Can't get much better than this!

Today was another amazing day at the Battambang orphanage! We got most of the bricks for the cook house laid out (thanks to all the men on our team!) but most importantly we had a lot of free time to hang out with 38 unbelievable kids!! Everyday I get to know the kids more and more, and everyday I am blown away by the love and compassion they have for life and others around them! We are having so much fun working with God this week and I know relationships will only continue to grow! Tomorrow we plan to put up a water tower, but plans can change a lot over night, so we will keep you updated on our progress!

Love On

God is showing us many things here in Cambodia. One of those things is love, and He is showing me a new aspect of it. He is reminding me that there is no depth to His love. Through the wonderful children at Battambang New Life Orphanage, Jesus, is teaching us to love "ON" each other. Paul writes us and tells us that love is many things. Jesus commands us to love one another "...By this everyone will know that you are my disciples...". The children love on each of us. The swarm the bus as soon as it arrives. They bring us water to drink, they douse our bandanas in water and cool us down. The boys and girls give us massages and they make sure we take breaks. At the end of the day, the children carry our bags to the bus and swarm it telling us "Goodbye", "God Bless You", & "See You Tomorrow".

Do you love "on" those around you? Humble yourself, place others before you, and love "on" someone else. Your life will be changed forever.

See You Tomorrow!

See you tomorrow - three of the most beautiful words in the world when you're in Battambang, Cambodia with 38 children at New Life orphanage.

We're about to embark on Day 2 in our wonderful adventure at the New Life orphanage where everyday is like Christmas. Our current task is laying bricks for the cook house and John told us yesterday that when all is said and done, we will have more than 4,000 bricks that we will have laid. I wouldn't fathom such a task in the States but with the overwhelming support and help from the children coupled with their love, the labor intensive work seems trivial.

I can think of no greater gift that to be in these children's presence each day this week. A casual phrase of "see you tomorrow" means the world to each member of our team while we are given the blessing of being here.

"Cambodia Rule No.1"

Day 4: Cambodia rule number 1 so dedicatedly communicated by our leader is DRINK WATER. It's hot. Hotter than Florida in August, without the luxury of a pool or beach to cool off in. Drinking lots of water is vital as we are sweating and working hard out in the sun. Stuart constantly looks like he has sprung a leak somewhere from the top of his head :)
Rule number 1 is followed obediently by all of us not only because we need it, but because no one would want to get dehydrated or sick and miss one second of the time we have with these kids. We've used words like "amazing" and "incredible" to describe the kids at Battambang New Life Church, but from experiencing it now for myself, there simply aren't words to communicate the joy, love, and caring that the kids share with each other and with us, and we gladly give in return. Selfishness and materialism do not exist in this place of the world best described by Tom as "a little slice of heaven." We are getting ready to head back over there shortly to begin our day, I can't wait to see what God shows us today in these beautiful children!

Before our first day of construction

Its early here...about 5am, and I suspect most of the team are up and getting ready to start our first day of construction. We never know what to expect when we get over here, and try our best not to set too many expectations about what we can and will accomplish. A couple of things we DO know we will find is plenty of work and a bunch of amazing kids.

We got a preview of the work to be done yesterday as we hung out at the orphanage...the water tower was not installed as we had expected, so we will likely spend some time today getting that up and all in place. We will get started on the cook house, and we need to cut down a tree or two. Most importantly, though, we are all so excited about working along side the kids again...laughing, singing, and sweating!

Got to get ready to head out...we are starting early to beat the heat.

We arrived in Battambang late last night and enjoyed each others company at what we like to call the "gecko lounge" (seating on top of our hotel) We woke up and headed to New Life Church where we saw the kids for the first time this week! Some of us reunited with old friends and some of us were meeting the kids for the first time, but all in all it was an amazing feeling to see the smiles on their faces! After lunch we met the kids back at the orphanage, and we all enjoyed some free time playing volleyball, doing crafts, dancing, and getting to know each other! I can really see God at work in each of these kids....the're all so smart and humble! I look foward to creating great relationships with these amazing kids this week!

Arrival in Phnom Penh

We arrived in Phnom Penh last night around 10:30 local time where we were greeted by Pastor Vek, Samoeun, a handful of the boys from the Phnom Penh orphanage. What a joy to see all of them again!  Waking up this morning we are greeted with the morning sounds a city coming to life.  Another day of travel awaits us as we will be heading up to Battambang after several stops here in Phnom Penh.  Two stops this morning will be at the Killing Fields Memorial and the Phnom Penh orphanage to see the kids.  After lunch we will travel north to Battambang....hopefully arriving early evening.  It is a beautiful morning here in Cambodia!  

Picture of Tonle Sap river and the Mekong river confluence from outside the hotel.