Beautiful

Hello from Cambodia:
We arrived here safely on the 14th, can't believe it's been a week already. It's been a journey here so far! We're staying at the orphanage with the girls-there's about 20 of them that live here during the week. The house mothers have been taking really good care of us. We have experienced many flavorful foods- rice with every meal. It is very interesting to see American culture within the Capital. The weather makes Florida's heat seem mild- we are becoming very grateful for fans!
We are so in love with the girls here!! They captured our hearts within the first few hours that we met them. They keep us busy and our days are spent playing jump rope, hand games, and teaching English from sunrise to sunset (literally). One of their favorite English words is beautiful and that is what they truly are, both inside and out. They each have different personalities that reflect Christ: they love without abandon, they are humble servants, and they have hearts full of joy. The one thing that we have noticed is that many of the girls have a distorted view of beauty; they seem to equate it with the American stereotype: blonde hair, blue eyes, perfect light skin. During our time here we are trying to communicate how beautiful each girl is as well as help the understand that the beauty of the heart is what brings joy to the LORD. Please pray as we try to enforce these truths despite the language barrier.
On another note, we got to go to church with one of the girls on​ Sunday and it was a very inspirational experience. The percentage of Christians in this country is so small, but the faith of the believers is enormous! Although we didn't know the language (Khmer), the passion they had for Christ spoke volumes to our own hearts. We are moved by how the Christians here live out scripture daily. It is an encouragement and challenge to our own faith.
Please pray for new opportunities to minister to the girls in the orphanage, as well as to the community of Phnom Penh. Also, pray for physical endurance for our team so that we may be the most effective for His Kingdom. Thank you so much for your support. We love you all!!

In Him,
Simone, Anna, Amber, Sarah, Alicia

Departing

Amber: Sarah, Guess What?!?!?!?!?!!??!?!?!!?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sarah: What, dear Amber?
Amber: WE ARE LEAVING FOR CAMBODIA TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sarah: NO WAY!
Amber: Yes Way! One Way! JESUS!!
Sarah: He's the only One that I could live for!!
Amber & Sarah: WOOT WOOT!!

Yeah, that's right followers,
We are on our way to Cambodia tomorrow!!!!!!!! We are so excited to be used by God to reach out to the wonderful people on the other side of the world!

For the past 3 days we have gone through some rigorous training to make sure we are up to par for the field. It involved being zip tied together, explaing lunar eclipses (what are those again?!?), gummy bear missionaries, and the most amazing prayer circle ever. I know not much of that makes sense, but I feel a bit more prepared because of it all. I could truly feel the power of the Holy Spirit reign all throughout our PBA missions teams. Lord, Bless them all!

Please keep us in your prayers as we head out tomorrow. Pray that His will be done in all situations and circumstances. That we will be united as a team under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. And for our babies in Cambodia! I can't believe we get to meet them!!

Thank you and God Bless you all!

Sarah: Hey Amber, guess what?!?!
Amber: What, beautiful lady Sarah?
Sarah: What did the daddy buffalo say to the baby buffalo?
Amber: What???
Sarah: Bi-son

Simone: Wow...you guys need to work on your jokes..
Amber&Sarah: yayaya

Even when we aren't, HE is

God is good. God is faithful.

There are only 7 more days until our team takes off for Cambodia. It is so surreal to think that in a few days we will be in a country that none of us knew anything about until 8 months ago when God chose us to go. Yet it is so amazing to think of the ways that He is going to use us over there. I just know His glory is going to shine in all its abundance and lives will be changed... forever. It's so crazy because I remember back to when I first knew He was calling me to go, how scared I was and how much I fought with Him on it. But even though I was scared, I obeyed. And in faith I took that step, fully believing that He would not steer me in the wrong direction. And now that fear has turned into great excitement. But before I journey into the present let's go back to the past for a bit...I hope you're following :).

The total cost for our trip is $2400/person and as the time came for us to begin raising funds, I began to get discouraged. For a while, I wasnt receiving any funds while others were receiving plenty. Because of this I started to doubt whether or not I was actually supposed to be going; thinking maybe it was my own voice that I heard, not God's. But then again I had been so sure that it WAS Him that I heard. So I did my best to push those thoughts aside and allow the Truth to occupy my mind: God will provide. If He called me, which I was certain He had, then certainly He would provide the way. Surely He is faithful. Surely His word would not return void. Never.

So now we'll fast forward a few months into the present. He has come through and still is coming through, not only for me, but for everyone on our team. I think of how faithful He is and how unfaithful I am at times and I just stand in awe of His grace and goodness. Even when we don't listen, HE IS MERCIFUL. Even when we give up, HE IS OUR STRENGTH. Even when we aren't faithful, HE IS FAITHFUL.... No need to worry, we can always count on God to finish the works He's started. Especially the works He has called us to do. God, may You be glorified because You are so deserving.

"But seek first the kingdom of God and is His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you"-Matthew 6:33

We are uber excited about this trip and cannot wait to meet the girls in the orphanage and share hearts with them :))) Thank you all for following us on this journey.

In HIM,
Simone

Agape

This past Wednesday was the 'Agape Beauty Salon Night' fundraiser. It was spurred on when Amber and I were driving back from a Walmart trip we didn't mean to make :). At the time we had been talking about the trip and about the Agape Beauty Salon in Cambodia that gives the older orphans a stable income.



Praise the Lord, the fundraiser came together very well! We did our best in giving manicures and pedicures, watched Enchanted (and sang, too), had snacks, and shared about the trip. It made us think heavily in our hearts of not only the girls who everyday serve in this way but also of Jesus who came to serve. Beautiful.



Thank you so much to all who are praying and for those who came out!

In Jesus' love, Sarah

Chick-Fil-A fundraiser

Sarah, Alicia, and Amber at Chick-fil-A raising funds for the trip! It was a great day. Thanks to all those who came and supported!

Fund-Raising

So,

This past week has been amazing! We did some fundraising at our school on what is called the Rinker Green. We sold amazing t-shirt, jewelry, snacks, and nit-nacks! The Lord has blessed us financially and has also surrounded us with great people and stories. I got to meet several people this past week who either have gone/lived in Cambodia or are planning to give years of their life serving God over in Cambodia. Thanks to all who came out and supported the team.

Tomorrow we have our Chick-fila night, which is super exciting. We will be indulged in the intoxicating smell of chicken while raising awareness about our mission.

Prayer Requests: Please pray that our team with grow closer to God than they ever have been and that we may grow closer to each other each and everyday. Also, for financial provisions and preparation for the trip. Pray for the girls at Remember Nhu in Cambodia. Pray for Cambodia as a nation. That there would be a strong awareness of the negative affects of Human sex trafficking and that God's light may be see among those in the country.

Always remember:

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." Hebrews 13:8

Assurance in Christ,

Amber

Flight Details!!

SO, Exciting news!!

We have our flight details!

We will be flying out on May 12 and returning June 2!

Please keep our team in your prayers. As of right now we are preparing to have a fundraiser at our school where we will be selling jewelry(prices may very) and some awesome t-shirts(created by our lovely Alicia Stamm; $10) and some fun things like chocolate cover spiders(we are debating on whether we should do a bet: if we sell all our chocolate covered tarantulas we will all eat a fried tarantula in Cambodia, take a picture, and post it!!) Another fundraiser that we will be doing will be held at chick-fila in West Palm, on Palm Beach Lakes Blvd., people will be able to come in and support us by buying a meal and turning in one of our flyers, also by spinning the Chick-fila wheel, in which they donate a dollar and win something from Chick-fila. We are also working on sending out 2nd letters to keep people updated!

As far as finances go as a team we have $4537.25 and owe $7462.75. Please pray for the provisions of our team. We are all trusting in God and doing all that we can do as a team to get where God is calling us to go. Thank you all for your support!

The more I study Cambodia and read about the girls that we will be serving, the more that I am just blown away at that fact that God wants to use me to serve such beautiful people and that I get to tell them about how great God's love for them!

God Bless all of you this Easter weekend. Remember Christ and all that He has done for you. All glory be to God, forever and ever. Amen.

Wrapped in His wonderful grace,

Amber Gift

Team Cambodia

Check out this video: http://www.connie-collins.com/video-portfolio/remember-nhu.aspx