My Khmer Family

Meet my beloved Cambodian family, the bloodline of my pdai (husband):

Pa and Ma. Chamnan and Sokly. A beautiful couple who have raised six, strong young men.  Pa is an engineer and currently works as a "project manager" in the rice fields in the province. Ma stays at home and raises our nephews. One mealtime it was mentioned that I want a Khmer name (that my family can pronounce and remember!) Pa chose Leakena, which means "girl with an almost perfect attitude."  They are beautiful people and I think about them all the time, always praying that they will recognzie their need for Jesus Christ- Savior and Redeemer.  I'm anxious to see how our relationships grow and develop in the years ahead. :)

My nephews! On the left is Chamroat, age 7, and on the right is Reaksmey, age 5. (Both much smaller than your average 7- or 5-year-old child in America.) They are adorable... Seriously, so cute!  We visited them at home twice before going on vacation together. At the beach, Chamroat warmed up to me, but Reaksmey never really overcame his shyness. I really enjoyed watching the boys play and interact with their uncles!  The boys LOVED the beach! While we were in the sand or water, they were all smiles, all the time!  In the days ahead, Chamroat and Reaksmey will be starting school for the very first time! We are excited to help provide this opportunity and to see what the future holds for them!

My brothers! When I married my husband, I gained five more bong-tlay (brothers-in-law) - Chamraun (28), Chamnieng (26,), Chamrong (24), Chamnong (20), and Chamnob (16). Pictured with me above are Chamrong, Chamnob, and Chamrong.  While we were in Cambodia and on family vacation, I especially enjoyed getting to know these guys! I miss them today!

They were all very welcoming. They seem very close. They are all funny like their oldest brother, my husband. I could hardly understand any conversation that took place during our time together (HATE THAT LANGUAGE BARRIER!) but I can see that they all love their motherly deeply, have great respect for their oldest, and are curious about their new sister-in-law. I often find myself thinking about them and wondering what they really think, how they really feel, always praying that they will come to know the Lord. I'm anxious to see how our relationships develop and grow in the future... and I'm anxious to see this family grow more!

At home, the Romdenh family minus Pa and Chamraun


Chamnieng and wife, Bopha, with sons Chamroat and Reaksmey


Sad good-byes at the airport

Missing them,
Jewel

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day!
Hope you feel the love today!

Little man Spencer's one-month portraits

"No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us." 1 John 4:12

"Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart." Psalms 37:4

"Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy as unyielding as the grave. It burns like a blazing fire, like a mighty flame." Song of Solomon 8:6

"We love because He first loved us." 1 John 4:19

"And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13:13

"Dear friends, let us love one another for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God." 1 John 4:7

"And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." Colossians 3:14

And for a special treat:
Little Man Spencer with the mustache binky that Aunt Jewel made him:

Love, Love, Love,
Jewel

Whirlwind

A newsletter from Cambodia is in the works, but this is not it.

We have been home now two weeks and life in America has already moved us onward.  It's a good thing... but hard to accept!  When an experience - such as a mission trip (even if it's your 12th trip!) - changes you emotionally, mentally, and spiritually, it's... simply put: HARD to transition back to "life as normal."

So while I am still trying to piece together my stories, reflections, and emotions from our recent three week trip to Cambodia, here's a few pieces of what has happened since:

Tuesday evening, following a fun-beautiful-moving concert of the Ugandan Thunder Children's Choir, Titus and I hosted these two fun-beautiful-moving girls from Uganda - Teopista and Amina. Though our time together was short, it was special! Lots of laughter and even prayers!

The Ugandan Thunder African Children’s Choir is touring the United States to raise money money for and awareness of orphans in Uganda. The choir is composed of 22 singers, dancers, and drummers ages 10-14. They are students from the Royal School and Orphanage in Mityana, Uganda. Donations are collected during the choir concerts as love offerings, and the money covers fuel expenses and buys posho (the staple food in Uganda) for 14 orphanages throughout Uganda. If you would like to learn more about this incredible ministry visit: penniesforposho.org. (I'm hoping my church will decide to donate our VBS offering to Pennies for Posho in Summer 2013!) Here's my unsolicited plug: child sponsorship through Pennies for Posho is only $9/month! $9! (The organization has chosen not to buy TV time, saving them lots of dollars!

On Tuesday morning, my beautiful friend Jenny died in a car accident on her way to a job interview. I couldn't believe the news! Shocked. Incredibly shocked. Jenny was always happy, always smiling (such a beautiful smile!) and always laughing (such a memorable laugh!) WHY!?!? is DEATH our best reminder that... life is fragile. Life is precious. Life is short. Friends are special. Memories to be cherished.

Tuesday morning on K-Love radio, hours before I heard this news, I heard "Slip On By" for the first time and I HATE that it's so true in this moment.

We're only here for a little while,

And God give us only so much precious time.

So don't let it slip on..

Don't let it slip on..

Don't let it slip on by!

Friends, hold your loved-ones close! You never know... I don't think I would want to know!

On January 6th, while sweet husband and I were in Cambodia, my older sister had a beautiful baby BOY!
Don't these pictures of baby Spencer with Uncle Titus give you BABY FEVER?!? (OK, probably just me.) He looks so good holding a baby, doesn't he?!

More to come... life is always happening around here!

Love, Love, Love,
Jewel