“You are different. You have changed. You have more joy.”
In reality, three months is a very short time, but when people tell you that you have changed so much in just a short time – you can’t help but get excited. You can’t help but be excited for the next 8 months, because our God has so much more planned for my squad and I.
Let’s take a trip back to January, 2015 – just three months ago.
Thailand
I tried packing my whole life in a few bags, but as people know – Pierce’s never pack light. I thought I was ready for God to rock my world, to flip it upside down. I was SO excited for December 2015, the month I could see the final transformation, but I forgot that I was going to change in each month. Each month, each country, would get to see a different Victoria than the last, because of the Lord’s love, hope, promises, and truth pouring into my life and breaking chains.
I don’t even know who this girl is. I don’t recognize her.
Just after a few days of training camp in Chaing Mai, Thailand I could tell freedom was coming and chains were breaking.
The six girls that have helped me break chains by encouraging me and loving me like Jesus loves. The girls who have spoken so much life into me, the girls who went from strangers to best friends in such a short period of time.
The short time in ministry in Thailand that changed my life, because of the encouragement and joy that they had, even if there was a language barrier.
“Let my soul smile through my heart and my heart smile through my eyes, that I may scatter rich smiles in sad hearts.”
Cambodia
It is hard putting into words how much Cambodia changed me – I found myself, I found love, I found joy, I found freedom.
This is from the first day we arrived at our ministry location. I was overwhelmed with the love that was poured out and so excited for what God has planned that month – little did I know, it was going to be life changing!
We spent a few hours four days a week at neighboring villages loving on the kids. We played games, taught a bible story, and just loved them.
No matter what, I was never judged. I could be myself, and was still loved by these two brothers, Sam and Pov Chenda, and by everyone else at Hope for Children.
For Valentine’s Day, my team leader and squad leader surprised us – ladies came to give us pedicures and do our hair! It was such a blessing to feel extra special, and feel their love – which is only a small glimpse of our Father’s love for us!
Huong, our World Fusion Exposure teammate from Vietnam, was so much fun and such a blessing. Even though it was her first month with us, she poured out so much love and truth to the team, especially myself. She always gave me a ear when I needed someone to listen!
This precious girl told me “Chom Srolanh Klang Nas” which means “I love you so much” multiple times a day, and God would always say “I love you more than I can describe. I love each person here more than you could ever love.”
This is Sam, the Hope for Children’s manager, and his younger brother Borey. They became my brothers so fast, we were able to laugh and pour into each other’s lives from Day 1. They are part of my testimony – they love like Jesus loves. On one of the last days, Borey wrote me a letter –
“I want you to be my sister, I love you so much. Can I ask you to be my sister?”
I am not sure if my heart has ever been that happy! To this day that is been my favorite question that I’ve ever been asked. I am so blessed that God chose me to love him and each person at Hope for Children.
This is Pov Chenda and his two sisters, Srey Mey and Srey Pich. These three show so much love to each person that they meet. Their sweet spirit and tender hearts taught me so much this month – they love like Jesus loves.
After hearing different people at Hope for Children telling me not to leave, and my home is there in Cambodia – it was even harder for me to leave, because they are right. I felt like I found my place where I belonged – I was overwhelmed by God’s love through the people. I was overwhelmed by God’s peace; by His spirit; by His joy; He set me free; He made me brave.
I loved spending my days loving on these boys – whether I was teaching them English, playing volleyball, talking, leading their morning devotion, or having a water fight – they always knew how to put a smile on my face!
All of the children at Hope for Children love playing volleyball, and God chose me to bless them with a volleyball court in their backyard – we worked together to hoe the ground, and I bought the net and ball! They were so excited about it, I LOVED seeing their faces when I told them! I think I was even more excited, because I was able to bless them because God blesses each of us.
The night before I left, they surprised me with a sign for the volleyball court. Most of them couldn’t pronounce Victoria, so I quickly became known as Victory! The sign says: Victory Court, WR Fusion 2015
Even through there are sad faces and tears on the day we were leaving, you can still see the joy in our faces because of our time in Cambodia and all that the Lord showed us.
God is good.
I wouldn’t change one thing about February 2015.
Vietnam
When I was in Cambodia, God showed me that I will be returning there for a longer period, so it made the transition even harder to Vietnam. I was always telling my teammates – “We need to go back to Kampong Thom, Cambodia – I left my heart there.” or “You’ll need to carry me across the border, I want to be here.”
One of the first days in Vietnam I heard God say, “You won’t be back to Cambodia until you long for Me more.” It was really hard for me to hear, but it was what I needed.
Before I knew it, I was fasting Cambodia because of my obedience to God. I wanted to desire God, I wanted to long for Him. My prayer soon turned into “Saturate me with Your love, with Your truth, with Your promises. Teach me to have faith in You, teach me to Trust you.” – and that is exactly what He is doing.
I am fasting Cambodia, so I can draw closer to Him. When I return to Cambodia, in His timing, more lives will change because I am not relying on myself, but Him.
This month was about divine appointments, but also unity. Unity as a team, and unity in God. Growing together, but also growing individually.
Each day, God has showed me why I am in Vietnam. Whether it was to see a sunflower seed, or get a picture with children who kept saying “Hello!” “Hello!” “Hello!” – God chose me to put a smile on their face that day.
Some of my team was able to teach a new hymn at an academy, while also being able to build friendships and share a few stories of what God has been doing in our life. Even if I was only there a few hours, I still made an impact – whether it was planting a seed, watering it, or letting it bloom in full!
“It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow.” 1 Corinthians 3:7
“If you knew you were going to get lice, would you love the kids any different?” That was a question that God asked me at the beginning of Cambodia, and I said no and never thought about it again.
Needless to say, 4 of 8 of us got lice, and I was included.
It reminded me that I loved well, God used me well – I wasn’t afraid of what might happen if I do, or whether I would get lice – I only thought “how can I love these kids better?”
If I stayed in Cambodia I wouldn’t have gotten to make team memories, including a late night trip to get ice cream because God told a teammate too!
God, Thank you for letting me your hands and feet throughout the nations. Thank you for transforming my life, while I am able to transform others. Thank you for blessing me. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for believing in me, when I wasn’t sure that I could believe in myself.
“We are confident of all this because of our great trust in God through Christ.” 2 Corinthians 3:4
The most important thing I have learned: Having faith and trust in God is the best thing to have, because that means I can rest in His presence when I don’t understand. It means that I don’t have to worry about tomorrow. It means that I don’t have to do anything on my own, because He is a God who provides. He is a God who loves. He is a God who never fails. He is my God.
Please join this journey, please join my journey of “An 11 Month Transformation”. Without your love, prayers, and encouragement this couldn’t of happened.
Please join me in raising $1,698 by April 1, 2015.
Please join me in raising a total of $6,940 by July 1, 2015.
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