Banan U-13 Basketball Practice

I've started coaching at a local school in our Banan Community. They haven't had a Basketball coach in over two years. The students are hungry to learn and develop their skills more as athletes. We practice every week day during their lunch break from 11am to 1pm. This is at the height of the heat of the day. So thankful that Logen Blankenship came along today to see and record the excitement. Check out our third practice we had today. Notice that many of the students do not have shoes to play in and it was 95' F but the weather report said, "Feels like 102'F.

Check out this video I put together 

A Tribute to our Dog Luna

Someone once said, “Consider it a pure joy whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing.”  

To consider is to reflect. But as I reflect on losing a best friend, I am not happy. My faith is once again being tested to its core.  And somehow in some way I am to use this pain to endure, harness and use for the season I am in.

Her name was Luna and she came into our lives in the most sovereign season one could imagine. She taught me patience, endurance and what joy truly looks like. She didn’t always make me happy but even when I was the most mad at her that I could be, it was that precious smile with an under biting, tongue out smirk that reminded me that my commitment to her was bigger than my current feelings of frustration.

When Logen and I committed to the calling to leave everything behind in pursuit of our purpose in missions overseas, I knew that she could not come. We found the perfect home for her with a family member who knew that love is love and wanted to give more to her than we ever could traveling the world. It was there that I also left my hope of ever having her back in my life in the capacity we once shared.

Today I received the news that she had died. My first thought was of Coop (my first dog who passed away in my arms as he was tragically crushed by a car on Monticello Road). As I started to harden my heart, as I often do when my experience in reality is not what I expected, the Spirit of Truth reminded me that life is not always full of happiness. I immediately began to consider the joy that Luna brought into my life in the season I was able to share with her.

From rollerblading the mountains of Weaverville to biking the valleys of Spartanburg, she showed me the importance of embracing what is. To embracing the community members who look and think different, to seeking out the saddened in heart and simply sitting beside them until they acknowledged her existence; she taught me the importance of being available to listen. Now she is gone but I am not. So will my somberness honor her more than the lessons I have learned from her? By no means! I feel the pain of her death and I harness it now to finish what we have started here.

I have left everything behind in pursuit of what is ahead; an education for the youth of Cambodia that might not receive one otherwise. Family, friends, our cars, our status and occupation is still in America, but my soul has never been more alive. I don’t take the pursuit of happiness lightly in the free country I was born and raised in. I simply recognize it as a privilege and desire to give the lesser the same opportunity as Christ has done for me.

Even though we have not had the support we expected. Even though many people have said how much they admire what we are doing over a $100 luncheon that they asked us to pay for. And even though we are here now with even more loss than we had before... we came, we will endure. I am not a victim of Luna’s death. I am the one who will use this pain to endure, harness and use for the season I am in so that when we finish, Maggie’s School Cambodia, it will be complete and lacking in nothing, as will I!

I don’t need your comments or condolences. I need your support! Check us out at Maggie’s School.  

A Quick Update from South Carolina

Hello everyone! It’s been a few weeks since we have updated you all on what’s been happening with us. We have been in South Carolina since mid-June and plan to stay until the beginning of August. In August, we will return to Battambang, Cambodia and oversee the launch of the first expansion of Maggie’s School.

We are officially working as missionaries with Maggie’s School and have been home raising support for the land and construction of the school in Battambang. To do this, we have been speaking across the state and sending out over 500 donor letters (all addressed by hand). If you or anyone you know would like to receive a donor letter or be put on the Maggie’s School mailing list, email us at [email protected].  We have been sharing our story with Sunday School classes in Spartanburg and Columbia, S.C. and meeting with past Maggie’s School supporters over lunch and coffee. We have even spent time with our Cambodian Ministry friends at United Baptist Church in Spartanburg, S.C.

To be honest, raising support has been tough but we fully believe that this vision is from God and He will see it through. Do you have a church body or community group interested in supporting Maggie’s School Cambodia? We would love to hear from you!

Zac will be giving the sermon this Sunday, July 15th, at 10 A.M. at Milestones Church in Spartanburg, S.C. For all of you overseas or out of town that would like to listen and take part, you can watch the live stream on Milestones Church Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/milestoneschurchsc/

Zac will be sharing from the heart as well as updating the congregation on Maggie’s School Cambodia. You might even hear some original songs from us!

Here’s a list of what we’re working on. Could you help us? Do you have any contacts that could help?

1.       Exporting our cars to Cambodia. Cars in Cambodia are very expensive, and we have two cars of our own here that we would love to ship (if it’s cost effective and practical enough). We have a 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee and a 2006 Ford Explorer. If shipping them isn’t possible, we will most likely sell them. Would you or someone you know be interested? Know anyone who exports overseas?

2.       Thrift store: We would love to open a seasonal thrift store. We would like to take donations throughout the year and open the store seasonally. We would need 1. Places willing to be “drop-off” locations. 2. DONATIONS. Got anything you want to give to a cause? 3. Volunteers. We will need volunteers willing to run the store when we have it open twice a year. All of this is in very beginning stages, and we are open to all/any advice! Dates for the thrift store are TBD. You can follow our progress on Maggie’s Thrift Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/maggiesschoolthrift/. Go Like us!

3.       Setting up fundraisers/speaking engagements. Would you like to host a fundraising party for us? We would love to come to your home/church and speak about Maggie’s School. We will bring the snacks! 

For Maggie’s School Cambodia to happen, we have to raise the money first. Here’s what we have to raise.

1.       $24,000 for the land.

2.       $24,000 for the first school building.

To give online, go to www.maggiesschool.org/support. If you would like to send a check, our mailing address is P.O. Box 2001, Easley S.C. 29642.

We are on our way to raising this money, but we definitely have a long way to go. Again, we aren’t worried because everything so far has fallen right into place and God has been SO faithful in providing for us as we’ve been home. Seriously y’all, we have been provided our own home to stay in (for free might we add?!), free dental care, a car to use, haircuts, movie tickets, free places to stay around the state, provided meals, and even more. We’ve seriously been blown away by how we’ve been loved on and supported. We can’t thank you all enough. Keep praying that support comes in for this school. We both feel like our dreams are being realized, but we know that He’s the one who gave us this dream in the first place.

We love you all very much and are grateful that you continue to follow along on this journey. Want to be encouraged? Go back years and years on this blog and see just how God has been at work all along the way. We wanted to build a youth development center in Cambodia almost 4 years ago now, not knowing how in the world it would happen. But God knew! Let’s start Maggie’s School Cambodia together. www.maggiesschool.org/cambodia. Go Like Maggie’s School on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/maggiesschool

As always, just love.

Zac and Logen

WE HAVE LAND!

A few weeks ago, we met a friend in Battambang, Noth, who showed us some land that his parents owned, telling us that he didn’t believe his parents would be willing to sell because of all the work they had put into the land. We said, take us there, and if we feel like it could be the right place, we will talk to your parents and see what they say. After a 30-minute drive outside of the city of Battambang, past the ancient Banan temple, we arrived at his parent’s land. It’s no exaggeration when we say we felt immediate peace. Everything that we had prayed and hoped for in looking at land for Maggie’s School was there. This land has a community in need of a school, access to the city and supplies, access to electricity and clean water, rows upon rows of fruit trees and fishing ponds to aid in the school’s future sustainability, and room to expand. The land is 3 hectors in total with one hector being approximately 2.47 acres. This is a fantastic, large property! It took a few weeks to negotiate. We also had to figure out what our next steps were in purchasing the land and creating legally binding contracts for the seller and village chief. We were given the contact of a lawyer in Phnom Pehn who worked with us in constructing the contracts in the best way possible, to ensure our authority long-term and to not enable a culturally corrupt system. That being said, we have really been in prayer and have taken our most trusted Khmer contacts to every meeting we’ve had to ensure that we aren’t being misled because we are foreigners.

These past few weeks have been challenging to say the least, but God has been with us through it all. We didn’t come to Cambodia with money for a down-payment. We thought this trip was simply to figure out what to do, to come back to the Board of Directors, and to report our findings. However, since being here, God has opened doors wide open! We are blessed by the faithful followers that make up Maggie’s School board and their willingness to take this risk with us and with God. Through your support, we had enough money for the down payment! We had to figure out how to wire money to us here in Cambodia, a process that takes 5-10 business days at least. Thankfully, today, 20 minutes before our scheduled meeting with the seller, our cards worked at the ATM. We were able to withdraw all the money needed for the deposit today! Praise GOD! This was after multiple failed attempts. It seemed like “insufficient funds” was the only answer we were receiving, but God had another answer, His sufficient grace!

Below is a video showing you the first time we saw the land... all the way to the contracts being signed today. You will see our friend Noth and his parents. And you will also see the village chief, who had to sign off on all the documents to make them legally binding. You will see all of us so excited and nervous in wanting to make sure everything was done correctly and with integrity. As of now, our thumbs have been stamped and Maggie’s School officially owns land in the Dong Village of the Banan District in Battambang.

We are so blessed and grateful that we can move forward and continue towards the vision of building Maggie’s School Cambodia. We will be home in a few weeks to raise support for the school and to share our heart and vision for Maggie’s School Cambodia. Continue to pray with us that financial support is given for the school to be built and to ultimately provide an education to the beautiful children of this village who would otherwise go without. We are so close. Also, continue to pray with us for Yim’s visa interview with the American Embassy on Wednesday. We are hoping this signed contract will serve as additional proof of her involvement with Maggie’s School and will inspire the embassy to say YES. Enjoy the video! If you have any questions about Maggie’s School Cambodia or would like to know how to support, email us at [email protected] or email Maggie’s School President, Kim Warren-Page at [email protected], or go to www.maggiesschool.org. As always, #justlove.

Pray With Us for Yim’s Visa to America

In our last post, we talked about our amazing friend Yim who will serve as Headmaster of Maggie’s School Cambodia. We have been working on getting Yim a tourist visa to come back with us to America, so that she can share her story with all of you in person.  It’s so important that the board members of Maggie’s School meet Yim and hear her heart for Cambodia and specifically her passion for educating this next generation. That being said, it’s very difficult for a Cambodian to get a visa to America, even just a temporary tourist visa. I have worked hours trying to get together any paperwork that will prove the necessity of her visa and honestly, the proof of her plans to return to Cambodia full-time. In order for a Cambodian to receive an American tourist visa, they must exceedingly prove their ties to America, their reason for visiting, and proof that there is a job/organization that motivates them to return to Cambodia after the trip. We have submitted proof for all of these things into the American Embassy. We pray now for favor and that our documents are enough proof for Yim to receive her yes. Here’s how you can pray… Yim’s appointment will be on Wednesday, May 30th at 9:00PM Cambodian time. In South Carolina, this will be 10:00PM on Tuesday, May 29th. The interview will last approximately 30 minutes, so if you are awake and willing, please pray and intercede for her from 10-10:30PM on Tuesday, May 29th in SC. We trust and believe that a YES is possible.

God has already had His hand on this visa process for Yim! After you complete the online application, you take a form into a local ACLEDA bank, pay for the visa, and receive a receipt number. Once you have that number, you are able to go online and book an appointment. When she went online to book an appointment, the only available date was June 13th, the exact day we fly back home. We were discouraged because we hoped that if Yim received her visa, she would be able to fly back on the same flight as us. We wanted to be able to go through customs with her and be there as support on her first intercontinental flight. So, we emailed the embassy and told them our situation. The embassy gave us a form to fill out to request an “extradited appointment,” with the requirement of submitting paperwork proving her need for the earlier appointment (letters of reference, flight itineraries, Maggie’s School non-profit license, etc.) We asked God to bless the email and to give whoever was reading it eyes of favor and compassion. We celebrated when we received the emailed saying YES! Yim was granted an earlier interview and her paperwork was approved. We were so excited knowing that if Yim does indeed receive her visa on the new scheduled date, May 30th that she will be able to return home with us. We are also hoping that this approval of initial paperwork will help in her chances of getting a visa. Pray with us that she will be granted the visa and that she will be able to come to South Carolina and meet all of you!

Also, be praying for a meeting we have this coming Monday. We have found amazing land in the Battambang Province for Maggie’s School Cambodia. The land is close to the ancient Banan Temple, around 30 minutes outside of Battambang City. This past week, we have been in Battambang preparing paperwork so that we can put down a deposit on Monday and sign the contract. We will post a video this week showing all of you the land! 

We will update you on Yim’s visa and the land in the coming days. Also, check out the new Maggie’s School website, https://www.maggiesschool.org/.

Peace and love!

Introducing Yim Lanh

Hello everyone! We want to introduce our amazing friend, Yim Lanh. Yim is from Tapreach Village in the Khampong Thom Province of Cambodia. Zac and Yim have been friends since completing their Discipleship Training School (DTS) in Battambang, Cambodia together in 2014. Since graduating, Yim has been a teacher at NIBI School in Siem Reap. Yim’s dream is to oversee a school or an organization that improves the lives of Cambodian children through a Christian education. Yim’s heart is to see the empowerment of children who have been conditioned to believe they are less than or unworthy. She instead, wants to teach them about their worth in Jesus and give them an education that will propel their future. Maggie’s School Cambodia will work alongside Yim to do just that, provide an education for children who are unable to receive one because of a lack of resources. We know you will fall in love with Yim just as we did years ago. Here’s a bit of her story from Yim herself. Get ready to meet a selfless, compassionate woman, after the heart of God and the spiritual deliverance of her nation.

This week we met with Youth With A Mission (YWAM) in Battambang, Cambodia. We visited local schools and spoke with core team members from the YWAM Battambang base. We received great insight into building a ministry and starting an NGO in Cambodia, specifically observing their youth development program. Follow us on this journey as we pioneer Maggie's School Cambodia. 

Why We’re in Cambodia, Maggie’s School & How You Can Help

Hello everyone! We’ve been in Cambodia for almost two weeks now. We’ve been busy going to many meetings with lawyers, contacts, and landlords and going on multiple property searches. For those of you who don’t know, Zac and I were asked on behalf of Maggie’s School to come to Cambodia and look for potential land to build a school here. We came to Cambodia with an idea and have already seen much progress to our excitement and surprise.  

So far, we have spent most of our time in the capital, Phnom Penh. We have a contact here named Diamond or Thavrith Oem. We have known Diamond for five years now, and he did everything he could to help us adopt Dara and bring him stateside. Unfortunately, we faced so many hurdles and found out that it wasn’t going to happen, and we were devastated. When we arrived here in Cambodia, we surprised Diamond at his guest house, where we always stay in PP, and told him all about our hopes of building a school here. He was so excited! He told us that Maggie’s School was an answered prayer and that he would do anything he could to help us launch the NGO. This included applying for a license in Cambodia, purchasing land, and helping with the future construction of the school. Diamond has a rags-to-riches story. He grew up in a poor village in the Kandal Province, almost 45 minutes outside of the capital Phnom Penh. He put himself through school, made smart investments, and is now the owner of multiple properties and the governmental overseer of every ship that passes through the Mekong River. He has many contacts in the government and enlisted some of his most trusted colleagues to help us. He has always wanted to build a school in his village and give a free education to the countless children in need there. When he heard of our plans to give a free education to kids whose families lack the finances to send them to school, he was overwhelmed with thankfulness and enthusiasm. He has shown us multiple properties in his village. And his friends; a lawyer, a contractor, and a government official, have all sat down with us and have helped us know what the next steps are. Our next steps are the following:

1.       Apply for a license to be a registered NGO, Maggie’s School Cambodia. We have all the paperwork needed to make this happen, but lack the most important part… land ownership. The one-time cost for the license is $4,000.

2.       Purchase land. We have been looking at properties so far in the Kandal Province outside of Phnom Penh and in the Pursat Province. Originally, we thought that Pursat was where we would go because Zac had an outreach there many years ago and saw the need for a school. We know a pastor there with land, and he communicated to us that he would give us a very low price, 1/3 of what the land was really worth. Diamond and his colleagues came with us to Pursat to make sure the land was in the pastor’s name (land ownership is very, very complicated in Cambodia). After looking at the paperwork, we realized that the land wasn’t actually in the pastor’s name, but was in his mother’s name. He could have the land switched over to his name but that would take a few years to process. Even so, he wasn’t in the right to sell us any of the land. We were bummed but also looking forward to the right place God had for Maggie’s School. We have also looked at land in the Kandal Province, Diamond’s village. This would be an excellent choice because of the access to good hospitals, supermarkets, clean water, and a $1.5 billion international airport that’s being built only 10 minutes away. There’s a great need there because the schools that do exist are very expensive to attend, which leaves students in need without a chance for education. Wherever Maggie’s School is located, we want to make sure it’s easy to access for building supplies, future school supplies, food, clean water, and for our volunteers and Maggie’s School board members. After having some locals ask around for the prices of the land for sale, we found out that they want $25 per square meter, and there’s almost 10,000 square meters in one hector or approx. 2.47 acres. That means, on average, the land is selling for $250,000 a hector! We were in shock. Because of the airport coming in, the land has skyrocketed. Only six months ago the land would have been $3,000-$5,000 a hector. The land is projected to be worth $1.2 million in two years, but that’s still so much money to pay for the land, not even mentioning the money it will take to build the school itself. https://www.realestate.com.kh/news/Land-price-in-Kandal-s-Steung-district-soars-after-new-airport-announced/ We are now moving our focus towards land in the Takeo Province. It’s the next province outside of Kandal, is still close enough to the resources of Phnom Penh, would be only 30 minutes from the upcoming airport, and is still a good investment for the future. This land averages for around $90,000 a hector. All of this being said, we haven’t found the right place for Maggie’s School. But we do know, that before we can even apply for the NGO license, we have to own land. Land will be expensive anywhere we go, and we would need investors to make Maggie’s School a reality. That would include raising money to buy land and build a school.

So now, we aren’t discouraged because we know God has given us this vision of expanding Maggie’s School in Cambodia. We know that it will take a lot of fundraising and support. We also know that God owns everything and can provide any amount possible. As representatives of Maggie’s School, we strive to be good stewards of the budget we have now and don’t want to make any quick decisions that could jeopardize the possibility of building a school here.

Here’s how you can help: PRAY! We need all of our prayer warriors to pray that we have discernment as we talk to people and officials that unfortunately don’t always have the right motivations. It’s really tough to know who is really on your side and who has ulterior motives. It can also be draining and stressful having conversations on money and negotiations as foreigners to Cambodia. We try to explain that not all Americans have a lot of money. Please join us in praying for the right property to come along and that He continues to put the right people in our path to make this happen. Also pray that Yim, our good friend and future Cambodian Director of Maggie’s School, will be able to have her short-term travel visa accepted, travel back to America with us, and share her story and excitement for Maggie’s School Cambodia.  

Give, especially if you feel God asking you to invest in Maggie’s School. We have complete faith that God can make the seemingly impossible, possible.  (Matthew 19:26)

There is a lot of information in this blog. We also know that everything is still up the air, details wise. However, God has made the vision clear to start a Maggie’s School in Cambodia, we just aren’t quite sure how it’s going to happen yet. We need all of your help to get there. 

We want to say thank you for praying for us and supporting us. We heard that the Mosaic Night at Milestones Church in Spartanburg, South Carolina (our home church) was amazing, and we want to personally thank each and every one of you who was a part of that night and who bought jewelry from our contacts in India with Arise Prison Ministry.  We are excited for what God is doing here. He has been on the move, so we stay in step with Him and pray for wisdom.

We are open to any advice and questions that you may have. Message us on Facebook or email us at [email protected]. If you have any friends looking to support a great cause, send them our way! We would love to talk with anyone about how to support Maggie’s School Cambodia. Want us to come share about Maggie’s School with your church or organization? We will be back in South Carolina on June 14th and would love to share about the vision of Maggie’s School Cambodia. If you would like to know more about Maggie’s School, visit www.maggiesschool.org. We will continue to update everyone on what’s happening here. Just love!  

Surprise! We’re Going to Cambodia... This Sunday! Update on Missions and Re-homing Fur Family

Hello everyone. It’s been a while since we updated you all on our next steps. We’ve been praying and “hurry-up and waiting” as we’ve been listening and awaiting missions opportunities overseas.

While we were both on staff at Marathon Church, we met an incredible family, the Warren-Pages. We quickly connected with them, spent time with the family, and they have now become like family. The Warren-Pages have had their share of loss, including a special young member of the family, Maggie McLeod. In her memory, Wink McLeod, mother and now also deceased, wanted to do something in honor of her late daughter and created Maggie’s School in Turkana, Kenya. Currently, there are over 900 students at Maggie’s School, those of whom are all sponsored and given two meals a day, uniforms, and access to a safe education in a rural and commonly illiterate region.

According to the “About” page on Maggie’s School website, “There was also a water and food shortage in this region.  Bishop David began to pray for a school, a church, and a well for this people of Turkana. When Bishop David heard of Wink’s idea to build a school in Kenya in memory of her daughter, it was an answer to his prayer.”

A few years ago, while on outreach in Cambodia, God gave Zac a vision of a youth development center. This would be a place for uneducated children from rural locations to not only receive an education from Khmer and Western teachers, but to also learn the forever truth that Jesus wants to be their Lord and Savior. This vision was received and has been prayed for since, but we were unsure of when that would happen or if we would be a part of that. We have since trusted that God would bring that school to fruition someday even if it wasn’t us that saw the Promised Land.

A year or so ago, after one of our weekly dinners with the Warren-Page family, they discussed the potential of Maggie’s School expanding, them being unsure of where in the world this would be. Of course, Zac and I both were very excited and shared our vision for the youth development center in Cambodia. There was excitement and anticipation for what the future may hold and faith that if this was from God, we would trust Him to see it through.

Recently, Zac and I have been home, working here and there, visiting our families and friends who have become like family, and even speaking and sharing about our experiences in Northern Ireland, India, and Cambodia. We both feel that at this stage in our lives, we are called as a couple to the mission field. We have been talking with a YWAM base in the UK about potentially coming on as staff, still being in the process of all the formalities and VISA applications.

However, a few days ago, Kim Warren-Page approached us about going to Cambodia for a month or so to scout for potential provinces and land that could be used to build a new Maggie’s School. We were both thrilled at the opportunity! To that she said, as crazy of an idea that this is, could you leave Sunday?

It didn’t take long for us to feel that this could really be the beginning of something incredible, and the beginning of the fruition of the vision God gave Zac and for Maggie’s School expansion. For more information on Maggie’s School, visit https://www.maggiesschool.org/. 

So as of now, we leave to go to Cambodia this Sunday the 22nd! We are excited to be a part of the possible expansion of Maggie’s School and continue to pray that as we go in faith, God will show us step by step the path to making this happen in Cambodia. We will also be meeting up with Kim’s son, Payton Warren-Page in Phnom Penh. 

Before we leave, there are a few things to figure out. As you all know, we have two amazing dogs, Luna and Kola. We have had Kola for almost five years and Luna for three. They go everywhere with us, traveling on youth retreats, national mission trips and even some home-bound and assisted living visits. (They are both certified Emotional Support Animals). They are like our children and we have loved and cherish every moment spent with them. As our traveling schedule continues to become more sporadic, it’s difficult on both girls to adjust and move around, especially for Kola. Kola is a very special little lady. She is extremely loyal, obeying commands and always coming when we call her name. She loves all humans and cares deeply for the well-being of her master. However, Kola does not do well with other dogs. She is a bit quirky, having always been particular about other dogs, tending to be aggressive and showing her dominance every time. Sometimes, if a dog is very submissive, she has no problem being around them, only growling when the dogs sniffs a part of her she doesn’t want him/her to, or if she’s laying down and they’re in her space. Kola could be described as a grump, old woman with particular taste, but one who loves and remains loyal to any person she loves. Even though she doesn’t like other dogs, she has really leaned into Luna, enjoying being her sister. It did take some time to get the two acclimated, but for the most part, they really are sisters in every way.

All of this being said, we are looking for a forever home for our Kola Bear. As devastating as this is, we know that our life of moving around and traveling for extended periods on missions is not well fit for her personality. In recent weeks, she has been a bit off, almost depressed and unable to really adjust well to the changes like she used to. We have always been a social, traveling family, but as she gets older, it’s more confusing and causes her anxiety.

Kola is an amazing dog, when she is the only dog in the household, and not around young children. She needs someone who is looking for a life-time friend who will treat Kola as more of a human than a dog. Zac and I truly believe that she doesn’t think of herself as a dog but more of a queen and therefore has no time for lowly peasants (aka other pups). All jokes aside, she is a good girl. She is fixed and up-to-date on all heartworm and flea treatments. She would need her yearly vaccines in the coming months. If you feel that you have a home where Kola would be the only dog and where she is given full access to your heart and every room in your house, please call or message us. This is a difficult decision for us to make, but we feel it’s the right one for her well-being and happiness.

We are also looking for a forever home for a rescue kitty that we found around a year ago on the side of the road in Dacusville, South Carolina. We named her Daika, and took her in, thinking she would not make it through the night. We took her to the vet, had blood work done to make sure she was healthy, had her vaccinated, and let her become an indoor but mostly outdoor cat. Of course we fell in love with her and her spunky, intelligent self. When we left to go overseas, she stayed with one of our closest friends and all-around amazing foster mom and spoiler of Daika. She is great with other animals, loves being outside, litter-box trained, spayed, and up-to-date on all vaccinations. She’s really an amazing girl who needs someone to spoil and love her. If you’re interested in opening your home to Daika, she comes with cat towers, lots and lots of toys, food, treats, and a self-cleaning litter-box. She really is an amazing cat who loves to cuddle and play. She has been living mostly inside, only going outside to catch bugs and lizards to her foster mom’s dismay. Call or message us if you’re interested in opening your home and spoiling this special girl.

 We want to make sure that both girls will be cared for, loved on, and treated like family wherever they go. We would love to talk with you more about these girls if you’re interested and are willing to answer any questions. There is no adoption fee for either, but there is a certain kind of home that both need moving forward.

 Also, we are having a fundraiser this Saturday night, my birthday, to raise money for our missions in Cambodia, potentially the UK *still in process*, and beyond. If you want to come hear stories about our experiences or just looking to try some yummy local barbeque, we would love to see you there. Here is more information on the event, including the time and address for the location.

 There is also a Mosaic for Missions night coming up on May 3rd at 6:00 p.m. at Milestones. The $15 fee includes all of your mosaic materials. All proceeds from this event go towards missions. If you’re interested, here is more information below. 

Again, we are so thankful for all of you, your support, your encouragement, and prayers. We have really come home to open arms and couldn’t be more thankful for the support we’ve received from our families and our friends while being here. We are looking forward to this next step in Cambodia and hope that you all continue to keep up with us as we let God write this incredible story full of faith, trust, and reliance on Him. We are truly open and flexible to what God has for us as a couple in Cambodia and anywhere else he wants to send us. Thank you for being a part of this mission and supporting us so that we can go and tell all the world of the love and redemption of Jesus Christ. Until next time, #justlove.

Two Weeks in Cambodia

Thank you everyone who supported me financially to have the opportunity to serve alongside so many in Cambodia. These past two weeks have been amazing and I want to inform you all of a few stories.

My favorite experience was seeing Dara. He is so much older now and tall and strong. His favorite sport is Rugby and it just so happen that I showed up the morning of his all day Rugby tournament. We spent the whole day catching up, watching videos from the past and talking about all he has learned in school. He introduced me to his new friends and told me that he is doing great in school.

The next day I went to the orphanage to discuss what the future may hold for him and where Logen and I could play a part in. I look forward to sharing this story in full in person when you who want to know ask me about it.

I was so encouraged to have spent some time with Bong Long Thoeun and his family. Bong Darith and Den met me there in Pursat. We went for a discipleship visit at a recent church plant that was far away from everything you could ever take for granted.

We spent one night in the jungle by a waterfall. When the three of us arrived, we gathered enough wood together to keep the fire lit through the night.

Then Darith lay in his hammock, listening closely to the enteral falls clashing against the water below. After a while he unconsciously fell into a dream deep enough to see himself in the distant future.  He was standing alone and just as the light grew bright enough to see the expression on his face, it faded. And as he woke he heard him say, "Remember today."

Den made several fishing rigs out of anything he could find. He grabbed his bamboo spear and went on his way, down the river, determined to catch to eat and not release.  

As for me I climbed to the top of the falls and sat silently listening to the thoughts I had never had time to think before.  

It was a day unlike any other day.

That night a tiger came close to camp. Den woke us up and quickly signaled us to follow him into the water. I didn’t know what was going on but in my mind I knew we weren’t going to swim for fun. It was late and yet the moon was bright, “If the Tiger comes into the water, we surround it and drown it. This is the only way we will have a chance to survive.”

The next morning we were on our way by motor bikes back to the pastor’s house. On the way, I intentionally hit a jump. I embraced the brake hard enough to lock the tire and Darith and I crashed.  What a quick reminder it was that my pride is so quick humble me if not kept in check.

We went to Battambang that afternoon. That week I was able to partner with YWAM Battambang and work with students at a local school. The rest of the team led a health clinic for the community and kids. While there, I was able to assist in teaching English, play silly games and sing many spiritual songs.

In Battambang, I spent most of my evenings with Bong Bun Loeuth and his family. I even slept in a hammock on their roof for few nights. I have known this family since 2014 and they are such an encouragement to me. Many of you have read Bongs story and know about the incredible protection our God provided for his survival of the Khmer Rouge genocide.

His son Tomo has been an entrepreneur since he was young. He has many dreams and visions that he wishes to fulfill. However, God has truly been working on his heart to give him a new mind and perspective of success. He partnered with me one of the days while teaching English and loved it. 

That night he came with me to the YWAM “Community Night” (a Wednesday night service). Hundreds were there, and before the service he asked me, “Why is everyone so happy?” I told him because God has brought meaning and purpose to their lives.

Then as the music began to play he looked around and asked me, “Why do so many have their hands raised up?” I told him, like a child that puts their hands up in need of a parent so too do these people recognize God as a parent, and their need of Him in their lives.

Then after the sermon he mentioned his need of a savior. I introduced him to many of my former classmate’s from DTS in 2014 and he asked for an application to join YWAM. Please continue to pray that he will complete a Discipleship Training School for himself, starting in July to have many more questions answered and a satisfied soul that’s alive in Christ.

I went to Siem Reap the next day and met up with Yim Yim. She was one of Jake and I closest friends in DTS. 

Yim serves so much as a preschool teacher in the mornings and kindergarten teacher in the afternoons. She trains many new teachers how to teach effectively for a local NGO. She also is parenting her niece of four years old. I absolutely fell in love with this sweet girl. Her biological parents live in the big city and work many hours a day, leaving no time to spend with her. Yim is so incredible to adopt this baby for at least a few years. Yim does not even make enough money to support her own cost of living, much less this baby and yet in her faithfulness God continues to provide for her needs.

After a few days we traveled together to Phnom Penh. We met up with Seypong, a great friend who recently turned 10. It was great to see him and meet his father. So in that last day, the four of us went on a cruise to celebrate the river festival. All day, we sat and talked about the wonders of our great God. The past and how faithful God has been to each of us. We prayed about our futures and asked God that if it’s His will they should realign again that they would in His perfect timing.

When the fireworks began, Baby was so scared. She has never seen fireworks before and I was holding her when they first exploded. She screamed and cried, kicked and clawed. When Yim took her from me to comfort her, I looked down I realized that in her struggle she had knocked out six of my stitches from the motorbike accident.  

The next morning, I was able to grab a coffee with one the best Barista’s in South East Asia and my friend NubKaka. I am so proud of him pursuing his dreams. He was such an encouragement to me in that last day. Then Bong Dina picked me up and took me straight to the airport as I went on my way to a connect flight to Singapore.

Thank you again for everyone who gave money to support this trip. I look forward to sharing more with you all in person and I am so thankful that you believe in the need to just love Cambodia.  

Please watch this video to taste more

Smyrna Fellowship Trust

For the past month our team has had the opportunity to work along side this amazing organization. Smyrna Fellowship Trust works to mobilize many in the local community. They focus on four main ministries that in total reaches hundreds more.  Here is a video I made for them so that you can taste what we have been a part of

Prayer Space

This week our team has had the opportunity to host a “Prayer Space” at a local boarding school in South India. What an amazing opportunity this was. I hope to share more in the near future about this week but for now please watch this video that I made. It speaks volumes to the power of prayer and the simplicity of being available.

Arise Prison Ministry Photos

Some of the inventory...

Anik, Peace, and the team working inside the prisons. They are teaching them how to make paper beads.��

To shop or support, contact Anik at [email protected].

Ooty & Arise Prison Ministry

Hello everyone! We have been without Wi-Fi now for almost 4 weeks, so it has been tough finding hotspots to connect and update you all on what’s been happening here in Ooty, India. We want to thank you for your prayers and messages as we have been here in India. We have less than a week left here, and as excited as we are to get back, we are expectant and ready for what God wants to do in our last days here, who He wants us to love and serve.

Ooty is a hill-side station in the south of India with no lack of gorgeous mountain views and wildlife. How amazing it is to be serving somewhere where there are wild elephants!

Since being here, we have been staying with Smyrna Home, a fellowship trust that sponsors over 1,000 underprivileged kids seeking an education, that otherwise would be unable to because of a lack of finances and resources. Smyrna Home also provides many other types of assistance including caring for disabled children, providing a home for young girls and looking after abandoned elderly. Our souls have been blessed by going along with Smyrna employees on home visits, seeing first-hand the poverty and needs these kids have. Most of the kids we visited lacked a pair of shoes, toilets and running water in the home. Many have to walk miles and miles to school barefoot. We interviewed children and families applying for sponsorships, in the hopes that a sponsor will be found and an education will be provided for.

Having a child with disabilities is seen as a family curse here, resulting in a dark, concealed life for the children and a shameful existence for the family. We know that God puts no one to shame and has purpose for every individual born into the world, no matter age or disability. Smyrna Home gives care and physical therapy to children with disabilities, and even offering work to support the families, specifically the mothers. Some of the mothers with disabled children work in Smyrna Home’s bakery where they learn how to bake donuts, cookies, cinnamon rolls, and bagels, giving them the opportunity to financially support their families. I know I for one have LOVED the baked goods. The donuts are better than any I’ve ever had, and I’ve eaten lots of donuts unashamedly. My belly has been blessed, thank you Lord. Our team has loved coming alongside this amazing organization and lending a hand, or using our gifts like teaching and creating media whenever possible.

Zac and I have been specifically working with an incredible couple since being here in Ooty. One of our contacts here is familiar with their ministry and sent us to volunteer and be hands of help. Peace and Anik started Arise in 2011 purely on faith. They were a part of YWAM for more than 15 years. Their hearts were heavy knowing that there were not many prison ministries in India. There are few burdens and visions for the prisons of India amongst Christians. Jesus’ heart of forgiveness gives everyone a second chance, no matter the crime or punishment received in this world. We are called to love those who have been left-behind. The world is looking for love, even those behind bars. Their heart is to see life transformation amongst these prisoners, teaching them practical skills that will support them beyond their prison sentence.

Anik, Peace, and their team teach and serve hundreds of prisoners, both men and women in Mysore and Coimbatore, India. The prisoners don’t only need teaching and training, but they also need physical work. Many prisoners are rejected by their family when they are released, and are unable to find jobs because of the shame of their prison sentence. They felt God was asking them to teach the prisoners handiwork skills. All of the materials they use are recycled because they say the broken and thrown away can be made beautiful once again. The prisoners are paid according to their work and are able to support themselves and their families with the skills gained through the craft and handiwork training. There are some children born inside of the prison, or that come with the mothers when sentenced. Arise provides clothing, toys, and support for the kids within the prison. They also support some of the prisoner’s family members outside of the prison, providing school fees, supplies, and basic needs.

Their vision is to go inside the prison to teach practical, life-long skills and to create jobs for the prisoners. More importantly, their vision is to show God’s love. When the prisoners see that the Arise team cares for them, they are more receptive to prayer, worship, and the message of the redemption and forgiveness found in Jesus Christ. They are praying into the vision of a half-way home in the future, where prisoners can stay after their release, and where they can teach them and help rehabilitate them back into society. Many prisoners that are released are rejected and have no place to go, and few are willing to hire them. Arise wants to create a safe place for them to go, especially for the previously incarcerated women.

God gave Anik and Peace the ability to create many beautiful one-of-a-kind crafts. They say they never thought of themselves as artists until God gave them the vision for the prisoners. Anik says, “God has made us all beautiful despite our brokenness and through Him, we see the beauty of things tossed aside.”

What they create: necklaces, earrings, bracelets, notebooks, quilts made from recycled saris, scarfs, knitted socks, handmade bags, keychains, vases, baskets, ornaments, home décor, and furniture.

Arise fully relies on faith for all funding. They do not receive any outside funding or support from any organizations or churches, and supply all of the crafting materials for the prisoners. They are looking for any volunteers willing to teach and train skills to the prisoners, and are open to all craftsmanship and skills to help create potential jobs. They are looking for beauticians, carpenters, electricians, or anyone willing to love, teach, and serve these men and women. They are also open to anyone wanting to buy some of the crafts made by the prisoners. Arise is willing to ship anywhere in the world, all of the goods costing less than $15. The beautiful earrings they make cost 50 rupee, less than one American dollar. For inquiries and financial support, email them at [email protected].

When Zac and I heard their story, we were beyond inspired and wanted to do whatever we could to help their ministry. I used my gifts with design and communications to create a brochure and information sheet for them to send out to churches and potential supporters. 

Zac used his gifts to create a video for them (below). We wanted to use the gifts God has given us to bless them and enlarge their ministry. We definitely don’t claim to be professionals at all, but God can use any level of gifting. This is an amazing couple with huge hearts for these prisoners, and we are blessed to even be a small part of their story. We are also excited to be bringing home gifts made by this special couple and the prisoners they serve.

Peace and blessings to you all.

Cambodia Here I Come

Dear Supporters and Following Friends

This coming Saturday we will be leaving India. What an amazing experience this has been for Logen and I. We have learned so much from the nature, people and culture of this wonderful country. We have met so many amazing people with inspiring stories. We will be taking the next couple of weeks to share their stories so that you too may be encouraged.

UPDATE

When we fly, Logen will be going with the team back to Northern Ireland to complete the rest of the Discipleship Training School. As for me, I will be flying to Cambodia for two weeks.

While in Cambodia I will:

Visit our son Dara at the orphanage 

Work with new church plants in the Jungle of Pursat with our mission contact Long Thoeun (Former Buddhist Monk, Now Pastor)

Spend more time with all the missionaries in Battambang that are working with YWAM in hopes strengthen relationships for future outreaches. 

I am especially excited to see Darith Van, who many of you know through our VBS in Weaverville and Greenville. 

I will meet up with Bong who many of you have read about from previous trips (survivor of the Khmer Rouge)

And then head back to Northern Ireland one week before coming back to America.

What I Need:

Thanks to many of you I have booked the flights for this trip already. I am going in complete faith as I do not have all the money I need for travel, lodging and food. I am not afraid. I am simply being obedient to the leading in which I have been called. If you would like to help fund this 14-day trip, see the “Just Give” tab on the home page of justlovecambodia.tumblr.com.

Thank you to everyone who has been praying for Dara, Logen and I and Cambodia. Please pray for this trip as I go alone. I currently do not have a phone as it died in New Delhi. I also do not have to money to purchase a new one. I will not have the computer for this trip either. I will connect as I can through others phones and tablets and of course will update you all as soon as I get back to Northern Ireland. Please also pray specifically that I will find favor with the French Sponsored Orphanage that Dara is in.

I am so thankful for all of you who are a part of this amazing love story.  

Our Last Week in New Delhi

Even though we have deactivated our Facebook accounts, we will still post as regularly as possible on the blog. We were asked to deactivate our Facebook pages because there were a lot of photos of us serving around New Delhi with the kids, and even some comments (that we love and are so thankful for) that suggested we were here for something besides tourism. Our safety is not at risk, but the Indian government has become quite strict on the allowance of Christian missionaries here. It is illegal to convert anyone religiously. Of course, we aren’t here for religion, but for relationship. However, most Westerners, religious or not, are immediately seen as Christians and therefore have to be careful in explaining their reasoning for being here.

Because we are currently being censored by the government we have been doing more touristy things on our days off. This is why you have seen that a lot of our posts have been in tourist spots around New Delhi, including the Taj Mahal in Agra.

We have fallen in love with the children from the slum. It has been a privilege to get to know them and the full-time people serving here. We are leaving tomorrow and do not want to leave anyone who is living here full-time at risk of being black-listed simply from our Facebook posts, showing us praying for kids and helping their wounds.

Thank you all for supporting us, praying for us, and encouraging us through this often times, tough and stretching mission we have been given here in New Delhi.

Below is a video from our last week in Delhi! Here is a short summary of what we did and where we took the kids.