I said this in an earlier blog, and each day it's becoming more true... when I'm with these kids at the orphanage I feel like I'm staring love in the face! Real love.
How do these kids know how to love? Who taught them? Looking at everything in their lives that they've gone through...how do they still wear love like this? Why aren't they bitter, angry, depressed, withdrawn?? These kids have experienced more destruction in their 7 years of life than I will experience in my entire life. Yet they get it, they get love! Their love is uninhibited, unconditional. They love 100% of the time, even though they know that the people they love will always come and go in and out of their lives.
This proves that love isn't taught, it's in our DNA. God has made us to love, it's what we were created for....it's our heartbeat that He gave us! But there are so many things in our life that get in the way of love.
God's been giving me new definitions for things I thought I understood. The latest treasure I've discovered here in Cambodia is a new definition for LOVE. I mean, I've been around for 27 years now, I've loved a lot of people in my life. I've been loved by a ton of people in my life. I thought I had a good understanding of what love is. But over the past few weeks God has brought a whole new depth to this simple word. The LOVE I'm experiencing here, from these kids, is hitting a deep, deep place in my heart.
I wanted to take a few minutes and introduce you to a few of the kids I've spent the past 2 weeks with here in Cambodia. I've become quite attached to all the kids at the Cambodian Hope Orphanage and I can't even think about the fact that tomorrow will be our last day to see them. I've been able to gather a few snippets of information on a few of the kids and wanted to share that here...
This is Socehat. -He is 7yrs old. He has lived at Cambodia Hope for 2 years.
-He's from the village or providence area
-his dad died of HIV. His mom has HIV currently and can't take care of him.
-He got tested for HIV, but the test came back "inconclusive." He's getting tested again next month.
-He's very smart and observant. He's picked up English quickly.
This is Shreylou.
-She is 8 years old.
-I'm not sure how long she's lived at Cambodia Hope. I would expect that she's been here for a few years; she seems to know the ropes and helps with some of the duties, preparing meals, helping the younger kids, etc.
-both of her parents died. Her mom had HIV.
-She lived w/ grandmother after her parents died, but her grandmother was unable to take care of her so she was brought to Cambodia Hope.
This is Sophat and Shreylok. -They are siblings.
-They were adopted by a Cambodian family. This family lived on the Thailand/Cambodia border and would leave home for 2-3 months at a time to go to Thailand. The kids were left alone to fend for themselves the entire time, with no food and no caretaker. They would venture into their neighbor's farm get food or walk around begging for food in the village. This all happened when Sophat was very young, in the development stages of his life. Because of this, he didn't speak. When he was rescued and brought to Cambodia Hope, he only spoke 1 or 2 words and only to his sister.
This is Han and Shreymum (Brother and sister)
-They are uncertain what happened to their mother
-They were living with their dad when they were rescued.
-Their dad has been mentally unstable since he was a soldier during the Khmer Rouge/Pol Pot regime.
-They lived with him in the village. During this time, he would have convulsions for days at a time.
-When they were first rescued, Han had a history of the same kind of convulsions. Shortly after coming to live at Cambodia Hope, they were praying over Han and he accepted Jesus. He has since never had any convulsions and is a very healthy, happy kid.
This is Kim and Kael (sisters)
-They lived in the providence/village area.
-In middle of the night they would walk up to 50km into the city by themselves to beg for food and money on the street!!
-They always walked hand in hand. People knew them that way, as the sisters who were always hand in hand.
-They were rescued off the street and brought to Cambodia Hope to live. Within the 1st week they went missing. They had snuck out in the middle of the night. The police were notified and they went through the entire city looking for Kim and Kael, referred to as "the 2 little girls holding hands." Hours later they were found and brought back to the orphanage. The caretakers then explained to them that they were safe here and would be taken care of, they would never have to sneak out to go beg for food. They've never left again.
I spent the first week or so with Team Increase and we worked in the village of Sa'ang. It was great to spend some time outside of the city, seeing what's happening out there. The Church there is growing like crazy, lots of fruit! We were busy and our days were long, but it was incredible to see all that God's doing. See my previous blogs for more on my time with Team Increase in Sa'ang.
For the past 4 or 5 days I've been staying at the YWAM base here in the city of Phnom Penh. Most of my time has been spent hanging out with the squad leaders and the new squad leaders they are raising up to take over leadership. It's been great to just hang out with them and learn from them in this transition. The new leaders are being empowered in powerful ways and they've jumped in all the way. Their gifting are evident and God definitely guided this entire process. They're growing into their bigger coats very well. During my time here these past 4 or 5 days, I've had some time to rest as well. Actually, God's been teaching me A LOT about resting in Him, and how to live out of that place or rest, not just go there when I'm desperate for a break. Last night during church I picked up my journal and just started writing. The first thing that came out was this phrase: A rested heart is ready for fresh revelation. That's what I see God doing in this season. He's teaching me how to rest in Him, then showing me the revelation that comes from that posture of rest. He's faithful to show me more of His character and what He is doing in, around, and through me here.
This next week I'll be spending time out in ministry with Team New Song. They work at an orphanage each afternoon called Cambodia Hope. We go there each afternoon from 3-7 and play with the kids, love on them, and teach English classes. Today was my first day with them and I'm already in love with these kids! They are the most affectionate group of kids I've ever met. There are around 70 that live there, all ages. As soon as we drove up the kids stormed the gate and each and every one of them greets you with a bear hug! For the entire 4 hours we were with them, we all had kids hanging off of us. They just love to love and be loved! Today I feel like I stared unconditional love in the face! We had a blast with them! I know more clearly why Jesus found ways to be constantly around children.
I look forward to sharing more with you about these kids in the blogs to come. I'm starting to hear their stories, and as heartbreaking as they can be to hear...you can't be saddened when you see the sheer JOY and HOPE that just oozes out of them! We have so much to learn from these precious little ones that God holds so close to His heart!
Throughout the 1970s as the Khmer Rouge ruled here in Cambodia, 1/3 of the population was wiped out. The entire city of Phnom Penh was cleared out and destroyed. A once bustling capital city was left completely dead and vacant. The city would never be the same.
But there is good news! God is restoring this nation! This is visible in the way that things are being rebuilt, finally....after 30 years of destruction. Our hosts here say that even 3 years ago, there was no rebuilding happening. But now there are new roads, new buildings in the cities, and new job opportunities. The first ever overpass that Cambodia has ever had is going up across town....these things are making history here.
Earlier this week as we drove by the new highway and overpass being constructed, God immediately reminded me of Isaiah 35 to me.
And a highway will be there;
it will be called the Way of Holiness.
The unclean will not journey on it;
it will be for those who walk in that Way;
wicked fools will not go about on it.
No lion will be there,
nor will any ferocious beast get up on it;
they will not be found there.
But only the redeemed will walk there,
and the ransomed of the Lord will return.
They will enter Zion with singing;
Everlasting joy will crown their heads.
Gladness and joy will overtake them,
And sorrow and sighing will flee away.
What an incredible promise from the Lord! I believe what is happening in the physical, with the development of new infrastructure, is representative of what's happening in the spiritual environment here in Cambodia! Where there has been death and destruction, there will be life! Where there has been bondage and oppression, there will be freedom! Where there has been despair, there will be JOY!
We've been learning a ton about the history of Cambodia. If you can get your hands on a movie called "The Killing Fields" you should watch it. It's definitely not easy on the heart. I had no idea that any of this happened. The events of the past 40 years in Cambodia were for sure not in our history books! Throughout the 1970s, under the rule of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge, over 2 million people (1/3 of the population) were massacred through genocide. Those that survived where affected for the rest of their lives, many were orphans or widows, and hundreds of thousands were victims of land mines, now trying to survive with depilating disabilities. There's not a day that goes by here that we don't see the lasting effects of this horrendous violence. Beggars on the street with missing limbs, adults around the age of 40 that have horrible scars from burns, hundreds of orphans – a fatherless generation. It is evident in just how much of the population was wiped out when you look at the statistics: roughly 80% of the population is under the age of 30. Only 3% of the population is over the age of 65.
Today we toured the Genocide Museum here in Phnom Penh. I can't explain the heaviness of this place and the feeling I got walking through it. Through the rule of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge, in 1975 these buildings were taken over and designated for detention, interrogation, inhuman torture, and killing after the detainees were received and documented. The buildings were once a thriving school but then became a prison during the genocide. Classrooms that once were filled with children learning and growing were turned into prison cells where people were interrogated, tortured, and executed. We walked through the cells and the chains and shackles were still there. Other rooms were filled with large boards filled with pictures of thousands of victims. In other rooms there were human bones and skulls with pieces of cloth still tied around their eyes for blindfolds. The whole thing was so heavy!
We're starting to get a glimpse of what this country has been through the past 40 years. I can't imagine what it must have been like to live through this, or even to grow up in the generation that followed the genocide. Our hearts are heavy but we know that God is in the business of redeeming this land for His glory. We will continue to open our eyes to see where He is moving. May His Kingdom come here!
After a long day on the bus, we made it to Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. It's a huge city and as you can imagine the hub of industry, commerce and trade. It's very warm (high 80s) and VERY high humidity ...surprising since this is their "cool/dry" season. Our sweat glands are active and I personally am enjoying the balmy weather.
Today we met with our host and they are absolutely fantastic! They're from the States but have been living here in Cambodia for 10 years and before that they were in the Philippines. They work with young Cambodians, tomorrow's leaders to empower them to influence their nation. We love our hosts! They spent time just getting to know us and our hearts this morning, then spoiled us with homemade pineapple upside down cake and fruit followed by a tour of the ministry headquarters here and lunch in the market. It was incredible to be with them today and hear the vision that God gave them for this country and the way the Lord is walking that out in and through them here.
The ministry we're working with here has 5 branches of ministries here in Phnom Penh and surrounding villages:
1)The first is a ministry that empowers young women who have been sexually abused/trafficked and/or domestically abused. They take in the young women and give them Christian counseling focusing on inner healing, provide education on health care, disciple them and teach them about Jesus, give them job skills, give them a healthy and safe living & working environment. And ultimately by doing all of this, this ministry works to prevent human trafficking in Cambodia by giving these young women another way. The job skills they teach them involves making handbags, table runners, pocketbooks, etc. Then these are sold in the US and 100% of the funds go directly to the girls and right back into the ministry. We got to tour their facility today and meet the 7 women that are currently a part of this ministry. Inside all of the handbags they make they have a sewn in label with "Freedom" on it. Ultimately that's what they are about...guiding young women on the journey towards freedom and restoration, body, mind, and soul.
2)The 2nd branch here is their orphan care program. They don't have large orphan facilities but instead place orphans with care takers and this ministry provides for all their needs. We were able to travel to one of the villages (about 40 min away) today to visit one of the houses where 4 orphans are taken care of by a widow they've equipped to parent these kids. They have Cambodians on staff that visit these houses and villages several times a week to educate the kids. Today they were learning English and we watched as they recited the words "ear and hair" and then learned to write them in both Khmer and English. They were adorable and the whole thing had a very small family feel to it. That's the heart of this ministry, to operate as a family unit.
3)The 3rd branch is the non-governmental organization (NGO). They have national notoriety and government approval. They're working through social involvement and Christian Community development, working with the government instead of against it.
4)The Church Plant. They have regular church services, a youth ministry, children's ministry, outreaches...all with a community focus.
5)The Foundation Center. This focuses on leadership training and development of young Cambodians, community focused ministry, health care/first aid, life skills training, and English language training. There are some incredible leaders being developed and empowered here and the nation is truly being influenced by these young people. This is key as 80% of the population here in Cambodia is under 30 years old!
We will be spending a lot of time with the women while we're here in the city. They don't speak any English but their overseer does and will be our translator. We're really looking forward to building relationships with these girls and watching God continue to bring them freedom and restoration! What a blessing that He would allow us to be even a small part of what He's doing in them! They would love for us to lead some Bible studies for them a few times a week and also help with the workshop organization. Also, the team I'm with is gifted musically and God has already opened doors for them to teach some of the leaders at The Foundation Center that are wanting some instruction. Saturdays and Sundays and a few evenings a week will be spent in the village of Sa'ang working with the orphans, teaching English, loving on them and building relationships with the staff and care givers out there. We'll also be doing some outreaches and youth events out in the village from time to time.
We're excited to see what God does as He shapes our schedule and guides our steps. We've already seen His hand all over what we're doing as He's gone before us to prepare the way. It's fun walking into a place and realizing that without us even having a clue God has already been working out the details. He's good like that! J
I'm really enjoying my time with Team Increase. There are 7 of them, 2 guys and 5 ladies. It's encouraging for me to see the life change that God is doing as they embrace abandonment, experience brokenness, and discover how to depend on the Lord. Through the experiences they're gaining they're being equipped and empowered to discover their voice in this world and take their place in what God has called them into. They're daily walking in God's Kingdom and experiencing Him move in their midst. It's an honor to be a witness to all of this and be a part of it this month.
Today was our Cambodia travel day from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh. Along our journey we stopped to have lunch at makeshift roadside café if you will. Mostly it was just a gathering of vendors on the side of the road.
As I stepped off the bus this sweet little girl held a bag of fresh pineapple in my face and said in her adorable Cambodian accent, "hi beautiful lady. You buy pineapple. Maybe later?" all in one breath. She then followed me to the street vendors and continued to say, "maybe later you buy pineapple? You remember me. You buy pineapple maybe later?" She then asked my name and as I told her she introduced herself as Tina. Then we were friends apparently. J "Come, I show you spider" she said and took me by the hand to show me the fried tarantulas they were selling nearby in big baskets. She casually reached in and picked one up, tore a leg off and ate it as she said, "you eat spider. You like. It so good." I responded with a cringe as I said, "Tina, I'm scared!" "You no scared. You eat. You like. It good." Her smile was contagious. She didn't push the subject too much and I opted instead to hold a cooked tarantula and take a picture of it.
As we waited on the other team members to find food, Tina and I stood there right between the basket of tarantulas and the basket of crickets. She informed me that these were small crickets with no eggs, but the large ones with eggs were better. I nodded in agreement, hoping she didn't want me to do a taste test to prove her point, ha.
As we stood there those 10 minutes, I learned a lot about little Tina. She's 9 years old and goes to a school nearby, but she was on lunch break. She has studied English in school for 5 years and wants to be a teacher when she grows up. She asked where I was going and for how long and if I would stop back by on my way through. It seemed like Tina just enjoyed talking to a visitor about something besides pineapple. She didn't seem at all interested in selling me pineapple anymore. It's a good thing because just an hour earlier I ate an entire pineapple and now my taste buds are burning, ha. She saw me back to the bus and wished me a safe journey with a handshake and a huge smile. Then she reached into her bag and pulled something out. She said, "I make this for you. Take. It a heart." She put this piece of paper folded intricately into a heart into my hand and walked me to the bus. I soon discovered it was a 100 Real bill, the Cambodian currency, equal to about 2.5 cents.
That just blew me away. Here's this child who much spend her lunch break trying to sell pineapples to the tour buses that stop here. She is one of about 20 children who are relentless in their attempts to make a sale. They will follow you around in sing-song fashion trying to sell you fruit until you finally give in. But instead Tina chose to engage in a 10 minute conversation with me about her life and the journey I'm on. Then she leaves me with a gift! Wow! This just made my heart smile today and I thank God for how I experienced a taste of His Kingdom today through 10 minutes spent with Tina.
Hello from Cambodia! I thought I'd take a minute to update you guys on life here...
Things with me here just continue to get better and better! I LOVE spending time with this squad and my heart is feeling so refreshed and fully alive being here with them. We've been staying at a nice guest house in the city of Siem Reap for a few days to allow the squad to rest, relax, refresh, and prepare for the next month of ministry in Cambodia. I was able to post a few pictures here, more to come soon. Click on the link to the left titled My Pictures.
The time to relax and get to know this squad has been great! We were also able to tour the ancient ruins of Angkor Wat which was very interesting. Today this squad of 50 will split up into their small teams of 7-8 and travel to separate ministry locations where we'll be for the next 3 weeks. I'll be spending time with the team called Team Increase and there are 8 of them. I absolutely love this team! You can meet them here: http://www.theworldrace.org/?tab=teams&group=groupk
This group will be going to a small village near the city of Phenom Phen. It looks like we'll get the opportunity to work at an orphanage for all aged kids and we'll also work with a ministry that educates youth on human trafficking and hopefully keeps them from that road. So today we'll travel to Phenom Phen where we'll spend one night and get an orientation by one of our contacts there. Then Wed we'll journey to the village!
God's already been doing a lot and speaking to my heart in incredible ways! I can't wait to see what this next journey holds. I'm uncertain of my internet access, but I'll do my best to keep you posted on how things are going. Thank you for your continued prayers!!
This Thursday, Jan 7th I'll be presenting my passport and going through the security check points at the Atlanta airport once again. This part of any trip has become quite familiar. But the rest of this particular trip will be anything but familiar. I'll be heading to new countries & a new continent, working with a new teams, and experiencing new things around every corner. I will be spending the next 5 weeks in Cambodia and Thailand!
I'll be joining up with the October 2009 World Race squad. Check them out at: http://www.theworldrace.org/tab=teams&group=groupk. I'm excited about participating in ministry with them, and I'm looking forward to a refreshing time back out on the field. One of the reasons I am going involves leadership development. I am going to observe the processes the current leaders go through as they raise up new leaders to take their place. We know that something incredible is happening out there with these teams and our goal is to replicate it with some of our other teams.
I'm excited to see what God is doing amongst this squad. I also know that God likes to surprise me on trips like these, and He has something specific just for me. What an incredible opportunity to serve God and build His Kingdom in every tongue, tribe, and nation! I can't wait to dive in!
Thank you for your prayers during this journey. Please pray for:
·Safety and smooth travel.
·Great health and a strong immune system!
·Open eyes to see how God is moving in this region and in the lives of these teams.
·Insight as I observe the leadership development processes.
·That we will experience the abundance of God's Kingdom everywhere we step!
I should have internet access periodically and will do my best to update this blog as often as I can. Also, feel free to email me at: kaylaphillips@adventures.org.
Today I found an application on Facebook that collects all of your statuses from the year and compiles them. It was fun to remember and reflect on this past year as I read through the hundreds of statuses. I've copied a few of my favorites from each month here...
January
v is hungry for Truth and craving more time with my Father.
v is... His grace has found me just as I am...Empty handed, but alive in His hands.
v is convinced that there is enough Grace and enough Love to get through anything!
February
v has been defeated by her own fingerprints!
v is loving on team Kenya standing on the promise that God is faithful and true!
v is refilling her cup
March
v is in the mood to plant!
v great conversations, fun friends, abounding laughter, embracing God's creation & loving life in Costa Rica!
v loves loves loves SPRING!!!! all these years, i never knew what Spring was really like.
April
v Prov 4:23 Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.
v feasting on Ezekiel 36:24-28....the promise of a renewed heart!
v is floored by His love for me! I'm getting filled up in the most unexpected yet beautiful ways!
May
v Enjoying a break here in FL with the Pitts...went "surf fishing" today with Pappy! Although perhaps I just entertained the fish by feeding them sand fleas right off my line...darn thieves!
has enjoyed seeing glimpses of the Kingdom here in Spain...and is now in transit to Kiev via London.
v the police are moving in to the makeshift sleeping area here in the London airport. some people are allowed to sleep while others are being interrogated. weird. hopefully we don't look suspicious. :)
v thinks Brasov, Romania might be one of my new favorite international cities!
June
v after 16 months of no corn, today's the day i start to re-introduce it. Body, this is corn. It is good for you and you will love it!! Corn, this is body...You will be nice to it and become great friends once again.
v harvested 60 POUNDS of honey today with the Jerry, Heather, and Ashley. What a fun, memorable, sticky learning experience! Add that to the list of new things i've done lately...i love my life!
v was thoroughly surprised when our morning breakfast plans turned into a breakfast boat cruise with incredible eats and quality time with some of my favorite people in the world! Thanks Mama C, Pappy, and Cassie...i feel so loved and honored!
July
v I love my kids! They're hungry, they're passionate, they're FUN, and I get the honor of spending the next 336 hours in Puerto Rico with them!!
v is absolutely IN LOVE with my new niece, Kynlee Blaise!
v loves catching up with my church fam here in Abilene. Great day at the River...i'm floored by God's love, yet again.
August
v encountering the Lord daily, experiencing Him move & work miracles, overwhelmed by His love...yes, this is normal everyday life!!
v driving thru north GA mountains...steady rain...cool fresh air...lakes...kudzu jungles. What a wonderful way to think and dream and plan...SO refreshing!!
v the grand finale...It's race day at the Learn to Row class. Perhaps the Olympic scouts will show up...or perhaps we'll pretend. :)
September
v there's a whisper of what's to come. a great expectancy is building here, an expectancy of what God's doing in and through these teams.
v in awe of God....He meets every need I never even knew I had.
v so i just tripped over an opossum on the way to the bathroom then proceeded to chase the varmint down with my headlamp to figure out what he was. did you know opossums squeak when they get tripped over?! sorry mr. opossum. and PS - what's with the silent O?
October
v Dear Legion of Mexican Mosquitoes: Please refrain from feasting on my body. With utmost respect to you and your species, Kayla.
v was totally refreshed today by getting outside and doing something active...even though i got my tail kicked in disc golf!
v has received an incredible gift from God today...the perspective to look at all the craziness of the past 24hrs and laugh a lot, saying "this is my life...and i love it!"
November
v "I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills His purposes for me." -Psalm 57:2
v is encouraged through many phone conversations with young adults who are forever transformed by what God is doing and who are aching to invest this into the next generation!
v my hammock and I are heading into the woods...playing hide & seek with the world today....i'm it and world, you're not allowed to come looking for me for at least 5 hours.
December
v had a blast at the Tacky Christmas Sweater Party last night...thanks to the Pitts and Cassie for making it a fun & memorable evening! You guys are awesome!!
v worship with my community is good for my heart!
v Merry Christmas everyone!! It's a white Christmas here!! highways are iced over and closed, it's freezing cold outside. The family's all here and we're cuddling with baby Kynlee! :)
How do these kids know how to love? Who taught them? Looking at everything in their lives that they've gone through...how do they still wear love like this? Why aren't they bitter, angry, depressed, withdrawn?? These kids have experienced m.JPG)
ore destruction in their 7 years of life than I will experience in my entire life. Yet they get it, they get love! Their love is uninhibited, unconditional. They love 100% of the time, even though they know that the people they love will always come and go in and out of their lives..JPG)
I mean, I've been around for 27 years now, I've loved a lot of people in my life. I've been loved by a ton of people in my life. I thought I had a good understanding of what love is. But over the past few weeks God has brought a whole new depth to this simple word. The LOVE I'm experiencing here, from these kids, is hitting a deep, deep place in my heart. .JPG)
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I've become quite attached to all the kids at the Cambodian Hope Orphanage and I can't even think about the fact that tomorrow will be our last day to see them. I've been able to gather a few snippets of information on a few of the kids and wanted to share that h.JPG)
ere... .jpg)
This is Shreylou..jpg)
This is Sophat and Shreylok..jpg)
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This is Kim and Kael (sisters)
already in love with these kids! They are the most affectionate group of kids I've ever met. There are around 70 that live there, all ages. As soon as we drove up the kids stormed the gate and each and every one of them greets you with a bear hug! For the entire 4 hours we were with them, we all had kids hanging off of us. They just love to love and be loved! Today I feel like I stared unconditional love in the face! We had a blast with them! I know more clearly why Jesus found ways to be constantly around children. 
rebuilding happening. But now there are new roads, new buildings in the cities, and new job opportunities. The first ever overpass that Cambodia has ever had is going up across town....these things are making history here.
Through the rule of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge, in 1975 these buildings were taken over and designated for detention, interrogation, inhuman torture, and killing after the detainees were received and documented. The buildings were once a thriving school but then became a prison during the genocide. Classrooms that once were filled with children learning and growing were turned into prison cells where people were interrogated, tortured, and executed. We walked through the cells and the chains and shackles were still there. Other rooms were filled with large boards filled with pictures of thousands of victims. In other rooms there were human bones and skulls with pieces of cloth still tied around their eyes for blindfolds. The whole thing was so heavy!
0 min away) today to visit one of the houses where 4 orphans are taken care of by a widow they've equipped to parent these kids. They have Cambodians on staff that visit these houses and villages several times a week to educate the kids. Today they were learning English and we watched as they recited the words "ear and hair" and then learned to write them in both Khmer and English. They were adorable and the whole thing had a very small family feel to it. That's the heart of this ministry, to operate as a family unit. 
watching God continue to bring them freedom and restoration! What a blessing that He would allow us to be even a small part of what He's doing in them! They would love for us to lead some Bible studies for them a few times a week and also help with the workshop organization. Also, the team I'm with is gifted musically and God has already opened doors for them to teach some of the leaders at The Foundation Center that are wanting some instruction. Saturdays and Sundays and a few evenings a week will be spent in the village of Sa'ang working with the orphans, teaching English, loving on them and building relationships with the staff and care givers out there. We'll also be doing some outreaches and youth events out in the village from time to time. 
change that God is doing as they embrace abandonment, experience brokenness, and discover how to depend on the Lord. Through the experiences they're gaining they're being equipped and empowered to discover their voice in this world and take their place in what God has called them into. They're daily walking in God's Kingdom and experiencing Him move in their midst. It's an honor to be a witness to all of this and be a part of it this month.
Then we were friends apparently. 
continent, working with a new teams, and experiencing new things around every corner. I will be spending the next 5 weeks in Cambodia and Thailand! 
I also know that God likes to surprise me on trips like these, and He has something specific just for me. What an incredible opportunity to serve God and build His Kingdom in every tongue, tribe, and nation! I can't wait to dive in!