It has already been a week here in Siem Reap

We have been here one week and we have already been involved in many things. Our director Julie does an amazing job of giving us a variety of opportunities to minister and spend time with the people here. Since we have been here, I have slept a lot (the first 4 days at least from jet-leg), showered a lot, journaled a lot, blown my nose a lot, washed my hands a lot, sweat a lot and plenty more :)

But ministry wise, we jumped in our second full day here and presented VBS to the kids at the children's home and some of the locals Thursday through Saturday. There were probably about 50 or 60 kids there each day and it was really great. Our theme is FAITH, HOPE and LOVE with the theme verse of 1 John 4:19 "We love because he first loved us". We have spent a good amount of time at the children's home and will be there a lot our time here.

We have had some time to explore, ride in a Tuk Tuk, and we even bought our own bikes and locks for $38. My handle bars have already come loose and my rear tire is almost flat so it will be a good idea to have a bit a maintenance done with it. If you understood the traffic here, you may be afraid for our lives. But the only way I can describe it is a beautiful chaos. There is only one or 2 main intersections that have a light (the rest is each man for himself)and there is 30 seconds for adjacent traffic to go in any direction it seems. The beautiful part is that everyone really is aware and yields to everyone else... but it's crazy; people honk, ring bells, squeak horns and drive wherever, whenever. No tickets for j-walking here people.

Sunday morning we had a service at Common Grounds, PCL's coffee house with some of the Khmer staff and PCL staff and Corey gave the devotional and Sunday night we were back at the children's home for a youth service. The students led the service and Thorston (our German friend and his wife Doreen are here for 4 months) preached.

Monday morning 13 of us: Khmer, Americans, & Germans left for a 1.5 hour bus ride to a remote village called Conpong Cheong (something like that) to distribute water filters and explain the importance of clean water. PCL has built a small health facility there. These water filters should provide each family water for a year and we probably handed out over 100. It was a shock to observe the lifestyle in the remote villages. This really was the first time that I have ever been outside of a city, in the middle of nowhere seeing people live in rickety homes and huts, with a chief over their community, and doing farm and crop work by hand. Almost all the homes are built up for monsoon season. But most of the open land we saw will be water in about a month or so. I will have to elaborate on all of this more! I grew up on a farm, and it's really crazy to see farming still done like it was probably thousands of years ago! I mean, I know it is real, but this became real to me being able to see it in person.

We had VBS planned for this week but the road to Takam is being worked on so we cannot travel there. So, we decided to renovate the youth service room at the children's home so they can really have a new environment for their youth services. I think that this is a really huge task, but it will be an asset for the children's home and the local youth. There were probably about 40 students there on Sunday night. Today we scrubbed and bleached the walls and hopefully tomorrow we can begin priming and painting.

A few of our interns are also teaching English with PCL and a few of us will be working with some of the kids at the children's home one-on-one. I will be doing one-on-one tutoring because I am not confident teaching a class without curriculum. But, that is something that I should work on. Also, Matt - the director at the children's home has asked us to spend the evening there helping the students with their English and homework, leading devotions as well as putting the kids to bed. Matt is really excited that the 4 of us girls can be there because he is not able to "mother" the girls at the children's home... so we have the opportunity to take on that role. We will be tucking them in and praying with them at night and reminding them to brush their teeth. Good mothering skills.

Well, we are about to head to the children's home now. Oh, there's so many details I've missed. I was reminded today that God really knows what we need and does not focus on what we want. I believe that this experience is going to be way beyond what I imagined. I will be honest. I came here with a hardened heart. I felt closed off toward the people, the ministry, the opportunity... because this was not the place I personally wanted to be. I felt like it wasn't going to equip me the best way for the urban ministry that I am passionate about. But honestly, in just a week God has changed my heart - first I had to accept the fact that I closed myself off - and God is helping me to grasp that His plans far beyond I could ever imagine. I am grateful for His goodness and mercy - even in the times that I am unwilling to accept and furthermore, so undeserving.

Thank you all for your prayers.
I am so much in the process of being changed in so many ways.

Thank you skype - for you have made this easier for me and my man!! Miss you JM!

“We need Your Presence”

My team member Delilah sent me this video in an email over Easter break as we were very overwhelmed with school and preparing for this trip. I never watched the video until tonight and I found myself in tears in my longing for the presence of God and His direction and guidance for this trip. It’s just a few simple phrases but it truly is a beautiful song that I pray will be in my heart throughout this trip. Oh, how we need the Lord’s presence to sustain us, to guide us and to make us alive and find rest in him. How beautiful is the presence of God… whether we feel like we need it or we fail to recognize it, God desires to be present in our lives.

2 Chronicles 16:9a – “The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him…”

Not only do we desire the presence of the Lord, but the Lord desires our presence and commitment to him. He wants to use us to do his work and he searches for those most willing so that he can do a mighty work in and through us. Lord, may I be willing and committed to you. Even when it’s hard, even when i’m thousands of miles from home, Lord your presence sustains and is alive in me and you will help me to grow and breathe new life each morning. I need your presence God, because without you I am lost, I am weary…

“As the deer pants for the water and the baby longs to be fed, So I am in need of, in need of your presence. I need your presence, we need your presence. Like water to our souls, we need your presence…

Something inside us is coming alive as we stand in the place where you are. Something inside us is coming alive as we see you for who you are.”

Psalm 40

Thank you Lord for your presence.

We made it to Siem Reap, Cambodia!

We made it safe and sound. It was definitely a long trip and I feel drained and weak and my stomach is unsettled, but I am so thankful that we made it. Apparently it is the hottest here in Siem Reap since like 1890. We got off the plane at 1030pm last night and as soon as we walked off the plane the humidity and heat hit like a ton of bricks. I think it was 90 but way humid. Thankfully we have AC in our guest house. I think we would melt if we didn’t!! So the 4 of us girls are staying in a guest house about an 8 minute walk from everything that we’ll be working at, but thankfully this morning we are getting picked up by one of the workers Matt.

It probably wasn’t until 2 or 3am that we finally went to bed and I slept till about 6am and stayed in bed till 640. Hopefully we will get caught up on sleep soon because right now I feel kind of like a zombie or just out of whack – guess that’s part of jet-leg. We were in the air for 22 hours I think. I got up Monday morning at 3am (went to bed at 1am) – we didn’t see the night on Monday night and went to bed at 3 this Wednesday morning… and it’s all kinda of just making me feel really yucky.

We are going to start our day today at 10am probably to have like an orientation and go over everything that we’re doing this summer. It will be nice to see everything because it was dark out when we got here. So it will all be cool to see today.

Well, thanks for your prayers! We arrived safely and we are ready to begin this journey!!

God Bless,

Rahel Marie

Today is the Day!

Wow, I cannot believe that today is actually here. This past semester has truly been the most difficult yet as we have been preparing continuously for this trip to Cambodia. There were times that I did not think I was going to make it through the semester, let alone pass… but I worked diligently and kept up with everything and was able to pull through with a 3.625 gpa for the semester. After this internship this summer, I have one semester left. I never thought I’d see that day coming either, but it is in the near future.

I feel very anxious and excited for this trip and I know that God has big plans for me as an individual, our team, the ministry of PCL and the people of Cambodia. We have worked very hard to prepare for all of this but most importantly it is our desire to seek after God’s heart for these people and for his wisdom and discernment as we embark on this mission. What is my mission? I want to build relationships and be a living example of Christ in the flesh in that my actions, words, and attitude speak so loud of Christ’s love that without even being able to speak the language, those that I encounter have an opportunity to truly encounter God and experience his amazing grace and love. I pray that I am daily growing, seeking, trusting, and encountering God so that everything that I am is overflowing and pouring out the one and only “I AM.” I love the title of Louis Giglio’s book: I am not, but I know I AM. I pray that while in Cambodia, everything that happens I will recognize I AM and give all the glory and honor to God.

I often struggle with being prideful (even if its not in my actions, mostly in my thoughts) and I pray that I will grow this summer in humility and a servant’s heart – please pray with me.

I will be stretched, confused, excited, overwhelmed, amazed, and so many other things this summer and I know that through everything, God is with me and I want to trust him through every experience and feeling I encounter.

Thank you again to everyone for your financial support and prayers. I pray that in this 10 weeks, you will also be challenged and encouraged and grow in Christ. I will do my best to keep you updated, for this will truly be an experience that will be with me for a lifetime.

It is time for a new stage of life to begin, I am ready now… my cup is empty and ready to be filled with what God wants to teach me through this experience and his people.

1 John 4:19

A Few Shout Outs

Well, it is obvious that I am quite the amateur when it comes to my blog and I wanted to show you a few blogs that have encouraged me to step up my game and get active in the blog world. These are two amazing and encouraging women that I’ve had the privilege of knowing and befriending. They are two both beautiful women, each newly married, creative, and they love the Lord. Their blogs make me even more excited to enter into the new stage of married life in 8 months (still seems like forever away) as well as sharing my heart and passion for the Lord with those around me!!! Here’s to you ladies:

Sarah

and Chelsie!

Minus 2

Well, it is official. The clinic will not approve Lydia for our trip to Cambodia, so my professor will be setting up an internship in the US for Lydia and Everaldo. That leaves our team, a team of 5. Although it is very upsetting and we truly have bonded as a team this past semester, I believe that it is probably better for both Lydia and their baby to not be spending her 2nd trimester in Cambodia. That is a high risk. So please, keep praying for our team as we try to revamp some of our plans and we dwindle into a team of 5. We cannot forget that God is with us not matter how big or small our team; He will do His work through us.

Also please continue to pray for our team members individually. We are all dealing with some very trying issues both in school and personally.

For me, this semester is really racking my brain. I have spent the last 2 days writing a 15+ page paper and I have several papers (with an exegetical paper for the weekend), and a case study project that I am working on, on top of my other classwork. I have spent all of my free time at my computer doing work when I am not in class and it’s really getting to me. Thank you so much. I know that I can push through it all, but I feel very drained and not as focused as I want to be in preparation for Cambodia. There is a lot on my mind and only a month left to get everything together.

Also, we are waiting on our VISAs to come back. Sooner better than later would be wonderful

Cambodia Prayer.

I know that I have not been very diligent with this blog, but I still plan to keep up with it while in Cambodia.

I just wanted to thank everyone for your support for you have helped me to raise the $5000 that I needed for this trip. That is a huge answer to prayer. When it comes to finances I am a very stressed and weary person and God knew that, so He totally took care of me by encouraging you all to help me raise these funds. I have not been stressed at all about Cambodia finances this semester and I am so grateful. For everything else that I have been stressed about, finances is not one that I would have handled well, so again, Thank you all so much! God is so good.

But as far as the rest of my team… Please pray that all the finances come in for my team members and also, please be praying for them by name: Lydia & Everaldo (they found out they were pregnant about a month ago), Corey, GraceAnne, Kristin, and Delilah. Each of us individually have our own needs, so please keep us all in your prayers. Especially Lydia and Everaldo. Yesterday evening, our Department called Lydia informing her that the health clinic would not approve her for this trip because of her pregnancy. She had to put off her internship last summer due to other circumstances, so this is the second time she has heard that she cannot go. She is supposed to graduate when we return from the trip, so pray that if it is God’s will for her to be on this trip (which she and Everaldo feel very strong about) that the doors will open so that she can be cleared to go. This puts a lot of stress on our team as we are just a month away from our departure, but right now we have faith that she is still supposed to be going, so please Pray!!

Again, I appreciate you all for you prayers and will try my best to keep you updated. This is has been my most difficult and trying semester yet and I am just trying to push through. We only have just over 2 weeks of actual classes left, which seems crazy. I am blessed beyond words for an amazing fiancé who has done his best to encourage me through all of this, as well as an awesome family and in-laws. God is good. All the time.