06/14/15

Hello All!

I am so so sorry that I have not been updating this blog as much as what is probably expected. Our schedule is pretty busy and the wifi is not the best. BUT we are now in Chiang Mai, Thailand working in orphanages and getting sponsorship updates from the kids. The hotel we are staying at gets a lot better wifi so I will try my best to take this time and break down this incredible experience thus far. Also, I’m sorry this is probably going to be all over the place. My thoughts are everywhere. 

The first team we had were from Colorado and I seriously LOVED them. The friendships that were made are connections that I never want to forget and are so very special to me. A lot of the team were high schoolers, and I’m telling you, they are the funniest, coolest, most friendly high schoolers I have ever met. I love them all so much and I learned so much from them. Their great spirit and joy rubbed off on me whenever we were around each other. I also loved the moms on the team. I was so thankful for them all and loved how they took me in as their own. They were always so encouraging to me and never let me go a day without feeling special. Overall, I love the entire team so very much. I’m so thankful that God put us all together to serve Him together.

Going back to the Minefield is something that I am still processing. I could write about it all day, but to shorten it up, I fell in love with every single child there. I think last time I went, I really only paid close attention to Von and Udan. Those two boys will always be close to my heart, but I’m thankful God gave me the eyes to love on each child that stood in front of me. I love the Minefield Village, and I see that God is working in there slowly but surely, but it is still a very broken place. You can see the poverty on the scraped legs and infected bites on the children’s legs. The beat up feet from walking miles with no shoes. The rotting teeth on the children’s smiles. It hurts to see these things, but I trust that God will work in that village and his presence will light up every inch of darkness in that place. Will you trust these things with me?

One incident that really stuck out to me was a boy named Nae and his watery eyes the first day we showed up at the Minefield. All of the kids were playing with us, jumping on us, hugging us, and I noticed the sad look on Nae’s face as he stood watching everyone by himself. So, I approached him and got a translator to ask what was wrong. He had a handmade cast on his arm, made out of some type of wood. It was being held up by an old piece of cloth, used as a sling. He was holding in his cry because he was in pain. He told us that another child had ran into him and his arm was really hurting. Karla, the founder of LightBridge, took off the cast to get a better look. His arm was clearly broken, and he needed to get medical attention for it. When we asked him if we could take him to the medical clinic, he said no because his mom doesn’t have any money. We told him they wouldn’t have to pay and he still said no because his mom would be upset with him. We asked him if we could go talk to him mom, and he said that his home is an hour walk from the school. We continued to ask questions and he told us that he was pushed off of a roof about 20 days ago. 20 days. This little boy went 20 days with a broken arm after having very little medical attention for it. My heart broke for him. I just wanted to give him all of the love I had. He was sad, quiet and in pain that day, but I was so happy to see him with a smile on his face and a real cast on his arm 2 days later. Somehow, Karla had gotten him help. I was so thankful to see him happy and playing with the other kids. It was truly a blessing.

That was just one of the many stories I have from my few days at the Minefield. I just love it there so much. The feeling I have when I’m at the Minefield feels like I’m in a dream, as cliche as that sounds. I was just never sure if I was ever going to go back. For the past 2 years, I’ve dreamed of coming back. It was something I had always been praying for, but I always felt like I wasn’t good enough to go back. But again, I’m still processing what’s it’s all like and what God is doing in my heart from the Minefield. I really just love those kids so very much. Being around them is the most filling feeling in the world. Being able to serve them, being able to see them grow in God; it’s something my heart could never get tired of.

I truly just love it here. I would live here if I were asked in a heart beat. I love home, don’t get me wrong, but it almost feel like a hole is filled when I am here. I just feel complete. I feel like I’m where I’m supposed to be.

Today, we will be in Cambodia

After 20 hours of flying, we’re finally in Thailand, and today we fly to Cambodia! Unfortunately, I have been feeling sick with a sore throat and congestion. I hope to get over this soon so I can fully prepare and engage myself in all God has for me, so I would love prayers my way for health through this trip.

We have an AWESOME team this year. We have families with us, high schoolers, college kids and more. It’s been a blessing to be able to connect and get to know the team members more and more. They are going to do great and I just cannot wait to see how God works in their lives and their hearts through this journey. I see greatness in every person that is on this team, it’s wonderful! It’s going to be such a great 2 weeks with them! After this first team leaves, we work with another team from CHINA! We also have some Aussies on our team, too. I’m just super excited about all of the people I am going to be working with this next month.

DENVER

We are in Denver! WOOOO! We landed in Denver yesterday at about 6:30 Michigan time and went straight to intern training. Denver is beautiful and I am ecstatic that I am here with all of the other Interns. The flight was pretty awesome given the fact that for the entire 3 hours, I talked to the two people in my row as we told each other stories and adventures we had encountered throughout our lives. Alison was very kind and has her own blog called sowhatitreallymeant.com. It was a blessing to have had the chance to get to know her. Now, the man sitting next to me is by far the most interesting man I have ever met in my entire life. Balazs is his name. A man in his late 50’s I believe that rocks a man bun with a crochet beanie. A proud hippie he is. He is a retired expeditioner, but he says, “my adventures have only begun.” I got to hear the most incredible stories about his life, and was amazed by every single one. He lived in the forest for 30 something years, has had several encounters with bears and lions, and when I asked him what bear meat tasted like, he responded, “greasy.” He biked 9,000 miles all the way from Seattle to Ecuador and has canoed 1,000 miles somewhere crazy. He speaks 4 languages and has been to practically every country in the world. He had some solid advice for me, and that was to never hitch hike. He hitched hiked in New Zealand and long story short, he got kidnapped and thankfully got out of it. It was 3 hours of laughter and getting a chance to reflect on life.

We all had a iPhone education session and took about 7 selfies together on each phone. Balazs also asked me how I got my skinny jeans on, and was genuinely curious. The people around us probably wanted to hurt us, but talking for three hours straight to complete strangers was pretty amazing. It’s awesome to hear what different people have made out of this wonderful life God has given us.

Intern training was awesome given the fact that I got to rekindle and officially meet all of the interns. Let me tell you, we have an INCREDIBLE group of interns going on this trip. There is me, Madeline, Emily, Bethany, Dante, Kierra and Zach. Just in one night, we all bonded so well and you can just tell that we are going to have an amazing experience together, along with life-long friendships. Today is filled with more bonding and training and lots of eating. YAY! And then tomorrow……. CAMBODIA!!!!!

He Provides

As I receive donations from various people and various families, my eyes are so open to what supportive and loving people I have in my life. It’s amazing that people I’ve either known my entire life, or have never met at all are so willing to be a part of this amazing journey with me. It’s so refreshing to know that I have people in my life that love to encourage me, and love to see me grow as a person and in my faith. Although the donations I have received mean so much to me, I am so blessed for the letters people have included or have sent to me that have informed me that they are happy for me, and that they will keep me, my team, and the people in Cambodia in their prayers. How amazing that so many people want to support me in that way. Prayer is so important to me. You see, I can only do so much while in Cambodia. I will give them my everything to them, but they will get everything from God. Praying for them, praying that poverty will be a part of their past and not part of their future, praying for enough food, for stable homes, for healthy bodies, and for smiles to show is by far the most important thing anyone can do for these amazing people. God will answer because God is love. God loves so abundantly and so strongly, that nothing is impossible in his name.

Psalms 112:9 says, “They share freely and give generously to those in need. Their good deeds will be remembered forever.” I believe this so strongly. If you have donated towards my trip financially, you were not donating to me. You have donated to the children, to the families, to the poor in Cambodia. I have a purpose there, and that purpose is to spread God’s love, and God’s word. He has a plan for the Minefield Village. He has a future for them. Your donation to help these people who suffer from extreme poverty, will be remembered forever. If you have, are or will pray for me, my team, and the wonderful people in Cambodia, you have offered the best type of support and encouragement I could have asked for. I believe prayer is the fuel that will guide my team and I to bring God’s love into Cambodia in the best ways possible. Your good deeds of donation or prayer, will truly be remembered forever.

God provides. I am so thankful for such a wonderful Lord. He never fails to surprise me in the ways he works. Over the past few weeks, I have realized so many things that God wants to do in my life. Things that He has been waiting for, and things He has been planning for me throughout my entire life. Something HUGE I have learned is that He is simple. I listened to a sermon the other day by Elevation Church called “The Genius of Jesus.” Some things that were said in these sermons truly hit home. They were, “Could it be that you are over complicating what it means to follow Christ?” “The only thing you have to do is open your heart up to The Lord. It’s simple.” I was amazed. It was a much needed reminder that God truly does love me no matter what. He has a plan for my life and He has a purpose for me. He has a purpose for the things I will do in Cambodia. God wants me there, He has made a purpose for me to be there. He has provided funds for me, He has people all over praying for me, and He has family and friends that are happy for me and are so encouraging. He has provided so many people, so many things my entire life that I am so thankful for.

I am so blessed that I have such a loving God that provides such amazing family and friends. I truly am thankful for all of you, who have stood by my side, and have smiled as they watch me take on this journey. Thank you all so much for being the wonderful people you are. God Bless!

Rachel

June 2015

I am so beyond blessed that I have been given the opportunity to return to Cambodia in June of 2015. For the past two years, since I got back from Cambodia in 2013, I have been dreaming of the day that I could return to this beautiful country. Cambodia is a country and an experience that is so close to my heart. I can honestly say that traveling to Cambodia two years ago, changed me for the better. In Cambodia, I saw the worst poverty I could ever imagine in front of my eyes. I watched as children gulped dirty water, the same water they get from the pond in which they play in. The skin on every one of the kids had some type of sore, usually various ones all over the body. Shoes were worn by few, and I watched as the kids walked miles to and from school on the rocky roads, barefoot. Every day I was at the MineFields, kids would return with the same outfit. I watched the children eat the food we gave them as if it was the best meal they’ve ever had. The poverty, it was heart breaking. I never understood that this type of poverty actually happens in the world.
For 18 years, before I left for Cambodia, I never thought twice about the clean water I drink, the 3 meals I eat per day, the bed I sleep in every night, and so much more. I would hear my authority figures say, “There are children starving in Africa,” and I would simply ignore it. But when I saw it all in front of my eyes, when I witnessed the lives of people living in a third world country, my eyes opened. They opened to not only the immense amount of things I have, and that I should be thankful for every day, but also the amount of things I do not have. I do not have anywhere close to the hearts that the people in Cambodia have. Their love that they offer anyone that comes in sight, is something I will be forever amazed by. Walking out of the van for the first time, arriving at the Minefield Village was a memory I can never forget. We were greeted by around 50 children. They gave everyone hugs, smiles and love and they all made sure to not miss even one of us. For the entire week, we were loved so immensely by complete strangers, people that did not even speak our language. How amazing is that?
You see, before going to Cambodia, I took practically everyone in my life for granted. To sum it up, I was just flat out rude. I would yell and fight with my parents non stop. I would go months without any communication to my brother and sister. If I didn’t get my way in any situation, I wouldn’t hesitate to show I wasn’t happy. I truly thought that my attitude I had towards people was everything but a problem. But in Cambodia, I was taught to love. Through God’s work, I was taught that loving people is so much more fulfilling than the attitude I thought made me look stronger. 1 John 4:11 says, “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” Therefore, I love others because God showed me how unconditional His love is. First He started by giving me the opportunity to go to Cambodia, and trusting in me that I would share His word with others, then He showed me his mightiness while in that country, and then every day after.
Overall, my life started when I was in Cambodia. I experienced God’s love for the very first time while I was there. The amount I learned in my 13 years of schooling can never compare to what I had learned in my 2 weeks in Cambodia. I found myself, and God found me. When I first came home, I thought my story had ended. I truly believed that I had nothing to look forward to in my life. I was going through a break up, I was fighting with my mom again, I didn’t want to return to school. What I didn’t know is that God wanted to show me His love not only in Cambodia, but also in America. He wanted me to see that I could serve him anywhere, that I can love him every day, and that He had so much more in store for me in my life. His love is ETERNAL. God’s love never ends, for anyone.
I now see that God is using me every day. He wants me to seek His glory no matter where I’m at, no matter what day it is, or no matter what I’m doing. I’m not perfect by any means, and I go through periods where I forget these things, however, at the end of the day I’m aware that God will always be there for me. When I need comfort or help with anything, he’s right there to listen and to answer. What a wonderful God we have.
Please pray for me as I start to fundraise for this trip. I will be interning in June 2015 for LightBridge International. As an intern, I will be leading a group of girls and helping them experience Cambodia in the best way possible. I ask that you pray for me as I get spiritually prepared for this role. More importantly, I want to take God’s love in day by day. I do not want to only seek his love for this trip, but I want to seek his love for my entire life. I want to understand wholeheartedly that God has just as much in store for me here, in Michigan, as he does across the world. I
If you read through this whole thing, you are a wonderful supporter and an extremely patient person. Thank you for your kindness and care!

Being Home

Being home has been something really difficult for me lately. Honestly, I would do anything to go back and spend time with those kids again. It’s hard to open my eyes to the world around me and question why I was born into the life I was given. I have a nice house, a family, friends, my own car and so much more. Yet, I feel as if so much is missing. There is such a big hole in my heart and I know the only thing that can fill it is being able to love on those kids again. I sit in my bed and just wonder how they are going to spend their day. At this moment, I can assume they are all sleeping on the hard, hot, and crowded ground in their huts. I wonder if they think about my team and I as much as I think about them. I wonder if they are getting enough food, if they are having fun, if they are healthy. Most importantly, I wonder if they are as happy as I remember them. I wonder if Udan still has that precious smile that just melts my heart every time I would see it and I also wonder what’s making him smile. I wonder if Von is okay and remembers how much he is loved every single day. There is just so much on my mind that I can’t help but just think about. Looking at pictures truly just breaks my heart because I just remembered how home I felt there. It truly just blows my mind to think that I traveled across the world to help these kids and make them feel as loved as possible, but I feel like they turned that around. Going there, I can honestly say that I’ve never felt so loved in my life. I’ve never felt so happy and complete. I wish I could give them every single thing I own. Truly, I do. They deserve the world. Every one of them does. The size of their hearts is the thing I envy them for. I would trade everything I have for a heart as big as theirs. I pray to God that they are all doing okay and living healthy and happy lives. God will come through. The fact that my team and I left the Minefields doesn’t mean that The Lord did too. He will stay there with them for eternity and I truly do have hope in that. That is where I find my comfort in this situation. Even though I can’t be there with them, God has the power to walk with them every step of the way. 

If you are reading this, before you go to sleep, I ask you to pray for the people at the Minefield Village of Cambodia. Pray for health, happiness and protection over them. GOD WILL COME THROUGH! 

Saying Goodbye

Cambodia was honestly the best experience of my life. I’ve been on vacations all around the world. I am very fortunate to say I’ve gone on spring break every single year and my mom takes my family and I to different places every chance she gets. I’ve seen many things and I’ve gone many places. However, no where in the world can measure up to my missions trip to Cambodia. Cambodia is a 3rd world country. Most people live off of dirty water and one pair of clothing. Every where you go, people are begging for money with pain in their eyes. Being an American, you can’t help but want to hand them your entire suitcase and tell them everything will be alright. However, these people are all truly filled with love. They are so thankful for whatever you give them, even if it’s just a wave or smile. Going to the Minefields, especially, was where you saw this overwhelming love. These kids were just so happy people were there to love them and play with them and feed them. I can honestly say, I have never felt so loved by so many people in my life. My team, the kids, and the support from home; It was all just so much love. I learned so much not only about the country of Cambodia, but also myself and most importantly, God. God will always answer my prayers. He will always be there to lift me up whenever I’m down. The most beautiful thing about God is that he gave every single person on this earth something so big. See, even though these people that I served on the Minefields physically have so little, I can honestly tell you, God blessed them with the biggest hearts. I have so much more than what I need. I live in a nice house, I have more clothes in my closet than I don’t wear than I do, and I have a pantry the size of most of the huts (the houses) I saw on the Minefield. But, I would trade it all in the snap of my finger for a heart as big as one of the children’s at the Minefield. I have grown up with a bad attitude and I’ve been just plain mean to many many people in my life. But after this missions trip, my new mission is to receive forgiveness from those people I have treated badly by showing them the person I can and want to be. I now see what it’s like to be a 6 year old and have no mom and dad, no food, dirty water to drink, merely a floor to sleep on, and one pair of clothes. I think I owe it to these kids to be an all around better person in my life. God has worked into my heart on this trip more than I ever even imagined. He has shown me the person I can be and he has assured me he is going to help me through it every step of the way.

Saying goodbye to the kids was not easy. I had such a strong connection with two of the kids there: Udan and Von. Every time I laid eyes on them, our faces lit up. I always found myself around them. Usually holding one of them while holding the other one’s hand. I could never understand one word they said and they didn’t understand one word I said. However, I love spoke to each other. They knew how much they meant to me and I know how much I mean to them.

Von was my little buddy throughout the entire trip. He clung to me. Everywhere I would go, he would follow. He was very shy. He didn’t like pictures, I didn’t see him smile much at the beginning of the trip, and he didn’t like to play with the other kids. He really only liked to be loved. He seemed okay when he was in my arms. It would truly make my day when he would run up to me with a little smile and give me a huge hug. He was just such a lover. The cutest little kid, too. I wouldn’t feel like myself at the Minefield if Von wasn’t right by my side. He made me feel loved and found. Isn’t it weird? I traveled to HIM to make him feel this way (and hopefully I still did) but he made me feel that way times ten! He even started to kiss me on the cheek one day, which I thought was just unreal. He was so so shy, yet he was showing his love to me more than I saw any kid doing there. I was so happy he felt that comfortable with me. I miss his warm heart and cute smile every day.

Udan is always so full of energy. He is Mr. Photogenic. I swear, the cameras are always on him. He has a smile and a personality that could brighten anyones day. I taught him how to kiss and say “I love you.” That’s what he’s doing in the picture! :) Saying hi to him was my favorite part of the day. One day, he saw the vans pulling up and when we made eye contact, he ran after the van I was in and ran straight into my arms as soon as I got out. However, saying goodbye to him was just the most heart-breaking thing I’ve ever experienced. He wasn’t there when Amreitha announced it was our last day at the Minefields, so I was frightened he wouldn’t understand that when I would say goodbye to him, he would expect me to come back the next day. But when I said “Leehi” (Goodbye) he ran up to me and gave me the biggest, tightest, longest hug I’ve ever received. Of course, I started crying. But, when he let go, he looked at me straight in the eyes and gave me a huge smile. Everything seemed okay after that.

Overall, Cambodia was the most amazing experience of my life. I wish I could of stayed for longer. Truly, the 2 weeks went by faster than I ever imagined. I hope so much that I get the opportunity to go back next year. I thank everyone so much for the love and support. Through the comments, the calls, the money, or the prayers, everyone was such a big help in this experience. If it weren’t for my support at home and by my team, the experience would not have been as wonderful as it was. I will keep updating my blog to add in thoughts or updates on the interns and such so don’t forget about this! Thank you everyone for keeping up with me!!

June 9th

These last few days at the Minefield have been an emotional roller coaster for me. I am so happy to be here, don’t get me wrong. I’d be okay with staying here forever. But yesterday really showed me what the Minefield is all about and the true reason why they need us there. Yesterday, we did an event called a Prayer Walk. This is when we went to the huts in which the kids lived at and prayed for them and their families. It was so eye-opening to see the real side of these kids and what their home lives are like. I saw sickness right in front of my eyes these past two days. Not just a head ache or a sore throat, but real sicknesses. When we went to one woman’s house, she asked for us to pray for her to get healthy. We asked what was wrong and she lifted her sleeve and you could literally see the tumor on her arm. I broke down right then and there because I so desperately wanted to help her this sickness and give her some money for her to get to a hospital, but that’s not something we can do right now. It’s a long process of figuring the right thing to do out. However, I know my group praying over her and her sickness with do something for her. God always comes through. I saw in her eyes how important our prayer was to her and I knew at that moment, God was present. It was such a powerful moment for me and for her. It’s so special to me that most of these people don’t even know who God is, yet they are so thankful for our prayers and our caring hearts. I had a feeling at every single hut that they felt someone more than just a few people saying some words to help them. I think they felt God there with them. 

As we’re in the Minefields, its pretty hard to not pick favorites. But for some reason, my heart just goes out to a boy named Von. He is such a special person to me. I don’t know if he sees that yet, but I really hope one day he realizes how important of a human being he is. Looking into his eyes, I see love. He is a very shy child. He doesn’t smile much, barley talks, and just loves to be loved. He gets very attached to people and I’m so happy to say I’m one of them. I can’t help but think the reason why he clings on to people and just likes to be help and loved is because he doesn’t receive that attention with his families. These mothers have up to 12 kids. Some of them don’t even know how old their children are. And that’s the thing that truly breaks my heart. Because Von deserves so much love. No one has ever made me feel so important and loves more than he has. I came here to serve this town, but I can’t help but feel they are serving me. Just seeing Von’s face when he smiles, I swear it’s the most heart warming thing I’ve ever experienced. I think the worst part is is that I’m only going to be with him for 1.5 more days. I wish he could experience the love a crave so badly to give him every second of every day. I hope he opens his heart up to God so he can feel this love. Because I know God can give him more love than I ever can. It’s the hardest thing knowing I have to say goodbye to these kids. If I could, I truly would stay here forever and serve them every day. It’s what they truly deserve. 

June 7th, 2013

The first day in the Minefields was truly one of the most amazing days of my life. I can honestly say, I haven’t felt that much love from so many people in my entire life. I can barley communicate with these kids. I can say “Hello”, “Thank you” and “My name is Rachel” and that’s it. Yet, I feel like I had such a strong connection with every one of them. Amanda said today, which couldn’t be more true, Love is it’s own language. As soon as we all arrived at the Minefields, kids were coming up to us and just giving us hugs and loving on us. They were all so happy we were there. Throughout the day, kids seemed to click to one person in which they got comfortable with. A young boy named Von followed me around all day. He LOVED to be held. He was very shy and didn’t like to speak or play with the other kids. He simply just wanted love. I was so happy he came to me for it because that is merely the reason I came here. To show these kids how much I love them, and how much God loves them. Von is the boy in the picture of him alone. The boy that I am holding is named Dun and he is the most happy, energetic, loving kid you’ll ever meet. He was such a blessing to have around and I’m so happy I got the opportunity to meet him. I just CANNOT wait to go back tomorrow and have such a wonderful day with these AMAZING kids. I can’t even put in words how wonderful today was. It was just one of the best days of my life. I am so blessed to be here.

For June 5th!

I’m so sorry I haven’t been updating my blog for the past few days! The wifi connection gets pretty rough and it takes awhile for things to send. But, I promised some more information about the Khmer Rouge and I think it’s very important for the world to learn more about this tragic Cambodian Genocide that has take place. 

The Khmer Rouge was started about 30 years ago when extremely evil Cambodian citizens told the rest of the country us Americans were going to bomb them at that they all needed to meet at the capitol in order for all of them to stay safe. Once everyone was packed into one place, leaders of the Khmer Rouge arrested all of the people who had high power or any education, along with their families, and took them either to killing fields or places to torture and beat them while they worked. We visited a place in which this took place that is known as S-21. It was a former high school taken over by the leaders of Khmer Rouge to keep people in cells and small rooms to starve them, beat them, and kill them. In the end, there were only SEVEN survivors of S-21 out of the hundreds of thousands of people that were arrested. 

We also visited a killing field. The name is pretty self-explanatory. People were taken here to work, and then to be killed. It was extremely shocking and eye-opening to see the things I saw at the killing fields. There were signs that read there were over 100 people buried in a 4×4 square all over the place. However, something really stuck out to all of us while visiting here. There was a tree that was used to smash babies heads against. Literally, these babies were taken by the foot and thrown on to this tree until they reached death. It is truly unimaginable to me that someone would even have the power to do this. 

The craziest part is, the leaders of the Khmer Rouge were arrested only around SIX years ago. To think someone that was in charge of killing 1/3 of Cambodia’s population was free for as long as he was. 

I am just so amazed that the first time I’ve ever heard about this was when I came to Cambodia. I have been in school for 14 years, and I don’t think the words “Khmer Rouge” ever came out of one of my teacher’s mouth. It’s crazy that the world can go through such tragic things and we don’t even do anything to help, simply because we don’t even know it’s happening! 

I hope this was enough information for everyone! I ask you all to pray for the people who lost their lives in this genocide and pray for Cambodia to improve as a country.

Hope everyone has a great day!