Hello from Southeast Asia!
A lot has changed since I last blogged…and I mean a lot.
First of all, I have a new team! I am now with two awesome girls (Deb and Esther) and three awesome guys (Ralph, Justin, and Paul), and we are called Team De Facto.
Photo cred: Sivilay
Second of all…I am not in Cambodia! (Or Thailand) The Asia leg of our route was initially supposed to be Thailand, Cambodia, and then Malaysia, but we found out a few months ago that they were switching Thailand and Cambodia for logistical reasons.
So when we found out our ministry for this month, we were expecting to be in Cambodia, but our team had the awesome opportunity to go to a totally different country that we were not expecting at all. So while the rest of our squad is in Cambodia, our team is in Laos!
After five flights, 77 hours of travel, and several nights spent in airports, we arrived at our first location and were put to work an hour after we arrived.
Photo cred: Danielle Stueve
Photo cred: Ralph Terlouw
Photo cred: Deb Gorgon
Since we are in a “closed” country, I can’t disclose a ton of information about what we are doing, but our experiences here have been some of my favorite so far. We have been doing mostly manual labor, including chopping down things with machetes, reinforcing a fence, painting, yard work, and childcare, and just helping out those who are serving here in any way we can.
Photo cred: Deb Gorgon
It’s been a ton of hard work, but the most rewarding thing is the relationships we have been able to build with our contacts, their families, and all of the others who have sacrificed so much to serve here. I have been inspired by their stories and honored to help them in any way I can.
Even through the sweat, thorns, and ants, Southeast Asia has been amazing so far, and I am stoked for whatever is next.
Financial update: Through everyone’s generous support, I raised $649 on 11/11! Praise the Lord! Only $2,239 to go! If you would like to help me reach my final goal, click anywhere that says “Support Me!”
