my 1st outreach update

i'm finally in cambodia!!
Wow, is all I can say... First of all, it was a very long flight.. they fed us on every flight..mostly rice and pork, or rice and seafood( which i did not partake in). eashy.. Our first layover was in Japan, then Taiwan, then Bangkok. The layovers were honestly pretty fun, just hanging out with everyone and being delirious. We landed in Cambodia, loaded up 30 people in 3 vans and headed off to the team house we are living in. its a huge house in a dirty alley in downtown phnom phen.. The bathrooms are crazy. haha.. The showertoilet and sink is in the same bathroom, so everything gets wet. it is so HOT,very crowded, and dusty.. I can't believe we actually made it! it is also so cheap...30 of us went and ate lunch, which by the way I will be eating rice for the next 3 months! for 30 people drinks and food was only $52.00.
 anyway, yesterday we went to a genocide Museum and the Killing Fields http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Killing_Fields  I have never seen such graphic and horrifying images in my life. I just don't understand it all.. This will be a place I will never forget. It made me feel so sick what this nation has been through.. the reality struck me hardcore.  I had no idea the extent of what this country has been through.. Its just so sickening how someone could do this!

  When we were there, there were fences surrounding the fields with the most beautiful children.. these children need love and touch so desperately. the poverty is so evident. There were 3 little sisters and a 10 year old boy. They were continually singing a song over and over.. In the song they were singing about what they needed money, food, school supplies, etc. I started to get so overwhelmed with the reality of what i was seeing and My friend Sarah and I walked away and started praying for the people of Cambodia. It was definitely an intense and eye opening day for me. After going to the Killing Fields we went to a Buddhist Temple. We could hear the monks outside of the Temple. We walked inside the Temple and there were Buddhas everywhere. Oh, and there are monkeys everywhere too!! It's crazy :)
It just boggles my mind to think of where God has put me.. I really do love it here. God is placing in me such a heart for these people and such a desire for the unjust. We walk down the alley by our home and seriously one night the children were flocking to us and a little girl came up to me and held my hand. they so long to be loved.. and wanted.
Yesterday, which is the 5th day I have been here we split up in groups and went took Tuk Tuks (little cab carts) to different locations and just walked around and prayed for everything. it was such an eye opener on how i want to live my life.. I need to have that mindset of prayer and being aware of my surroundings
so anyway, Today is Christmas!! Can't believe it..  We all woke up and walked upstairs and there were stockings and presents for us from my leaders :) We all opened them up and chatted, listened to music and danced around. we even had a fake snow fight. haha.. from the fake snow dad sent me.. Now we are at the Internet cafe and us girls are about to go Christmas shopping for really cheap skirts!!

Tomorrow we are going to an orphanage called Good Shephard Orphanage and the ages range from infant to about 20. there is like 60 living there. so please pray for us while we go play and minister to these children.
I love and miss you all so much

just like honey

as you can see I love to make Americanos :) but you know.. sometimes I feel bad because I am blessed with such an amazing work duty .. and most of my friends are next door scrubbing the dishes in the kitchen.. hmmm.. well at least I can serve them with a cold beverage

reflecting

Today was an extremely good day!! God has totally revealed to me how he can use me to bless others.. I have always known this, but to take action.. can be so rewarding and may not even take much effort.

today's adventure

hitchhiking up a mountain to the Kona coffee festival! instead of wine tasting we have coffee tasting parties :)

Oh and I had the best pumpkin chocolate chip bread today.. just so ya know

a voi(e for the voi(eless

we had a speaker come tonight who travels all around the world photographing children. the stories she shared were incredible.. and so sad at the same time. It made me want to go to a tribe in the middle of nowhere.. and help them.. It's hard to explain on here, but I have this burning desire inside of me. God doesn't want us to ignore the reality of wants going on in this world. There is so much darkness that needs light.. I am so frustrated with the injustice!! I don't understand it..

so anyway, she put together a picture/story booklet for us to pray for different topics.. Its a 30 days of prayer for the voiceless, addressing global issues of gender-based injustice. so this is my day:1 of prayer.. Child Prostitution.. ( in South Africa, there are 40,000 child prostitutes) just a little fact to think about..

so..

I'm taking a swing dancing class.. It's really fun! I'm learning some sweet moves. :) haha
I feel like we as a generation need to dance more.. back in the day, everyone would dance all the time.. now we are just too lazy and sit around.
its a real shame.

I am going to Cambodia!

For 3 months!!

If your having trouble finding the face of God, go to the broken because he is there

hi everyone!
  I've never done this blog thing before. So.. I wanted to start this to keep you guys posted on my adventures! I want to thank everyone who has been praying for me. so thank you :) God has totally been rocking my life since I've been here. this is my 4th week living in kona, Hawaii! and Its still weird for me to believe I'm living in Hawaii.
  Everyday is jammed packed with stuff. I don't even know where to begin! My life is so intense , but in the midst of it all, there is such an overwhelming peace on this campus. I have always been the girl who hates to be alone. but lately, my alone time has been my most favorite.
  we usually have worship every morning :) it just blows my mind.. God is so here with his arms open wide to all the nations! I'm still meeting new people everyday from all over the world. it's just unreal. I'm learning so much.. I have been a christian for as long as I can remember, and it makes me really sad that I don't know the bible, as well as some who haven't been. God has totally convicted me of this. So I have been setting aside time to seek his word. this is bringing forth such an intimacy with God. (I'm smiling right now)..yay I have so much joy! I do believe I am here for a reason. and it blows my mind the different journeys God gives us. wow..
  anyway, I have an amazing small group leader! I love her so much. she is a little younger than me.. and married.. (someday heather :) but anyway, I love the people here so much. I can barely walk down the sidewalk without someone hugging me or giving an encouraging word. okay I think that's enough for now. Ill be back..

I'm off to go watch Blood Diamond..
peace