Almost There!

Well, we made it over the ocean and are waiting for our next flight that leaves LAX around midnight (which would be 3am Ohio time.) No big problems and all of our luggage is on this continent now. The only issue happened when I tried to get through passport control here in LA. Everyone made it through the last point when the worker stopped me because the passport guy forgot to stamp my declaration form. Have you ever seen the movie terminal? I felt like that for a second:) He sent me all the way back to the beginning. Luckily, I did make it out!

While on the first flight to Taipei, I had some time. So, in honor of our travel home, I came up with a new top ten list. (I had to try my best without Cristen.) Here are the

TOP TEN REASONS TO VISIT SOUTHEAST ASIA

10. Interactive wildlife. Up close and personal. (Ask about a lizard in Thailand and a monkey in Cambodia.)

9. Amazing, authentic Mexican food. That's right. Mexican.

8. Cut your morning prep time in half. With only 5 outfits to wear and 8 people waiting for a shower, you get moving pretty quickly. Besides, orphans don't care what you look like...only that you are there.

7. Get your year's worth of recommended daily allowance of grains in just a few short weeks.

6. Want to improve interpersonal relationship skills? 17 people in a van. 21 people in a house. Enough said.

5. Feeling the economic pinch? It's 4000 Riel and 32 Baht to a dollar. You can feed a family of 10 for about 5 bucks.

4. Been praying to become more patient and flexible? This is the place for you.

3. There have already been more sunny days in three weeks in Asia than in the year so far in Columbus, OH. And it's the rainy season in Asia.

2. Want to improve leg strength? With three flights of tall steps in Cambodia and squatty potties everywhere, your thighs get quite the work out!

1. In Asia, pale skin and hairy arms are valued. So, basically I'm a goddess there:)

Ok, obviously those are the humorous reasons. The real reason is the kids. If you haven't read through this blog yet, I hope you will read up about them. They have had tough lives, but are now living in a place that offers food, education, safety...and love. They have a family who will take care of them. 

If you have been moved at all by these kids and their situations (and there are many more where they come from) you can get involved in a couple of ways. One...pray for them, for the workers taking care of them, for the situations in their countries, for Asia's Hope - the organization through which these orphanages and other ministries to the university students and widows in SE Asia are founded. Two...pray about going. It doesn't take any special skill - just hold a child and your trip will be well worth it. Three...pray about giving. You can go to the Asia's Hope address - www.asiashope.org to get more information. Vista Community Church members can also get information at church about the orphanage and children we are currently supporting. 

Thanks so much to everyone who has been praying for us and supported us in so many ways on this trip. It is a privilege to be the ones to get to go and love these children. We wouldn't have been able to do it without you.

Cristen and I will blog some final thoughts when we get back. Continue to check in as I prepare in the next couple of months to go over long-term. I will probably have a different blog address for that trip, but will make sure to provide the link here.