COUNTDOWN IS ON... 10 DAYS!!!

WOW!! I cant believe the time is here again! I met with my team one last time yesterday and we packed up most of our supplies. We had to pack and repack our boxes a few times because we kept going over the 44lbs weight limit! :-)

I can not begin to express my excitement I have to return to this beautiful country to see those beautiful children!!!

Safe travels home to all this Thanksgiving season... check back soon I will update more later!!!

"Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ..." - Ephesians 5:20

MORE CAMP WINSHAPE

Team BLOG... and team building at Camp Winshape

This is my 2009 Team Blog that I have put together. I will post here... and so will the rest of my team! http://christmasincambodia2009.blogspot.com/

I AM SO PUMPED TO BE GOING BACK... 130 DAYS IN COUNTING!!!!

We did a team building retreat at Camp Winshape on July 25th. It was a gorgeous day... and with the low and high ropes course I learned so much about my team and myself.

Camp Winshape is at Berry College (which up until my high school graduation when my Dad told me I needed to stay in state) is where I thought I was going to go to College. I have loved Berry College since I have been a little girl attending soccer camp there. I thought it was really neat how God brought me back to this campus with this group of people. Its such a gorgeous campus and place in this world... as I listened to "interesting facts" about my teammates I started thinking about what kind of person I would be if I attended this school... I wondered where I would be right now... I wondered if I would have been close friends with our guides who were walking us through each activity. I felt a feeling of regret come through but almost as quick as that feeling swept in, peace overflowed. I KNOW God had a reason that I didn't come here. I KNOW God has a reason I went to UTC. I KNOW God has a reason that I moved to Atlanta. I KNOW God has a reason that I am going back to Cambodia again this year. I may not understand the reasons yet... BUT I TRUST IN HIM COMPLETLY... even if its hard at times! :-)

With all that being said! We had a great time on Saturday and I can't wait to take part on this journey with my new team!
Here are some pictures...

December 3rd - 13th, 2009

I'M GOING BACK!!!!!!!!!

Thank you for all your prayers and support... I AM ECSTATIC!!!

This is a great day to give thanks to our BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL LORD! :-)

I applied for the Cambodia trip for next year

Keep me in your prayers... I long to be back in Cambodia! I know its in God's hands, but I hope and pray he picks me AGAIN! :-)

Madeline Noel Chhing Lawler

So I got a new little puppy for Christmas. She is really gorgeous... I thought once I got her I wouldn't miss these kids so much... but no! My heart still aches for them... but it is good to have a little friend to lick my tears and give me kisses! :-)

Here are some pictures of Maddie:

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HELP

I wanted to take some time to thank each and every one of you for all your support! I had such an amazing time... but even more importantly here is a list of things you helped give to the kids

• A five month supply of vitamins for all 36 kids in the orphanage
• A five + month supply of fever/pain medicine
• A TV and a DVD player (you should have seen the kids watching the movie Cars...they were mesmerized). The TV will be used as entertainment, of course :), but also for educational videos
• Posts, a net and a ball for a volleyball court (they were playing the next morning at 8am :)). Volleyball is the sport in Cambodia
• A digital camera they can use to send us pictures of the kids
• Christmas gifts for 100 kids in the surrounding village. The gifts included crayons, pencils, pens, highlighters, erasers, sharpeners, bracelets and candy. The kids at the orphanage invited the kids from the surrounding village to a birthday party for Jesus and give them the gifts. They did this as outreach and to show others God's love and generosity for us.
• Lots of love and attention through songs, games, crafts and sports

The kids were so excited and soooo gracious!!!! They had the time of their life!!!

YOU WERE THEIR CHRISTMAS GIFT THIS YEAR!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!