Update #2 Southeast Asia

Dear Readers,

It’s April and Maddie, here to update you on Days 1 & 2 of our trip! 

We began with a 13hr flight that consisted of many naps and movies. After a small layover, we caught another flight that brought us to our destination! Thank you for all the prayers for safe and smooth travels!

Upon arrival, we met J, the AIM representative who will stick with us throughout our time here! He introduced us to our driver, B, who bussed us to our hotel. On the ride there, J told us to stay near the hotel for the day. This was because the streets were very busy, due to the election parade happening! 

After settling in, we walked across the street to dinner! Let me tell you, trying to order a hot-pot dinner for 8 people in a foreign language is a bit difficult! Eventually, the servers just brought out a bunch of food for us and we began concocting our delicious hot pot soups! We all tried new foods and enjoyed every moment of the experience. The restaurant staff ensured that we had a welcoming experience by playing a country song on the speakers, just for us 😉

On day 2, Sunday, we attended church. Good thing B taught us Khmer on the way there, because we were asked to introduce ourselves to the church in front of the congregation. We tried our best to speak Khmer and the congregation was so sweet! It is truly a beautiful thing to see how, even though we are on the other side of the world, we still worship the same almighty God. They provided in-ear translation devices for each of us, so we got to hear Pastor R’s powerful message of justice, mercy and humility. A little boy who sat next to Erin took a special fascination to the maps and pictures in her Bible. 🙂

After church, we headed to the soccer fields. This is where Maddie displayed professional soccer skills. Maddie, Jessup’s very own Goal Keeper, had the absolute time of her life. She was even asked to play Goalie for the highly skilled older-boys team in training! The rest of us huffed and puffed as we took turns playing Kings Court version of soccer with the smaller kiddos. Although the language barrier was a challenge, it was so rewarding for all when we found ways to communicate with one another on the field, mostly using hand signals and facial expressions. 

All in all, the first 2 days have been absolutely amazing and moving. As we take in our surroundings, the reality of the reason we’re here has really begun to set in. Psalm 23 has been a comfort to us. Please pray for emotional rest and protection, and that we will continue to have humble hearts of service and gratitude. 

Thanks for reading!