We wrapped up our last week of ministry within Cambodia and it was a bittersweet goodbye. I can’t say I absolutely fell in love with everything about Cambodia and left a part of my heart there like some of my team members could say, but I fell more in love with the way I’ve seen God be so present and take care of His children. Everyday we went into the villages to sweat and play with kids and get to know their families. We grew with the women who took the time out of their own busy days running their homes and tending their farms and livestock to just sit and listen about Jesus. One of the happiest days was the afternoon after it had rained all night, we marched through waist deep water just to get to some of the homes and then went even deeper to the rice fields to see them get baptized after learning more about what it looks like to follow Jesus for the last year. Every day was its own adventure and I couldn’t believe how different life could be and the way the gospel transforms lives no matter the language or background or culture that might come up against it.

And all of a sudden, our month in Cambodia was done and we drove a bus over the boarder to Thailand and took an overnight train to arrive in the quiet but busy city of Chiang Mai! We weren’t in the villages anymore and instead lived on the 7th floor of a local Thailand / Wisconsin coffee shop. It’s very different but with lots of help it has been so much fun navigating a city where there are markets and street food at every corner and so many things to try. So far, without getting sick, I’ve tried squid, snails, crickets, silk worms, pad thai, egg rolls, curry and so many dishes that I didn’t know existed. We get to work with kids again and my favorite day by far is getting to play futbol with the kids on Wednesdays for a couple hours! Thai has been a hard language to even attempt but the people here are very gracious! I hope fall has been wonderful, the changing leaves and cool weather is something I miss a ton! Thanks for keeping up and pray that we keep our hearts where are feet are and don’t miss home too much on our last stretch!!

“And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭4‬:‭17‬-‭18‬