Translation Intended.

Leaving "Mike's Burgers" there is some serious emotion inside of me as I ride the bus full of laughter. I am thankful for a solid 28 people that have been family for the past days. It is a bittersweet kind of joyful as we ride to the Phnom Penh airport.

That was three days ago when I became deprived of the Trinity Church team and I began my four month adventure in Cambodia. Today, after three days of awkward adjustment, I still feel out of place. Maybe because it's Sunday and I'm sitting at a "Khmer" church with no translator. Perhaps it's because for the past three days I have quietly went about life. The rarity of this ongoing silence is killing me.

What ever the reason I want to remember that moment, after I said goodbye to the rest of the team. I want to remember that moment for the rest of my life. The moment when the song "Pursuit" rang in my ears and I understood why I am here. The moment I so humbly remembered why I fell in love with you. The moment I rode alone, but I was far from lonely. The moment when you spoke clear to me that you are all I need. The moment that as I sat in an empty bus it was full of your presence. The moment you said, " Lacy you have no idea."

Three days of struggle can't compare to anything when I remember that moment. I am not sure of my responsibilities quite yet but I know that four months in Cambodia will change me. I am already changed by the knowledge that the world is bigger than just me. Even this inconvenient language barrier can't compete with the vastness of the world you created. There is too many people and places in the world for the you, "The Eternal One," to get stumbled by our awkward adjustments.

And yet. 

You still care enough to speak clearly in these moments.

So here I am, in the silence, trusting your vastness. Today at church you didn't fail to care. Despite to inconvenience of me not being able to speak Khmer, I had one thing translated to me. Reny turned to me and said, "the pastor is talking about seeking God with all your heart and you will find Him." In all of that vastness, you intended for me to hear those words. You intended that in these quiet days for me to seek you more than ever before.

As much as I miss my team, I am glad I am not alone. I am excited I will never be alone.

"Nothing compares to the promise I have in You. "

Unlike any other day I awoke weary eyed and my body aching. This was quite alright because it called for Cambodians best cup of coffee. I had yet to need coffee thus far considering I have had an "old-lady" sleep schedule since I have been here, but this day I was thrilled to engulf a great cup of God's gift. I found myself sitting at a center mahogany table enjoying both coffee and quality Christy time. It is not unusual for us to find a spot adjacent to one another. We were both very unaware of the best day that was in front of us. We sip our coffee as I come across Galatians 6:2; "Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."

I didn't need an itinerary to know this was going to be a good day. All I needed was a ready heart and a willingness to carry the burden. Christy and I converse about  seeing others needs before our own and that is just enough to start the day right; coffee, Christy, and Christ conversations. 

We got to Teen Challenge and without hesitation we made our way to see to Ruen, Va, Kloy, Rawey, Seyha, and the other boys that had became our quick friends. We said our hellos and gave our tight hugs. 

The day only got better as we work as a team. Our project became cement, pass cement, pack cement, and pull cement. Pass cement, pack cement, and pull cement. In the hot summer sun we took lots of long breaks and drank lots of water, but things still seemed to be completed. In between our hard work we rekindled those tight hugs before returning to cement duty. 

Alas we came in for an extended break only to catch Christina dancing to Cambodian traditional music. The whole team slowly worked there way over to this scene that had now turned into a full on dance party. The sound of jubilee could be heard from miles away. After a long day of work, this is the reward, and yet the day was not over. 

We ate the, always satisfying food and then the dance party turned into worship. Old church songs rang in my ears, and I look around the formed circle as we sang "Lord there is none like you," and knew that in the midst of all the morning coffees, hard work, and tight hugs: "Nothing compares to the promise I have in you." 

International Adventures

#cambodia2014 #missions #iamthriving #travelwithfriends

The only thing that is keeping me from drifting to sleep, is this sick feeling inside of me. Nauseous would not even be a suffice way to describe how I feel. Airplane food is all around me in this, not so voluminous, plane. As I inhale the scent I know my stomach wants to vomit before I have even had a taste. I leave it and I carry enmity towards sickness that brings tears. I just want to sleep.
In the midst of 22 hours from plane to plane, "considering it pure joy" is a bit testy in these last hours before we reach Phnom Penh. Not  inherently testy; I could have "Mad cow disease"  but sickness has got to go.

I am humbly ready. Aside from the sickness, I feel different than the past times. Before, I was a David fervently ready for Goliath on the battle field. I was ready to fight. Now I feel more like David the cavalier of worship. I feel like the David with a vociferous harp in awe of the King of all kings. David that wrote "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, the living God." (Psalm 42:1-2)

My name is Lacy. Not that that has any weigh to it, but here I am, nineteen, on my third international adventure for the gospel. "Third times the charm," right? Whatever that entails I am ready. I am ready to see Jesus do, what only Jesus can do. Which calls for, at nineteen, me to step aside because Jesus wins. I suppose that is what David displayed on the battle field and off.

"David said to the Philistine, ""You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of The Lord Almighty, the God of the Armies of Israel whom you have defiled.""
(1 Samuel 17:45)

In sense I want to be both a fighter and a worshiper these next couple of months. Though, they could all along be one in the same. David knew that Jesus could do it. So Jesus it is, the name that really holds all the weight.