Thank you Jesus.

This has been repeating through my mind constantly since before I even left last Sunday. I am finally here, and God has blessed me in incredible ways every step of the way. I want to write all that I have seen so far and tell you all the stories, but right now all I can say is: Thank you Jesus…

…for incredible support and community, who reassure me I’m not alone. Thank you for incredible sisters  who drove hours to surprise me at the airport, surrounding me with prayer with my wonderful family in front of the security gate.

…for an amazing friend who collected so many letters of encouragement and for those who wrote them, so that I can be reminded I am not alone when things get hard.

…for bringing me here safely, with all my luggage safely arriving, despite my worries and doubts.

…for giving me a co-worker, Allison, who is close to my age and shares the same passions and thought processes and for Leng, another co-worker with a precious smile, a beautiful heart, and servant attitude. Thank you for Sophie, Allison’s Cambodian roommate, and her passion for serving God even when it is hard.

…for preparing me for this in so many ways, not just in the past two months, but throughout my life, because I don’t know if I could do this without having those experiences first.

…for my first night of good sleep last night.

…for reminding me of your justice and love as I hear real-life stories about this world of injustice, darkness, and despair.

…for reminding me that I love to play in the mud and rain when we are driving down muddy, dirt roads with three people on a moto-bike barely able to stay upright as we slide across the road.

…for the fifteen amazing children in the Freedom Stones program. Thank you for their beautiful hearts. Thank you for allowing me to create jewelry right alongside them yesterday.

And finally: Thank you Jesus that you bring light to dark places.