Rogers in Cambo

This week there have been so many instances where I have had to stop and just smile at the little moments I get to experience here. We have been able to see and do so much in the past few years that I was a bit worried about how I would handle moving to Cambodia and settling down here.

I cannot believe how much I can see God in every moment of my life. Every time I think of my job or my neighbors or the many people we have met here, I smile. I can’t help but smile. God has given me so many wonderful things here already.

Right now I am sitting in my un-air conditioned living room grading papers in front of a fan. Every time it swings in my direction my papers blow and make a sound that reminds me of how many more I have to grade, and yet in this moment I am so happy. I never thought I would be able to survive without air conditioning. When we first moved in, at the top of our list was ‘get an air conditioner’. We didn’t get it immediately for financial reasons, but I see God even in that small decision. Not getting an air conditioner led us to instead get screens. Daily, I find myself loving the screens more and more because it lets us be a part of our neighborhood more. Our neighborhood kids run back and forth every night as Cody and I sit at our table planning, and their little screams and laughter fill me with so much joy. Every moment it gets a bit quieter than normal, I know as soon as I turn around their little faces will be pressed against our screen waiting for a ‘hello’. It’s in these little moments that I am so humbled by what God has done in our lives.

Everyday at school, I learn more about my students and grow more and more attached to them. It’s in every little hug and every moment that I can give encouragement that I find so much joy. Sometimes I feel like God has filled me with so much love and I can’t hug my students enough to get it all out. I love the moments He gives me everyday to build relationships and to show love. It’s, again, in these little moments that I am so humbled by what God has done in our lives.

Numerous times throughout this past week, things have happened that related to my past, and I have stopped and thought ‘Wow. God knew this all along.’ It’s crazy to think that God knew the first time Cody and I visited this country that it wouldn’t be our last. Even more so, it’s crazy to think that so many of our experiences in life, even the small things, seem like they were leading us to this beautiful country. When Cody and I started dating in high school, I never imagined doing anything like what we have done in our lives, and now looking back, it seems like God was leading us here the whole time.

Amsterdam is a city full of beauty. It is a small city, but there are a lot of things you can do.

Here are some of the things we enjoyed the most:

Explore the canals

In my opinion, Jordaan district is the most beautiful place to walk along the canals, but really any street you turn on in Amsterdam is gorgeous. Just pick a random one and explore. You are sure to find some beauty.

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