Ten Years Ago . . . 2006

This week I spent some time reading some of the Christmas letters I have written for the past 25 years.   I was especially interested in the letter I wrote 10 years ago.  I was not texting and didn't have a smart phone. In ten years, our family has from 5 to 12. We are now living in 3 different states, non of which is Alabama. My parents and mother-in-law have died. 

The verse that I've been claiming this year has been Matthew 6:34 "So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today." As I think about what is ahead in the new year, this verse keeps me focusing on today.  It is the only day I have - I do not have tomorrow or yesterday.  I wish I could say I'm inviting you to take a look back with me to simpler time in our family - 2006 - but that is not the case.  2006 had its own trouble just like 2016. 

I'm sure this old hymn was written with this verse in mind.

I don't know about tomorrow, I just live for day to day

I don't borrow from the sunshine, For it's skies may turn to gray

I don't worry o'er the future, For I know what Jesus said

And today I'll walk beside Him, For He knows what lies ahead

Many things about tomorrow, I don't seem to understand

But I know who holds tomorrow, And I know who holds my hand

As you read back over my 2006 Christmas update, I hope you will be encouraged that whatever is happening in your life, the one who knows tomorrow is holding your hand. 

Christmas Update 2006

To borrow a phrase, life comes at you fast!!! 

2006 has been that kind of year for us.

2005 ended with Erin graduating from college and the celebration of my parent’s 50th wedding anniversary. 2006 started with Erin looking for a job in the real world. After attending a theatre job fair in Memphis, she took an internship the end of February with Olney Theatre outside Washington DC. She worked January and February substitute teaching at Tuscaloosa County High School. The internship has now turned into a full time job with benefits that she will start January 2. She has spent the last few weeks at home with us and working for my brother. In addition to finding a job, she has also found a relationship with a guy named Dan from Jacksonville, Florida who also works at the theater.

Buddy has continued working for the athletic department at Alabama. Need I say more. The last few weeks in that area have been in turmoil as well. Buddy is also in a relationship. His girlfriend, Haley, is in medical school at the University of Alabama in Birmingham. She will begin her clinical in Tuscaloosa starting in Sep- tember. I would send a picture of them but I have a rule that until you are officially a part of the family, no official family photos!!

In February, my mom fell one morning while taking her daily 3-mile walk. She was banged up pretty bad. Her shoulder had to have physical therapy and her walking stopped. By April she was just getting back out when she fell while working in the yard and broke her jaw in three places. After surgery, she suffered a stroke that has left her unable to walk. She spent from April until August in the hospital, rehab, a nursing home and back to rehab. She came home the first of August and has had to have round the clock care. While she was in the hospital, her only brother died and she was unable to attend the funeral. The week before she came home, my dad suffered a heart attack and had to have 4 stints put in his heart. When I read back over this, I hope you can even believe it!!

Bill’s mom has had several health problems as well. She has been at the doctor almost every other week and in the hospital twice in the past month. Please pray for our parents. It has been a very difficult year for our family. My mom has been receiving therapy at home for the past 4 months but still cannot walk. I go to Birmingham every Monday while John Andrew is at school. I’m a lot of things but a nurse is not one of them. I usually take a few meals for the week, clean up, and give my mom a manicure.

This past summer, I turned 50. In January, Bill asked me what I wanted for my 50th birthday and I told him I would like for him to take a month off work. He talked with the church leaders and we began planning for a month sabbatical. We spent the 4th of July in Atlanta with John Andrew. We then went to a cabin in north Alabama for a few days of solitude (John Andrew stayed with my sister and her family). We picked him up and headed to Callaway Gardens in south Georgia. Since my mom was still in rehab, we didn’t want to go too far from Alabama. The night we got to Callaway Gardens we learned of my dad’s heart attack. We immedi- ately headed to Birmingham. We stayed a few days and spent our last week at a great resort condo in Orange Beach.

Bill continues to do a great job pastoring Capstone. Several ministries have been started this year that are reaching out to our community. For example, we open our café on Thursdays to feed whoever wants to come. Some of our college students have gotten involved and come and serve and talk to the people that come. Our church is also on the parade route so whenever Tuscaloosa has a parade (ie. Christmas, Home- coming), we open the café once again to serve hot chocolate, coffee, cookies and provide a much needed rest- room. Buddy continues to have concerts on Thursday nights. The University of Alabama chapter of FCA also meets at our church on Wednesday nights as well as the leadership group for Campus Crusade and a non-profit group that teaches music to underprivileged children.

Not only does Bill preach, he also is our main janitor!! We have seen the church grow this year and started 2 services in the fall. God continues to bless us with just what we need to do the work He has called us to do.

John Andrew is in 2nd grade at Verner Elementary. This is actually the more sane part of our family. He had his 8 year old birthday last week and celebrated with a bowling party and sleepover. He had 11 at the party and 8 stayed to sleep over. Our picture this year was taken at the party last week. He wore a shirt that he picked out while at the store with Bill. The shirt says “Parents for Sale—Buy one Get One Free.” When he came home I asked him who was free and he said, ‘You are!!” Was I surprised!!

I have many funny John Andrew stories and his quick wit and happy spirit keep us laughing. While in the CCU waiting room after my dad had his heart attack, he was asked by a young boy pointing to my brother in law, 'Is that your dad?' His response--'No, that's my uncle. The old guy that was sitting over there is my dad!!'

Once again, in spite of us, he is growing in his faith. Miss Amy, our children’s director e-mailed me this little story a few weeks ago—

Ok, so we are talking about what Jesus was like. I was trying to get them to perhaps describe him...if they thought he was friendly, caring, etc....then we read the Bible story and learned that Jesus cared about his people’s praise, his father’s house, etc . . . So, I asked again based on the story what the kids thought he was like . . . All of the sudden, John Andrew breaks into song . . . “Indescribable, In-can-tanable!” It was a great moment! Funny and appropriate, thought you might enjoy, too.

Another song that reminds me of what Jesus is like is a much older one—He Giveth More Grace. The sec- ond verse is actually how we have been able to get through this difficult season in our lives.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance, 

when our strength has failed ‘ere the day is half done, 

When we reach the end of our hoarded resources, 

Our Father’s full giving is only begun.

His love has no limits, His grace has no measure, 

His power no boundary known unto men; 

For out of His infinite riches in Jesus He giveth, 

and giveth, and giveth again.

May this Christmas be a time when you have a moment to reflect on just how much his giving has meant in your life. For God so loved the word, he gave . . .

Merry Christmas from the Overstreets 

Bill, Allyson, Buddy, Erin, & John Andrew 

2016 Overstreet Family Highs & Lows

2016 Overstreet Christmas Update

2016 has been a year of highs and lows for almost everyone I know. Let’s start with one that is both a high and low depending on your political persuasion. We saw our country polarized by an election that was both disheartening and surprising. On a more personal level, January 11, 2016 was a day that began with the death of my dad and ended with Alabama winning the national football championship. And so began 2016 for the Overstreet family. Our first family gathering of 2016 was the funeral for him. One moment that was so touching to me was seeing the Marines at the grave when we drove up for the graveside. Erin’s son, Joe, wanted to have his picture made with them after the service. Everything this year has been overshadowed by my dad’s death. 

The struggle is real--My life is a series of highs and lows and it has been for 60 years. I have struggled in writing this Christmas update more than I can ever remember. Maybe it’s because I don’t really have anything to say and why should I fill a page with words or spend my time writing something that is of no consequence. However, this yearly letter does give me a time to reflect on my year. You’re invited to read along as I have some time to contemplate this year. In July, I celebrated my 60th birthday. As a family, we spent 3 days in Gatlinburg. 

I even had a t-shirt for my birthday as well as my first hashtag #itsalla60od and my first ‘Old Time’ Photo. It was a great time - definitely a high for our family. However, this week, I have watched with sadness as fires have destroyed much of the Gatlinburg area. I received an e-mail last night from the owner of the chalet where we stayed this summer saying the chalet had burned to the ground. What had been a high for us was a low for this family and many others who lost more than property. 

Turning 60 has also been a high and low for me. f’m definitely grateful to be alive and healthy enough to enjoy my grands. However, I realize that I’m in the winter season of my life and my time to affect change in my world is slowly coming to an end. I have always been a doer - my love language is ‘acts of service’ and helping others achieve their goals is a passion of mine. That being said, I believe that God is calling me to ‘be more’ not ‘do more’ in this winter season. I’m not exactly sure what that looks like. 

Another high and low this year has been stepping up in my role of sister, aunt, great aunt, etc. When my dad died in January, I not only lost my father but my strongest prayer warrior. He was always interceding for our family. I was so glad that my older grands were able to know him. In July, my siblings met to go the grave and see the marker. My oldest grandson, V, was with us. I did not realize how going to the cemetery would affect him. I took this picture as he stood over my parent’s graves. I picked him up in Tuscaloosa to come to Hendersonville and have our first Grandparent Camp. Only one pre- requisite for grandparent camp - you must be potty trained. Depending on how everyone does, we could have 4 next year. 

I also wanted to give a shout out to my older kids for stepping up as well. They have stepped in as the ‘grands’ for John. In March, they came to Tennessee with their children to see John as ‘Lord Farquaad’ in Shrek, The Musical, at his school. He played the entire part on his knees. I love this picture of him with his nieces and nephews. (their parents made the pic on their knees as well)

On October 27, 2016, we welcomed our 5th grandchild into our family. Lewis Wells Overstreet was born to Buddy and Haley. She is named after her great-great grandmothers. Lewis was my maternal grandmother’s maiden name. We all were able to spend Thanksgiving at their home in Austin. (The pic at the top of this blog was made that day) While we were there I realized that I was 7 years old when my sister Amy was born. I was the oldest of 5. Now I’m the grandmother of 5 that are the same age span. It gives me a new appreciation for my mom. Having 5 children in 7 years had to be overwhelming.

I began writing this letter on December 4, which was John’s 18th birthday and the anniversary of my first date with Bill in 1971. We have known each other 45 years. There is not another person on this earth that knows me better or loves me like he does. One of the things I love most about him is how he encourages me in whatever I want to do. This year that included accepting an invitation from Erin to go on a mission trip to Cambodia. 

Pray for us as we continue to support Pastor Sihok as he ministers to the least of these in Phnom Penh. You can read about our journey at www.allysonoverstreet.blogspot.com Click on the June blogs for more of the story and more pictures. 

This letter every year is ‘The Story of Us.’ We have our highs and lows, but we are committed to each other and continuing to join with other Christ followers in building the Kingdom in our part of Tennessee. I pray you are doing the same. 

Merry Christmas, Bill, Allyson, and John 

Buddy, Haley, V, Mac,  and Lew 

Erin, Dan, Joe, and Tom 

115 Choctaw Drive, Hendersonville, TN 37075 

Contact 205-534-0035 or billallyson@gmail.com

Gloom, Despair and Agony on Me

I am writing this less than a week after the presidential election - whichever way you voted, I believe everyone agrees that they were surprised by the outcome. On November 11, Veterans Day, as well as my grandson, Joe’s 5th birthday, my sister sent me a paraphrase of Psalm 37:7-11:

It read “I am your hiding place, I will protect you from trouble and surround you with songs of deliverance . . . I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go . . . I will counsel you and watch over you.  Rejoice in me . . . Your Heavenly Father

I thought of this verse this morning and looked it up in the Message - It read this way.

Quiet down before God,

    be prayerful before him.

Don’t bother with those who climb the ladder,

    who elbow their way to the top.

Bridle your anger, trash your wrath,

    cool your pipes—it only makes things worse.

Before long the crooks will be bankrupt;

    God-investors will soon own the store. 

Before you know it, the wicked will have had it;

    you’ll stare at his once famous place and—nothing!

Down-to-earth people will move in and take over,

    relishing a huge bonanza.

Psalm 37:7-11The Message (MSG)

As you can see, she is a much nicer person than me.  God speaks to me in harsh reality, telling me point blank to bridle my anger and trash my wrath - in other words cool your jets, it only makes things worse.

We are all dealing with something - while my sister and I talked last Friday about our daily struggles, the verse that came to our minds was from a song made popular on the TV show Hee Haw years ago: 

Gloom, despair, and agony on me

Deep, dark depression, excessive misery

If it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all

Gloom, despair, and agony on me

If I were truthful, and I want to be, my first reaction to any unpleasant circumstance is similar to this old song from Hee Haw.  As a Christ follower, I have as my goal to continue 'a long obedience in the same direction' (great book title from Eugene Peterson who is also the editor of the Message)  

However, my trek is most often 3 steps forward, 2 back.  I am making progress but not as quickly as I had hoped.  So today, I am continuing that long obedience - will you join me? I am praying to not grow weary in well doing - Ephesians 6 says it this way:

So let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. 

At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up, or quit. 

Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, 

let us work for the benefit of all, 

starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith.

Ephesians 6:9-10 The Message (MSG)

The Morning After

The Morning After

I so wanted to write a prayer to the Lord on the day of my 60th birthday.  I had done this when I was 40 and it seemed appropriate to do the same thing yesterday.  However, that did not happen.  I do not want to let this moment pass without recording some of what I want to express to the Lord.

Dear Lord, 

Yesterday I passed a milestone that I'm still trying to wrap my head around.  I am 60 years old.  When I type it, it seem so daunting, but sitting here at my computer, it doesn't seem any different that when I was typing on a typewriter at age 30. I am the same person or am I.  

For several weeks, I have been thinking and praying about what this next season would look like for me. What is it you are trying to say to me as I cross over into what I call the winter season 60-80? Normally winter is a mixed bag for me.  Some days I love that it is snowing outside and I am inside with my family cozy and warm.  Other days winter is keeping me from enjoying the outdoors, being at the beach, relaxing in a pool or sitting on my patio. 

Winter is a time that requires more preparation than the other months.  Many days I have to bundle up just to go outside.  My car and home require maintenance to survive the winter.  Even though I do not hate winter, it is my least favorite season. Only because I like the other seasons better.  I don't want that to be true of my winter season of living.  

I saw many changes in the fall season of my life (40-60).  I had a baby at 42 that was a defining moment in my life.  I saw my older children grow up, graduate from college, get married, move away and have children of their own.  Fall for me was a season of doing.  Mainly doing for others.  As I strived to care for my family, my parents were needing care as well.  I was pulled, stretched, and many times exhausted from physically taking care of others.  

In this winter season, I am sensing You are saying to me that I need to 'be' more than 'do.'  What does that look like?  I have always loved others through serving them.  I enjoy helping others.  Being is harder for me than doing.  

I want to be present in the moments, not controlling them but embracing them.  I want to sit back and wait on your leading instead of forging ahead and asking for your blessing.  I want to continue enjoying being your daughter, daily sitting at your feet, and then moving forward with what you have for me that day.  I want to think often about this verse in Matthew 6:34 and let it guide my thinking on a daily basis.  "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.   This verse brings me so much peace and comfort.  In it you are asking me to live in the moment.  To be present each day for those you put in my path.  

There is no need to worry about anything beyond today.  What is it you are asking me to do today? 

Marketplace Evangelism through LifeTotes

I have experienced so many new things over the past 10 days, my longest flight ever--Atlanta to Seoul Korea, almost 14 hours in the air on one flight, riding in a tuk tuk, and visiting the largest religious monument in the world, Angkor Wat, just to name a few.

These experiences are very common to those of you that have been on mission trips in all parts of the world. You experience a new culture, have jet lag, visit places that are new and travel in unconventional ways.

One thing that you might not encounter on a mission trip is one that was unique to our LifeTotes Mission Trip.  Not only did we visit the LifeTotes school that was completed less than a year ago on a dumpsite outside Phnom Penh, and visit an orphanage where a young boy grew up to go back to his home on Widow's Island to pastor a church and meet a pastor that was ministering to his own congregation as well as those at the dumpsite, we were able to step into the marketplace of Cambodia.

Sothea, an entrepreneur in Cambodia, has a business where she employs local people to make products out of recycled material, cement bags, fish bags, rice bags and tires.  These products have been discarded in the streets of Cambodia, in much the same way this country has been discarded by the rest of the world.  I was surprised by how few people in America even knew where Cambodia was located, even though they lived during the time of the Vietnam War. After the war, this country was invaded by the Khmer Rouge and a genecide took place that took 25% of the people of Cambodia during the years of 1975-79.  This regimen was not completely exonerated from this country until the late 1990's.

On Monday afternoon of our trip, we visited the Choeung Ek, the site of a former orchard and mass grave of victims of the Khmer Rouge - killed between 1975 and 1979 - about 17 kilometres (11 mi) south of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and the best-known of the sites known as The Killing Fields, where the Khmer Rouge regime executed over one million people between 1975 and 1979. 

Mass graves containing 8,895 bodies were discovered at Choeung Ek after the fall of the Khmer Rouge regime. Many of the dead were former political prisoners who were kept by the Khmer Rouge in their  Tuol Sleng detention center.

Today, Choeung Ek is a memorial, marked by a Buddhist stupa. The stupa has acrylic glass sides and is filled with more than 5,000 human skulls. Some of the lower levels are opened during the day so that the skulls can be seen directly. Many have been shattered or smashed in.

Tourists are encouraged by the Cambodian government to visit Choeung Ek. Apart from the stupa, there are pits from which the bodies were exhumed. Human bones still litter the site.

The materials LifeTotes products are made from symbolize recovery and growth in Cambodia. Every time I saw a cement bag, I was encouraged that this country was rebuilding and moving forward.

These discarded bags  are collected, cleaned and used to make products ranging from totes, to handbags, wallets, journals, duffel bags, just to name a few.  We saw bags of cement like these all over Cambodia.

Here these bags are being sanitized and then hung up to dry

I'm including a lot of pictures in this post because it is hard to describe. 

Many of you may work out of your house.  The people that make these bags do the same.  They are mothers and fathers just like us who are trying to do the best they can for their children.  Making the bags out of their home helps them to be able to stay at home with their children. 

 This is one of my favorite pics.  

The bag maker at her sewing machine
with her television on in the background.

Sothea showing us a small warehouse
near where the bag makers live that stores their materials.

This bag maker is working on 1,000 backpacks
that will be given out 

as part of the Tuscaloosa Backpack Coalition. 

This picture is of Sothea and her friend, who was the first bag maker.  Sothea shared the idea with her friend and her friend was able to make a bag.  From there, she invited more of her friends and neighbors to join this cottage industry.

This story is similar to the story of LifeTotes.  Jen shared the bag she bought at a mission fair at a church in Atlanta with her friends, Erin and Rachel, and they begin praying about how this bag could be used for a social good company that would benefit others.

On Wednesday night, we took the bag makers and their families

out to dinner at their favorite restaurant, Shabu, Shabu.

After dinner we made a group photo!!

During dinner, I sat with Sothea and talked with her about her business.  I encouraged her by telling her that she was making a difference in the lives of her bag makers. She could have had the bags made in a sweat shop but she chose to employ women who could stay at home to work.  She and the bag makers are Buddist.  I was able to share with her about my Christian faith and that in the Bible it says 'it is more blessed to give than to receive.' She is giving such opportunity to these bag makers and you can see the smiles on their faces.  She is pouring into them.  She is also pouring into the women who run her store.  We were able to visit her store.

We are praying that God will use LifeTotes as a means to continue building relationships with Sothea and her employees and their families. She has met Pastor Sihok and our prayer is that God would provide a way for their relationship to grow.  We are already planning another dinner that we would pay for and Pastor Sihok and his wife would host.  Please pray that our Light will shine bright in the lives of Sothea and her employees and they would be drawn to the Light of Life, Jesus. 

I'm excited to be bringing back a Tiger handbag to my sister who lives in Auburn!!

This is just one of the new products that will be available on our website. Give us a few days to get up the pictures of the new products and then shop at www.lifetotes.org/shop These bags are handmade and life giving.

Seeing Through Jesus' Eyes

It is Wednesday morning in Phnom Penh and I'm waking up for the first time since being in Cambodia with a minute to catch my breath.  The last few days have been spent in ministry and meeting many new people and encountering many new environments.  I want to thank those of you that have been praying for us.  We have been walking step by step into each new opportunity praying for direction and discernment.

It has been one year this week that the founder of LifeTotes, Jen Barnes, first step foot in Cambodia.  She had made a few email contacts but did not know anyone in this country.  It is hard to believe all that has happened in the past year.

My prayer has been to see Cambodia through Jesus' eyes. Bill shared a devotion with our group that describes the process that we at LifeTotes have been going through since our beginning. We have been shocked by the world's reality,  overwhelmed by the world's need, burdened by the world's hurt and now sent to the world's aid.

To describe as accurately as possible what we have seen, I want to describe in words and pictures three different areas of need we have seen in Cambodia.

The first was at Haley's House of Hope, an orphanage started by Filipino missionaries who were mentored for years by a pastor from Atlanta, Georgia.  We visited this orphanage on Sunday night and worshipped with them.  Yesterday, we visited Widow's Island, where one of the young men who grew up in the orphanage is now pastoring a church.  His mother still lives on the island.  When we arrived, I found the island to be much larger than I expected.  It is very hard to put into words what this island is like.  It was originally a place for widow's whose husbands had been killed during the Khmer Rouge to have a safe place to live with their children.  The government ran out of money to support it and many volunteer relief organizations have stepped in over the years to empower these people to learn to care for themselves.  I'm going to post some pictures so you can have some idea  of what I am trying to describe.

Riding over to Widow's Island with 2 of my favorites!!

Bill on the boat to Widow's Island with Makara, the young man who

grew up at the orphanage and is now pastoring a church on the island

where his mother and sister still live.

Several women singing for us during worship

Makara's mother is third from the left.

Our team with Makara and Pastor Sihok, the Cambodian pastor

who first reached out to Jen and told us of the needs at the dumpsite. 

We are praying that Pastor Sihok will walk alongside Makara as he begins his ministry.  

Pastor Sihok is so gifted in pastoring as well as business.  

He is an unbelievable steward of God's resources.  

Bill was able to share a Bible story message about the frustration 

of the disciples in trying to feed the 5000 from the book of Mark. 

Pastor Sihok interpreted in Khmer for him.

They were definitely a 'dynamic duo' sharing God's word.

Our team is praying about how to contribute to the work that is going on here.  One way is through a church building.  They also have several agricultural projects that could use funding that would meet the needs of the people and generate revenue to carry on the work of the church on Widow's Island.

Not only did we visit Haley's House of Hope and Widow's Island but we were able to visit on Monday, the first LifeTotes school on the dumpsite in Phnom Penh.  I have saved this part for last
because it is the ministry we have already invested in.  Pastor Sihok has been ministering at this dumpsite for several years.  He had been praying about building a school there and when Jen met him last year he told her about this.  We had been praying about something LifeTotes could help with that would be within our means at the time.  The cost of the school was $1600.  This amount was raised almost immediately. To walk on this dumpsite Monday morning and see this school at the center of this place was overwhelming.  It has become the hub for this community.  Not only is it a school, it also serves as a church, community center and monthly health clinic. The teacher at the school is married to a doctor who comes once a month to see patients at the site and dispense medication.  I want to take this opportunity to thank those of you that gave money to bring vitamins to be dispensed as well.  We brought enough multi-vitamins for 60 children and 40 adults for six months.

Walking into the dumpsite for the first time with our LifeTotes

team and the team from Sanctuary Church in Marietta, Georgia.

The children are lining up to come into the school

for a morning of singing, crafts, games, and learning more about Jesus.

I still cannot believe I'm in Cambodia with these 2.

Erin has created a hashtag for me #alla_abroad

Jen hanging out with the kids inside the LifeTotes School.

Pastor Sihok sharing with the adults before the

doctor begins see patients and dispensing medicine and vitamins.

Sarah, helping the children make their crosses.

We were able to meet with the Cambodian representatives

from Neverthirst to talk about what it would cost 

to provide a water source on the dumpsite.

This morning begins the second leg of our journey.  We are meeting with Sothea, our bag supplier from Siem Reap.  We are ordering new products and going on a 'field trip' to meet the bag makers at their homes and take them to lunch.  Pray for us as we continue forging our relationship with Sothea and 'letting our Light shine' so she can see Jesus through us. 

Going Forward--Taking the Next Step

I have been in Cambodia a little over 24 hours.  In some ways, I have lost track of time.  In a short time, I have been transported halfway around the world and invaded a culture I know very little about.  I have met many new people, who share my passion to share Jesus and pour into the lives of those I consider less fortunate, as Jesus would say, the least of these.

I am on sensory overload as I am trying to adapt to a country and culture that is attempting to recover from years of communist rule and mass killing of its people.  I find the Cambodian people to be extremely humble and hard working.

Yesterday morning was Sunday and our team had the opportunity of meeting with another mission team from Georgia.  They are part of an non-profit called Saving Susan.  You can read their story here - http://savingsusanministry.org/about-us

We worshipped with Lifegate Baptist Church yesterday afternoon.  The church meets on the 4th floor of an orphanage called Hailey's House of Hope run by Dr. & Mrs. Tago, a dentist and his wife from the Philippines who have dedicated their lives to being missionaries in Cambodia. Here are some pictures of our time with them.

This morning we are meeting with a local Cambodian pastor, Pastor Sihok, and will be visiting a ministry he has begun on a dumpsite in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia.   Jen Barnes, founder of LifeTotes, met him last summer when she visited Cambodia.  She was here to meet a bag maker and begin a business that would provide resources to pour back into the Cambodian people.  The story of LifeTotes can be found at www.lifetotes.org/blog  LifeTote products are made out of recycled cement bags, that are discarded all over the streets of Cambodia.  These bags are collected, cleaned and made into useful products by women who work out of their homes to provide a living for them and their children.

Before coming to Cambodia, the LifeTotes team, which consisted of Jen, my daughter, Erin, their friend, Rachel and me begin praying about what we could do to help with people of Cambodia.  On her first trip to Cambodia last June, Jen met a local pastor who shared with her that he wanted to build a school on the dumpsite.  The cost was $1600.  That amount was raised in a matter of days and the school was built.  Since that time, in addition to a school, it has become a weekly place of worship, a community center, and a monthly health clinic.

We will spend today helping with a VBS on the dumpsite.  We have brought a 6-month supply of vitamins for 60 children and 40 adults.  This was the only thing that Pastor Sihok asked for and I am thankful to those who donated the money for these vitamins.  

I am trying to not be overwhelmed with the extreme need here.  This afternoon we will be visiting what is known as the killing fields. For those of you that grew up int he 60's and 70's, you are familiar with southeast Asia through the eyes of the Vietnam war.  Many of you may not be aware of the ethnic cleansing that took place in Cambodia in the late 70's.

The Killing Fields are a number of sites in Cambodia where collectively more than a million people were killed and buried by the Khmer Rouge regime, during its rule of the country from 1975 to 1979, immediately after the end of the Cambodian Civil War (1970–1975). The mass killings are widely regarded as part of a broad state-sponsored genocide (the Cambodian genocide).

Estimates of the total number of deaths resulting from Khmer Rouge policies, including disease and starvation, range from 1.7 to 2.5 million out of a 1975 population of roughly 8 million. In 1979, Vietnam invaded Democratic Kampuchea and toppled the Khmer Rouge regime.

Because of this mass killing, the population of Cambodia has very few older people.  They were either killed or fled the country.  When you drive through the city, you see a country that is still recovering from the effects of war.  

My question to God this morning is 'Why am I here? What is it you are wanting me to do.'  Please join me in prayer today for our team and the many others that God is calling to this part of the world.  I am so encouraged by those that are doing kingdom work in this country.  God is not calling us to do everything but He is calling us to do something.  Here's a picture, I made of our team yesterday morning at a market in the city.  Along with myself, the team consists of Jen Barnes, my daughter Erin Parker, her pastor's daughter, Sarah Bush, and my husband, Bill, who has encouraged me to become involved with LifeTotes and the work it is doing in Cambodia.

In preparation for this trip, I spent 28 days studying a devotional book called Go Forward--it had to do with spiritual, mental, physical and emotional well being.  On the last day, I was reading in Exodus 14 about Moses and the people of Israel.    Exodus 14:14-16 says  the Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.  The Lord said to Moses, "Why do you cry to me?  Tell the people of Israel to go forward.  Lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the people of Israel may go through the sea on dry ground.' 

Today we are going forward and doing what we can do; and to repeat a prayer I have heard my favorite pastor pray over and over 'we are praying for God to make up the difference.'