Highs and Lows

I feel like there is so much to tell you about... I will try not to be too verbose. Today was a Jesus day. I mean, most days are, but today was to a really cool degree. Ok, here we go. 

Yesterday after the hospital I came back to the hotel, went swimming, showered, and vegged for a while. My roomie Lauren was sleeping so I went to Jessica and Tiffany's room. Tiff was still feeling a little bit icky, but we were able to have some really great conversations. We were being silly, talking about God and boys and friends and all the things that girls talk about, and it was a sweet way to pass the afternoon. When it was just me and Tiffany, we got into a great chat about salvation, and how so many people think that they have to be sanctified before they are justified (i.e. they cannot come to God until they get their act together) and how wrong that is. We read through Philippians 3 and 4 and talked about pressing on toward the goal for which God has called us heavenward in Christ Jesus... I think that it was cool for Tiffany to hear because she has never thought that she could claim His grace. Right as the other girls were coming back, I asked her, "So, where are you? What are you waiting for?" and she had no answer... She told me that she had to think about that and get back to me. The rest of the night was spent telling life stories and laughing. 

We had a jolt back to reality when Savannah and Alexis, two of the other girls in the class, came into the room to report that Alexis was robbed. They had been coming back from dinner, had pulled up right in front of our hotel, and were getting out of the cab-equivalent in Cambodia - They are called Tuk-tuks and are open carriages attached to the back of motorcycles - when two guys on motorcycle drove by and grabbed her bag off her body. She didn't have her passport in it, thank God, but she was very very shook up. The hard part is that her mom, bless her heart, is VERY protective, and has been telling Alexis all along that she is going to be kidnapped and sold into the sex trade, etc., so when she called her to tell her to cancel credit cards, she was not very consoling. It took two glasses of wine and a couple of hours for Alexis to calm down enough to fall asleep. (I went to bed before it happened... poor girl)

Jessica, Tiffany, Lauren and I planned to have Bible Study this morning, so I got up early to check email and wake up. I had an email from Tiffany that literally made me squeal. Here is a snippet from it:

I JUST SURRENDERED TO JESUS. whole heartedly. in cambodia. God was hard core stalking me my whole life. MY WHOLE LIFE. i could go on for hours. God is moving here. I am in LOVE. SO MUCH. Pray for me. This is a first step. a first BEAUTIFUL FANTASTICALLY AMAZING, RELIEVING, STRESS RELIEVING, GLORIFYING MOMENT. we all knew I was going to Cambodia for a reason. I needed away from everyone, even you both [her Jesus-loving friends at SC who shared Christ with her all last year] to realize that my relationship with God isn't through you. Here, its not through christina. Its not thru Jessica, it is between me and Him. And He has taken me to this place that needs hope, so much hope. and He has given me the eternal gift of hope. and i am just so grateful and so speechless. and i cant stop writing. there will never EVER be enough words for what is happening right now in me. and we know I have a lot to say, but oh its just beautiful. so much.

So, yes. I left my computer with my confused room mate by the pool and ran to their door, pounded on it, woke them up, and hugged Tiffany until I was about to cry. It is so amazing to welcome a sister into the family of God. She is a fellow warrior now! She is set apart for His purposes. I am so excited. 

In Taipei during our lay over on the way here Jessica and I prayed to see someone put their faith in Christ - not because He has to prove himself to us but because it is His desire to seek and save that which is lost. Less than a week later, he answered that prayer. I am so amazed, still, sitting here and thinking about it. God is so good. He is so faithful. I am so in love. 

Tiffany and I jumped in the pool and talked about basking and marinating in His blessing and Hie presence and His goodness. We talked about baptizing her in the pool later in the trip. It is going to happen. Geee God is so crazy amazing! 

I am about to fall asleep as I type this, so I will have to tell you about lunch, the Russian Market, and dinner with the Missionary later. I think this is a good note to pause on. 

All love from Him who loves us most, through me, who desires to love like him :) 

till later...