Here’s an entry I started on the plane ride home but didn’t finish until last week and then forgot to post. Jet lag is always an easy excuse.
Right now I’m in the middle of a 14 hour flight with a middle seat next to a large gentlemen. I’m not talking offensive lineman size but definitely linebacker”ish”. Now Kyle had the offensive lineman on the way there but his saving grace was that he had an aisle seat. For me and my buddy it was all elbows and knees touching pretty much the entire flight. There was some serious jockeying for that arm rest. After a few hours I eventually got used to his elbow and knee, not really. At about an hour into the flight I noticed there was bar in the seat that was wreaking havoc on the left side of my gluteus maximus. It would go from pain to numb and numb to pain and those fluffy airplane pillows were of little assistance. Seriously, those things are a joke. My plight wasn’t helped by the fact that this guy hasn’t peed in 7 hours. The good news was that everyone to my right had gotten up so I was able to slink across their seats. Thank goodness for my pea sized bladder that Delta isn’t concerned about our hydration or I would have been doing laps to the bathroom and back all the while not making any friends.
Looking back on the trip my heart is so full and immediately my mind is flooded with images, feelings and deep emotions that instantly brings me to tears. Right now I have one arm raised in worship listening to the song “Our God Reigns”. That song only has 3 words throughout but those 3 words say it all. It was so evident that God never once left us. Never did He let us down. Time after time he blessed us and others with not just enough but always in abundance. I remember one woman that was on staff at Daughters of Cambodia. When she came to us she didn’t have any specific prayer requests and my initial read was that she was a strong woman who many others looked to. I didn’t even have a chance to ask the Lord for a picture or image He wanted to share with her. Instantly, He graciously showed me one about 5 seconds into prayer. It was two heavy suitcases and one backpack signifying the weight she was carrying that she didn’t need to. Once we called that out she was visibly emotional knowing that to be true. We prayed with her for awhile and she continued to experience more and more freedom. By the end she was overwhelmed that the God of the universe would meet her right where she was at. She didn’t need to do anything crazy to reach Him just accept the truth she knew was true and that He was revealing to her. Long story short the Lord rocked her*. She dropped that unnecessary baggage, gave it the Lord and walked out in new freedom and left a changed person. We found ourselves changed just by being a part of it all. He’s just that good, and you don’t need to be in a 3rd world country or even be from one to experience this. He doesn’t discriminate. His love and passion for each one of us is immeasurable. It’s passionate, furious, infinite, inconceivable, and unbelievable to name a few. Just take a step towards Him. There are no small steps, just significant ones.
I’ll be thinking, praying and writing about this trip for the rest of my life. That’s what is so powerful about these experiences is that they don’t end. They never stop. Nothing on this trip just simply occurred, rather everything is occurring. God’s spirit is in perpetual motion. Strongholds of evil were broken and evil is on the run. The repercussions of a move of God’s spirit is infinite and eternal and we are here to say His spirit is fully alive in Cambodia. He’s sweeping the nation and New Life Church (our church partner) plans on planting 500+ churches. Yes, 500+. Each one of us experienced and witnessed healing. Not just once but over and over again. God’s spirit fell on us in profound and powerful ways and it’s safe to say when I speak for the team that we will never be the same. I can’t imagine going on this trip without this group of Jesus loving spirit filled folks known as #Cambo2k16.
Michael – The elder statesman of the group and 55 years older than the youngest member (you can do the math on your own). This guy is beast. He never once slowed down despite the heat and the long days. Each of us hope we can be like him in so many ways when we are his age. He eats scripture for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Pretty certain he has the entire Bible memorized. Just by sitting beside him makes you wiser. He’s being considered for the next Most Interesting Man Alive.
Jenna – What can I say about Jenna? It’s our third time together and we’ve seen and experienced a lot. She loves the people there so well. Cambodia is a better place because of her and she’s a better person because of Cambodia. I’d battle alongside her anytime, against anything and anywhere. She’s someone you’d want to have in the trenches with you in the heat of battle. You are truly a warrior princess.
Alyssa – The youngest of the group but only by years. She is gifted with an incredible sense of discernment allowing her unseen insight in situations and people. I want you to know that you have so much more headed for you. What you experienced on this trip is just the very beginning. Gentle spirit. Loving heart. Great sense of humor. Will always be a little sister to me. Cambodia hasn’t seen the last of her.
Kyle – My homie. My brother. Baptized him on night 1. Night I’ll never forget. One of the most profound nights I’ve ever been a part of. God rocked each one of us and He finished up with the night with Kyle’s baptism. Jenna and Alyssa have incredible stories as well and that night totally set the tone for the week. Kyle was made a new creation and was a different man after that. Amen! I still get goosebumps. Kyle is a hard charging type A personality but also has the ability to slow down and meet people where they are at. The dude has incredible passion to help others experience the freedom in Jesus that he now has. You will be a mountain mover in your life and others (Mark 11:23). Excited to watch!
* “Rocked” occurs when the Lord reveals himself in a profound and powerful way causing one to see Him more as He really is. Usually ending with strong emotions, tears of joy and a heart set on fire (can be referred to as smacked, lit up or blazed, torched etc). Can also be synonymous with whacked or even smacked.
