36 Hours, Three Planes, and a God Who Loves Orphans

In 36 hours, I will leave my home to board a plane in Cleveland, Ohio. I will board that plane and land in Atlanta before stepping foot onto two more aircraft that will take me to Southeast Asia. I’m going to be on an airplane for a very long time.

Two weeks later, I will retrace my steps and re-enter life with my family in the U.S. I will come home to my family.

A few months ago, I started reading Jennie Allen’s book Anything (affiliate link). It kicked my butt. It’s the story of how she and her husband told God they would do anything He asked. Any. thing. I told God I wanted to be ready to tell Him that, but there were still things I wanted to hold on to.

About a week later, I committed to join my friend on a 15-day trip that would literally take me to the other side of the world, without my family, to serve some of the ones God holds dearest — orphans. The next day, my 93-year-old grandma died. She was more than my grandma. She was my dear friend. It was hard.

We drove through three states to get to her funeral, and as we drove, I knew God had my back. I sensed an undeniable affirming that He wanted me to go on this trip and show orphans how much He loves them.

I was beyond blessed to have my grandma in my life for more than 43 years. But the children I will serve don’t have that privilege. They don’t have moms or dads. But they know Jesus. They are the fatherless God talks about in the Bible. He has a special spot in His heart for the ones who have no daddy. And He’s invited me to love them on His behalf.

My friend, Jeana, and I will go to Thailand first, where we will help serve in various ways at the home that is run by Grace World Outreach Worldwide (G.R.O.W.). She helped found this organization that rescues kids from horrible situations. We will be in Chiang Mai and Wang Pa Pao. We will also get to visit two Asia’s Hope orphanages sponsored and loved by our church. We will be in Thailand for nine days.

Then we will fly to Siem Reap, Cambodia, where we will meet up with eight others from Grace Church and serve the two Asia’s Hope homes in Battambang for five days. As the team and Jeana travel (back) to Thailand, I will fly home to my family. And I know I will never be the same.

Because I am expecting God to open the floodgates of the love I have not known for the needy and the helpless and the ones God holds dear. I am expecting Him to show me how very good He is, despite how many things I try to hold back from Him.

I write this for a few reasons.

1. I was wondering if you would pray for us?

2. Consider this a heads up for what’s about to happen here.

Will You Pray?

Pray for God to throw open the doors of my heart and love people like He wants me to. I will ask you to pray for my family’s role as they stay home and fill the roles that He has purposed for them while I’m gone. I will ask you to pray for Jeana and me and our friendship from Jesus. Will you pray our unity shows off how awesome God is? Will you pray that for the team, too? Will you pray for our travel and our health and our luggage?

There is so much more I will ask, if you’d like me to. Just let me know in the comments, and I will be happy to give you more details.

Heads Up

I plan to process through these finger as often as I can. And, of course, I will photograph my way through the other side of the world. So if you’d like to join the adventure, make sure you’re signed up to get my posts in your inbox so you don’t miss any.

See you on the other side of the world!