Share
|
Sophie at her youth group retreat!
My daughters...please pray for me:)))
Family shot in China at a tea tasting
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year everyone!
Mother and son...the people in Cambodia are so very kind and gentle.
A beautiful evening in Phnom Penh
A Cambodian man making a living.
At the Russian Market right by our apartment where we get our "things."
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from Vietnam! Our family took a side trip here during Christmas break. We are on the northeast coast of Vietnam enjoying the sun, wind, water, Pho, and relaxation from a grueling last two weeks of the first semester. I was up many nights finishing lesson plans, grading papers, and planning for the next quarter. Kee tackled a very difficult case right before we left, so relaxation is high on the “to do list.” All I know is I had a Vietnamese woman standing on my back while giving me a hot stone massage yesterday. Hmmmmmm......when in Vietnam, you do like the Vietnamese....After one hour of the lady working on me, I feel like a million bucks and for all I care, she can stand on my back again. I can’t remember if that was before or after she hit my arms....but like I said...I am feeling really good....
Right before Hope International students were dismissed on Friday, the Director of the school read from Proverbs, and he read one of my favorite verses. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” He said this because during the break we will have families moving from Cambodia overseas, and staff will be coming and going as well. He mentioned the horrible tragedy of the Bang family last summer. During one of their drives from Phnom Penh to Siem Riep, the Bang family was involved in a fatal car accident killing four of the 6 family members. Only two daughters made it out alive. We were reminded that we don’t know what’s around the corner but to trust God and lean not on our own understanding.
This brings me to the very first Christmas when our Savior was born. Sorry my wifi is so very weak, and I am pulling from my memory, so no direct passages from scripture. I think all the major characters of the first Christmas had to trust God and not lean on their own understanding. Joseph had to trust God when he wanted to send Mary away because he found out she was with child, and he was not the father. He could have trusted himself and just sent her away, but he didn’t. Upon hearing the news of Mary being pregnant, one can only imagine that Joseph was initially embarrassed and very angry not understanding God’s plans. Mary could have done a million things in fear and embarrassment that she was with child even though she was a virgin. She embraced her calling and sang a beautiful song recorded in Luke. We see in her song that God honors the merciful and humble and that these attributes are truly pleasing to God. My family and I had to trust God as we have left behind a lot to come to Cambodia. We have left behind our families and friends whom we love, adore, cherish, and LOVE being around. We’ve left behind Noel our dog who we’ve had since she was 5 weeks old and is a daughter to us. We’ve left behind basically our lives. I will say that having been here in Cambodia for five months now has been amazing. The International school the girls and I are at has been such a GIFT! As a school we worship God twice a week at the start of the day with songs, devotion, and prayers. The kids all go to a pastoral class every morning as they work on their Biblical studies. The students come from all walks of life and just being in this school brings an awareness of differences from language, cultures, seasons, customs, etc...Any assumptions are off the table. A “jumper” to an Australian is a sweater. “Have a think” to a Brit means “What do you think?” As you can imagine, it has been so fun for an English teacher to be in this kind of environment.
Getting back to my post. When Kee and I thought about coming out to Cambodia in the spring, we met it with anticipation and nervousness and a lot of unhappy looks from our daughters. Being in Cambodia five months now, they are embracing it and enjoying many aspects of it. I guess what I’m trying to say is...is there something that you feel the Lord is leading you towards? Is there something that sounds really nutty and strange....like a virgin birth? Or moving to Cambodia when your oldest is in 10th grade? Be still before the Lord, my friends, and listen....really listen....take the time to pause this season. And in the quietness, wait for the Lord’s whisper...something very peaceful. He will walk the road ahead of you with you...do not be afraid for He will never leave you nor forsake you. I leave you with this thought.
May I pray? Father in heaven, we thank you that you are forever with us. Through the ups and down, bumpy patches, and golden streets of our lives. I lift up all my brothers and sisters to you at this time as we come to another end of the year. I thank you for their lives and how each one plays a very special role. I lift up each brother and sister and ask for clarity in the questions they bring to you. As we begin a new year 2014, please continue to lead us, guide us, and walk with us all the days of our lives. Thank you for all your provisions; forgive us for trusting in ourselves and not you, and give us all a spirt of humility and mercy like Mary and deep faith like Joseph. Help us be still when it’s difficult, and remove all our doubts and fears. We trust you and lay it all at the foot of the cross once again. Thank you for today! Let us rejoice and be glad in it! In Jesus name, Amen!
