Cambodia Mission - July 11 Part I

It is 5 in the morning in Cambodia. I have slept about 2 hours…maybe. Jet lag is real folks. I have had spells of waking and sleeping with prayers throughout the night. I decided to take these precious quiet hours on the balcony of my hotel room. I tried listening to the Fathers Day sermon on honor from Centerbranch. There is so much wisdom and truth in this sermon I felt pulled back to it again this morning. My YouTube download did not cooperate so I went to praise and worship music. So July 11 begins with prayer and worship. What better start can I ask for?

I have a lot of favorite songs, but “Oceans” is definitely one of the top 5. I think God wanted to speak to me through prayer and music this morning. After last night`s service and this mornings prayer the lyric “Sprit lead me where my trust is without borders, let me walk upon the waters, Wherever you would call me. Take mw deeper than my feet could ever wander and my faith will be made stronger in the presence of  my Savior.” I can tell you that where before this was a beautiful lyric…it is now a deeply held and fervent prayer. Yes and Amen.

Light Notes

I have done a great disservice to you. I failed to introduce you to the lucky lizard of room 1266. This little fella has greeted us every single time we come to our door. He is a tiny little thing…I might call him Paul…he is pretty fearless. I am sitting here in the silence of the morning with lizards scurrying about and birds (I hope its birds) chirping in the background. The sun is rising. I cant see it but the sky is becoming lighter by the moment.

This brings to mind our God, the Holy Spirit…our faith. We see the evidence in our lives. We witness the move of God, but we do not see the source. However, we know He is there. Like light filling the morning sky, I cant see the sun but I know it is there…the evidence abounds. I spent the next hour in prayer. Worshipping on my balcony with my hands raised and tears flowing. I opened my eyes to a sky full of light, The hotel is coming to life. I can hear someone swimming early morning laps in the pool and it was in fact birds chirping. (I can see them now and they are not giant roaches. However, the lizards on the balcony are larger than lizard Paul.)

What a difference an hour makes in how things appear? I also find that other team members are enjoying the peaceful quiet to enjoy their time with God as well. I was not the only one singing praise from my balcony either.

Meet The Missions Team

Seems like a good a time as any to introduce our team. Fifteen came from West Virginia: Joi, Erin, Amahri, Pastor Mark, Josh, Caitlin, Kayla, Madison, Rachel, Dakota, Faith, Lexi, Addy, Bryceon, and myself. We added Ruben and Elizabeth in California along with Brother Wes and Sister Regina.

This is arrival in LA.

This is our arrival at the hotel Siem Reap, Cambodia.

This is the Cambodia 2018 information team: Momma Joi, Kayla, myself and Erin.

This is the children on the moving sidewalk taking a ride in Pittsburgh. (I was in it with them, who else would take the photo?)

This is a group working on sorting school supplies.

This is Momma Joi with her "organic" ants at dinner.

Every team needs a few goofballs...or as we like to call them Ruben and Bryceon.

We have two sisters who have traveled to the other side of the world. Bravely embracing what God has for them here. Meet Lexi and Addy

We have two other family groups. Momma Joi is here with her daughter Erin and granddaughter Amahri. They traveled with the 2017 Cambodia team as well. What an amazing legacy to have 3 generations ministering together.

Kayla, Rachel, and Madison are all in the same family..cousins and niece. Once again, what a blessing to have family ministering and growing together.

Getting Personal

Originally, my husband and son were supposed to come to Cambodia this year. That did not transpire and could not find it in myself to be thankful until last night in our church service. I would love to return here with my husband, but I needed this time. I needed a chance to meet with God as me. Not as daughter, wife, or mother. I needed to meet with Him without the weights of my responsibilities, real and imagined, of my daily life. There is no distraction. I have spent the last two hours on this balcony praying, worshipping and writing. God always knows better than we do. A work is being done in my family, no doubt, but I am where I am meant to be. 

I also know that I want to go to ministry school. I am praying God will show me the way. I have the time, but financing it is another story. When the time is right, God will make provision. Not my will, not my timing...only God's. 

Start The Day

I will post another blog about the rest of this day. Today we meet our translators and have our first evangelistic outing. PRAISE GOD! I am so excited to share the fire in me with the people I encounter. As our American families prepare dinner and go to bed, pray for a great harvest for us. As you sleep tonight, we will be ministering on the other side of the world. It is a little surreal, but so amazingly awesome to be doing what God has called each of us to do. Go into all the world and preach the Gospel.

With love, prayers, and exceeding great joy from Cambodia.