House Staff Family

Rita, Tess and Ruth

Sam (and family)

Manny

Ely

I have been blessed with the most incredible house staff family. They are very dear to my heart and I'm going miss them so very much...

Family Portraits

My incredibly attractive roommates everyone!

Up first here we have S. She's a really close friend of mine who happens to also be the person the Father has called to come along behind me to serve as the Volunteer Coordinator! It is such a blessing to be able to pass on the reigns here to someone I know and trust. She's a mess load of fun too ;)

Next we have A :) She's living here in the vol house with us as she studying our wonderful language here on the island. She'll head out the same time I will in November to move to another city where she'll also be working with vols.

I love these girls so much! We got to cleaning out the garage here the other day and came across this big tub filled with eye glasses! As you can see from our pictures here...they're pretty amazing ;) We thought we'd print these off and hang them somewhere in the house...

:0)

Oh come...

A few things I'm really enjoying right now...

Coffee, and lots of it :) 

I think I'm going to have to reserve an entire suitcase for coffee alone!

And then there are the beautiful rice fields. The mountains and the blue skies and the deep green fields. Oh I wish you all could see it for yourselves...

Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the

 Rock of our Salvation!

 Let us come into His presence with thanksgiving; 

let us make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise! 

For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. 

In His hand are the depths of the earth; 

the heights of the mountains are His also. 

The sea is His, for he made it, 

and His hands formed the dry land. 

Oh come,

let us worship and bow down.

new hobby

SNORKELING! 

This is by far one of my favorite things to do out here :) You just never know what you're going to see! I haven't actually perfected the art of snorkeling yet. I often grab things I shouldn't :) or let myself get pushed into large chunks of coral. I have learned that there are better times for snorkeling than others and this typically depends on the tide. 

If the tide is out and the water's too low, the waves are harder to manage and you're too close to the coral itself. For those of you who haven't been snorkeling yet, this is dangerous because coral can really cut you if you're not careful! If the tides is coming in, the currents may be too strong and you could find yourself being tossed around. A very unnerving experience as well and unfortunately, I have the scars on my legs to prove it. 

There really is a perfect spot of time where the tide is in and the water's high and calm...it's perfect.

It just reminds me of how sweet the Father is :) I really mean that. This is something I really enjoy doing in a town that lacks avenues of entertainment. We have no parks, we have no movie theaters or bowling allies (no  jokes, I love to bowl :), and no malls to stroll through; BUT, we have the ocean. I've never lived near the ocean before and so now I think I'm addicted ;) 

There really are some beautiful coral reefs around the island. It's amazing I get to see them. 

Thankfully a new friend of mine actually owned an underwater camera so we were finally able to get some pictures of the things we've been swimming around this year :) Thanks Marshall!!

Green Acres is the place to be...

   Farm living is (maybe) the life for me! I went out to the farm last month to lend a helping hand, but I don't think my poor little hands were much help! I think I've posted some pictures before from the agricultural training center here. I've always said that, next to the beach, it's one of my favorite places to be. It's so beautiful to me and I just love how much is going on out there...brick making, gardens filled with all kinds of vegetable, fisheries, rice paddies, and some of the cutest goats you've ever seen!    

   Well, as you can tell, I have a great appreciation for all that's being done there to model for the community what they hope to be new or better options for local farmers. However, amidst all my appreciation and admiration I had yet to roll up my sleeves jump in and help...until this past month! Here's a few "action shots" of my time on the farm...

 

This is me...with a machete

The bamboo we cut was used to makes stakes for the garden

Ok...so maybe the heat was getting to us :) Our break...which consisted of one of the men shimmying up a tree with a machete to cut down coconuts for us to drink from...well, it seems to have gotten a little out of hand :) Maybe it was the heat PLUS the head-coverings! 

A friend of mine and one of our volunteer teams from a neighboring country

beautiful distraction

I'm sitting here at my desk this morning...staring at the various mounds of papers I need to go through, receipts I need to enter, thinking of the emails I should write...and all I can think of is the Father. 

It's one of those moments where I just want to say out loud...to anyone...that GOD IS GOOD!!! I was reading this morning through Psalm 38-40. There are so many times I feel so unworthy to be here...

A sinner...I still am

Fall short...I still do

BUT

Sustained by God....YES!!!!

I am just really encouraged this morning as I remember where God has brought me from. Out of the pit and onto the Rock! Am I worthy?? Absolutely not. He is just that good, loving and faithful. He puts a new song of praise in my mouth each time I think of His beautiful redemption!!! 

"Let all who seek You Rejoice and Be Glad in You; let those who love Your salvation say continually, 'The Lord be Magnified.'"

Oops

So....did you know that if you boil cans of sweetened condensed milk on the stove for a few hours that it becomes this incredibly yummy caramel!?!? Well...did you also know that if you forget to add water to that pot and the water boils out that the cans inside the pot actually have the potential to explode!?!?

Note the caramel splattered to the wall and portions of my BROKEN ceiling tiles on the floor! 

Yup...learning lessons every day here in the tropics :) 

Thought I would share this one with y'all! I think I scared my neighbors into thinking we were about to embark on some sort of takeover. This explosion (and it really was just that) literally sounded like a bomb or a gunshot at the least. 

Let's just say I'm still finding caramel splatters in the oddest places and my neighbors still look at me funny :)

Idioms, Adverbs, and Pronouns OH MY!

Part of what I do here as a volunteer coordinator is to set up as well as help facilitate some of our many ESL teaching opportunities! Let me just start off by saying that this is something I NEVER saw myself doing. I realize that sounds a little ridiculous seeing that I am a native English speaker in a foreign land, but I've come to realize that teaching English is just something you do whether you're qualified or not ;) 

  So, as volunteer teams come to teach ESL, I get to go along and help! Truth be told, I am actually starting to enjoy it. I have made a ton of new friends :) In fact, I've made so many new friends that I am to the point now that I don't think I have time to hang out with them all! What a great "problem" to have! 

Reflection

Each day this month seems to have held a moment of reflection. Sometimes this moment really is just a moment and sometimes it's an entire chunk of my day. What I'm reflecting on is the amazing year I've just been honored to complete. March 23rd marked my one year in country anniversary. Every day this week especially, I have stopped to think on the year and all that has happened. All that has changed. All the Father has brought me through. All the new He's allowed me to experience in my physical circumstances as well as my journey with Him...

Now, as I sit here in my room, in my home, in my town, on this island...so far from America...I am overwhelmed with gratitude. I said in my previous post that I love my life. It's true. I've never felt so blessed. This feeling of blessing and the love I have in my heart for where God's brought me has not come easily or quickly. This year has been a process of seeing things differently. Appreciating what God is doing (no matter what it is He's doing) and delighting in Him no matter what. Again, a process :) and one I am sometimes a little slow in. 

There have been moments of fear. There have been moments of all out WHAT AM I DOING HERE?!?! However, it is in my moments of weakness that I have experienced God's strength. His active presence in my heart and in my life. I wouldn't trade this for anything...

I recently re-discovered an old song that I think I could listen to every day and never tire of hearing. It's Aaron Geoffrey's song "He Is." Now, I know this is a major throwback to older era of music :) but this song...when I hear this song, there rises up in me such Adoration as I hear from the Word of God the intricate way in which He wove for us a picture of Himself and His sovereign, eternal character and plan for Redemption. Adoration for the One I serve, the One I know, the One I've seen at work, read about, and continue to grow to love with a love that can never be rivaled. A love that cries out from my heart to THE God Most High and this overwhelming strength and pride to continue living for the One who is greater than me because HE IS WORTHY!

And when time is no more...HE IS!

Listening to this song brings several questions to mind that lead to a great deal of understanding. How can God be my Rock if I'm always seeking someone else to lean on? How can He be my Comforter if I have no need for comfort? How can He be the Provider if I am sufficient apart from Him?

It has been in the joyous new experiences, heartbreaking trials and uncomfortable situations that I have been given then matchless opportunity to know my Savior more fully. To know Him in new ways has risen out of a strong need for Him in new ways :) 

As I reflect on the year and the faithfulness of an awesome God, I grin and think...

What an amazing ride when the arms who carry you are His...

I'm back

   So sorry for the lack of updates! I should be back to blogging after this terribly long period of silence :) It seemed like there wasn't much to report on there for a little while and then, suddenly, things got crazy and I was left feeling a little overwhelmed! 

   So, where to begin?!? How about...I love my life! I really cannot imagine serving the Father anywhere else in this world right now. That is not to say I wouldn't love to be able to run home for a quick visit every now and then ;) But, the Father is so good and the life He's given me here truly is a gift. I have reached the point where I drive around town feeling like...I don't know...I fit, I belong. I'm not just this strange white person roaming around a strange new city trying to figure everything out and wondering when it will feel natural to be here. I like it. It's progress. I'll never tire of declaring the faithfulness of the Father! Only He could make me feel at home in a place that holds little reflection of what I know to be home! 

   However, the Father did see fit to send a little piece of home over for a visit recently. My sis!!! She flew over last month for about a 10 day visit and it was incredible! I think I was in shock half the time she was here! It was so amazing and strange having her here in my city! We had such an amazing time together as I introduced her to the glitz and glamour of life here ;) It was a huge boost of encouragement for me and I am just so thankful she was able to come! Love you sis! 

Ok...well, there is so much I will be sharing with you in the coming weeks so don't lose heart, I really am back! 

Precious...

These are some of my favorite little faces I get to see here :O) Every time I see these children I think..."Oh Father, I want these babies to know how precious they are to You!!!" I know He adores them more than I ever could and for now, until they know His love personally, I'm honored for Him to use me to show them His love!!!!

Gifts from home...and no, I'm not talking about care packages...

There are some people who spend years on the field without a single visit from their home fellowship. We here in BA are blessed. Blessed with a fellowship who supports us and gives us the most encouraging gift imaginable...themselves. This is the second team of people they've sent here since I arrived. What a GIFT!!!! But that's not all...we have THREE more teams already scheduled to come next year! YAY!!!
Among this crew of folks is our new team member! K-Joy, as we like to call her, is our new journeygirl here in BA (bottom row, first girl on the left). We are so excited to finally have her here! I can already tell that she is going to be an incredible encouragement to our entire team and a light here to the A-people! The Father is so good!

Lya

Dear friends, I would like to introduce you to my friend Lya. She is the dearest friend the Father has given me here in my new town! She is also the one I spend the most time with. Poor girl...she is teaching me this new language!!! What a girl! What patience!!! I have to confess, I am a slow language learner and therefore am unbelievably grateful for this sweet girl who meets with me 5 days a week, 3 hours a day as I brutally butcher her language!!!
When I first met Lya, I wasn't sure how on earth we were going to be close friends. I have never met a more shy person in all my life! Well, it has been about 5 months now and in just recent weeks, I finally feel confident to share with you that she is one of my closest friends here. What a gift! What a blessing! I have wanted so desperately to share about my life with her and in exchange for her to feel the freedom and comfort to do the same with me. So, after months of lifting this up to the Father, He has graciously given us a sweet sweet friendship! All thanks to Him!!!
Truth be told, I haven't learned as much of the language here lately :) but our conversations have become much deeper and sweeter as the Father has opened the doors for me to share truth with her! Please lift her up as the Father continues to cultivate this friendship!

Just want to put some folk's minds at ease. I may be on the other side of the world right now but you better believe that, even here, we're gettin' geared up for some Georgia football!!!!! Wooohooo!!!!! There are actually a few of us Georgians here in town which will make for some fun times when we're staying up real late on Saturday's or getting up real early on Sundays to catch the games...ONLINE :o) Listening to games via online radio will certainly be a first for me! BUT, I am thankful to have at least that!

Thailand

After arriving home from my trip to our annual meeting, I had only two weeks to prepare for my next trip! I was off to Thailand! What an incredible trip this was! My first week was spent attending a week long conference for first term people here who do what we do. This was a wondering time of seeing old friends and making new ones as well! I stayed on a few extra days with some friends and did a little bit of everything from getting massages, to eating MEXICAN, and then we even got to do a little hiking! It was awesome!

My bithday was in July, so I got to celebrate with some good friends in Bangkok! Every year, on...near...around my birthday, I always find a way to get myself a Bloomin' Onion at Outback. Well, It wasn't until I arrived in Bangkok that I realized that they actually have an Outback Steakhouse!!!! Birthday tradition lives on! The Father is SO good to me!
While in Bangkok, we also went to a big fancy theater to catch a movie...in ENGLISH!!!! I haven't done that since I left the States! And then of course...there's one man who will be with you always...no matter go on this great planet (except where I currently live of course ;). Yes, that's right folks, I am speaking of none other than Ronald McDonald himself ;o) I amazed even myself at how excited I was to see that man! Ha! Ahh....french fries ;O)

Even though it was amazing and so good for my heart to see friends, eat some yummny western food, and see some new sights, after a few weeks of even these great things, I was ready to get back to my Asian home. This was such a wonderful feeling. It was the first time I had been away for any length of time and I found I was so ready to go home! Time away is nice :) but the Father has truly blessed my life here in A-land! I have an awesome team that I adore! Not everyone in this kind of work can say that and I truly am thankful for the family the Father has given me here! I also missed some of my national friends! What a GREAT thing! I love my home here!
I will try and post more as the Father provides opportunitites here!

Summer Travels

Hey Y'all!!!
I know you all must think I've dropped off the face of the planet when instead I feel like I've just traveled it! Ok, well maybe not the entire planet but I've certainly had a bit of a tour of our region here in Southeast Asia! Here's the rundown on where I've been!

In June, on a little island not so far away, we had our annual meeting! It was a wonderful time to reunite with friends! I was even blessed to see a few familiar faces from HOME!!! What a treat!
The island we were on is predominately Hindu which is very different from the rest of our islands. This made our visit all the more interesting. So, while they spoke the same language I am STILL learning here in A-land, the whole time we were there I felt I was in an entirely different country! The culture there is very different than that of my island!

*Here are some precious Georgia ladies that came over for a visit!
*MY Kristen! So good to see a sister when you're so far from home ;)
*Now here's something to get excited about. Can you see that Krispie Kream sign in the back?!?!
*On this little Hindu island you will see these offerings placed everywhere! Their Hindu beliefs seem to touch every corner of their culture and every curb and vendor as well.

We Remember...

A few short weeks ago I had the unfortunate opportunity to see a small glimpse of the fear and panic our people must have felt when the 2004 tsunami struck our coastlines. There is now a warning system here designed to send out alerts if there is ever a threat of another tsunami. The other week, one of the alarms went off sending our city into absolute panic.
I wish I could put into words for you the hopeless fear I saw in the eyes of my neighbors and friends as people ran out into the streets shouting and gathering their things while some literally ran towards the mountains. Some people left town for days and I am still hearing rumors of other tsunamis that are "sure to come" in the next few days.
Though a few years have passed now since the tsunami, there are still images scattered across town that remind us of the loss and destruction that took place here among our people. In light of this recent reminder, I thought I should share some photos with you and ask you again to lift up the people here who have suffered so much and who still mourn so deeply those they lost in the tsunami. There isn't a week that goes by that we don't come in contact with someone who, whether we ask or not, pours out their story of suffering and loss. It truly breaks my heart knowing that these are the ones who mourn like those who have no hope...



This is a VERY LARGE barge the wave carried about 4 miles inland. It was set down in the middle of a community crushing the houses and people beneath it. It remains there to this day with no plans of ever being moved.


What was once a lighthouse, is now just a tower that sits on the coastline of one of our communities. The wave was so high, it came up and over the structure removing the upper portion of the tower. I am standing at the bottom of the tower to show you just how high the structure is.


There are actually people still liveing in this house


This is a mass grave. It is one of several found throughout this area. It is reported that there are between 40 to 60 thousand people buried here at this one site. It is considered to be one of the smaller graves.

There's a new Hut in town ;o)

Pizza Hut has arrived!!!! I can hardly believe it!! They're having the big opening this weekend so we thought we'd treat ourselves on this fine Sunday afternoon to some good 'ol pizza! It's just like home!!! Well, so long as you don't get the seafood special which has no telling what all on it!!! My roommate M and I think we'd make great delivery girls!!! Check out those rides!!!



I just had my folks send me some hats from home because, so far, this is the only "hat" I've found in the city permissible for women to wear!!! Good for working in the garden...which we have...but maybe not for anything else but a fun photo!

~AND~

I had to get a picture of this! Every week we take the volunteer teams we have here in our vol. house out souvenir shopping! There are 2-3 shops we go to every time we have teams...we give them business, they give us discounts. Today, I saw this for the first time....A BUTT RUG!!!!! Ha! No kidding!!! It's actually a pr. rug but the brand just so happens to be "Butt" ;o) I couldn't keep myself from very discretely snapping a quick pic of the all too funny butt rug ;o) Hope you enjoy it too!!!