The next step of our journey...

Our last hours in Thailand were quite eventful, yet peaceful. Monday night we went over to the home to have our last dinner with the girls and do one final lice check. It was fun to see them one last time, but much harder to say goodbye than expected.

I asked Laurie if it is hard for them to get attached with those that visit, only to have their new friends leave again. She told me that they have asked the girls this exact question. Their response was that they would rather have those relationships made, and shed some tears when then leave, then to never have experienced that love at all. This spoke to my heart and encouraged me greatly...that these girls, some who are orphans and lost so much already, can love that openly and without fear even though they have been broken so deeply. It challenged me to love that deeply and openly as well.

Before we left, Laurie asked us to go on a walk with her around their property. This was a beautiful time for us. We walked alongside the ponds and Barbara prayed that, just as God is the Living Water, that He would be the Living Water to these little girls and they would never thirst again. We walked along the places the future homes will be built and asked God to bring the right girls to these homes. We asked that they would be shown the love of Christ in that place. We asked for protection, safetly, peace, provision, and genuine love on that land. It has been so incredibly clear that God has gone before Remember Nhu each step of the way. And we prayed, anticipating that He would continue to do the same. After we prayed, we looked up and saw the mountains infront of us and Barbara quoted Psalm 121. "I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; From where shall my help come? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth." This passage goes on to say "The Lord is your keeper...The Lord will protect you from evil; He will keep your soul. The Lord will guard your going out and coming in From this time forth and forever."

After a couple of more airports and planes rides, we arrived safely in Phnom Penh, Cambodia last night. We have not seen much of the city to this point, but what we have seen is quite shocking. All we have to do is open up our window binds of the hotel room to see land filled with garbage and hungry people without shoes.

We were able to meet Nhu for a brief time last night. She goes by a different name here in Cambodia, for security reasons. We cannot describe what a lovely and delightful young woman she truly is. Her smile is absolutley radiant! And it is so touching to see the bond that she has with Carl and Laurie, who truly have become her parents...she even calls them "Mom" and "Dad."

This afternoon we are off to the salon. Both Barbara and I have a deep love for Nhu already and anticpate learning more of this young ladies heart, who has already taugh us so much.

Please continue to pray for us. We are beginning to feel physically, emotionally, and spiritually exhausted. And the culture shock here in Cambodia is definitely effecting us. We are thankful that we can claim Psalm 121 as truth...and we are claiming it today in order to accomplish what God has for us. We love all of you, back home, very much...