Dear Friends and Family,
I am so excited to share with you that I will be taking part on the BIGGEST adventure of my life thus far. On December 4th I will join 9 others from my Church as we venture into the jungles of Cambodia for 10 days. Our destination is a Cambodian orphanage that houses about 40 children. We are going to share Christ’s love for ALL people by giving our time and money as we spend time with the children and throw the orphanage and the community that surrounds a Christmas Party… how cool is that?!?!?! J
I cannot begin to express to you my excitement about this trip. I have always wanted to be a part of a mission trip, but have always hesitated and second guessed myself, for fear of traveling into countries who may not like Americans, meeting people who don’t know Jesus and don’t want to, and just not confident enough in myself, Jesus, or the word of God. In the past I felt like I had so many questions that I could not answer about Christianity. I have come to realize that it is NOT about having all the answers, I probably NEVER will! What it is about is a relationship… A relationship with Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior… and that, my friends and family, is the single most important aspect of my life today! I have grown into a relationship with Jesus Christ that I never thought was possible. Jesus has control of my life and all I want to do is scream from the rooftop his unconditional love, mercy, and grace that he has for me and for everyone else… no matter WHAT!!!! I was introduced to this relationship by Buckhead Church. When I moved to Atlanta in the summer of 2006, I started attending Buckhead Church… I started going by myself… can you believe that? Something just moved in me that that is where I needed to be. Since then this Church has inspired and challenged me in so many different ways. This is how I stumbled upon a mission trip to Cambodia… well actually I wouldn’t call it stumble upon… I truly believe that it is my time and it is where God wants me to be!!!
The people of Cambodia have been through hell. In the late 1970s, when America’s attention was on Vietnam, Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge implemented one of the most radical and brutal restructurings of society EVER attempted. Its goal was to turn Cambodia into a peasant dominated society. Within days the entire population of Phnom Penh and towns surrounding, including children, the sick and elderly were forced to march into the countryside and work 12 – 15 hour days as slaves. Disobedience of any sort or a sign of education or religion sought immediate execution. The Khmer Rouge reign lasted from 1975 to 1979 and estimated in anywhere from 2 -3 million deaths. Hundreds of thousands of people were executed in the most grotesque and bloodiest ways, the others died of famine and disease. To the Cambodian people, death seemed more like a relief from the horrors of life. The Khmer Rouge detached Cambodians from the world and the people from their families, food, fields, and their faith!!! And as if they hadn’t done enough harm to the citizens, towards the end of the reign of the Khmer Rouge, they dumped one landmine for every Cambodian citizen left alive in the jungles so the killing would continue even though their power was defeated by the Vietnamese.
It’s been almost 30 years since the Khmer Rouge and although still a 3rd world country, contemporary Cambodia is well on its way to recovery. However, the nightmares and devastation from the past still haunt the citizens today. As most of the landmines have been destroyed, they are still out there taking lives. There are still large numbers of orphans lost in this country, and for the most part they are sold into the most horrifying sex trade that you could imagine. So this is where I can help!! Buckhead Church and North Point Ministries partnered with New Life Missions about 2 years ago. New Life Missions is a Cambodian Organization that plants Churches and uses them to manage orphanages (more information can be found at http://cambodianewlife.org/ordealhome.php). The orphans are taught the Bible and have been selected from area villages because of their specific needs and potential. They are carefully invested in and educated with the hopes that they will become the next generation of Christian leaders in Cambodian and go on to influence many more people. This is so important because Christians make up less than 1% of the population in Cambodia. The school has a 3 part mission statement: Take care of the children’s immediate needs (food, shelter, and love), educate and train them in marketable skills, and lead them into a growing relationship with God. And this is the exact purpose of our trip! J
There is no doubt in my mind that God turned the page of my bulletin that Sunday night to this opportunity for me. He put this opportunity and the people that will take part on this trip with me in my life for a reason! I intend to make the most of it and after many prayers, as I travel on a 16 hour flight and a 6 hour bus ride, I am going into a place where the living conditions are going to be different than anything I have ever experienced, where the people and children barely speak English. The excitement and honor that I have for this trip is again, truly unexplainable. I am taking an opportunity that most people never get a chance to take in this lifetime and TRY to grasp the part of God’s extraordinary love for people all over the world. And this is where your part comes in. Many of my friends and family have already expressed an interest in this trip and how they can help. What I am asking for is your prayers and support!!! Prayers for these orphans who have lost both of their parents… and perhaps their place in this world. Prayers for my team and me as we travel to the far other side of the world that we may have the ability to share God’s love. A prayer for these orphans, today, tomorrow, and forever that they find a relationship with Jesus Christ and have ability to spread his word in their growing country of Cambodia. And, most importantly, a prayer that we will do a wonderful thing for God and for the children of Cambodia.
In addition to praying for my team and me, if you feel like supporting me financially, I will definitely welcome it! Each member of the team has a goal is to raise $2,500 to cover travel expenses. Since this trip is close to Christmas, I am asking for my friends and family to contribute to this “Cambodian Christmas Mission” instead of any kind of Christmas gifts. Any amount will truly be a gift to me and the children at New Life Orphanage (and your contribution is tax deductible)!! If you would like to give, you can go online and pay by credit card, or if you prefer check payment, I have included a self addressed envelope. All donations must be received by November 9th, 2008.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my letter and for your support through prayers and giving. I will keep you posted on the preparations I make for this trip and my day to day experience when I am over there serving through my blog: http://natalie-christmasincambodia.blogspot.com/.
I look forward to sharing with each of you what God is doing in Cambodia upon my return! God bless!!!
Gratefully,
