Lately, Jesus has been teaching me that everyday is filled with opportunities to say yes to things that sound crazy and live a life full of whimsy and adventure. One of our latest adventures started with overhearing that some of the older girls at the children’s home we live at were going to bathe one of my teammates. “No way did I hear that right,” I thought. But sure enough, they invited us all to go and take showers with them. You see, myself and a few of my teammates have found out over the past couple weeks that we have lice, and the older girls have been so kindly...

Since starting college in 2011 my life has felt like an endless series of meeting people, getting very close to them, falling in love with a new location, and then saying goodbye. For a 10/10 “F” on the Meyers Briggs personality test (for those of you scratching your head, it means I am extremely feely), this is hard for me. Every. Single. Time. Last week my team and I said goodbye to our Cambodian family. We left behind 45 children and an amazing staff of brothers and sisters to head to Northern Thailand for the second leg of our three months abroad. Per usual, I quietly sobbed...

At the start of my time at NHO, I met a 15 year old boy named Chheng Hak. He sat on the back of a motorbike with a mischievous smile on his face as he showed off how well he spoke English, having full conversations with me and my teammates. He helped us to learn how to say the simple things like “hello,” and “thank you” in Khmer, and, as we became closer friends, he loved to mess with us by responding to every question we asked him strictly in Khmer as he smirked at our frustration. We all quickly found effortless friendship in him and joy in the the opportunity to...

I’m super pumped to have finally made it to Cambodia! After an unexpected 24 hour delay in Malaysia because of a missed flight and a decent amount of sleep deprivation, we were able to step off of the plane healthy and in good spirits. For the next month, my team and I will be working with New Hope for Orphans in the Preah Vihear province of Cambodia. Our hosts welcomed us with open arms as soon as we made it to the airport. The pastor and his wife, our hosts, run the orphanage consisting of 25 children, and they are two of the most gracious, generous, and humble people I have had the...

At night I wander out into the middle of the dirt driveway, also known as the soccer field, and I focus my gaze above me on the starry night sky. It is not the most breath-taking scene I have gazed upon, yet it is beautiful and close to my heart anyway. I am in a small Cambodian town yet at night I gaze upon the same stars that my friends and family across the world. Every night I find my friend in the sky, Orion, who connects me to my two best friends in the world. In that moment I share with them the piece of my heart that has been stole by this Cambodian town and the precious children...

Three weeks ago we landed in Cambodia and a couple hours later we pulled into the orphanage (our Cambodian home). Upon arrival the kids swarmed us with hugs, big smiles, and laughter. I did not know it then, but in just a few short weeks these kids would steal my heart. We only have one full day left here with these precious souls. I do not believe anything can truly prepare me for leaving, but knowing that during this last month we got to share the love of Christ with these children makes the goodbye worth it. Most days being in Cambodia just felt like a dream, but now that I am preparing...