all the details in the fabric

Well, folks, I've been back in Cambodia for almost three months now. Sorry I'm just now blogging about it! Life has been crazy busy. I don't even know where to begin. I guess I'll start by saying how incredibly happy I am here. I love my job, I love my roommates, and I love what God is doing in my life. I am learning to be content in Him, not in my surroundings or possessions. I am learning to completely trust His path for me and not hold on so tightly to the plans I had made for myself. I am loving the relationships I am building with my coworkers and others within Asian Hope. Life is good.

We are three months into school, and I finally feel like I know what I'm doing. I am challenged every day, but I am working hard to meet the needs of my little darlins. Oh my goodness I love them. Even when they are loud, forget to do their homework, or do whatever else is guaranteed to happen every day. They are so precious and I am so blessed to be their teacher. This week is Book Week, and though it has been bordering insanity at moments, it has been so fun to do special activities with them. All of them love to read, and that makes me very happy!

I am also incredibly blessed with wonderful friends. My roommates, Maria and Lorinda, are so much fun. Maria is another southern belle, and I'm so thankful I e-mailed her months ago about this job and thus began our friendship. She has been the best mentor I could have asked for, as well. I'm constantly asking her questions about everything related to teaching and living in Cambodia. She also introduced me to Modern Family, so I will forever be grateful to her. Lorinda is from South Africa and is a first year teacher, too, so we can relate on a lot of things. She just got a moto and is incredibly brave! I love learning about her country and attempting to pronounce her name the way it's supposed to sound. It ain't Luh-rin-duh, which is how it sounds when my Louisiana is acting up.

I miss Fall. And I forgot that I would be missing Tech football and the Revel. Homesickness is usually for really random things, like Chick-fil-A. Oh my GOSH you don't even know how much CFA I'm gonna eat when I'm home for Christmas. Technology has been incredible for keeping me in touch with family and friends, but I kind of forgot about what it would be like without other things. Like being able to watch TV shows online (won't work here). Saturday Night Live, I still love you. I just can't be with you right now. 

I'm also incredibly sorry for the thousands of times I have hated on Wal-Mart. A greeter may have to restrain me from kissing the floor next time I step inside those automatic doors. Now I can't even imagine a store where you can get everything you need inside one building. That's air conditioned. With every variety you could ever dream of. And it doesn't smell of raw fish that have been sitting out for days (I'm talking to you, Russian Market). 

first day o'school. I just realized I haven't named my bike! we've been through a lot together.

I'm definitely still me. grilled cheese happens at least four nights a week. with ketchup!

the Laid Back Lunch crew for this year! I think about LBL every Thursday morning. One time I woke up in a panic thinking I forgot to buy something for lunch. No lie. It's still got a hold on me : )

on the rare evening i don't grill some cheese, miraculous things happen, like this lasagna. 

a day which will live in infamy. 

I was showing them the blog post from our pen pals, my cousin Leigh Anne's class in Texas. 

view from my deck chair in Koh Chang, Thailand, aka Heaven. 

our table at dinner one night

Louisiana Tech I love thee!

this is a real place, y'all!

vacation buddy. the journey was pretty interesting, but it was totally worth it!

fabric shopping at Russian Market

one of our Book Week activities!

I still haven't gotten a good shot of the madness that is Phnom Penh traffic. Stay tuned.

Thanks for reading, and I'll share some more adventures soon.

(maybe)

<3 Mere

i and love and you

I promise I'll get around to posting about Cambodia. I just like to go in order of events, so just highly anticipate what's coming.

Something else that happened this summer: a wonderful trip to the UK with some of my best friends. I've wanted to return to London ever since I did the Tech London study abroad program in 2009, and once I found out the 2012 summer Olympics were going to be held there, I was determined to return. When I am determined about traveling, I will eat beans every day to make it happen. I haven't had to resort to that (thankfully, because I hate beans), but you get what I mean. Traveling is such a huge part of my life, and I hope I get to keep globe trotting for many years to come.

I've only got so many good travel years (the rest of my life is not enough), and God had me in mind when he created what we now know as the United Kingdom. I love every inch of it, and as of this summer, I have completed the trifecta of awesome by adding a Scotland stamp to my beloved passport. 

Here's a glimpse into the twoish weeks leading up to my returning to Cambobo. 

How can you not be in love with a city where all the buildings look like this? 

Edinburgh, you are number two on my list.

Edinburgh Castle

love. love love love love love.

Beautiful Edinburgh. This was taken during our walking tour. Our guide was Canadian, which was initially a huge bummer, but he turned out to be pretty great. It's easy to see why he fell in love with Scotland.

Gorgeous Tower Bridge with her rings

I graffitied the bathroom wall of The Elephant House, the cafe where the first couple of Harry Potter books were written. This was such a cool little place.

Outside of said cafe.

Um, it's July in this picture. I'm wearing a scarf, I'm not sweating, and I'm just so happy.

On the Tube with my travel companions! And that lady who wasn't ready for a picture.

I'm still not ready to comment on the Olympic ticket fiasco of 2012, but we managed to get this close to Olympic Stadium!

The tour of Leavesden Studios, where all the HPs were filmed! Too legit to quit.

Yummy Butterbeer.

Sleeping Beauty's Castle at Euro Disney

in love with the eye

Taking inspiration from Joey Tribbiani and stepping inside the map!

So...a lot of things about the Olympics were weird. But highly enjoyable. So we forgive you, London.

And since the five of us have spent every day wishing we could go back, we'll probably see you again soon.

Well, folks, that's everything. Next post: Cambodia. 

Mere

the in between

This new post comes to you today thanks to my dear cousin, Leigh Anne, who just fussed at me over Skype because I haven't been updating : )

Let's see, I guess I'll start with the time between coming home from the mission trip and leaving again. It was such a crazy time, but it was filled with so many good times and so much love. I went on a road trip with my parents to Dallas and Oklahoma City, I was in a wedding, I spent a wonderful day on the river learning how to wake board, and all kinds of things in between.

I had no clue how to say goodbye to so many people and so many places all at once, but I did the best I could to keep it together and try to express to everyone how much I love them and cherish their friendships. I definitely had my moments of break down, but I was so blessed to have certain people in my life who were there through all the great and the not-so-great moments. God knew exactly how to orchestrate that time, and I'm still amazed when I think back to how everything fell into place.

We are not meant to live this life alone, and I was never alone during this experience. Thank you so much for those of you who were there during the very real moments of me realizing what I was about to do. I'm sure it wasn't easy, but I love you so much for all you did for me. I thank God for calling me to this place and putting in place the support I would need every step of the way.

Here's a glimpse into all the happenings of those three weeks. I had so much fun traveling around and even had a few days when I could just lay on the couch and watch Pawn Stars marathons. Don't judge me until you watch it. All the seasons are on Netflix.

My darling friend, Mary. This was at her wedding shower a few weeks before her big day!

Last midnight showing for a while. The Dark Knight Rises.

Got to ride to Arlington with Leigh Anne, the cousin I mentioned earlier : )

She is also a teacher, and our classes are going to be pen pals!

Something I definitely wanted to do before leaving <3

It was the most American thing I could think of.

Trip to Oklahoma City to see my brother, Reed. The memorial was incredible!

Also got to reunite with Lindsey : )

OKC has such a cool downtown area.

The Reedster

Olive Garden date with the wonderful Megan. 

Keep smilin', keep shinin'...

 This crew stopped by to say farewell before they headed back to Dallas. So much love!

So thankful for him. He's also the one to blame for Pawn Stars.

My oldest brother, Ryan, my sister-in-law, Christina, and their bebeh! 

Can't wait to meet the little guy : )

catching up

Here is my last letter from the internship, written in June. I know it's August, but I promise to put more updates soon! 

Family and friends,

Soo sa day! Jo jet bpoa ey? That means, “Hello! What’s your favorite color?” Unfortunately, that’s about all I managed to learn of Khmer, the language of Cambodia. Good thing I was still able to love the people and serve them without being able to communicate verbally. Isn’t that so beautiful? People all over the world speak different languages, but you don’t have to speak the same language to love someone well. My month spent in Cambodia was filled with so much love. Love from the orphans we played with at Haley’s House, love from vendors in the market with whom we formed relationships, and love from random people on the street who smiled back at us as we drove by. God moved in incredible ways within the members of our team. We were all challenged to open our eyes to the realities of a completely different culture and figure out what role we play in God’s plan for Cambodia. What role do we play? What role do you play? Leigh Anne, who heads up a village outreach program for Asian Hope, answered this question by saying, “The role you play is whatever God leads you to.” Amen.

I still cannot believe that it’s over; that I’m back in the Intern office typing you my last support letter. My fellow Interns and I are wrapping up all of the paperwork from our mission trips, fundraisers, and areas of ministry, and I am so glad for the chance to reflect on everything that’s happened this year. This morning in our staff meeting, we were asked to name an area of significant growth in our lives this year. Mine was learning to fully depend on God and others. I learned the hard way on several occasions that I cannot do everything. Imagine that! I had to depend on others and trust their support. The most important thing that happened to me this year was when I fully surrendered my life to God in order for Him to reveal the next step in His plan for my life.

I cannot wait to begin the next chapter of my life, but I am sad to leave behind the ministry that was the catalyst God used to get me to this point. Six years ago, I had just graduated high school and was getting ready to come to LA Tech. I don’t remember having a plan to find a campus ministry, but this one found me. Throughout my years as a student, this community was where I experienced God and was challenged to become a better disciple of Christ. My plan was to get my undergrad and then my Master’s, but somewhere along the way, I felt God tugging at my heart and telling me He had something more for me. I still remember the certainty I felt about applying for the Internship.  It’s the same certainty I feel now about my calling to Cambodia. Ain’t it great how God will work in your life if you just let Him?

I don’t know what my life would have been like without the Wesley Foundation and all of the staff and students who invested in my life. My time here is done, but I will carry these experiences with me in my heart forever. I pray that you continue to pray for and support the Wesley in whatever way you are able. I can’t wait to see how God grows this ministry in the coming years.

Thank you so much for taking this journey with me, and I pray God blesses you as you have blessed me!

Love,

Meredith

Stick your feet in a giant aquarium and get a pedicure!

The most precious little boy! 

If teaching doesn't work out, I'm considering becoming a tuk tuk driver. 

So scary. And awesome.

The other tourists really enjoyed our jumping attempts.

The whole crew in front of Angkor Wat!

The most adventurous road trip!

That's all for now. More coming soon : )

Mere