Hello from CAMBODIA!

Well, this is my first blog from Cambodia. I am so excited to FINALLY be here. The trip over was a grueling 2 FULL days. However, we were SO blessed to have had only a few minor bumps. There are 14 of us total on this trip. To not have any big issues arrise on such a long journey with that many people is because our God is blessing us.

CAMBODIA ~ Yesterday we went to the Teul Seung genocide museum and prison. It was so horrific and sad to see in person. I BEG all of you to read about what Cambodia went through under the Khmer Rouge. Actually, the people here beg that of you. The Cambodian friend that is with us for these 2 weeks says that the people here felt like no one knew or cared that all of their people were being slaughtered for no apparent reason. I would love to say that the government is completely reformed and in top democratic form, but I think it is still far from it.



We went to the market in Phnom Pehn. It was such a crazy experience to have when we hadn't slept in 2 days! The sights and smells were overwhelming. We didn't buy much this time. We just experienced it first.



The biggest things that have impacted me so far. Is the shear sadness. I saw 4 year olds sitting alone by buckets begging. I saw adults with all kinds of deformaties approaching me begging. There were lots of small slave labored children out selling their "wears" making us promise to buy something. They spoke ENGLISH. One of our team members, Heather, was a big target of these kids yesterday. And, it was more than she could bear. To get an insight on what is happening to these kids please watch the movie SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE. I am glad that I saw that and the Teul Seung documentary before coming as well as reading Terrify No More.



The streets are dirty. The people have their street "shops"and many of them live there at their "shop" where there is no shelter. And, they eat snake! There really aren't words for that kind of problem! I guess my big observation is that I didn't notice any type of middle class society. They are all in the struggle for survival together.



Today we are going to Women's Island to see the women and children there. Women's Island was a killing field during the genocide but is now being used for healing. There is a church and a christian ministry happening there. I will understand it more after going. We will also go to the Kids Club. We will feed them lunch, sing songs, give them gifts of dresses, stickers, and american candy. Some of the people on our team have sponsored a child from here. These are street/slum kids. They can't afford to go to school or eat enough each day. So the ones that sponsored a child, are going to get to MEET their kiddo. That, to me, is the COOLEST of the cool. If you are interested in sponsoring one of these kids at some point, let me know. It is done through RAPHA, and I can hook you up! We will also go to the RAPHA SALON. This is where some of the rescued girls are learning to be stylists. Katie, one of our team members from Prairie Grove, is a stylist and will be filmed with the girls there for a RAPHA HOUSE documentary. It will be fun to meet these girls and let them play with our hair. We may come back much altered in apperance. STAY TUNED!



Please continue to pray for us. There is massive flooding here. There is diseased water EVERYWHERE. (thank you to the inventor of CROCS) We are taking our universal percautions with things, but the chances of one or more of us getting ill are somewhat high. Mostly, pray for the people HERE. Seeing it is more impactful than I could have imagined and that was just after day ONE.



Much love to you all from Cambodia! I hope to get more opportunities to blog soon.

I'm READY!

I am finishing my packing and today is my youngest girl's birthday. Haylie Elizabeth is 7, so of course we had to celebrate with a sleepover last night. There were 6 delightful young princesses here. Watching them made me wonder about the parallels of our children and the children I will be seeing over the next 2 weeks in Cambodia. Maybe Haylie will one day go somewhere to minister to girls too.

Some of the Rapha House team went over to Cambodia last week, and we will be joining them on Wednesday. I think it is so cool. because they are blogging and facebooking pictures and experiences from the places and with the people that we are headed to! I have a visual picture of where we are going and now it is time to smell, touch, and breath it all in.

Tomorrow we will go to church. It will be a busy morning with my usual work schedule, plus Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes campaign begins, and we have special prayer time in service. I will have lunch with my family, and we leave from BVCC at 3:30 for Tulsa. We will fly out of Tulsa early Monday morning. I know many will be praying and many have been already. Thanks so much. I hope to post on this blog and on facebook along the way. We should have WIFI capabilities in our hotel rooms.

Ok, back to packing...............

SO THANKFUL!!

As I finalize things at work, I keep thinking over and over again how God has taught me so much through so many friends, family, and neighbors. The financial giving from so many has taught me how important it is to support others that are obeying God's call. I think it is important to validate one another's obedience as a means of encouragement. I feel encouraged and want to encourage others more than ever before.

Also, if it weren't for key people staying here and covering my work at home and at church, I would not be doing this. So, THEY are very much a real part of this mission trip just like those who gave financially. I am so thankful for my parents, my husband, and my children's teachers for being the safety net for my little munchkins while I am away.

I can not say THANK YOU enough to SUSAN ROBERTS for her willingness to facilitate Wednesday Night programming here at BVCC and to supervise the elementary area on Sunday mornings. Not only do I know things will be taken care of, but I know they will be taken care of at a top notch level.

This is not only my JOURNEY of FAITH now but a JOURNEY of GRATITUDE! I can't wait to see what I learn next!!! Thanks be to my creator. And to all of you supporting in holding down the forts, financially, or in prayer, I am praying for you and thanking God for your hearts.

I will leave Arkansas in 63 hours and counting.

ONE WEEK

We leave in ONE WEEK. I can't believe it. I am feeling really excited. I feel like God's protection will be the ultimate thing to lean on.

I am hopeful that I will be reminded of what is truly important and what isn't and can somehow come home and convey that in a real way to my kids. We live in a place of such gluttony and excess. It is a battle I fight in my own spirit every day. To give is better than to receive, so then why do we have such WANTS? It is amazing how we influence one another and how the surface and shallow things influence others more than the real heart issues do.

I am just going to learn a tiny bit about this country and these precious girls that were thrown into an unimaginable existence either out of desperation or ignorance. I want to hear what is on their hearts and minds. What are their desires? Are they healing from such horrific events in their lives? I want to show them that they are LOVED. That their is human kindness, love, and compassion available to them.

I think I am ready to go. I love the team that is going. I feel a peace about how God is going to guide and protect us. I am leaving notes and treats for the kids. I will miss them, chad, and my parents very much.

My plan is to blog from our hotel rooms which appear to have WIFI!!! So, please check in to see how things are going and what we are experiencing.

There is flooding happening there. This is the end of their rainy season, so for it to be flooding, seems a little strange. I guess it is an extra rainy, rainy season? But, the bottom line is that it means that many homes and businesses are flooded and hurting a country that was hurting to begin with. So, we will get a unique experience with this happening while we are there. I am sure the country could use prayers for the rains to end.