safe.

"A ship in the harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for."
-Shedd

This little ship is a little worse for wear, but I can assure you that my heart is completely content and filled with joy.

If you have not heard, I was in a motorcycle accident here in Cambodia. I am doing well, praise the Lord! However, the pastor who was driving our moto is in rough shape. Here's the story:

I have been staying in the Cambodian border town of Poi Pet with a sweet missionary family from the Philippines. They have been in ministry here in Cambodia for the last 10 years, and have an amazing heart for their community. Perlito is a pastor there, and he had already started a church in another city, Kampong Thom prior to moving to Poi Pet.

On Monday, he was headed to Kampong Thom to meet with the pastors in that community. I had decided to go along with him, as a good friend of mine from YWAM is living there, and I was excited to visit him. The drive from Poi Pet to Kampong Thom is about 4 hours by motorcycle, and we had a lovely and uneventful first half of the drive. We stopped for lunch in the city of Siem Reap, a city known for tourism and the historic Angkor Wat.

After leaving from lunch, we were on the road for only about 10 minutes, when a stationary car parked on the side of the road suddenly turned across traffic without signaling or looking. Unfortunately, as he turned out, he collided with us. Perlito did his best to stop, but there was no time. The car had pinned his leg, and as he flipped over the front of the bike, his Femur was broken and his ACL was ruptured. I had the most dramatic fall, but amazingly have minimal injuries! I ended up flying over the top of Perlito, and landing about 20 feet ahead of the bike.

The only way I can account for my lack of serious injuries is divine protection. I am quite badly scraped, bruised & swollen, with an ankle sprain and a mid-foot sprain - but no broken bones or any other serious injuries! Also, somehow everything I was carrying with me also remained unbroken - including my iphone (which has been indispensable over the past week) and my nice camera. I couldn't believe it!

We were helped by MANY concerned bystanders, who not only helped us off the road, but chased down the driver of the car, who decided he should escape the scene on foot. An ambulance took us to a local clinic, and I got a first-hand experience of how the medical system works (err....doesn't work) here. After a few hours at this ill-equipped clinic, I had regained my bearings, seen Perlito's initial x-ray showing a complete displaces fracture of the femur, and demanded that we be moved to the international hospital in town.

Thankfully, we were in a city populated by many tourists, so this hospital is one of the better hospitals in Cambodia. It doesn't really hold a candle to US hospitals....but heck, it was a huge step in the right direction. However, upon arrival, I discovered another hurdle of the Cambodian medical system -- they will not treat any major medical cases without a deposit of at least half the total estimate for treatment. In Perlito's case, the amount needed for a deposit was $5,000.00 USD. Now, there are not many people I know that keep that amount in petty cash, and here in Cambodia, that amount is nearly unthinkable. But without the money, the hospital will not admit, treat, or give any sort of medication.

The next hours were a nightmare of attempting to communicate with the hospital staff, as well as finding the money to deposit, all while Perlito had no pain meds or treatment (other than more x-rays) at all. Finally, through some local connections, we found someone with a card suitable for the deposit, and almost 10 hours after the accident, Perlito was admitted and his bone was set.

There was no surgeon here capable of the surgery here in Siem Reap, so the surgeon was flown from Phnom Penh, and arrived the following day. Everyone at Freedom's Promise was amazingly helpful in handing the money situation to make sure he was able to have the surgery, and getting the word out for people to join us in prayer.

The surgery was successful, but Perlito will eventually also need his ACL repaired, which will be an additional cost.

Please be in prayer for Perlito's family: his wife Rose and their two daughters. Also, they are in desperate need of financial support. Freedom's Promise came through in the clutch, but that money is allotted to help other projects. We have already raised about $3,000.00 toward a medical bill that will total close to $10,000.00 - but that is not including the cost of continued care, or the eventual ACL repair.

If you wish to donate to help Perlito & Rose, please click on the link below and write my name in the info line - 100% of the money donated will to to help with their medical bills. Thank you for your loving support and prayers from all over the world!!

DONATE

so, I made a movie!

...well, a tiny movie :)
Click HERE to view it on youtube

I had fun making it,
hope you have fun watching it!

still no "real" photos...

In honor of the Chinese new year and a lazy Sunday afternoon, here is the latest iphone photo update :)

Obviously, Bora and I take ourselves very seriously.

learning how to write Khmer numbers is harder than it looks

this man had his leg blown off by a landmine left over from the Khmer Rouge...he also makes the most BEAUTIFUL wood carvings!

the road ahead

lime and pepper for a lunchtime sauce

and finally, Happy New Year!!

who, me?

When traveling with missionaries in a foreign country, it seems inevitable that they ask you to preach. This has happened to me over and over again throughout my travels.
I am not a trained preacher, I am not especially eloquent, but I am different, and that is enough! The honest truth is that I LOVE sharing, I don’t care if it is one on one, or speaking to a group of hundreds. So I always enjoy the opportunity to share about my savior and best friend. However, this trip has humbled me in this particular area, given the specific circumstances of my sharing.

The first request that was presented to me was to preach at church in the village last Sunday. Of course, I agreed, but was taken aback a moment later when the subject was presented to me: offering. They wanted me to speak…..on offering? To a village of people who are struggling to feed their children? Me? Really? I went up to my bed that evening in a house where I could see through the slats that made up the walls, and while I listened to the rats scurrying around under my bed, I had a Moses moment. Who am I to do this? Who in the world am I to talk about this topic, Lord? I, who have so much, and offer so little back? Talk about humbling. But as He often does, He softly whispered to my spirit the words I needed to hear.

The second request came soon after; I was asked to speak on a much broader topic, but this time….to a room full of pastors! And not just any pastors, a group of Cambodian pastors who are all beautifully active in serving the children of their community. Again, I questioned my ability to say anything that could be helpful. And again, the Lord provided words to say. Praise Him!! What a privilege to be simply a mouthpiece. In the end, I should never have worried – it wasn’t me talking to them anyway. It was God.
It was always God.

...and the greatest is love.

As I begin this update to you, my wonderful family in the US, all I want to say is thanks be to God. I continually sit in awe of Him as he orchestrates a story that is so much bigger than my own. He is the beginning and the end, and even though my heart is breaking for those who are suffering in this world, I know that He is holding them in his hands.

Working amidst issues like human trafficking and the exploitation of women & children is a difficult task. There are many emotions one faces in response to these issues: repulsion, anger, sadness, inadequacy, and hopelessness…even hardness of heart in an effort to stay distanced from the pain of others.
All of these emotions are normal reactions to issues of this magnitude. The challenge becomes holding onto faith, hope, and love. These fly in the face of evil, and allow us to fight back. I am beyond thankful that I have seen generous quantities of all three as I have been in Cambodia. The LOVE that is being poured out is beyond words. I have been astounded at the FAITH of those with nothing on earth, but with eternal joy. And I see that through the work being done here, there truly is HOPE for the future of this country.The following is an update on my past week. Of course, it already feels like a lifetime that I’ve been here – just as once I arrive back in the states, it will feel like no time at all. Time is an odd thing, isn't it?

I find myself continually surprised at how easily I settle into life in other countries. It must be the Lord, but I have eaten everything set in front of me (loving every bite!!) and have not been sick. I have legs marked up and down with mosquito bites, and no malaria. I have spent hours upon hours on a moto and have remained safe. Thank you for your prayers, as I know that is what keeps me going.

The first time I came to Cambodia, I never thought I’d be able to live here long term. But through the Lord’s grace, I am loving every minute! I find myself craving rice & noodle soup for breakfast, and happily eating pickled fish. Somehow, longer term doesn’t seem completely out of the question…..

I had planned to stay here in Phnom Penh for the first week of my journey, but of course, everything has been different than expected….in wonderful ways! I spent one day here in the city before heading south to the Svay Rieng provence (see map), to visit some of the Kone Kmeng projects, take photos, and listen to stories. I have been so blessed to be an observer, to simply sit at the feet of my new friends and listen. For those unfamiliar with Kone Kmeng, visit their website: http://www.kone-kmeng.org/ – they do wonderful work with the church throughout Cambodia.

The stories I heard were widely varied, but all contained a similar message: the redemptive love of Christ. I spoke with a dear lady who was unable to get out of bed for years due to a combination of HIV symptoms & depression. The Lord has completely turned her life around, she is no longer symptomatic and is able to maintain a job to support herself! Another woman fell from her bike last August, and because of lack of medical care, she no longer has use of her arm – but still is praising Jesus with her whole life!

From Svay Rieng, I returned to Phnom Penh for a short evening before heading out again, this time to a village in the Tekao provence, where I spent the weekend totally immersed in village life. It took less than two days for me to feel like I had a whole village of old friends, despite the language barrier! What amazing people!!

After a full weekend of photos, food, more travel, laughing and playing with children, celebrating with the church in Charoung Sdoa, and many hours on the moto, we were headed back to Phnom Penh (aka MORE moto hours…do you see a trend here?). Besides taking me on a literal adventure, Paneth also took me on a culinary adventure – stopping frequently at roadside stands to sample whatever they were offering. I have to admit, my perspective of Khmer food is totally changed – I can’t get enough!

This week has already been chock full of meetings, interviews, and the second annual Kone Kmeng conference. I have much to say about that….but it is for another day.

iphone photo journal.

how to pack like a champ

zero degrees in Seoul

welcome!!

pretty gates - Phnom Penh

one of my bedroom companions - Svay Rieng

love in unlikely places - Svay Rieng

morning in the village - Tekao

learning to weave - Tekao

morning coffee - Phnom Penh

Leang Eng being stunning - Kone Kmeng annual conference, Phnom Penh

one week

Hello from Phnom Penh! I have been here one week now, but never in one place for more than two nights in a row. I must have been delirious when I imagined my first week in the country would be a quiet one....not so!

Prior to leaving, it had been difficult to summarize my goals and objectives for this trip, as they are so varied. But upon arrival, everything has sorted itself out in the most miraculous way possible! I have been able to listen to story upon story of God's faithfulness, make new acquaintances, and be completely flexible to follow where the Lord is leading.
I still have a laundry list of things to do....but I am trusting that everything will be accomplished, even if it isn't quite how I envisioned.

More coming shortly when I can keep my eyelids from slamming shut! Pictures will also be coming once I can sort through a file-type mix up.