Only by His Grace Update

What Do I Do?

This is the question that raced through my mind when I got the phone call one early Saturday morning. I was in the middle of cooking breakfast for Roath and a friend of ours who had spent the night. I got a call from my friend, Gioia (pronounced Joy-ah), who is the director of an orphanage. She said, “We have an emergency. Isaac has fallen down the stairs.” Isaac is a 1 year old beautiful Khmer baby boy. My mind began to race. What do I do? I began to wonder why I ever agreed to work at this orphanage.

It happened back in June shortly after I arrived back in Cambodia. An intern of ours was going to teach at this orphanage and she and I meet with Gioia. Gioia expressed her need for a medical person to come and take care of the ailments of the children. I thought to myself, “I am not the person for this job. I am just a nurse. I am not a doctor.” But I felt a very strong pulling from the Lord that I was to answer this call for help. It is not about my abilities or what I can do but it is about what He can do through me if I have faith to trust Him and let Him work. John 15:5. So I girded my strength and said, “I will help.” I immediately felt the weight of this decision on my shoulders. I was responsible for making decisions regarding the health of 30 children. I knew this would surely be an adventure of faith!!!

After I received the call from Gioia, I began to wonder why God had called me to this work. I felt unqualified, overwhelmed, and completely scared. I quickly told my friend that Roath and I had to leave. My first thought was that I needed to get to a phone to call a doctor in the states. You see, the other thing that was bothering me, was that the two doctors on our team were both out of the country. It was just me! I prayed fervently to God that He would let me get in touch with a doctor to ask for guidance. After several no answers and a bad internet connection, I was able to speak with an ER physician at my old hospital. Thankfully, he told me what I needed to look for and what to be aware of. After my very brief conversation with him (I lost internet connection), Roath and I raced to the orphanage. I thanked God for answering my prayers and I felt a little better about going to see the baby but was still anxious to know what condition he was in.

I arrived at the orphanage to find Isaac sitting in his mother’s lap. (His parents are Christian and work at the orphanage.) He had a very large hematoma (bruise) on his head but otherwise he was ok. I checked him thoroughly and felt confident that we needed to watch him closely for the next few hours but I felt sure he would be alright. The next few hours crawled by as the parents watched closely over Isaac to make sure he did not show any signs of head trauma.

I went to see Isaac the next day and he was doing great. His hematoma had already started to shrink in size and he did not seem to be suffering any kind of permanent damage. The parents were very thankful and praised God for his goodness. I began to feel the relief of knowing that Isaac was ok and that God had helped me through this. I was not alone. He provided me with a doctor to advise me but, most importantly, He gave me His peace and His grace to be able to look after Isaac. I know that I cannot do this job or any other work that God calls me to on my own. I cannot be a missionary by my own strength and knowledge. I must continue to see and acknowledge my weakness so I can declare His strength to the world. He is a mighty God.

Coming Home


When I was preparing to return to Cambodia after my 2 month stay in the states, I remember thinking that it would be different this time when I landed and I was correct and wrong at the same time. First, it felt like coming home instead of arriving at some foreign place. Second, I knew what to expect instead of always being shocked by the unexpected. Lastly, I had work waiting for me instead of waiting for the Lord to show me what work to do. So the second year definitely started off different from the first. However, I was wrong as well because there were things that had not changed. I still felt like a foreigner. I know some of you may be confused by this feeling but I desire to become Khmer. 1 Cor. 9:22. This is how God has called me to reach the people. I know that I cannot do this by my own strength or effort. God must transform me, but ultimately, I desire to be transformed more into the image of Christ.


I learned a very valuable lesson through a disagreement with a Khmer person. I learned that I look at things through Western eyes. Khmer people have a completely different perspective. There is not a right or wrong but different. However, I live here now so I must try and not only understand their perspective but learn to see it the same way. If God grants me this prayer, I believe it will open up the gospel in a whole new way to the people. It is about understanding where God has placed them in this world and how I can show them the love of Christ in the context of where they live. I learned that I need to listen more and talk less. I do not want to become the teacher described in 1Timothy. May God protect me from desiring “knowledge” but to only desire knowing Him and glorifying Him.


Relational Update

Roath’s family is treating me more and more like a family member. The last time I visited with them, her parents asked me why I came to Cambodia. I told them, “I wanted to help the people.” I did not say anything else. They contemplated my answer. They know that I am a Christian. I am slowly trying to bring the gospel to them more through my actions than my words. I can see that God has softened their hearts toward me. He has a purpose for bringing me into their lives and I pray that He will draw them into His fold.
One day, Roath and I were blessing our food while the rest of the family watched us. Her mom was talking but when we started praying, she stopped talking. It was the first time she had done that. I know God has a plan for this family. I am so thankful to watch Him work.


Books that I am reading:

Restoring Broken Things by Steven Curtis Chapman and Scotty Smith

Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell with Patrick Robinson



Prayer Requests


1. Pray for the Community Health Teaching Course. We will have 25 students from the surrounding villages. They have no medical training and we will be teaching them basic medicine. Pray for me as I attempt to teach in Khmer. We will also be presenting the course with a Christian perspective.

2. Pray for our medical mission team that will be coming in early Nov. Pray that God would use them to further His kingdom. Pray for their safety as they travel in this country and that they would stay healthy. Most of all pray that God will give them a greater vision of His love for His people.

3. Pray for me as I am feeling overwhelmed with the work. Pray that I will not lean on my strength but will lean upon God. Pray that I will remember that it is not up to me to accomplish His purpose. I am only to walk with Him and glorify Him in all that I do.

4. Pray for those who are raising support and/or making preparations to join our team in Cambodia: Luke Smith, Damon and Young Mi Cha, and Alex and Jeany Jun.