Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Coming Home


There are going to be a lot of changes in my family this next year. Nothing bad, but some stuff that I really feel like I should be around for. So I've started making plans to come home in May. But actually those plans have changed. I was talking to my friend the other day and she was talking about how it is difficult to be on the missions field because sometimes you have things in your past that you need to deal with, even if you never knew there was an issue. That's kind of where I'm at. For the last couple months I've been really feeling spiritually attacked because of something that happened years ago. I thought that I was handling it, and I was asking for prayer, but over the last month it's become increasingly evident to me that I need help handling it and that I need a support system closer to me than half a world away. So after a lot of prayer and talking with my family and staff over here I've decided to come home this week. So I will be flying out late Friday night. As of this moment, I hope to return at some point, but I don't know when/if that is what God wants for me so when I get home I will be praying about that and keep everyone up to date one that. 
This was decided yesterday. So today I will be telling all the girls and rest of the staff. If you could be praying for strength and the words to say that would be amazing. 
I really really  am blessed by all the love and support that you have shown to me while I've been here. I'm sorry for the short notice with this, but I want to thank you for all the prayers and emotional and financial support. 
Thanks so much for understanding. I look forward to seeing you when I get home!

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Make it Work

I have no idea if you are a fan of Project Runway, if you have seen or ever even heard of the show and if not than this title will make little to no sense, but since I am a big fan I was very proud of the cleverness here and was literally laughing out loud when I wrote this. Maybe that statement speaks to either my failing humor or sanity, regardless, the title stays and I hope you are okay with that.

So we changed Wednesday night Bible Studies into youth group nights. We're starting out small, keeping it with our girls and then hopefully we will be able to expand and combine with two other churches nearby to make Rahab's House a hang out for youth in the area.  SUCH a good plan, in my opinion (and I can boast about it since it was not my idea. I had no part in that awesomeness). So we made a game plan, and came up with games and activities and a lesson with a slapstick skit in it so it could transcend the language barrier. And then, in true Cambodian fashion, someone ran into 11 power lines and a transformer cutting 90% of Siem Reap's electrical supply from Thailand before trying to flee the scene. As you might have guessed, we didn't have power for a bit (you know and water, which was kind of a bummer). But Tim Gunn would have been proud because we "made it work"! We re-figured our plan, changed out games, got new supplies and literally bought out one store's worth of candles (granted that was only $10 worth since it was pretty well picked through, but it still sounds impressive). We were ready for anything!

The big night was here! It was showtime! Our Garden of Eden was set, our cast and crew adequately rehearsed. As the story commenced, just as in the story of Creation, there was light! Oh words cannot describe the joy of an air conditioned office, light while using the bathroom, or having a water pump bring up shower water! Doesn't it just bring tears to your eyes at the thought? I know...me too. 

But for reals, it was so good. The actors were funny and the girls loved it! It was so much fun getting to watch the girls watch the skit, and then be able to share some of God's Truth with them. The part that was most exciting to me wasn't the throwing marshmallows at people's heads, or painting nails with eyes closed shut, it was the questions after I talked about how God covers our sin. One of the girls came and asked question after question about why God had to cover our sins, and what happens if we decide to love Jesus, but still make mistakes. It was such a blessed conversation! It's nights like that that make all the heat, the hard conversations, and the frustrating moments just so worth it. 

Unfortunately, I don't have a clever transition for the pictures I wanted to show. Here they are:

How do you find the stairs in staff housing in a power out-age? Like this:
Oh you know, just lighting up the stairs at the staff house 
  One of our awesome staff rejoicing at having light while using the bathroom.
Game time at "youth group". Playing 'Human Knot' 
Target practice with marshmallows. 
 Our Garden of Eden, and yes that is the serpent coming to deceive Adam and Eve.
 The girls watching from our purple couches.

Oh! P.S. I got my own apartment!!!!!!