Winter Wonderland!

Sat/Sun we got over 6 inches of snow!! Official blizzard - roads closed, schools closed (yes even here in the land of plows!) even church was cancelled! So of course I had to drag my friends from the warmth of our heated apartments into still falling snow for some sledding! The adventure began with me and Cat putting on every item of clothing we own (as thin-blooded southerners!) and then starting out on foot in search of sleds. We trudged (the only word to describe trying to walk through 6+ inches of un-plowed sidewalk) to Kroger, and then to CVS with no luck. Now determined, we had to put the 4-Runner in 4 wheel drive and try our luck at the roads. Cat the more experienced snow driver behind the wheel, we barrelled over the drift beside the curb and picked up Megan on the side of the road. We made it to Dunhams sporting goods (conveniently located across from the biggest sledding hill in town) with minimal fishtailing. $20 later we had 3 sleds! And across the street we went to joint the kids on the hill. We learned that the $5 dishes are faster than the $10 long sled, even with 2 people on the big one. And that the most fun can be had with a spinning start. And that running back up the hill adds a hell of a workout. And that some adults never learned that you should walk back up the side of the hill, not up the middle where people are coming down. One guy certainly learned the hard way when I barrelled him over. oops

winter wonderland or icy wasteland?

on Friday, I had a lovely walk to work - all bright, fresh air, snow crunching under my boots. I was thinking maybe winter isn't so bad! Actually its great!

I had this whole blog going in my head. It was going to be about how I try to walk on the untouched snow and pretend like I'm walking on a fresh field of snow. I walk into work all pink cheeked, excited to start my day. Should have written it then, when I was young and naive, nearly 50 hours ago.

Then the temperature climbed about 5 deg, to that terrible point where it's waffling back and forth right at freezing. This point, I now know, is the danger zone! Last night I was driving home from church - going a mere approximately 15 miles/hour - when I made a gentle left hand turn. Before I knew it, I was sliding down the road sideways! Literally careening into a pole, braking with no result, thinking there is absolutely nothing i can do! Then miraculously, I stopped, less than a foot from the pole! Car and Leigh unscathed.

Then again! This morning, starting my walk to work - on time, cereal in a cup in hand, ipod tuned to my Buckhead church podcast. Then I took the step out onto the rocks. Very slippery. Picture me, arms waving like in a cartoon. Terrifically, with balance and poise like a lemur, I regain my balance, only to take my first firm step onto the parking lot. A sheet of ice awaited me. Now arms are really going - around in circles - cereal flying everywhere. Just like a cartoon. Saying, "whoa, whoa, WHOA" until I find myself flat on my side - sprawled in the parking lot, lying in my cereal. Not a good start to the day.

Don't worry, though, Liz says that soon things will be much better - the temperature will never rise above freezing, so I won't have to worry so much about ice.

credit where credit is due

yesterday at church, I got a check from the Spirit. It seems so obvious now (as hindset tends to, i guess). it's regarding due credit, and pride that prevents that credit from being offered. You see...
Jesus said, "apart from Me, you can do nothing!" John 15:5.

I've accepted praise for so many things in my life, most of which I had obviously nothing to do with. The most obvious/recent one is my reading at Cara's wedding. So many people told me what a great job I did, how lovely my words. and I replied with Thank you. Knowing in my heart that I did nothing. I offered my mouth, and God spoke His words clearly through it. So many other examples. People ask me how things are going with the people around me I am trying to introduce Christ to. And I tell them of milestones and setbacks and questions, etc. My attitude here, though, is pride at what I have accomplished, or guilt about what I have failed to do. However, I have done nothing! Any seeking sparked has been the direct result of God's calling in their hearts. He graciously lets me be part of the plan because He loves me and knows I love them and Him, not at all because He needs me! Even things that the world would say are my accomplishments are nothing without His gifts. I would never have a BS or a master's without the mind He gave me. I did nothing to earn or deserve it - God chose me to give intelligence(friends - you can decide for yourself how much He gave...)
I don't love out of the goodness of my own heart, but because I feel God's endless love for me! I don't serve because I feel like it - it's obvious to me that if I followed my own selfish desires, I'd just watch TV or take a nap. I serve because God asks me to in His word and gives me the push to do so when He wants me too.
I am nothing without Him, and I want to make this more known in my interactions. Not to me - but to HIS name goes the glory. The cool thing is that although I am nothing on my own, I have offered my life to God and it is, "God working in [me], giving [me] the desire and the power to do His good purpose" Phil 2:13 and, as we so famously know, "I can do ALL things through Christ, who gives me strength" Phil 4:13.

Chicken Boulders

So last night I was cooking a delicious Trader Joe's chicken burger on my (ok Colleen's) George Foreman (yes, she gave it to me - i did not steal it!) and I dropped it. No big deal, I thought, any germs will be cooked away. Tossed it on the grill anyways.
So now you may be thinking, maybe I got sick from some nasty floor germs.
Nope. This morning I had this terrible (exaggerating quite a bit here, but at least noticeable) pain in my big toe. "What did I do to myself" I thought. Maybe I hurt my self running, or biking, oh no I'll never run again!
Then I remembered, oh yeah I dropped a chicken burger on it.

I hope you see the humor in this.

Exactly

Wisdom from Colleen.
I don't check my comments very often, and so I just read this one from my dear friend Colleen, who should be sitting next to me on the couch right now, drinking wine from a box, eating cookies, and watching Project Runway. Moving my stuff to my room when I leave it in the living room. Always cleaning when I cook for her. Ready to make a pan of baked ziti or stuffed shells when someone needs some mothering. The things you miss so much when you move to Michigan. She says...
I just remembered that you had this blog and I am so blessed by your postings since I am in a similar, yet different position. I am yearning for God to fill my heart but I don't have enough time to sit down like I used to and learn from the Bible and study like I had before. I was ashamed that I had not given God the time to study His Word and then I hit my hands and knees and just simply said "God, I can't live like this, you will have to do it for me". That is when I found my passion for Jesus and that is when I realized that you had a blog so I read it. Thank God you are in my life and I can be a part of yours through this blog. It shows me that I am not the only one who feels inadequate in my relationship with Christ. I have to remember that I am His child, His heir, His bride and he loves me unconditionally.

I have been looking at things down here a lot differently now and I have an Eleventyseven song in my head constantly that says "my heart is a spark, for You to ignite, I'm wanting to be the one that burns for you tonight, so bring me to life just like the starts that shine so brightly in the night, bring me to life."
We have life only in Christ and through Christ.

I Left my Bible in the car

Seriously. On Sunday. I left my Bible and my journal in my car. And as a result, I haven't journaled since Sat. Is that really all it takes? Too lazy/scared of the dark to go downstairs and get it? So I switch to my Carl Hiaasen book instead? Again - is that really all it takes. And even now, as I look at this critically, I know there's no chance I'm going downstairs. Way too alone in here and too dark out there. I guess there's some excuse due to life's recent reminders that nothing is certain and everything is finite.

So yesterday I read my Pslams online. And the night before, I read my book, A Woman and her God. So at least I know that I truly miss this integral, constant part of my evening. Just not enough to go outside. Ouch. Or maybe its been good for me - actual praying instead of writing my prayers. Sometimes even though I know no one is going to read my journal, I write for how it would look. Kind of like now. Instead of just concentrating on direct connection with God, I think about what people might think of me when they're reading it. All the time knowing that's not going to happen.

Me in Grey's. Almost

So today I went running with a friend of mine, and we run up this hill that was so steep that on the way down I got a terrible pain in my side. Familiar to runners, yes. But it hurt so bad that I started to think that I had appendicitis. So then I thought that if I did, first of all I was right next to the hospital, and second - I could be just like Meredith! Burst appendix during my residency, forced to undergo surgery in the hospital where I work. I was already composing an email to my friends. But then it went away and I knew that, unsurprisingly, it was just a stitch in my side.
Thought the blog could use something a bit lighter.

Thought for the day from an outside contributor:
God's love can complete us, and if we really can grasp his love for us we will be completely affirmed and validated and not need that from anyone else

Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, so that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Psalm 90:14

Song lyrics

Emotions are easier to get out in song. Luckily someone wrote this one a long time ago, and David Crowder with an unspoken helper brought it to my Ipod.
I want this to be my song. To be my desire - not just to sing prettily, but to emotionally feel in the depths of my heart.

Come, Thou Fount of every blessing,
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet...

Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed His precious blood;
How His kindness yet pursues me
Mortal tongue can never tell,
Clothed in flesh,
till death shall loose me
I cannot proclaim it well.

O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,Seal it for Thy courts above.

answer given

So realizing that my blogging was reaching more of the journal level instead of the possibly read by random people on the internet level, after my last post I turned to my Bible and hit my knees. There the Holy Spirit gave me my answer. The funny thing is that this is something that I've been dancing around recently. I've listened to two sermons on this very subject in the past couple weeks and both times thought, "that is good stuff". But neither time did I make the connection that this is what God was yelling to me. and then, becuase God knows what I need and He pays such attention to detail, He gave Kristi this exact same answer. Hearing the holy spirit and a best friend tell you the same thing is hardly something you can ignore. So after much blahblah - here it is:
For the past two years, well really for my whole life, just concentrated during this past two years, I have been learning about God. I started out with the basic Bible stories that they teach you in 9 years of Catholic school, and recently have really started to believe God about some serious truth's:
1. He loves me and forgives me! He paid my price for me. We by nature were so opposite of Him, but He gave up His life so that I can talk to Him. I can never deserve His love, but I can also never do anything to lose it. Amazing.
2. I can trust Him to lead me where He wants me. And I can trust that His plans are ridiclously beyond anything I could have come up with. I wanted Mexico and He sent me to Cambodia!
3. He pursued me and planned my life to bring me to Him.

Just realized that 1 and 2 are basically 2 truths that we teach elementary school kids at Buckhead. Those are hard truths to really get into your soul, though. Anyways.

I have cultivated a great intellectual relationship with Him. I have habits of spending time with Him daily that I look forward too. I can make lists of His characteristics.

But Wed night the Holy Spirit revealed to me that my EMOTIONAL relationship with Him is lacking! The most important part! And better than that, there's nothing I can do about it! I can't make a step by step plan to fall in love with God anymore than I can make a step by step plan to fall in love with a man.
God is calling me to turn this over to Him. He wants my heart. He wants my soul. Way beyond feeling like I should pray, or read my Bible, or go to church, He calls me to YEARN for Him. To crave Him. To recognize the characteristics of His that are so worthy of love.
Like David said:
O God you are my God, earnestly I seek you. My soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you in a dry and weary land where there is no water. Psalm 63: 1

I'm asking the Holy Spirit to melt my heart and turn my mind away from learning. To focus me on the countless praise-worthy aspects of God. I want to look forward to meeting Him even more than any human. To truly come to know in the deepest part of me that love like there is between us is greater than any earthly love.

What is it?

So since I've moved here, I've felt a little out of touch. I feel like there's something right outside my grasp that is so important for me to get. I can feel my mind and my heart distracting me from this, but I can't make the break through. I feel like God is yelling something at me and I'm just saying do you hear something? Then there's the feeling that I have to do more - I must be messing something up - not doing enough to get close to God. But looking at it objectively, I have been diligent about my quiet time. I have been listening to sermons on my ipod (2 today!) Almost all of the music I've been listening to is worship. So my head says, check, check, check. Done plenty. I must be imagining this slight noise.
But the Holy Spirit inside me says keep digging!
"How foolish can you be? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?" Gal 3:3
So God, what is it? What do you want me to hear? To learn and know?
I've been praying, please take my heart! Take it out of my hands and wrap me in Your arms! I truly believe that God knows best for my life.
I feel like every Sunday I'm disappointed in myself again. Saying this week I'll do better. Do better with what?? I know there's something there! The todo list is checked off, so it must be something less tangible. Less quanifiable. Somewhere my heart is not making the connection.
God please be clear with me! Yell louder! Lord please don't let me miss this!

Things I've been Thinking about Blogging About

So I just watched the Scrubs where Luverne dies. Such a bummer. Loved that character. But I did notice something - over the years, the Scrubs writers have become more and more into talking about their faith. I know they're Christian. Haven't read it anywhere, but its so obvious in the show. They rarely mention it outright. A few episodes ago the closing song was a Christian song. the last shot before Luverne dies is of her cross in her hand. Things like that. Just an observation.

Also - today its really cold here! Low 60s! It was 55 when I went to work this morning. Probably close to the same when I finished my run at 8:30 pm. These are signs of things not happy to come. It wasn't so cold on Sunday when I did my first half century. That's right - 50 miles. Just wanted that recorded.

And something I've been thinking about a lot since the NYC trip. I love meeting new people. I love getting to know people and talking about myself and such things that are required when you move somewhere new. But - there is absolutely nothing like being with people who know you inside and out. Who have seen you blow up over things like blankets and Thursday night dinner. Who knew you when your wore your hair over your left eye, or bought oakleys pretty much solely to be used as a headband. Who watched you make bad decisions about boyfriends (and regret it...hmmm...now!). Who gave you advice about such decisions which you promptly disregarded. And much much more. And crazy enough - despite all of this - still buy plane tickets to make sure we get to hang out. Anyone can like the cool, kind, fun Leigh (I am THAT great. jk). But the friends who have stayed that way after getting to know all parts of me - those are the ones I will love forever and would do anything for. I'm not even sad when we say goodbye because I know for 100% sure that it won't be long until we're together again. Reminiscing about old times and making new memories. What an amazing blessing to have found these people.

And I can't help myself from drawing the parallel - the amazing fact that as tried and true as these relationships are, they are only a shadow of the perfect love between me and my Heavenly Father. He knows more than what I've done - He knows the depths of my heart. The things I won't even let myself think. And He loves me the same as if I was perfect. And - no plane ticket necessary! He's always here with me. One day we will be together face to face. So when I'm a little lonely up here in Michigan, or just tired of trying to explain what an orthotist is, I can know that the One who knows more about me than even myself is right beside me.

List of Things Gone Wrong Today

1. No hot residents at my orientation.
2. No new friends at all from orientation.
3. The university has my name spelled wrong, making my login and email address cpipkEn.
4. The group ride that I was trying to go biking with for some reason was not there. And I had to ride all the way down there to find out.
5. My average speed riding to and from the group ride that didn't happen was less than 9 mph. Can you say 1 million traffic lights?
6. I almost got hit by a bus on my bike

It doesn't seem like as much all laid out here. I have to say out loud - CHOSE TO BELIEVE!!

Last night of freedom

I wanted to finish my Cambodia blog before I wrote anything else, but oh well. Tomorrow is my first day of work! I have to be there at 7:45! I had these 3 lovely months of leisure and they are all gone!
Today marks my one week mark here in Ann Arbor. I think that I do actually like this place! It has everything I want/need, and the size is really idea! Big enough to have an H&M and a Trader Joes, but not too big to have an interstate or two down the middle. I know one thing at least is going to be more difficult here - finding good Christian influences. In the south, pretty much everyone is a Christian to some degree. Here, not the case. I went to a church today - the Vineyard Church, and the church was what I am looking for - progressive, contemporary music, good message, but I don't think the people are my people. I was a little disappointed. I've gotten attached to Buckhead. And I know I'm not going to find anything exactly the same here. But I trust that God sent me here and prepared the way for me. He must have setup some good Christian people for me to be around. And I already know He sent me for some good non-Christian people. I hope that God will use me in their lives! I wonder if He sent me to them. Pretty big if He did. Again, I have to chose to trust. He will work through me if that is His intention. I am open and willing. Please pray that I listen and have courage to speak/act!

Cambodia Day 8 - Sunday

We woke up before the sun! We met in the lobby at 4:30 AM to watch the sunrise. We hiked up this hill. No one could really tell me the name, but it's the hill where you can take the elephants to the top. But we were there before the elephants so we had to do it ourselves! We were the only ones there and it was AWESOME. We ran all over the temple, watched an indescribable sunrise, read Psalm 19 (my idea - ok - God's idea through me!) and had a little sunrise service. We said prayers of praise - the view of the sunrise was completely awe inspiring. Lord, please use the beauty of Your creation in Cambodia to draw Your people to You!
Then we climbed back down and drove to Ankor Thom and the Bayon temple. The Bayon is part of Ankor Thom - it is the one with the faces. It was really amazing - we climbed to the top and took pictures. The we had to find some H2O and some bathrooms, so we drove to the end of Ankor Thom. We explored some of the 12 small palaces built for the queens. Again - climbed (practicaly crawled!) to the top, took pictures, and came back down. The we explored the elephant fighting arena and another small but steep temple at Ankor Thom.
Then we got back in the bus and drove to TaProm. Here the temple and the trees are one. We they found this temple, they left most of the wildlife. Tomb Raider was shot here. The trees look like they are oozing over the walls! They have swallowed them up over the years. One bad thing here - walked through a door that was maybe a cm shorter than me and banged the hell out of my head. Hurt SEVERELY. I saw black and cried. But I survived. With 800 mg of ibuprofen's help. We went to a pretty gross lunch where I had what was described as a banana pancake.
Then we went to another really cool temple. Must look up the name for this one. Ok found it - Preah Kahn. It is less visited and better preserved than the others. It was huge! The walkway was lined with statues of men pulling a rope. The inside was shaped as a cross, with 4 long hallways. In the courtyard there was a 2 story building with columns. But no stairs. The architecture of this temple is different from the others.
On the way to all of the temples, there was a bunch of landmine survivors. They had these bank where they made awesome music! Pretty cool! I wanted to buy a CD, but they were $10, so I gave them $1 and took a short video instead.
Then we went to ANKOR WAT. Wow. The other temples were cool, but this one was built on a completely different scale. It was massive! The gate alone is massive. We climbed up a wall, pretty much, to get to the top. You have to crawl up on your belly. They wanted visitors to have to arrive prostrate. It worked - its the only way to make it up!

These temples got me thinking about the freedom God gives us. He gives great creativity. He gives the means to create such beautiful structures. But we get to chose to honor Him with it, or to use His gifts to worship a piece of stone! How He must cry to see it!

After Ankor Wat, we went back to the hotel and then to the Red Piano. More good American food! My stomach is not doing so good by this point! Cannot handle any more Khmer food.
Then we went back to the hotel for more debriefing. This time we talked about the highlights. Heartwarming to say the least! I have them all written down in my Northpoint journal. It was so good to immediately look back and see what we had accomplished!

Cambodia Day 7

Woke up today with a crazy eye! A evil mosquito had bitten me TWICE on the EYELID while I was sleeping! I could barely open my right eye! After resigning myself to a day of sunglasses (even inside) we headed to the floating village of Siem Reap. Literally the houses, churches (even one Catholic church!), schools, pharmacy, grocery, basketball court, all are essentially boats! Some are boat shaped, some are just like houses with floaties. We rode a boat down through the middle of it. It was beautiful. And not that hot. The rest of the crew got off the boat for awhile, but me, Kacie, and Josette stayed on and looked for things in the clouds. Awesome.
Then we went to lunch and did some "debriefing" where we talked about things about the trip that could be improved for next year. I mentioned adding a daily group Bible study, and the occasional "it has to be perfect" attitude that cropped up.
Then we went to Ankor Wat! We went to watch the sunset, but it rained. It was a cool light, though, to see the ruins in, so it was still a cool experience. We couldn't see the sunset at all, though, because of the clouds. Ankor Wat is a massive temple that was originally built as to the Hindu god but is now used as a Buddhist temple. The scale of hit is incredible massive. You really have to see it to be able to understand.
We went to dinner at the Blue Pumpkin. me and Kacie split a burger and ravioli. Delicious for a tongue tired of Khmer food, and more reliable for the stomach!
Again, Kacie, DeAnna and I went out after everyone else went to sleep. Kacie and I went to get Thai stretch massages! We went to this slightly sketchy place over the top of a restaurant, but the people there were very nice and there was a sign that said No Sex, so we weren't too worried! The massage was awesome. You wear clothes for it because they stretch your legs and wrap themselves around you, etc. There's no oil or anything. an interesting different kind of massage!

Cambodia Continued - Day 5

From my hand journal -
So we got up at 8 am Fri and got in the van to head to Siem Reap. Holy long drive! Sam, Vek, and Samoeng came with us. We sang for awhile, then we were just hanging out. I put on my ipod for awhile because I was feeling a little annoyed at my teammates. Not anyone in particular, just that general annoyance that comes from not getting a minute alone for a week. Needed some time for myself. After I got over than, me and Michael had some good conversation about Catholicism. I told him about my feelings that the Catholic church kind of misses the point - it does not focus at all on the relational nature of Jesus. Instead, some of its rituals make the church members even feel like that can;t have a relationship with Jesus - confessions, prayer to the saints - all request intercession instead of going straight to God Himself. And it focuses too much on works, instead of the saved by faith truth of the Bible. However, I still maintain that the Catholic church and its rituals do work to bring some people close to Jesus.
This talk with Michael opened up some good conversation with Kacie, Robot, and Cara. It was nothing short of exactly what you expect a mission trip to be full of!
When we FINALLY got to Siem Reap (~6 hours in a rocky van!), we showered and got ready for our professional outreach. For a minute, we had a minor freak out about the dress of the group - Vek wanted the men in ties! But, what can you do?
The professional outreach was a really nice, 7 course meal. New Life Church members invited their non-Christian friends. There were about 100 people there. The church women did a traditional Khmer dance. Then Michael gave ~ a 10 minute talk on what Christianity means to him - Ephesians 2:45 - " But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive even when we were dead in transgressions. It is by grace you have been saved" Then college students from New Life Church danced to a praise song. Then Kacie spoke about how we all have pain, and how Christ offers us rest from pain. Then more dancing. Then Robot talked about how his life had changed since becoming a Christian. After all 3 of my teammates spoke, Vek wrapped everything up, and told the people how to become a Christian if they wanted - just by professing faith in Jesus and asking Him to to come into their hearts. Then they passed around a card - check A if you accepted Christ tonight, B if you have questions, and C if you just want to make a suggestion. 23 people picked A! I was certainly skeptical at first over the lasting nature of such a profession. However, Sam said that they would all be contacted within days and plugged into the church. Also remember, many of these people have never heard the gospel of Jesus - it's totally opposite from Americans who mostly grew up hearing about it. So it seems like NLC of Siem Reap has 23 new members! Pretty cool. I've always been a little suspicious of such events, truthfully, but God was definitely present there. He spoke through my teammates, apparently straight to the hearts of some of the Cambodians there.

After the dinner, Kacie, DeAnna and I got foot massages in DeAnna's room! Pretty fabulous.

Complacency

Hmmm. Never had more free time in my entire life, but never have I gotten so little done! In the last few days of my trip, I had no internet and was forced to journal by hand. So I was planning on typing it up on here (want to have it all in one place! guess a little of Colleen's OCD rubbed off on me!) but I've been "too busy". What have I had to do? Ride my bike, go to the beach, etc. It has been great, and I did need some real vacation. But it's not the vacation that I'm feeling guilty about - its the complacency. I am so tempted to float along in this feeling of doing pretty good that I allow myself to ignore the things that I claim are number 1 important to me. Reflection (hence the blog) and spending time with God in His word and prayer. I let myself be content with little bouts of stolen time, instead of really prioritizing this extra time I've been given.
But, while feeling guilty - God led me to Romans 3 - ALL have sinned and fallen short. So although I have done badly with my extra time these past two weeks, I know I can count on God's grace to get me back on track. Guilt is a waste of time. Forgiveness is only one prayer away.
BTW - I'm in Michigan. Currently lying on my bed in my new room!

Day 4 - CSPO

Today was AWESOME! I spent the day with the students at the Cambodian School of Prosthetics and Orthotics. In the morning, I passed out my bag of goodies, and I felt like Santa! They were so pumped about the components. They knew all about what they did, and the textbook answers of advantages and disadvantages, but they hand't seen a carbon fiber foot, or a 4-bar hydraulic knee. One of the things they asked for and I was able to get was 1"Dacron, and within an hour I saw 2 students using it on their patient's AFOs for dorsiflexion stops. It was awesome to have that instantaeous knowledge that I was able to do something. I got a tour of the school and clinic, and I was amazed that besides the lack of air conditioning, the school and lab seems so familiar - like the ones Ive been in. I guess the biggest differences are that they use ICRIC components from the Red Cross, and they use a tan polypropylene for everything (even sockets, which they drape form). The scoket designs were the same - one guy was even making a MAS socket. Most of the students I hung out with were in their 3rd year, which seems to be similar to my residency, except they don't get paid. One of the things that was also very familiar about the school was the comaderie between the classmates. They seemed so close, like our group of 10. And this is after not only spending EVERY day together in either school or clinic, but also sleeping at the school, two to a room. I took pictures of their dorm - they even have a punching bag for getting out frustrations! I love my classmates, but I think that we would hate each other by now if we shared rooms and a kitchen and everything else. They literally are together all the time!
I got to observe several patient fittings, incluing two little girls with CP, one little TF boy, and many adult TT, TF, and polio patients. Ron (the lecturer from the states) said that they used to see all landmine and polio victims, but those have been mostly eradicated. Now they are seeing traffic accident injuries and CP.
The students were all very smart and easy to talk with. They all speak good English - all of their classes are conducted in English because of the international nature of the school. One thing Ron and I talked about a lot was the problems with the ISPO classifications. As a developing nation school, they are a category 2. Programs in the US are category I. Ron says they get an inferiority complex of sorts becuase of the lower category. One student (from Georgia! the country!) explained it to me as a ceiling that they will always hit their head against. Its very interesting becuase I knew about the classifications but had never thought about them. I have mixed feelings - they don't have the same backgrounds as us - no undergrad degrees, no university to monitor their classes. However, they are certainly doing a great job fitting patients. And they see some very difficult patients and problem solve around issues we would never have to encounter. There's no replacement for experience! One thing that I know for sure - it sucks how much it costs to go to Tech. A couple of the students asked me and I couldn't even really bring myself to tell them. It costs even more for international students. Many of these students are supported by their country's or from elsewhere, but $80,000, or even more like the $25.000 I paid out of pocket is outrageous to them. I learned today that Cambodian government employess (teachers, policemen, etc) make only ~200 PER YEAR!
One thing I did get a chance to think about today was how amazing it is that I ended up here. I was bummed when I didn't get asked to go on either of the trips I orginally signed up for. But, as I've seen so much, I can think that I know the best plan for my life. Then God comes in, throws my plan out the window, and I'm bummed for a minute, but then He comes through with something much greater than I could have imagined myself!!

Day 4 - BEACH

Today we took the kids to the beach! It was a 4 1/2 hour drive! But it was worth it! They were all so excited! Most of them it was only their first or second time seeing the ocean! We only took the kids from one orphanage (~25), and Smiley wasn't there. Bummer, but there are tons of cute kids! good for me not to have a favorite!
Spent most of the time teaching the older kids how to body surf! It was SO MUCH FUN! For all of us!!

Day 3 - Orphanage

Back at the orphanage on Tuesday. Again, we started out with field day games, and then spent most of the day doing a big art project. The kids had a good time. There was a little tension among the team members, but we got it all together. The kids had fun, and really that's what makes it a success in my book! Who really cares what the mural looks like? Each kid painted a square, and it did turn out to be really nice art, in my untrained eye. It was a good day to do the art project because the shade was involved - it was much hotter! But I'm getting used to just being completely sweaty. Can't really fight it! The ladies who work the orphanage cook us lunch while we're there, and today I walked up while they were doing it. I was totally amazed. The "kitchen" is outside, with our shrimp being fryed over an open flame, veggies and coconuts and papaya from the garden or from a cabinet that is the pantry. They start cooking in the morning and the food isn't ready until noon. I felt bad that they were doing so much for us, but it seems to be a labor of love. and i mean labor, for real. But the food that we eat at the orphanage is the best we eat here, I think! They pull a coconut down from the tree, chop a hole in the top, chop a slit where they fit a straw, and we drink up. Its pretty awesome. Well, in theory. We have cool pictures, but the coconut milk is not that delicious. The papaya really is though. And I tried lychee and sawmow, both jelly-like fruits with seeds in the middle, and they were really good. The sawmow has spines on the outside.
In the afternoon, we played with some water balloons and then gave the kids the beanie babies. wow. those things have been sitting up in the Pipkin family attic for a while now. But they were treasures to them. Each kid picked their own, and they were running around, showing them off, stashing them away, trading them, etc. The look in their eyes was pure thrill. And after we got done passing them out, they sang us a song, first in Khmer, then English. The words were "Thank you Jesus, in my heart." I cried. One of the girls I have been hanging out with a lot picked the only stuffed animal that actually belonged to me - a Bambi that was not a beanie baby. I can't really explain the feeling of seeing her and the rest of them with their new treasures without sounding super cheesy. Really, words would only cheapen it. I feel so blessed to have been part of it.
Straight from the orphanage, we went to the Russian market, a big street market with tons of food and random stuff to buy. There's so much to see that it's very overwhelming. but very cool, and you can get really good prices. you have to bargain a lot, though, which I have a hard time doing without feeling like I'm stealing food right off their table. Anyone want a Northface backpack?
After we got back to the hotel and ate dinner, me and Kacie and Lindsay went to the spa, where they got massages and I got a facial! I've never gotten a facial before, and it was pretty awesome! and it only cost $13.50. tommorrow we might get $7 mani/pedis. yeah that's $7 total. and I still want to get a massage.
Running out of internet time!

Went straight to the orphanage this morning when we woke up. Its a little outside of Phnom Pehn, but only about 30 min. However, traveling in the city is pretty much the most ridiculous traffic you ever saw. Not in the amount, but in the way they drive. There are pretty much no rules except get out of the way! They drive on the right hand side officially, but are not afraid to go off into the left if necessary. In fact, that's pretty much the only way you can make a left hand turn! And I've only seen one, maybe two, stoplights. Not to mention the hundreds of motos, some carrying an entire family, weaving in and out of traffic. Literally a moto is like a Cambodian mini van. It's not unusual to see one with a mom, dad, infant baby, toddler, gramma, etc. The most I've seen on one is 5 people!
When we got to the orphanage, the kids came out to the van to meet us and help carry in the goodies we brought. We started by splitting them up into teams and playing crazy field day games. I was head of the pink team. Just wait until you see my pictures! I had the cutest kid on my team - we called him Smiley. He was only about 3 years old - one of the youngest there. We had 3 translators, all students of the New Life Church Bible college, as well as Cambodian universities. They were able to explain the games to the kids well, and we demonstrated and participated. When was the last time you crab-walked? Wheelbarrow raced? We had fun, and by the end, we were all drenched in sweat. It probably averages 100 degrees and 100 % humidity here! Doesn't seem to bother the Cambodians at all! Then we gave the kids a bunch of the balls that we brought. It was like Christmas! We played basketball, threw frisbees, got our butts kicked at soccer, etc! You know I wasn't even trying to kick the soccer ball around, but I'm not too bad with the frisbee, especially to an 8 year old.
Lunch was the best meal we've had here so far! The women who run the orphanage cooked for us - fried fish, and rice, and chicken soup, and something we've eaten twice now - morning glories. They really are the stems from the flowers! Dad, I'm sure you're jealous! They look like green beans. We also had a chance to talk to Samoeung. Her and her husband are the heads of New Life Church, and the orphanage is her baby, so to speak. She told us about their funding situation very openly, saying that commonly they just have to trust Jesus to bring them the money they need. Its worked so far, but she said it would be better if they could get some consistent sponsorship. Kacie and I were pretty interested - we think this could be a great thing for a couple of small groups to get together to commit to. It only takes $30/month to feed, clothe, house, and educate a kid here. Now I sound like Sally Struthers. But if you could see these kids, you would know that it's more than worth it! They actually have it really well, compared to the extreme poverty that much of the country lives in. It makes you question how God allows this to happen. No good seems to come of it. How can He be doing the best for these kids? But His ways are not my ways, and someday I will have to ask Him. Until then, I have to do whatever I can! It was great today to see the joy on the kids faces. Its also very cool that they grow up knowing about Jesus and what He did for us, unlike the 95% of Cambodians who are Buddhist.
After an afternoon of more games, more frisbee, and much more sweat, we headed back to the hotel for the best shower (and most needed!) I've probably ever taken! I got to talk to Ron at the Cambodian School of Prosthetics and Orthotics, and we worked out a plan where I will get to spend the entire day there on Thursday! And the rest of my team will be meeting me there at 3:00 for a tour. This is exactly what I wanted!
Time to go to sleep. If you read this, please pray for us that we will continue to stay healthy, and that God will shine His love through us, to the kids and to all of the people we come in contact with. Also, please pray that we will really catch on fire with enthusiasm for doing His work and spreading His love!

Day 1 - Phnom Penh

We made it! Endless plane ride (23 hours!) and we arrived Sat night. we essentially missed 7/7/07! Oh well! Today we've been sightseeing - Church first (7:00 AM!). There were about 1000 Cambodian people there! The songs were in Khmer, but the sermon was in both English and Khmer!
After church, we went to the Killing Fields, where the Pol Pot regime executed about 9000 cambodians. There was no other purpose for the camp - just a place where people - including women and children - were bussed for execution. Very sobering. And this only happened about 30 years ago. Clothing and bones from the victims are all over the ground. Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge killed over 1 million people total when they were in control.
After the killing fields we went to lunch, where our guide, an employee of the church, ordered us real Khmer food. It was really good! Very Thai - like, with coconut soup, sweet and sour dishes, and rice. I also had a lychee drink - a kind of fruit soft drink. And - so far - feel fine!
Then we took a bit of a tour of the city - going to Wat Phnom and the Royal palace, and walking down the water front. Now its monsooning (daily thunderstorm!) so we're waiting it out in the hotel. We have lots of plans to make before we go to the orphanage tommorrow.
Keep praying! More updates when possible!

Countdown - 13 hours

So, after a long day, I'm pretty much ready to go. It was touch and go at the sprint store, crying to the guy behind the counter, trying to explain how it was vital that I have my phone because I was expecting a call from a woman about some feet for Cambodians. They thought I was crazy. Guess I needed a good cry.
Anyways, that's all settled now. Seriously, I can't wait to leave. God has so clearly paved the way to get me to Cambodia that I know He must have some awesome plans for me there. I need to remember that He is in control of every second. He has proven to me that He is a far better planner than me. So be it with the kids, or the prosthetic students or patients, or my own teammates, or any random person that I come in contact with, I know God made me to further a part of His plan over there. Please pray that I am listening for His call and that I have the courage to act when necessary.
I don't think that my gifts are in sharing God's gospel. Although I hope that if I am called to do so, I can. But instead, my goal is really to shine God's love! God told us through John that when we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us. I want to be an example of that kind of love! I want the Cambodian people to know in their guts that there is a God who loves them. I want to be living evidence of that. I want them to know that nothing good I do comes from me - it only comes from the Holy Spirit living in me.

Finally - blog!

Kept saying I was going to do it! Just wanted everyone I know to be privilege to my brilliant inner thoughts. Just kidding. I'm leaving for Cambodia tomorrow and for Michigan at the end of July. I want to use this as a way to keep up with my friends. Really so you guys can laugh at how I look in 10 layers of clothing, my excitement over the first snowfall, the first time I hit something because I'm trying to drive in ice. But luckily, got a few months before that fun starts. For now, I'll be telling you guys how I watch God's plans unfold in Cambodia! Start the praying now, please!