I immediately wanted to jump at this chance! I had been in Cambodia in February of 2017, but it was only for a week, and not nearly enough time to actually experience the country! After the initial jump to say yes, many ‘logical’ questions planted themselves in my brain.
What about the World Race? How are you going to be able to raise funds if you’re gone? How will people see this – you take off to other countries, yet you’re trying to go on a lengthy mission trip too? Isn’t this somewhat of a selfish plan – to go to Cambodia until May, turn around and ‘beg’ people for money so you can just take off again? Shouldn’t you be working for some of this money, too? Are you SURE this is what God is asking you to do or is this just a dream of yours?
Round and round those questions went – a dizzying swirl of questions and emotions. And especially that last question – ‘is this God or is this a selfish dream?’ – made me think deeply. Finally, the pastor’s wife put it into a bit more of a perspective for me. ‘Think about it this way. Can you serve God in Cambodia? And in the States? Does it matter WHERE you serve? And if God wants you in Cambodia AND on the World Race, don’t you think He can get you to both places? He’s powerful enough, right? Do you have faith in Him?’
That put it into bite-size questions for me. And I came to this simple conclusion:
He Who has called me is FAITHFUL, and He WILL surely DO IT!!!!!!! (1 Thess. 5:24)
God is able; He just is. Not necessarily that He WILL, but He is ABLE. That’s the point. I just need to put my faith and trust in Him!
To Cambodia I went, fully believing and trusting that God has a plan and He will work that plan in me. And I got here not a day too soon, it seemed! I arrived on Wednesday, the 14th (Valentine’s Day!), with thoughts to be getting my bearings in this country, get over jet-lag a bit, and get to know the workings of this household before the baby’s expected arrival in about two weeks. God had other wonderful plans! The very next day Elton and Laura went to the hospital and shortly after midnight on the 16th, Baby Jordan Isaiah made his entrance! How amazing God is! He knew exactly when to send me to this land; He knew that He would make this a journey of faith for me; He knew that I would have the strength to take each day step by step; because He was right beside me, giving me all those things. He didn’t expect me (or even WANT me) to try to take these days on my own. He wanted me to NEED and WANT Him! Bless His Name!
Once again: He Who has called me is FAITHFUL, and He will SURELY do it!
Photos of my current life:
The happy Yoder family: Elton and Laura, Jennifer, Joshua, MaKayla, Bethany, and Alicia welcoming Baby Jordan Isaiah
We all went to visit mom and the baby at the hospital. A friend brought us home on his tuktuk. Such an interesting ride through busy Siem Reap on a Saturday night!
Then this morning we waited for them to get home from the hospital, so we didn’t go to church. This was my special rooftop time with God: sunrise, cool breezes, iced coffee, God and His Word!
Right now, I don’t exactly know when I’ll be back in the States. I’ve learned to shut up and listen to God. And while I’m listening, I’ll be over here cooking food and loving this family’s children. Hopefully I’ll get to experience a bit more of Cambodia than it’s warm weather! 
