Independence Day

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!
as I write this I can hear the neighbors fireworks go over. These past few days in Michigan with the famiy has showed me how much I have. My family is tight. We don't always get along. We don't always see eye to eye. But in the end we stick together. The kids in Asia have none of this. They have no family, at least biological. They do have a family in Christ. I am sooo happy I could share that with them. As we left phenom penh I struggled with maybe never seeing these kids again. But by the time we left Thailand God showed me that its ok. Its not GOODBYE. Its just SEE YA LATER. that was so great to tell them.
as we remember our freedom today keep in mind Asia's Hope. They love the prayer. They pray for you everyday.

back home

Well I made it back home safely today. thank you for all the prayer. I landed in Columbus after a long trip. I already miss the kids, the team, pretty much everything except the heat :) I can't wait to share stories with you. I am uploading some photos to facebook as we speak... or type or whatever.

Ready for some sleep! Night!

Coming home

Hello all. Just writing to tell you all that I am on my way home. In taiwan hanging out cause of a 6 hour layover. Everyone is a little on edge just with leaving the kids & seeing family and all. Pray that things end well & we have a safe trip. Should be home sometime saturday hopefully.
Last night it was really hard to leave the kids because I had this little girl that always CLUNG to me. Chanaporn (the little Thai girl) and I taught the kids how to make bracelets from the supplies that Kandice gave me. They loved it. I can't wait to get more supplies & send them so they can make bracelets & what not. To see there faces last night as they ate ice cream sandwiches made out of icecream & rolls & just had pure joy has been great. I would not change this summer for anything.
Pray that things with Asia's Hope would go well. They have been growing so much. They also are trying to grow mulberry trees at the widows farm. This will provide silk worms to make silk & bark to make paper. If they get enough money they would like to build an orphanage up there so the widows working up there can see their kids.
Can't wait to see everyone & tell stories. Keep praying for Asia's Hope, the kids, the workers/parents, interns, directors & anyone else involved. Our leaders, Adam & Jess, along with Renae, are staying in Cambodia & Thailand for another month. Keep praying for them as well.

oh & I swam in a waterfall yesterday. One of the most beautuful, fun things that we did :)

No Big Deal...

so this morning we rode elephants. It was a pretty sweet experience. We are soon off to the snake show. Things have been becoming normal around here. Such as riding in the back of a truck everywhere.
We also have learned how God shows things. It is a BIG deal so the title of this doesn't really work :) Sarah is better & back with us. Thanks for the prayer!
It is a LOT cooler here & actually wore my hair down today. It was nice!
Everyone is staying up late talking this week (which is good) but am now getting tired. Pray that we finish this week out strong.
Our team is very unique in the way we are ALL different. Its so cool staying up late with different people & hearing different ways God is working. I guess its showed me that I want to hear others stories now.
The kids here in Thailand are more reserved but we are working hard with them. We only get about 4 hours a day with them because school is in but its so cool to worship with them every night. Right now I am listening to Beth sing one of the songs they taught us... She has been singing it ALL day :)

Missing everyone. Hope things are going well.
*muah*

Prayer request...

Major prayer request... Sarah is sick. She stayed with missionary friends today & hopefully will be back to normal tomorrow.

Also, that we would be open to God's will & focus on him.

Tomorrow we go to the Silk farm & the umbrella factory. It should be fun!

Happy fathers day.

Miss everyone!

This is the day...

That the lord has made...
Just thought I would let you all know that I am enjoying your emails. It gives me a little piece of home. We are off to the market in a few minutes then off to catch our plane. It is beautiful here & I just thought I would tell you I am thinking of you guys.

I hope you have a great weekend (tomorrow I guess... its already sat. here) God bless you :)

last day in Cambodia...

Su-stri-a (hello)

Sorry it has been so long. Leaving the kids at the first orphanages was so difficult. By the time we left the kids & our team was crying. All we could repeat was "God loves you. We pray for you. You are beautiful." My heart just broke for them.

Thursday we got up bright & early to head to battambang. The 5 hour bus ride took us to our hotel. We then headed to the orphanages. We did hair & pictures for two out of the five. These kids were more layed back & shy. I believe its because some have only had two guests. We then again had a sweet dance party. It was bitter-sweet because our last night in Penom Penh we had one. I feel horrible now because my heart wasn't fully in it. These kids deserve our love just as much as the others.

Today we headed to Siem Riep (2 1/2 hour bus ride). At the bus station our tuk-tuks weren't there yet so it was an interesting experience. We then headed to ankor what & some other site seeing stuff. It was cool to see how God gave talent to people to create such beautiful buildings. But you also got this eary sense about the shrins there.

Tomorrow we head out (plane leaves at 2) to Thailand. Please pray that the group we have safe travels & open hearts for these kids. That God would let us work there & our hearts would be open.

Some of you have asked about the food & sleep. The food is very good, you just don't always get what you thought you would :) and the sleep is above average. It will be nice though tomorrow to have a "down" day to let our minds soak in all that we have seen. Thanks for the prayers. I hope to do a better job of keeping this updated.