Finally here!

I'm typing this on my iPod, and am not really sure how to format text on here, so excuse any discrepancies...

From my journal my first night here in Cambodia:

Tuesday, 12:36 a.m.

I'm here. Really here. The moment I stepped off the plane, I knew I was in the right place. :D The air is just as muggy and sulfur-ey as the Philippines, and the people seem to have a similar sense of humor. It's only nighttime (which is beautiful in itself), but the many sounds are so fascinating. Frogs croaking, crickets singing, raindrops on the roof, dogs barking, something making a noise (not sure what?), people talking (at midnight? who knows)... I love it. I'm home for the next year. :)

God worked marvelously tonight. Actually, all day. From reminding me in Seattle that I had forgotten my visa picture (who knows when I would have remembered), to reminding me on the flight from Seoul to Siem Reap that I DO have an extra picture of myself - the copy of my passport I'd stuck in my carryon... He is just amazing. The whole experience just brought me to a much closer trust in Him. When you're worrying so much that you feel you can't take it anymore, all you can do is trust in Him. He will carry you through, and truly, "The Lord is on thy side." Amen. My beautiful Jesus... may I forever trust Him.

Now I'm launched. Three other friends have launched to their projects. The rest of the AFM bunch will be launching soon, and we'll be in our fields of service. I pray that I will be faithful where I am, and that I will grow to love this place a lot.

I got to take a shower at the pump tonight with a couple of sarongs that Sarah let me borrow. :D First truly Cambodian experience!

And now, I must sleep till 5 or 6 tomorrow. :) Hopefully I don't experience much jetlag...

Good night from Siem Reap, Cambodia!!

Hanging out on the porch of my new home

Down the road toward home, from the school & orphanage

In the middle of unpacking...

My home - the "Banana House" :)

From inside the house

At market on Friday

Green soy milk in a bag!

Waiting in the truck at the market for others to return

Cambodian sky, my view while doing dishes at the pump. :)

My house from the back

At church this morning - this was special music.

Meeting new people

It's been a theme for the last month.

My first day in Michigan, I met two new people. The next day at church, several more. On Sunday, all of us SM-trainees met each other. And since then, I've met several others through church, shopping, Crucible...

Fast forward to today.*

I wasn't feeling the most amazing today, but sometime this afternoon I found out that a trip to the mall was in the making. Our assignment? Simply to meet new people. I wasn't thrilled at first since I wasn't feeling great, and considered just staying back, but I decided I'd give it a go (and everyone else was going anyway).

For whatever reason, I wasn't really that worried about it. I found myself actually kind of looking forward to spying out people I could talk to. We got to the mall, and I headed in my own direction.

First, I headed to a necessary stop - the bathroom. I prayed that God would give me someone to talk to. I went in, and there was a lady changing her little girl's diaper. I chatted with her just a little - asked how old the little girl was (14 months) and the little girl's name (London - I love it!). Conversation ended; she didn't seem interested to continue.

Next, I headed down that wing of the mall and tried to see if I could spark a conversation with anyone somehow. I stopped in at Claire's and talked to the clerk about some hair clips, but that didn't go anywhere. I noticed a kiosk that had all sorts of wedding trinkets (since I have so many friends getting married these days), and tried to look interested in the objects there, but the salesman was busy with someone else so he didn't pay any attention to me. OK, well that's not working... on down the tile pathway.

As I neared another kiosk, a man popped out at me. It rather surprised me, but he was happy and obviously wanted my attention. His was the RC helicopters stand. My brother Kenny loves RC stuff, so I agreed for him to show me how his stuff worked - I figured that could be a conversation-starter as well. He showed me how the controls worked, and let me have a try (it was fun! but I crashed a few times, oops). I tried to get him talking about the other types of stuff he flew, etc. but he was mostly interested in me buying something he had, so that didn't go too far. I debated whether I should try and weasel my way out of the conversation or just let him talk and see if I could make any more personal contact. About that time, another guy came up and started talking with the salesman. He was just browsing too, but he seemed quite interested in the RC stuff. I mentioned to him that my brother likes the stuff and what he's done, and the conversation went from there. Somehow I found out that he's from Colorado, so I told him I'm from Washington. Of course we wondered why the other person was in Indiana (where the mall was) and so we each shared. I told him I was in Michigan getting training to go overseas and teach in a school. Through that, I found out that he is from Pakistan - moved here when he was 11. Anyway, we continued talking and his mother and cousins came up a little later and he introduced me to them. I ended up leaving soon after, but it was wonderful to make a new friend. (the salesman was kind too, so I added him to my list of people I'd met)

The last person I met was Mindy. She was in a store with all sorts of neat gadgets, and she was on her break, sitting in the massage chair, obviously enjoying herself. I didn't have a whole lot of time to chat with her, but I found out a few things about her as well. She told me she carried most of her stress in her shoulders, which was why the massage chair was so amazing. Her boyfriend gave her massages but the chair was definitely a competition with that. I told her that I have shoulder-aches often too, and about how one of my friends had given me an amazing massage just this morning. (thanks Keirsta!!) Just a little bit of small talk, but she seemed like a neat person. Friendly, and even though she was a clerk, she wasn't trying to sell me anything. :-)

I loved this chance I had to just meet people. How different my trips to the mall would be if this were my goal every time! (Isn't that what we're supposed to do anyway?) So many people really don't actually want to talk, but there are some who will - and some who are extremely open (as demonstrated in another girl that some of my friends were able to meet). I don't have to go as deep as a spiritual conversation if that doesn't come up right away - I'm simply making a friend.

I'm making it my goal to keep an eye open constantly for conversation opportunities - to make friends. How about you?

*I wrote this last night.

SM training

Two weeks, twenty students. And we're already halfway done...

I hardly have words to describe the amazingness that is AFM's student missionary training. I'm not sure that this blogpost will accurately portray it, but I'll try, since I know many of you want to hear - and I'm eager to share!

First of all, I did arrive in Michigan! I had a nice time over my first weekend here with some old friends. It was great to see them again and catch up. I was also able to stay with Sarah and her aunt and uncle, who are the caretakers of the AFM campus.

The first evening I was here (Sunday), we met the other SMs. Everyone was so friendly and not shy! There are some quieter ones of us, but there was nothing awkward about our first meeting, which was really neat, considering other groups of people I've met in the past. Right from the start, we all hit it off really well, and became instant buddies. We've only known each other for two weeks, but because of the challenges and intense learning we've gone through together, we are already really close. I knew four of the other SMs before I came, so it's been neat to spend some extra time with them, and get to know them better.

Our first week was wonderful, we learned SO much. My mind felt like it was going to explode, I was learning so many new things! We learned about worldviews, the reasons that cultures are different, and many other things. I was glad to be able to talk to my parents and to Sarah's aunt and uncle, to debrief several things and process them. I now have such a different perspective on missions than I had before... so many things are much clearer in my mind. I don't know that I could explain it all, but I will be working on processing that information as well, as time goes on. :-)

And then... we went on the Crucible. For those of you who are curious, it'll have to stay that way, because, well, it's top secret. Anyone who goes through the Crucible is sworn to secrecy, so as to not destroy the element of surprise for future missionaries. ;-) But I will just say, that the challenges encountered there were definitely challenges, but the end result was absolutely worth it. The lessons we learned together as a team were amazing.

Last week was great. On Monday, we had a recuperation/recreation day after the Crucible, at a hospitable doctor's home. We played in their pool and enjoyed relaxing! Tuesday began an intensive course on language learning. In the mornings we learned the whys and how-tos of learning a language, and in the afternoon we put it all to practice. We split up into four different language groups, and I got in with the Arabic bunch! Through the methods presented, we learned a large amount of vocabulary in just five days. We did a lot of listening and playing with toys and having fun. :-) It's a fascinating language, I only wish I could continue learning it. Maybe someday I will have the opportunity!

On Thursday we received a couple of new instructions. 1) A distance of three to five feet is to be kept at all times from the opposite gender for the remainder of training, and 2) break a social norm of some sort. For rule 1, it's been amusing to see how girls and guys steer clear of each other, especially if they catch themselves at the last second. :-) It's a valuable rule, really. Good practice for other cultures where it is the way things are, and it's also good to keep distance in general. Maybe all early adults should give it a try... hehe. Rule 2 was fun to do: On Sabbath, a bunch of us girls took our shoes off before entering the sanctuary. One of the guys sat on the floor during church (he got a bunch of stares for that!). It was interesting to do something that made you stand out and look different. We'll be the gazingstock in our new countries; we might as well practice now!

Sabbath afternoon was spent on some trails behind Andrews University. Really special people, really fun times. :-)

And now a new week has begun. After finishing language studies, we switched to medical types of things. Just today has given me a lot to think about...

And that's two weeks (plus a couple days). We're nearing the end and will soon be launching out into the great unknown. Thankfully, though unknown, it will be more expected because of the training behind us. We will also be equipped with a newfound trust in God. He's our only strength!

Flying over Chicago

Enjoyed time with Josh!

We buried our friend Laura - and then created a fish on top. :)

Spending time with the AFM bunch at Lake Michigan

Volleyball together!

Sunset at Lake Michigan

Language learning techniques. "The man is under the chair."

Sabbath afternoon hike

One of the other Emilys (there's three of us!)

A beautiful end to a beautiful day...

We sang hymns on the dock.

Cause for contemplation...

I wasn't counting on...

When I left Inchy, I had hopes and dreams of new things ahead. I still do (I leave Friday for AFM's summer mission training)! However, I've already been surprised with several unexpected things:

Dusting off my violin. I've really enjoyed playing it again this summer, thanks to a friend who inspired me to get practiced up so we could play duets. Although, this may be the last week that I'll actually have time to practice for a while! Even though I still have a long way to go, two months of practice has done a lot of good.

Missing a second church family. Leaving Inchy-town was a sad event, and I miss a lot of people there. However, what I didn't expect was having to say goodbye to another group of special people here in WW! From earning new little-kid hugs, to playing violin/cello duets, to sharing Sunday breakfasts with friends, to playing many active games of Cones... I've had lots of special times with lots of wonderful people who are becoming fast friends. I'll miss them just as much as my Inchy family.

Not reading any books through. Seriously? What happened to all of the time I thought I'd have? Somehow my bookshelf is untouched... I've pulled one or two volumes off every now and then, but nothing's gotten read all the way through. Oops! That's one thing I need to make sure I figure out how to do.

Learning how to take care of chickens. I should have known! My brother is an animal-lover, and he has his own crew of chickens in the back yard. I've been duly taught how to take care of them in the mornings and evenings for when he's not around. Lessons learned, mistakes made... I'm well on my way to becoming a chicken farmer. Sort of.

Time flying so fast. It seems like I just arrived here with my Tahoe-load of earthly possessions. Two months, gone already?? I have a feeling that the coming year will speed right by...

Many other things... I've learned a lot that wasn't in the plan. Isn't that true of all paths of life? This all reminds me of a quote that has spoken to me many times:

A life of monotony is not the most conducive to spiritual growth. Some can reach the highest standard of spirituality only through the breaking up of the regular order of things.... God desires human beings to be more closely associated with Him. Therefore He takes them away from their friends and acquaintances. When God was preparing Elijah for translation, He moved him from place to place, that he might leave behind the methods and customs he had previously followed, that he might not settle down on his lees, and thus fail of obtaining moral greatness and spiritual soundness.*

I want the stuff I can't count on to shape me into the flexible and yet grounded person God wants me to be!

*The Upward Look, page 170. Emphasis provided by me.

No keys

Friday I cleaned out my purse and switched to a different one for the summer. Sometimes it's nice to have a change and downsize a bit...

As I went through the collection of random objects in my regular purse and placed the actually-needed items into the other one, I realized that my key ring was kind of bulky and could be smaller to fit better into the purse. So I took off a couple of ornaments and unneeded keys. Then it hit me - the only key left on my key ring was to my car!

I never had the biggest key collection ever, but I had a bunch. A couple to the front door, one to the back door (which didn't actually work), one to the church, one for my office (plus the blue plastic thingy to turn off the alarm there), one to my parents' old house...

When I left YD, I returned most of my keys to their respective owners. House keys to Jessica, church key to Kezzia (since she needs it), office key to Tony. This diminished my supply, but I still had a couple left. The extra unneeded ones were taken care of later, and that's how I ended up with only my car key.

However, the plan is to sell my car, too, before I leave for Cambodia. When that happens I'll have no keys, except those I borrow on occasion to unlock the house or use the family cars.

It's an odd feeling; a bit unnerving. I never realized just how much keys are a security to me. They guarantee transportation, a roof to live under, a church family, a steady job. When you take those away, well, one realizes that no place is home, the world is a journey, God is their trust. There's not much room to just settle down. Life like this isn't average... it's quite an adventure!

Enjoying the journey...

The journey begins

And... I'm on my way. It's already been nearly three weeks since I left home and returned to Walla Walla. Home is here, too, but I left a part of my heart behind me. I'm loving the new experiences and spending so much time with my family, but I will never ever forget the family I have in Inchy. Leaving home is easier said than done!

Forever family (Photo: Schane Johnson)

Love these people! (Photo: Schane Johnson)

My first week at home, I got to live with a bunch of guys. My mom wasn't home yet from a trip to Colorado, so I got to relieve the bachelors of KP duty and cleaning the house. They constructed a room for me in the family room out of bookcases and my dresser and bed, and after I got around to putting all of my unneeded earthly possessions in another corner, it turned out to be quite cozy. I have the best view in the house, too!

My mom finally returned, and so we all enjoy having our family back together again. She and I have been spending some time outside in the garden, planting and weeding and setting up hoses and sprinklers. The garden out back is actually made up of eight large plots, and four we share with other families. It's neat to get to know more people just through having them in our back yard on occasion!

I've already been quite involved with the youth group here. There are so many youth here (it's a multi-college town, after all!) and it is special to spend more time getting to know each of them rather than just the general hi-and-bye that happened when I used to come for a weekend visit. Since my family lives in town, people drop by quite often and so life is never boring!

Last weekend was the Pathfinder Fair - which was basically in my backyard. Very cool! I was gone all day Sabbath but on Sunday I headed over to the academy and got to see several of the old-timer directors and district coordinators. The kids are all different, but it's so special to me to see those dedicated leaders still all about kids. It's their life, and they aren't stopping anytime soon. They have such a huge influence and impact in those kids' lives. It made me remember just how much I love Pathfinders! My main goal of visiting was to watch the drill teams do their performance, so I joined the crowd. Drilling and marching is one of my very favorite parts of Pathfinders and I used to call commands for a few teams way back when. And... certain people in this conference know that, hehe. So, when they turned up short on judges, they spotted me and asked me to judge. Yay! I got to have an eagle eye on those kids' performance, and I really enjoyed it. Many teams did quite well!

As for mission plans, those are coming together well. Last week I got my ticket to Cambodia! It definitely seems more final now. I will be leaving on Sunday, August 25. This week, I was also officially accepted into AFM's missionary training program, and so I'm looking forward to that! That will begin July 15 and go until August 10. Things are happening and I am excited to see what God has in store!

Day-to-day life is different for sure. I've gone running in the mornings with Joey several times and have walked 4-5 miles a couple times now in the evenings. The road by our house is so beautiful out towards the wheat fields! I've also worked in the garden, helped my grandpa prepare his family history book for publishing, practiced my violin, and done some long-distance proofreading for YD. Life is simple and yet there's still plenty that goes on!

Here are a few pictures of recent happenings:

Balloon stampede - the balloons took off behind our house!

Kenny headed out to the Pathfinder Fair on Sabbath morning

Little onions, part of a bigger onion plant!

Sunshine on an evening walk

Kenny's babies (my charges while he's gone camping)!

When dreams come true

It's always been my dream...

I remember singing about the missionary plane in kindergarten, reading Norma Youngberg books at night by flashlight as an eight-year-old, and going on two life-changing mission trips to the Philippines when I was seventeen and nineteen. Watching mission videos, hearing missionaries speak, seeing the need of people around the world...

And now, my dream has nearly come true. I get to be a foreign missionary.

To which country? That in itself has been a journey. I had plans; God's differed. But He has led, closed and opened doors, given advice through the voices of friends and family, and now I'm making plans to go teach at a school in Cambodia at the end of August.

My friends Sarah and Laura went to teach at Wat Preah Yesu, a children's orphanage and school, a couple of years ago. I kept up with them a little as they went over and wrote of their experiences teaching there at school. Little did I know that I would get to live similar adventures later down the road!

Another wonderful opportunity has been placed across my path as well - a month-long summer missionary training program with AFM (even though I won't be a missionary with them). And so (pending my acceptance there, at this point) I plan to travel to Michigan in July to learn from experts in the field before I begin my overseas journey. I am really looking forward to it!

It is a sad thing to leave my station at Young Disciple, but I believe that the challenges and opportunities ahead are God-led. The past six years have been amazing and full of lessons, miracles, and forever friends, and I am excited to see what God has in store for this new chapter of life.

I will share more later about Cambodia and other details of life. Stay posted!

P.S. I currently sponsor a young girl at an orphanage in Myanmar, but due to the expenses of my upcoming trip, I will no longer be able to support her. Would you consider "adopting" her as your own? If God places this on your heart, please let me know and I can give you more information. :-)