First time blogger!

Okay, so this is my first time blogging. I feel as though I feel as though I have been missing out on something huge. This is great!

Well, a little about me...most recently, my world has been a little foggy due to me losing a very important person in my life. Last week, I lost my grandmother, who was practically a second mother to my sister and me. She and my grandfather helped my mom raise us when my parents got divorced when I was entering my 5th grade year. She was an amazing woman, my prayer partner, and my best friend. She truly taught me about God's love and grace and continually reminded me to always put my trust in God. We celebrated her life but mainly her glorification in which she finally was able to meet our heavenly father! I truly miss but find great comfort knowing that I will see her again!

Another note about me is I love to stay and I love being outdoors. I started running competitively about 5 years. In my attempt to accomplish smaller races, moving onto half marathons. I decided to attempt the impossible and run a marathon. So, with much prayer, I challenged myself to run the Marine Corps marathon in DC. Needless to say, I survived with a smile on my tired and exhausted face...

Lastly, another tid bit of info about me is that I LOVE my family...especially my 1 year niece. Lord, help me when another baby comes into our family. I don't know what Lydia will do when she has to share the spotlight. She is a delight and a pure joy to be around...hence the picture I included :)

I am also excited about the opportunity to share this blog with my fellow team members going to Cambodia. I can't wait for our trip, especially meeting the incredible kids from the orphanage...ready, set, let's go!

Beautiful Thing

On Good Friday, Buckhead Church did an amazing service taking us from creation to the cross.  They talked about how God knew what would happen on the day Jesus died, all the way back to the garden, he knew what he was doing.  And to end the service, the following song was sung:

I have been fortunate enough to have heard this song before and when I do hear it, it is stuck in my head forever.  What a great song to be stuck in my head right?!??!

Well, since Good Friday, I have been thinking a lot about Cambodia and I remember the dust.  There is so much of it and when I'm there it seems to stick to me.  But, when I come home I don't concentrate on that at all.  I remember the beauty... in the children, in the country, and in what God is doing over there.  God is there, I can see his hand prints over it.

Hope is springing up from this old ground

Out of chaos life is being found in You

You make beautiful things

You make beautiful things out of the dust

XOXO, Kristie

Running to Cambodia!

My name is Darrel Richardson and I'm very excited to be apart of the GlobalX Cambodia 2011 team! I grew up in Richmond, Virginia and have been attending Buckhead Church for the past 3 years where I've had the pleasure to meet an incredible body of believers. In my spare time I enjoy running 10Ks, listening to live music and dominating whomever I can on the tennis courts :)

It's been amazing to get to know my fellow teammates as we plan to serve orphans in the city of Phnom Pehn this July. I've never been to Cambodia, but I'm anixous to see the work God is doing there. This is especially true given this country's recent history war and genocide. If I can play even a small part in the story of healing, I will be forever grateful.

So grateful

Some may look at the kids and see that they do without so much… but in reality, they have exactly what they need. They are so grateful for what they have, and their smiles and laughter prove it. I really saw this during my trip during Christmas. The orphanage provides shelter, safety, a family, and a place they can learn about God and really feel His love surrounding them… a life they did not know before.

The kids now call me "teacher" and whenever they were studying, we would say to each other, "Study! Study!" I learned the stories of some of the kids during my trip and one was that Narin is so thankful for having a place that provides food and an education. They are so eager to learn, and I wanted to share a video of Narin teaching me to speak/read Khmer out of one of his school books.

Enjoy!

-Lindsay aka "Teacher"

http://youtu.be/uSsZOtbdw40

Fallen Sparrow

When people go to Cambodia, God seems to change their life.  He wrecks lives... in a great way!  I can say that is true for me, for sure!  If I'm being honest, I've never been a kid person... I mean, the first time I ever babysat was about 2 weeks ago, I haven't volunteered at Buckhead Church in any children environments and most of my friends are single.

But two years ago I knew I needed to go on a mission trip.  As I looked thru the Global X list, which is huge, I knew the trip I was to go on... Christmas at a Cambodian Orphanage.  I fought it, I mean, I don't relate to kids.  I told God he must be wrong.  But in the end He was right.  And now I continue to go back, now for my third time.

But I'm not the only one with a story like this.  A story about God really laying heavy something on my heart that is breaking his.  Another amazing story is of Fallen Sparrow.

In July of 2008, a team from Buckhead Church traveled to Phnom Penh, Cambodia with a desire to help orphans halfway around the world. Little did they know that their lives would be changed forever. Upon returning from Cambodia in 2008, Carol McKown and others from her mission team felt a strong desire to do more. Carol founded the Fallen Sparrow Foundation in the Fall of 2008 as a way to financially, physically and prayerfully support the three New Life orphanages in Cambodia. God placed a passion in our hearts for these children and it is our mission to be the hands and feet of Jesus and provide for them in whatever way possible.

It's in large part because of Fallen Sparrow that the children of the New Life Orphanages are able to be sponsored.  And because of that, the orphanages are able to stay open.  It wasn't long ago that they were contemplating shutting down due to lack of finances.  But God is good!

Please pray with us about the leaders of New Life Church in Cambodia, for the people who support sponsoring (Fallen Sparrow and BrightPoint For Children), and for the people on the trip.  Pray that God would give us wisdom to know what to do and the courage to always do it.

Utmost AMAZINGNESS

I just got back from what Stuart promised would be a mission trip retreat of 'Utmost AMAZINGNESS.'  And I have to say it was, it was.

For those who don't know, a retreat is time for the team to get together before we head half way around the world together so we can get to know more about each other.  You may be surprised to know that this fabulous group of people didn't all know each other just a few months back.  So, this is a great way to spend some time learning about each other.

There were three people who weren't able to make it, but the rest of the team made the most out of the opportunity.  We learned some fun facts... such as, one member has an awesome ring tone on her phone, one member really needs to learn her alphabet, some of the members don't do well on very windy roads in north GA mountain country (but there is a pretty cool country store on that strip of road), we need to make sure to do a headcount before going anywhere together, and if you put food in front of us we get very, very quiet.  We also learned we can also have some fun together!! We got to take a pontoon out on a North Carolina lake to share in each other's company and to get some sun.  It was a beautiful day and I'm so glad I got to spend it with such a great group! 

We also started planning what we will be doing once we get to Phnom Pehn and I have to say that my teammate have some pretty incredible ideas!! I can't wait to see what God has in store for us.

If you would, please pray for us as we are planning.  A major goal for us with the children is for each of them to know and understand that they are special.  That God knows them and loves them individually and that he has an amazing plan for their life.  And, that we love them and find them uniquely special.  Andrew did well when he quoted a recent sermon from our pastor we want to 'do for one what we wish we could do for everyone.' 

Don't worry, there were pictures taken of our time together and hopefully they will be posted up here shortly!!

XOXO, Kristie

Prayers - Week #2

Thank you so much for your prayers last week!! Here are the prayer requests for week two.  I'll also add some background info on the children this week...

Srey Leap is 18 years old.  She was living with her father in a remote area of Cambodia until he unexpectedly passed away. She had been told that her mother lived in the city of Phnom Penh, so for three days she walked from the countryside to the city and began a futile search to find her mother. She lived along the streets in Phnom Penh and resorted to begging and digging through trash to find food. A restaurant owner eventually found her and brought her to orphanage.  She also needs to have 1 more sponsor. 

Srey Mom is 11 years old.  Her parents are both deceased and after their deaths she was sent to live with her grandmother. The grandmother also passed away and although there were a few other relatives in the area, none of them had the means to care for Srey Mom. Because of this, Srey Mom was brought to the orphanage. 

Lik is 12 years old.  His father is deceased and his mother is a drug addict who showed little interest in caring for her children. An older brother attempted to look after Lik and his sister, but he could not provide them with enough food or an opportunity to continue their studies. Because he could not properly care for his siblings, Lik’s brother brought them to the orphanage in order that they would have a better life.  Lik also needs one more sponsor.

Srey Lin is 11 years old and is Lik's sister

Please pray for the continued financial support that provides a home, food, and education to the children. And that sponsors would come forward for the children who don't have sponsors. Also, that they would have safety, good health, and feel the love of Christ in the hearts. And whatever else you want to pray for these amazing kids!

XOXO, Kristie

Hello There!

My name is Christina Weatherford and I am SO excited to be going with these awesome people to Cambodia to serve God. This will be my first trip to Cambodia and I can't wait! A little about myself, I am 26 and live in Woodstock, GA. As many of you know, I am a huge Braves/Falcons/Auburn fan (WAR EAGLE!!). I like playing trivia, watching Harry Potter movies, and shopping for ballerina shoes. My go-to karaoke song is Listen, sung by the incredible Beyonce. I love history and can't wait to learn more about the country of Cambodia, who has a heartbreaking past but a hopeful future. Please keep all of us in your prayers as we embark on this path that God has chosen for us and pray for the children we are going to serve!

Hear a voice

Sometimes it helps when you can hear a voice.  Here is Pichhing and me having a little fun:

XOXO, Kristie

Hello from the Browns . . .

Stuart and Noelle here.

It's true - between the two of us we have exactly one head of hair. Look closely, it will make sense. So, Cambodia, huh? Well, we have to start by saying that we are blown away by what New Life is accomplishing across Cambodia and are grateful to play a small part in supporting them. We are so blown away that by the end of July we will have collectively been to Cambodia 5 times (N - 3 times, S - twice).

Of course we also love the kids - but that is like saying Chickfila is phenomenal. In other words, it's stating the obvious. Their joy is contagious, their smiles infectious and their love unconditional. Clearly, we were hooked the first time we met them.

So here's a couple things about us: Noelle loves to cook, play at the beach, take pictures and create order out of chaos. Stuart enjoys eating, playing in the mountains, being in pictures and creating chaos out of order. All in all, we are a great match enjoying our first year of marriage. We are excited to be on this journey with a talented, beautiful and creative team that will fast become family in the weeks and months to come.

My name is Jennifer Parrish and I am married with 2 boys, Jacob and Eli. I am a 2nd grade teacher. I love UGA football and whatever sport my kids are playing which right now is baseball. This will be my second trip to Cambodia and I can't wait to go back to see the kids!

Prayers - Week #1

Leading up to the mission trip all of the members of the team will be praying for different people at the orphanage each week.  I thought maybe you would also want to join in on the prayers.

Lindsay had the best idea that we pray for the children in family groups. So here are the pictures of the children that we are praying for this week.  Their parents are divorced and their father abandoned the family and left the mother to care for four children. Their mother left the children with neighbors and told them that she was going to the city in the hopes of finding a job - their mother was never heard from again. The neighbors were extremely poor and could not provide the children with adequate food, shelter or a means for education. They attempted to find other relatives who could look after the children and although a grandmother was located, she was also unable to provide for the children. Because of this, the neighbors brought the children to the orphanage so their daily needs could be met.

Srey Heng - 10 years old

Kim Chhai - 12 years old.  Still needs one more sponsor.

Srey Het - 8 years old

Sienghai - 11 years old

Please pray for the continued financial support that provides a home, food, and education to the children. That they would have safety, good health, and feel the love of Christ in the hearts.  And whatever else you want to pray for these amazing kids!

XOXO, Kristie

Dtae bey kae!!! (only three months!)

Srey Het, Srey Chea, Kim Chaii, Me, Srey Nath, Srey Mom

(Srey means "girl" in Khmer!)

Knom chmuah Srey Lindsay! (My name is Lindsay!) I am currently a middle school LA teacher and was a former Children's Pastor, so I've always loved kids. I recently went sky-diving as something to check off of my "Turning 30 yrs old Bucket List" and I've got a few more things to do in the next three months before moving to Cambodia for awhile. I am so incredibly excited about the people God has brought together on this team and I know that I will be blessed by them all as we prepare to fly across the world. I also know that the kids will be incredibly blessed by them as well. I can't wait to see what God has planned for us, because His plans are always so much greater than ours! I can't wait until July!

Chum riep sueh!

'Chum riep sueh' is hi in Khmer!  And my name is Kristie...

Pichhing, Me and Narin

I thought I would give you a few random and true facts about me:  I love anything to do with food and cooking and can't wait for the amazing food we will be eating in Cambodia.  I have a Papillon name Preston Pancakes who is 5 years old and loves to go on long walks on the beach.  And, I moved to Atlanta 8 years ago and Piedmont Park quickly became my favorite place in this city.  This will be my third time going to this orphanage with New Life in Phnom Pehn and I can't wait to see the kids again.  I heart them!

Hello :)

Hi everyone! My name is Melanie Gray. I'm 22 years old and I love all things to do with music and kids! I am a huge Braves fan and I love going to concerts and singing in my free time. I am looking forward to this trip to Cambodia for so many reasons! I know God has called me to go on this trip and I cannot wait to see what all He is going to teach me through this. Like I said, I absolutely love kids and I cannot wait to meet those adorable Cambodian kids!