CONSUMED BY HIS CALL

We boarded the plane that would forever change our lives on Thursday, September 9 at 4:00pm!  After 30+ hours traveling from Springfield --> Chicago -->  LA  -->  Hong Kong  --> Phnom Penh we arrived in Cambodia!  We had feared the long 14 hour flight would be a nightmare (especially for our 2-year-old toddler, Emma).  But it went surprisingly well since she slept about half of that flight and spent the rest of the time watching cartoons, coloring, putting stickers EVERYWHERE, eating snacks and going for short walks around the plane.  Thank the Lord for our good little traveller!!!  We are also grateful all our flights were on time since we usually only had about a 3 hour layover at each stop.  And we were thrilled all our bags made it except 2... and those arrived today! 

As we picked up our luggage and exited the Phnom Penh airport we were greeted by several of our new missionary family.  They made us feel so welcome and helped load all our 16 suitcases, action packers & carry-ons into their STL vehicles.  It means so much to have such a wonderful support group as we get acquainted with Cambodia.  And we really don't know what we would do without our mentors, Darin & Dianna Clements, to help us find an apartment, give helpful tips and chauffeur us around until we learn to drive in the crazy traffic!  (We're getting our Cambodian driver's licenses tomorrow... so BEWARE, Khmer drivers!) 

Our bodies are starting to adjust to the time difference (exactly 12 hours from CST).  And we're hoping to find the right apartment for us so we can move and get settled quickly.  We've looked at several places and hope to decide on one within a few days.  It will be nice to have a home to unpack in so we won't have to continue living out of suitcases! 

It's almost hard to believe we are actually here!  Thanks so much to each of you who have given, encouraged or prayed for us.  We couldn't be as effective without you!

(Special thanks to fellow missionaries, Ben & Kami Heilman for these photos!)