Videos Uploaded To YouTube

I've uploaded some of the videos from the trip to YouTube.  Check them out!!!

Cambodia, come & gone...

I've come and gone from Cambodia.  I can't believe it. Sometimes I think about it and wonder if it was just a dream.  I can't relay (very well) how great it was.  I couldn't have asked for a better team or better leaders.  I couldn't have asked for a better group of children to visit.

It's funny how different this trip was for me personally than the trip last year.  I was much more open and receptive to the children.  Last year I was more scared.  This year I ran up and grabbed the children, hugged them, held their hands, swung them around, played, built, and decorated with them.  They are more amazing than I had remember (and I remembered them as being very amazing).

As we each walked into the orphanage there were children who naturally drifted towards each teammate.  It was amazing to watch each of my teammate interact with each of the children individually and in a group.  Without a common verbal language (the children can say a select few English phrases and we could poorly count to 10 in Khmer) the common language became love.  And the unconditional love of the children and the adults at the orphanage struck me to my core.

The children that gravitated towards me (or I towards them) and some of the (million) memories I have are...

Arriving at the airport.  Polin was there.

She was the girl I bonded with last year.  She stuck around me a lot.  She is in middle school and helps with the cooking and cleaning around the orphanage.  She is amazingly beautiful.  When we arrive the children have no clue who is coming, when she saw me she lit up and said "Kristie.  I miss you."  All I could say back was I missed her too!

Sunday service.  It's amazing to hear God praised in other languages.  I absolutely love it as it reminds me of how big He really is.  There isn't anything that separates us from him.  No language barrier.  He knows them all.  It was at Sunday service that I first saw Heing again.  He is the child at the orphanage that I sponsor.

This child has more personality in his little finger than I have period.  He just lights up a room when he walks into it.  His smile melts hearts.  He once said that when he grows up he wants to be Prime Minister and I think he would be perfect for that role.  It was great to see him wink at me in church and later point at me in a way that he and I had done the year before.

The first drive up to the orphanage.  There were no children waiting. It was crazy, they weren't expecting us.  When the first few arrived and greeted us with hugs and 'hellos' one of the boys ran off only to come back a few minutes later holding the hand of Narin.  The boy surveyed the group and then said something in Khmer, pointing straight at me.  Narin's face lit up.  And so did mine.  I jumped up and down, he remembered me!  I screamed Narin as he ran towards me.  I ran towards him and gave him a huge hug and spun him in circles.

He also was the one on the last day who decided, for the group, it was time to stop saying goodbye when he shoved me into the bus.  Someone said later he was crying but didn't want me to see.

Pechhing repeating what we would say.

He is an absolutely brilliant kid.  Literally.

Mike taught him how to play checkers.  After one game no one could beat him.  He can think strategically like no other.

And Rathanak.

He was sick the entire time we were there.  My nickname for him became my 'Cambodian Space Heater.'  I'm the only person I know who would need a space heater in 90 degree weather.  He is another amazing boy.  He is in the same grade as Polin and he is give the responsibility to hold keys for some of the rooms. This is a big deal as the grownups don't even have the key!  We asked one of the translators to let us into a locked room and they had to call Rathanak to unlock it for us.

I miss them all...

And, to end the trip my team headed to Siem Reap.  It's the most westernized place in all of Cambodia and is a fun place to shop and just hang out.  On the last day, the team went on an ELEPHANT RIDE.  I know, what kind of mission trip was this??!!?! Ha!  But I have to say, it was pretty cool!

After the ride I got to feed the elephant bananas. Bonus!!


A quick reflection and plug to finish the post...

Reflection 1.  When I think of the trip, this song comes to mind.
Reflection 2.  When I think of the trip, Joshua 1:9 and James 1:27 come to mind.

Plug.  Fallen Sparrow is a non-profit built from people who have gone on the same mission trip and continue to have a heart for the children at the New Life Orphanages.  They are trying to raise about $12,000 for rice (for 3 orphanages - about 90 children) for the next year and to provide a few computers.  If you would like to contribute please do so by going to their site and clicking on Give.

For greater things are yet to come...

Its Definately Fall!!

This is what it looks like from my balcony.  Beautiful!!

Cambodia Update

I can't believe that in less than four weeks from today our team will be flying to Cambodia! And we have a blog!!! We have a few posts already but if you remember last year we posted a ton of pictures and brief comments on our time at the orphanage, around Phnom Pehn, and Siem Reap.  Please feel free to check it out and keep up with us on the journey!

I first want to again thank everyone who has already put so much into our journey to serve; through planning, praying and pooling of resources even before we arrive at the orphanage. I am utterly amazed that more than half of the $3200 support needed has been raised. For those of you who would still like to contribute you can do so by either going online to http://www.goglobalx.org/, click on Give, the country is ‘Cambodia - Phnom Penh', the trip is 'Cambodia - Phnom Penh Christmas 12/02/10 - 12/12/10'.  Or you can make a check out to ‘North Point Community Church.’  Please mail the check to me (if you need my address please let me know).  Please try to give ASAP.  And, yes this contribution is tax deductible. 

Please continue praying for us as you have been.  Once again some of the prayer requests are:  (1) our team will stay unified, (2) we will endure safe travel,  (3) the children and community will be receptive to us and Christ, (4) God would use us as a way to share His love, and (5) through this amazing experience, we will continue to grow in our faith. 

I can't express enough how grateful I am to have each and everyone of you in my life. Thank you for your continued support!!

Beautiful Sunset

I thought this was a beautiful sunset and needed to be shared.... Enjoy!!

Fashion Update

I haven't been feeling so fashionable lately so I haven't been taking as many pictures. However, here are some pics of the fashions over the past few weeks that I did enjoy.

Cords: The Loft

Shoes: Sofft

Shirt:  Sweet Pea

Cardigan: ??

T-Shirt: Ann Taylor

Cardigan: Ann Taylor

Pants: Express

Shoes: Biviel

Shirt: Banana Republic

Jacket: United Colors of Benetton

Cords: The Loft

Shoes: Nine West

Dress:  Express

Sweater: The Loft

Tights: Express

Shoes:  Biviel

Polka Dot Shirt:  Victoria Secret

Cardigan: ??

Cords:  The Loft

Shoes: Nine West

Dress:  J Crew

Jacket: Anthonys

Shoes: Kate Spade

Dress: J Crew

Jacket: Forever 21

Scarf: Express

Socks: ??

Shoes: Frye

Hair Piece: J Crew

Christmas in November

I was fortunate enough to be able to fly home this weekend to see family!! Woo hoo!! I had a great time hanging out with everyone, chatting, catching up, watching football, playing games, eating (and eating and eating).  I couldn't have asked for a better weekend.  Here are some pictures to recap

Everyone who could make it!

Out the window

Grandma explaining Snipp, Snapp & Snurr

 Playing games & working on the Blackberry. 

 Wes and I hanging in the family room

 My Mom's always the score keeper (amazing

that she wins so much of the time...)

 In the basement

 Giving my Pops a kiss!

 Merry Christmas

 Always playing games

My not-a-winning hand

Miranda & Joe's Alice in Wonderland Party

I had the best time at Miranda & Joe's Pre-Halloween Alice in Wonderland Party.  A gathering of great friends and a fun time!! I got to drink tea with the Mad Hatter, play crocket with the Queen of Hearts, and watch a movie with some Indians (ok, not quite sure how that played into the movie but it was fun anyway). 

You can check out the rest of the pictures here.

Fusion Halloween

In Fusion we celebrated Halloween by breaking up into teams and carving pumpkins.  My team did all the work and they were amazing!! All I had to do was supervise... what I'm best at!  Ha!!

Eli!!!

I can't believe I haven't uploaded any pictures of him yet... haven't you just been dying to see Eli!!!! Erinleigh and George have one handsome little man on their hands...

Is he not the cutest little guy you have ever seen???

Sugar Shack

Some fun times around town with Kamaria and Tim.  We hit up Raging Burrito then Sugar Shack.  I wasn't the biggest fan of R.B. - to me it was just like any other burrito joint, except they didn't want to work with me on what I wanted.  Whateva...

Kamaria, Tim and I did have some fun taking photos though...

View From My Perspective

Thought I might share with you the view from my new balcony.  I really enjoy it...

WinShape Retreat

I wanted to stop and take a minute to reflect on the time that I got to spend with my mission trip team.  We got to spend two days together at WinShape.  It was amazing to get together, to share our stories of what brought us to this point and to do some fun team building activities.  Since the whole team was there I thought you may want to see everyone.  Here we are...

We are a pretty good looking group if I could say so myself!  We also had a chance to climb a rock wall.  Not to brag or anything but I made it to the top (so did Elloa and Drew)!  What a lot of fun...

I know there were other cameras there so others may be able to upload some other great pictures from the weekend, however if you want to see all of the pictures that I have check the link on the side or click here.

Joel's Birthday Party

I had a blast at Joel's birthday party.  I even got to meet his new girlfriend!  How fun was that.  Not only did I get to meet her I got to meet a lot of other new people.  And, bonus, everyone brought a dish to pass and there was some amazing food there!!

 Eating Dinner!

 New Friends

You remember Saegye... we went to Cambodia

together last year!!

I love it when friends merge!!

Week in Review

I didn't put the dates in this time as I'm not completely sure which days I wore which.  However they are some of the outfit selections that I have made over the past few weeks.  I have gotten a bit sketchy on remember to take the pictures... sorry!!  I'm working on this :)

Dress: Forever 21

Jacket: United Colors of Benetton

Dress: J Crew

Shirt: Banana Republic

Scarf: Nordstrom BP

Belt:  Express

Shoes: Sofft

Jacket: ??

Shirt:  Dillards

Cami: Forever 21

Belt: Nordstrom Rack

Pants: Aeropostale

Shoes: Nine West

 

 Shirt: Anthony's in Florida

Jacket: Black House | White Market

Jeans:  Express

Shoes:  Sofft

 Shirt: Walmart (I know right!!)

Vest: Express

Jeans: Express

Shoes: Dillards

 Shirt: Old Navy

Vest: Eddie Bauer

Jeans: Diesel

Shoes: ??

 Dress: JC Penny

Jacket:  Nordstrom

Leggings: The Loft

Shoes:  Kate Spade

Scarf:  Nordstrom

 Shirt: Banana Republic

T-Shirt: Nordstrom

Jeans: The Loft

Shoes: Nine West