Let His Joy Be My Joy

Dear Precious Handfuls,

God is merciful and gracious. He really reached down and met me where I am. Last nite at the end of D minus 1, I thought about some last minute things I hadn’t budgeted for, but since it was so last minute and not essential, I decided I wasn’t going to go out of my way to make some purchases. However, I suddenly got an email and text from a sweet friend, basically asking me about my last minute needs and ready to provide for me the means to obtain some resources to help keep the team healthy and effective. God was not going to let my sudden good ideas just go away. His timing is the best!

Team Stuff:

Our second bake sale was also a success at church this past Sunday! We raised over our projected goal (this is for donation distributed among the dorm ministry overseas and the three poorest of the poor villages, not for our own support raising!). But the feeling of success I felt that overflows out of the capacity of my own heart was seeing how brothers and sisters are living out community at the sale. When most customers come by the table admiring the yummy goodies, they’d ask those pleasant smiley faces who made the food and served the food if they’re part of the team going, and they’d say Nope! That’s looking to others interests at its very best display!

Friends have brought other friends to come by and introduce them to me and help explain what we’re doing. We are only a team of 6, yet you’ve all helped spread the word about the mission and the ministry much further and wider than what we are capable of doing!

I also overheard another conversation:
A (buyer): This looks good, I want one! Oh no, I don’t have enough cash!
B (server): We take Venmo too!
A: Oh that’s the young people thing, I don’t have that. Can I write out a check?
B: You know what, let me cover that for you first. You can pay me back next week or something!
A: oh, should I write you an IOU?
B: No need. I know where you live, ha!

Our HCC home sweet home. 🥰

Presently at the airport. The whole team will converge on September 14th (Indochina Time: It’s about 12 hours ahead of Houston)

Personal Prayers:

• Pray I continue to be aware that obedience and faith looks different with everyone. What God called me to do may not be what God called you to do. What I felt I ought to respond in faith may be totally not how another brother or sister may respond, and it’s ok. That’s why when Peter asked Jesus what about the other guy, Jesus basically told him what He wants happening to the other guy is none of Peter’s beeswax: “You must follow me.” (It’s so different even with you and me where we share a fairly similar culture, help me get ready with an open mind to fellowship with our spiritual siblings in Cambodia!)

• Pray for team health and safety. Dengue fever and Japanese Encephalitis sound pretty bad. Not sure if the internet is listening to what I’m up to, but ads about the JE vaccine and then random not-so-subtle articles mention about mosquitos kept showing up in my browser. I’ve bought some last minute 98%DEET products (a bit scared how it can melt plastic), but ultimately our life is in His hands. While God can intervene if it is His perfect good will, if this fallen world and entropy took our life, then may we share Paul’s sentiment about how he already desires to depart and be with the Lord, for it’s very far better! But for now, we still have work to do, as long as God gives us each breath.

• Pray for me to experience His joy as my joy. That way I will understand when things don’t happen smoothly or unexpected shake my plans to praise Him. His Will prevails and nothing is by chance.

• Praise for all the people who has been patient and accommodating in working with my condo situation: The construction foreman has been understanding and accommodating to my timeline (going out of the country for 3 weeks) and does a great job doing calculations for me in how to help me pick choices according to my budget. The helpful, hospitable leasing office manager periodically will follow up with me about the condo repairs progress, and in fact, some things I tried to order end up was delayed and uncancel-able, I had to ask her to help me take it out of my Parcel locker when it arrives later, to help me not get fined ($3 each day I don’t pick up) while I’m gone. Both of these individuals I don’t hesitate sharing how I go to church and why I’m going away on a mission trip in the middle of picking up the pieces of my life, what’s my priorities and how I will do my best in everything but my values must come first.

• Praise that in the middle of all these chaos, I was honored at work for the month of August in helping upholding safety in patient care.

Ok, I’m running out of time. Boarding in 20 minutes. (One scare was, I packed away my keys since I called an Uber to take me to the airport. When the phone vibrated to indicate the car is closeby, I discovered I need my keys to lock my door. Frantic searching with 4 minutes left before the driver leaves, I prayed and found the keys, with just enough time to lug my luggage down three stories out and cross the street to get to the car! Another scare, 4 minutes before boarding, I discovered I didn’t bring my printed Cambodia visa. By God’s grace, the lounge that never closes is right across from my boarding gate and I was able to print it out! And yet another scare, after I boarded and sat down, a suitcase fell on my head. Praise God, I am fine (the stewardess was really nice, kept asking if I need any ice for my head.)

Watch for updates from the other side of the world!

Love,
Lily