worshipping

Cambodia is a very lost country trying to recover from untold evil and is such an example of what I mentioned earlier - people that understand their need to worship, but just don't know our Lord.

As I stood on my balcony this morning overlooking a couple of shops across the road from our hotel, I could hear the pointless, repetitive, endless chanting of a lost culture seeking their gods.

The sadness nearly overwhelmed me realizing there would never be a god response to their worship.

What more can be done to tell even more of the lost how to know the only true God?  It's the reason we continue to come.

In complete contrast we got to worship the true God!
And it was beautiful!

Students get selected to be part of the praise team and work very hard to lead the congregation.  Just listen to how loudly the children and their home parents sing!  I would give anything for everyone at Crossroads to abandon whatever it is that holds them back from worshipping their precious Lord! Whether we realize it or not, we've been rescued from just as horrible an existence as these children have been when we walked away from sin and received God's eternal forgiveness!

I watched with great pride and thankfulness as my hubby was invited to give the message today - teaching on what our response should be when bad things happen.

And then he got asked to dedicate BB3's first grand-baby, little Jess!  Talk about an honor!

This is proud Grandpa and Grandma - Savy and Sem with momma Channa

Pastor Savorn and Ron dedicated this new little one to the Lord!

As worship ended, we found out that while we poured our hearts out to the Lord and loved the children surrounding us, someone was stealing BB7's brand new shirts we brought over for them, from the clothesline.  This caused us great sorrow and made all of us determined to pray for the funds to build them a wall that would keep them safe from the outside world!

It also gave us an immediate opportunity to apply what Ron had taught us!

One of our final days here is drawing to a close and I am so very grateful once again to have had the honor to serve these amazing people and pray that our team's sacrifice to come will have lasting impact for the kingdom of God!

the village

Yesterday we had an amazing opportunity.

You know us Americans - always trying to feel like we've 'saved the world'! That isn't how it works in Cambodia.

Our part to play is partnering with the Asia's Hope amazing staff. The indigenous people are FAR more affective in reaching their country for the Lord then we will ever be.

Yesterday was a prime example of us supporting the staff as we went to a very poor area where the chief brought together the most poor of 3 individual little villages. He was kind of like the mayor of that area.

When we arrived the people were patiently waiting. Some sitting in the hot sun. Children behaving as I've never seen before.

First the Asia's Hope kids danced for them - the words to the songs they had chosen truly telling the story of Jesus. And then they heard the message of salvation from Ron and Savorn.

And from what we could tell, people responded. So powerful!

We then got to serve them with a small amount of money for each family, a small amount to us - which equaled 2 days wages - significant to them. I was impressed again watching the organizational skills of the Asia's Hope leaders having each person's name on an envelope - knowing exactly who was included so that there was no 'extras' wondering in.

We then opened suitcases revealing toys, clothing and candy for the kids. And the fun began!



This beautiful lady and I kept locking eyes - I wanted to know her so badly


So far, this is my favorite picture. I found myself fascinated by this man.

I'm not sure what it was that I found so intriguing about this man? I wanted to know his story, if he had a family or was alone, will I spend eternity with him - a brother in Christ?

Below are the faces of grateful people receiving their gifts.

generous toy and clothing contributuions

One of my favorite team mates serving this beautiful lady!

How can I return to such wealth compared to the rest of the world? Why has God poured out His blessings on us?

Surely our over abundance of physical blessings must come with accountability, with Godly expectations and responsibilities?

Lord help me to know what is required of me!

what I have seen

It's impossible to describe all that we've seen here in Cambodia, the best I can do is to show you some of what I have seen.

A simple lively-hood

Motos everywhere with entire families on one

overloaded electrical

A very sad life-long pursuit of a false god

Despite the poverty - the same beautiful sun that we see back home sets each night

Faithful giving from ministries around the world provides more new homes

Thank you Crossroads for giving to the clean water project here in Cambodia!
This is a new water tower purchased with your generous gifts!

Today we visit 3 of the most poor villages in the area - and only the most desperate people get invited to join us...I wish you all could experience this.

It changes you, it lets you see how blessed beyond measure we are back home.

an odd day so far

This morning was quite odd.

I had no focus.

I accomplished a few things, nothing note-worthy, but just had this great un-focus.  Maybe it's the lack of focus that comes when you have so many things that need to happen that you freeze instead of choose?  So I decided to do easy things.

A load of laundry.
I cleaned my refrigerator.
Fed the birds.
Made poached eggs.

And finally, I read Matthew 1, my Bible chapter for the day.  There I found myself reading the genealogy that lead to the birth of Christ.

Once again I marveled at their faith.  Becoming pregnant without 'knowing' a man.  Realizing she was carrying the promised Messiah.

It is completely impossibly to read God's Word and not be affected or not to re-gain heaven focus.

So today AGAIN, I submit to Him, I turn my cares over to Him, I trust Him.

"I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."

"I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."

"I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."

Powerful.

Philippians 4:13.

sad

Earlier today, as I was preparing to iron, I decided to flip through the tv channels - having no idea outside of HGTV what is even on tv on Saturday.

As I began to linger just long enough on each channel to allow the commercial to end, and get an idea of what was on, I started to see things that moved me to tears.

First I saw a glimpse of one of the movies about slavery, turning the show on right as a slave girl was being beaten - I turned it quickly but it was terribly realistic as she begged her 'master' not to hurt her. Next I saw a news report showing violent protests about something and moved on to see horrible models scantly clothed - parading around as if they didn't have an once of self-respect.  I next saw a commercial about a horrible new show coming out soon that further promotes the acceptance of any kind of sexual sin people choose to participate in.

I stood crying in my bedroom - telling the Lord how sorry I was about how sinful our society has become.

I understand I lead a sheltered life in some people's minds, working for the church, surrounded by people that love the Lord.

But I have never been more committed to remain 'sheltered' from the world.

I long to walk righteously before the Lord.  Not with a spirit of criticizing those struggling around me, but with a new determination to try to help those I have contact with to realize what we see on tv, what we watch the world pursue is empty and leads to eternal destruction.

A lady told me recently, "I want what you have", and the responsibility connected to that statement still weighs heavy on my heart.  I cannot handle that kind of watchful expectancy alone and have poured my heart out to my Savior his week and again today, to the only hope this world has, and the only hope this world needs.

'Lord protect my mind, reveal foolish desires that lead me away from you in any way..."

Join me please in sincere focus on heavenly things and not the fleeting folly of our world.