So I have been trying to figure out for the past hour what in the world to blog about. I went through some journal entries as suggested and have decided that there is one major theme that continues throughout them all. Amazement. I am just so amazed that I am here. That I am in Cambodia staring out into the most beautiful scenery I have ever seen. Everything I look at seems as if it could have jumped out of a painting or professional photo of some sort. I am surrounded by beauty and love constantly. I am living in an orphanage. I wake up to 30 or more faces just waiting to play with me. Every day I am showered with loving embraces and thoughtful touches and smiles. I am amazed that this is where God has called me, that this is where He placed me, and that He could love me this much. I keep thinking about where I would have been at this time this year had I never followed Him. Had I never of just said yes. I would be missing out on all this. For the longest time I was afraid to say yes, afraid to change. I would even sugar-coat my desire to change to others out of fear. In fact I have a confession to make to all of my friends. I lied to you. I lied when I said I didn’t want to change; that I didn’t want to become a “Jesus freak”. I said this to you out of fear. I deeply desired to change but I was afraid to. I was afraid that if I changed my lifestyle that I wouldn’t be able to have fun anymore. What would I do? If I took up this cross and began living the way I am called to; that would mean the fun is over right? What does a girl do if she can’t gossip with her friends about boys, the “night before”, and who did what to who? If my desires change, if I no longer want the hottest clothes, the sexiest shoes, and the perfect hair, what will I have in common with my girlfriends? What does a twenty something do if they can’t go get drunk with their friends? If I am no longer the girl that is down for anything and there for everything, who will want to hang out with me? I feared losing you, losing my popularity, losing my value. I feared losing my “life”. But Jesus answered all those questions for me and now I can’t imagine living without Him. I look at all the “fun” I was having before and weigh it against what I am doing now and it just doesn’t measure up. This, right now, my life, is so stinkin awesome. What could be more fun, more sick, than traveling the world and actually living and experiencing the people and their culture right where they are? So often we think that if we become “christians,” if we become Jesus Freaks, that all we are doing is giving up our fun to become “good” people/boring people, the kind of people that sit at home and do nothing but read their Bible (which by the way I have a new love for). That is so wrong. I am doing one of the craziest things I have ever done, and who led me to do it?? Oh yea Jesus….that boring guy?? We need to redefine boring. If I was at home or back in New York what would I be doing? The same thing that I do every weekend going to a party, meeting someone for dinner, watching a movie, or planning that trip that I will never actually take. All these things are great, but a few months ago I was asked when was the last time you did something for the first time, and guess what my answer was……hmmmmm. If someone were to ask me that today I could say umm 5 minutes ago. Rarely a day goes by that I do not do something that I have never done before. Before The World Race I had never….. Been to Thailand or Cambodia Spoken Thai or Khmer Riden in the back of a truck with up to 40 people at a time Eaten bugs Gone on a scavenger hunt in a country that I had never been to without a map or any instruction (Race Day) Been to a pinapple farm Seen an elephant just strolling down the street Been up close and personal with hundreds of monkeys Shared a testimony in front of an entire church Sang in front of an entire church Lived and traveled with 6 strangers Backpacked anywhere Had family across the world Climbed a gorgeous mountain, finding my own way to the top without using a path Lived in an orphanage Dodged cows while riding a bike Used a squatty potty Bathed at a well under the stars Had a dance party to Khmer (Camodian) music with 40 or so orphans And the list goes on (check out Christie’s blog for a few more)…. And now I have. So my point is Jesus rocks. He is the coolest guy ever. He takes me to the coolest places I have ever seen. He knows everybody. He knows all the right people in all the right places. He is a freaking blast. I have never gone anywhere with Jesus and not had a good time. Sometimes He is really challenging. Sometimes you are not even sure where He is taking you, but when you get there you are always amazed. When you hang with Jesus you are never bored. To be a “christian” means that you follow Jesus. Jesus is not boring; therefore Christians (the ones that are really following Jesus) are not boring.
