We are finally all moved in. It has been quite an easy transition for me into our home here, but there has been some hard things about getting settled in. Leaving my family, friends, and other special things, like pets, in America has been the hardest. Two big things happened after we arrived, that made me feel sad and lonely for my family in America. One was, it was the first time in years that they had an actual white Christmas and I really missed being there for that. I LOVE snow! Then my great Grandma Frances, who was so special to me, died and we couldn’t be there. But I am happy that Grandma is with Jesus and lived such a good and long life… she was 96 when she died. Those things were really hard but I know God was here with us, and there with the rest of our family in America. And He gave me peace in my sadness.
So, God has encouraged me through it all and He had plans to help me with all these things and the transition back before I even knew I would need it. He sent me a good friend back with us. His family came to help us get the Elephant English School started. His name is Eric Jurgielewicz. He’s been so great to have around! I love his whole family and the rest of the team too! Elizabeth LeMarr has been like a sister to me growing up and she is here, and I love seeing her. Also, being back with Srey Roth and the Heritage House kids is like finally being home again. They really are my family too.
And finally after much pleading, Dad gave in and let me bring home a little dog that one of the store owners near the market kept trying to give me. He has been another awesome blessing. He is really little. He weighs about 8 pounds and is quiet and playful and so good. His name is Hobbes and I am so thankful to have him.
There are still days when I pray and ask Jesus to help me transition into another new house, but I love being back in Cambodia, and I am so thankful for all the ways God has blessed me and encouraged me during my transition back.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Sterling - March 2010
Over the past five months I have been trying to get used to being back in Cambodia, but I have realized I was missing something that has made all the difference in helping me get settled back into life here. I am here because God sent me here. I’m not just here because my parents are. I'm here because God has His reasons for having me in Cambodia.
I feel God has been encouraging me that some of the main reasons He has had me here since I was five is to live, grow, and walk with the Heritage House kids. Since I have been back from the states this time, I feel called to continue to encourage them in their walk with God. But again, God has even bigger reasons. Sometimes I’m the one that needs encouragement.
I have been trying to encourage my Cambodian brothers to follow Christ wherever He takes them, but they keep encouraging me. It has made me think a lot about what missions really is. I think about how we send all these teams into countries and think they are really going to help the church there because the church ”really needs it.”
Sometimes it does need the help that they think it does. God said go and make disciples in these nations, but sometimes we’re the ones that need to learn. Sometimes missionaries really just need to go back to their own church and pray and see what God needs them to do there. There’s always lost people around you in your own city or town. I used to always think of a mission field as it having to be in a different country, but I just now learned that a mission field is where God calls you to minister where ever that may be.
Now I am understanding more clearly what God is doing with my life here. God has called my family to S.E. Asia. He has called me here to minister, and to be ministered to. This is where He has chosen to place me and I have to be faithful to follow Him and help others follow Him right here. It’s been a great experience living in S.E Asia for the past 8 years, and I just hope through all of it that God will get the glory only He deserves.
I feel God has been encouraging me that some of the main reasons He has had me here since I was five is to live, grow, and walk with the Heritage House kids. Since I have been back from the states this time, I feel called to continue to encourage them in their walk with God. But again, God has even bigger reasons. Sometimes I’m the one that needs encouragement.
I have been trying to encourage my Cambodian brothers to follow Christ wherever He takes them, but they keep encouraging me. It has made me think a lot about what missions really is. I think about how we send all these teams into countries and think they are really going to help the church there because the church ”really needs it.”
Sometimes it does need the help that they think it does. God said go and make disciples in these nations, but sometimes we’re the ones that need to learn. Sometimes missionaries really just need to go back to their own church and pray and see what God needs them to do there. There’s always lost people around you in your own city or town. I used to always think of a mission field as it having to be in a different country, but I just now learned that a mission field is where God calls you to minister where ever that may be.
Now I am understanding more clearly what God is doing with my life here. God has called my family to S.E. Asia. He has called me here to minister, and to be ministered to. This is where He has chosen to place me and I have to be faithful to follow Him and help others follow Him right here. It’s been a great experience living in S.E Asia for the past 8 years, and I just hope through all of it that God will get the glory only He deserves.
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