Nang & Nath

Nang (on the right)

Nath (aka Crazy)

Mean & Mom

Mean 

Mom

Kim & Leap

Kim

Leap

Seyla & Sienghai

Sienghai

Seyla

Samnang Big & Small

Samnang (Big) with me 

Samnang (Small) with me

Rathanak & Ry

Rathanak

Ry (with Billy)

Pony & Raksmey

Pony

Raksmey

10 days...

So many emotions when I hear 10 days.

• One is disbelief.  There is such a difference when we are over there that it almost feels like a dream. Like I want to go but 10 days isn't a reality.  Only a dream.  
• Two is scared.  Sooooo much has to be done between now and then.  The team needs to raise money, I need to pack (and pack and pack), what am I forgetting about...
• Three is I have too much to get done.  When I see a list I get overwhelmed.  I have to get it all done right now, no time to waste.  I was horrible in college on the first day I always had a panic attack.  The professor would give me the syllabus and I never thought I would complete the entire thing by the end of the semester.  Inevitably I would have a break down but then I would get thru that and love the semester and pass with flying colors.  This feels like the same thing.  I need to remember to do one thing at a time.
• Forth is pure excitement, I CAN'T WAIT!!!  These kids are the loves of my life (and I'm pretty sure I can speak for everyone on the team who has already been that this is the same for all).  And, I can't wait to see them again, hug them, and tell them how much they are loved.  Even for just 1 week.

For the next 10 days please be praying for the emotions of the team.  I still don't know how we will all fully be prepared before we hop on the plane, but as my devotional said today, its not for me to understand:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. - Proverbs 3:5-6

Pichhing & Phannara

Pichhing

Phannara

Paly & Pannha

Paly

Pannha

Lin & Narin

Lin

Narin

Het & Lik

Het 

Lik

If you have...

As much fun as I have every time I go to visit our kids, I have to remember we are still going to a 3rd world country. We are so blessed.

Heng & Kim Chhai

Heng

Kim Chhai

Heing & Huo

Heing

Huo

Meet the kids - Chhean & Davan

Until we leave, I'm going to post pictures of our kids daily so you can meet them and start praying for them.  I mean, I have all this Cambodia related energy that needs to come out in a constructive way and I figure this is a great way to do that!! Woot woot!!

Chhean

Davan

Davan

So Close!!!

We are now almost two weeks away and can't wait to get back to see our kids!!!

We really excited about the activities we are going to be doing with the kids while were there and thought you may want a 'sneak peek' into a few things we have been planning...

• Create a community cookout for the people who live near the orphanage. This will give the kids an opportunity to serve their neighbors in a really big way. We'll be performing skits and songs, as well as providing a meal and bag of rice for everyone who can attend. It should be a great outreach opportunity. 
• We'll be doing a movie night with popcorn and other fun surprises. 
• We're going to be doing photos scrap booking (they LOVE photos. To these kids they are GOLD, so we are going to take it up a notch and give them the opportunity to put some of their favorite memories into a book). 
• The big idea for this trip is "Restoration". We are developing various ways to show them that no matter what they face in this life, God is there to restore them and give them a bright and wonderful future. 

These are just a few of the things we are doing on this trip.

Thanks so much for your prayers and support. And thanks for indulging us when we wax poetic about these kids. We truly feel like they are "ours" and we thank you for listening to our stories.

Again, if you want to support the trip financially, please visit: goglobalx.org and click give. Then select Cambodia - Phnom Penh Orphanage 2. (The dates of our trip are 11/3/11-11/13/11.)

Also, we just got back from our team retreat, which was AWESOME!! When I have any pictures I'll post them up here!!

CNN

Stephanie, the best type A personality ever, has been emailing the team clips of Cambodia in the news.  Here is one from CNN.

Counting down....

LESS THAN 30 DAYS!!! Oh my gosh, I can't believe it.

We had a team meeting this past weekend and we discussed what we are working thru before we head over to Cambodia and pretty much everyone is dealing with the same thing:  busyness.

And its true, the fall is busy.  I never actually remember how busy fall can be but every year it sneaks up on me.  Everyone is trying to get their last bit of outdoors and fun and football before the winter brings the  hibernation weather.  And nothing is wrong with having things to do but when it turns into a weight that makes you feel guilty or distracts you from what God is doing in your life then it is a tool that is used against you.

I read a devotional this morning that really made me think about how to remove the distractions from my life to gain clarity (ok, so its not what the devotional was about but its what it made me think of).  I thought I would share it with you now:

Focus on Things With Eternal Valueby Rick Warren

 Don't hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust or—worse!—stolen by burglars. Stockpile treasure in heaven, where it's safe from moth and rust and burglars. It's obvious, isn't it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being. (Matthew 6:19-21 MSG)

The real secret to becoming content is to focus on the things that have eternal value. It may be a familiar teaching to you, but Jesus said we should store up our treasures in heaven, not on earth, “where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal” (Matthew 6:19-21, NIV).  

Think about the things in your life:

• What will last forever?

• What will last at least for your lifetime?

• What will last a few short years, months, or days?

Based on eternal value, what things are most important in your life? Where — and with whom — should you put most of your time and energy? 

By reorganizing your life around eternal priorities, you’ll find yourself growing in contentment as you live according to God’s design and purpose.  

Pray thru the Flooding

I was just reading in this in the Huffington Post that Cambodia is having some really bad flooding.  Like, 150 people have been killed so far, kinda flooding.  Pick's Pointe also blogged about it.  Trust.org has more information about it.

Cambodia is a country that has a rainy season and a dry season but this is way past the 'normal flooding' they generally experience in the rainy season.  I have two friends who are teachers at an orphanage in Cambodia and the children at their orphanage have had to be displaced until the flooding subsides.  

Pulled from Pick's Point blog, here are some great prayer points:

• Please pray for the people who have to cross the river. During the dry season it is a mile and a half wide. Now it is much wider and the currents are very strong.
• Pray that the river will rise no more.
• Please pray for the safety of all the Cambodians, especially small children, living along the Mekong.