a journey for justice.: trip overview

So many blessings!

Hello from beautiful Chiang Mai, Thailand! I have finally had a chance to breathe and rest this week after a jam-packed schedule in Cambodia. Every day was filled to the brim, and the few hours I finally slept at night, I crashed hard. This probably isn’t what would generally be recommended to counteract jetlag, but it sure worked for me!

I changed cities almost every day for 10 days. For those of you who are familiar with Cambodia, my travels looked something like this: Nashville – Atlanta – Seoul – Phnom Penh – Chrong Sdao – Phnom Penh – Kampong Thom – Siem Reap – Poipet – Battambang – Poipet – Bangkok – Chiang Mai. The time was busy, but so, so blessed. I have been so overwhelmed by love!

Its funny how, in the US, we generally think of adoption as “us” bringing kids back to the states, and giving them the opportunity for more options in life – access to education, resources, a loving family, community, etc. But as I woke up the first morning here, in the tiny village of Chrong Sdao, I realized I had been adopted into a Cambodian family. Without doing anything to deserve their love, I was completely immersed in it. Hug after hug, and screams of delight, and so many tears…I was home.

By western standards, this family doesn’t have much. But measured in the kingdom, there was a wealth of riches. I feel like I finally understand a tiny piece of the love and grace that is offered to us by our Father.

Makeup transformation for Srey Mao's wedding!

That moment, at 4:30am, was the start to such a blessed time in Cambodia. It truly has been one divine appointment after another. Knowing that my time was going to be limited, my prayer as I left the US was to be able to maximize every minute. I am so happy to say that happened in a big way! I feel like I have been over here for months instead of weeks. Not only was I able to see many dear friends, I was able to make some really exciting headway for both Freedom’s Promise & AlignMD – so excited to see what the future holds for both of these organizations.

There has also been a good bit of fun mixed into the last two weeks. Perlito and I celebrated a year of healing after the moto accident last year by booking a night for the family at one of my favorite places in Siem Reap and living it up in a private pool! Couch-buying adventures were had in Phnom Penh, and I even got a great riding lesson by a leather-skinned, chain smoking British Dressage queen. Life is crazy.

I am so thankful for divine energy, and the LOVE of a great big God, who doesn’t miss any details. Not even the smallest flutter of our hearts.