It’s done. The packing and driving and unpacking and sorting out is finished…mostly finished. Kansas is in the rearview. Adventures in Missions (AIM) is straight ahead behind tomorrow’s door. And I am missing Kenan and Madi and friends and the familiar. But it is odd. Peace permeates everything (minus that unfortunate meltdown late at night in the middle of Kentucky when the truck lights weren’t working-sorry Kenan). Peace. The good stuff. Wellbeing.
My home is a one bedroom apartment that faces friends in the west and is truly cozy. I am blessed. The blind one-eyed pirate cat has already barfed on the white carpet and most of the artwork is on the walls. Clothes have been washed and dried. A nap has been taken. I’ve scoped out a one mile super-hilly loop that I’ll walk tomorrow, but still need a good place to run (& bike). Grits have been enjoyed and jasmine sun tea made on the deck railing. I feel like I am in a foreign country.
Neighbors are as diverse as ever. Young families, older single women, couples, Germans! (yay!), families who are just as foreign as I, a nurse who seems to be from the Caribbean with a lovely lilting voice, three young hipsters walking in the middle of the driveway…I am already on the mission field. It’s pretty cool.
Also stumbled across a church the other day when I was out and about, Revolution Church. Thanks to Google Navigation, I was able to find my way again this morning and crashed in through the stage during the first laps of singing. Some things do not change.
And tomorrow, the real work begins-the full focus on the Cambodia team and a bit of Marketing for starters. I’ll also be sending out support letters this week (it needs to be done-an act of faith and worship on my part…obedience.) I have hope that the new first-ever female Thai prime minister will move in a strong direction to address human trafficking in her home country.
I believe in the team AIM has on the ground in Cambodia, the team coming up, and the God who cares enough about his people that he is sending them…us…to pitch a tent at the gates of hell and along the boulevard of brothels in Phnom Penh.
Go with me as you can. Pray. Do a dance. Support the work that has begun (you’ll see a link to the left of this note). I’ve adopted a verse temporarily to help be brave and move forward; it’s the same verse I clung to when Rhonda and I began our first triathlon training, Zechariah 4:10*. In the meantime, please keep in touch. I need you.
*“Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin.” Zechariah 4:10 New Living Translation (This is the version of most of the Bibles in the Army’s protestant churches when I was a kid and would wander in to check out the shenanigans.)
One response to “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. (Hello Georgia Peaches)”
Allie-
I am so excited for you! And for what fruit your time with AIM will bear. You’re a blessing and I am honored to be serving the captives and setting them free with you! God has some great things in store for all of us I am sure of it!
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Allie-
I am so excited for you! And for what fruit your time with AIM will bear. You’re a blessing and I am honored to be serving the captives and setting them free with you! God has some great things in store for all of us I am sure of it!