My heart is so FULL right now in many ways! Mostly full of love for the Cambodian people and being open to the many ways God will use my team and myself this month. We arrived to our contact site in Kampong Cham, Cambodia and were greeting with the traditional Cambodian meal. This meant sitting on the floor and being welcomed into our new home for the month. After lunch, I spent some time resting up after a 3-hour bus ride to our location. As I lay in my bed, yes bed, it began to pour and our roof is tin. It was awesome how the Lord woke me up and continues to remind me daily of His greatness in creation. I have found that blogging is a perfect way for me to clear my head and also share with those back home what is happening on the field. We are staying on the second story of a home; this includes 3 bedrooms, a bathroom, nice big room to fellowship, and a glorious balcony. Our accommodations for the month are super sweet and I couldn’t ask for a better place to be for the month. I awoke and make my way downstairs to put up a blog and was greeted by our fabulous contact. We began conversing and sharing life about ourselves. She is from the Philippines and has been working here for 3 years. I shared with her my brief testimony and how I came to be on the World Race.
Very quickly the topic of the “American Dream” came up and I shared how I was about to begin this journey but chose obedience to the World Race. Though there have been and continue to be challenges, how sweet this choice to follow Christ and all He has in store for me. There were plenty of struggles to get here but faithfully the Lord provided for me every step of the way. As I began this journey, challenges continue to come up but I have chosen to keep a positive attitude and take everything before the Lord. Life on the race means flexibility and being open to schedules changing daily, hourly, by the minute or even the second. I have found such peace in not having control and allowing the Holy Spirit to have every second of my day for His glory. Through sharing with our contact Maricel, the Lord is reaffirming this trip, year, and the wonderful plans He has for my life.
Traveling in Cambodia is very different than in the states. First of all, there are no signs, lights, or clear direction of which direction to proceed into. Among the chaos, all I can hear are the sounds of the loud horns beeping everywhere. I have heard more horns in 2 days then in my life in America and if you know me I like to use the horn to notify people when I arrive. Especially when I am cruising with Madisson Wisher in the blue Saturn. Our most popular way of transportation is a motorbike pulling tutus, which are 1 to 2 seats. Each trip on these has proven to be interesting and full of adventure. From being really really close to other moving vehicles, the bumpy roads, avoiding juices from moving vehicles, and laughing most of the way amidst the pain of being piled high. Our bus rides have also been interesting; these include beeping our horn to pass slower vehicles, motorbikes, or anything in our way. Getting to our destination involves passing into oncoming traffic but making it over in time to avoid a head on collision. I have enjoyed these rides and I know when I return home to America. There will be great freedom and thankfulness in being able to jump in my Mercury and head to my destination.
Above picture: catching a ride on a tuk tuk, with my beautiful teammate Megan. Below picture: 2 tuk tuk's joined with love from one to another.
Please be in prayer for my month in Cambodia: my team, our ministry and divine appointments from the Lord, personal growth, safety through a current election here, health and well being of us, and Q Squad as a whole, all over Cambodia.
The kiddos always seem to find our team and gives us the opportunity to love on them, my teammate JaKobus.
