Idioms and a New Season

Teaching ESL (English as a Second Language) in another country, with vastly different customs, taught me something interesting about how we use the English language. For example, one day when teaching a class the word “take” I translated it to the word “yok” in Khmer, which is used in the tense “Please take this food.” Later on, we were talking about different rooms in the house, and upon learning of the bathroom, I explained, “The bathroom is where you ‘take a shower.’” Well, I used an idiom that we use almost on a daily basis and found out how confusing the English language can be.

Idioms are odd things, and every language has them. If you are considering learning a new language, just learning nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs will not be enough, because grammar rules and idioms will throw a wrench in your process… hey look, another idiom.

Here are two more idioms we use: “starting a new season in life” and “moving on to the next chapter.” These two idioms have been on my mind lately for obvious reasons. Have you ever thought back on your life and realized it pretty well divides into chapters and seasons? Some longer than others, but there are definitive moments of change throughout our lives.

Kelsi and I began our story together in 2010 when we started dating, and continued that story into our marriage in June 2011. In June 2012 we felt God calling us to a short term mission trip to Cambodia (nine months), and little did we know that this would turn into the next four years of our lives and include growing our family from two to five (and growing our faith exponentially). I’ve told the story so many times and the details are found all throughout this blog, so all I will say is that if our life were a book, that chapter would be the curve ball.

Some may have already realized that this is going to be our last blog on Mission Cambodia. I do not presume to know God’s plan for our lives (one of the many lessons we learned in Cambodia: not to make definitive plans), but we are back Stateside, and are settling into our next chapter. I have enjoyed chronicling what God has done in our lives over the years, and it is a treasure to have all that written down (even the moments of imperfection), as a testament of God’s grace and faithfulness to us.

Kelsi and I are so grateful for all the support we have had and continue to have. There were moments during our time in Cambodia in which our faith in God’s provision was matched by your obedience to pray and support us. You have all been such a blessing to our family!

In all this, our prayer and mission is the same: to bring glory to God and honor Him in our words and actions, and to make disciples wherever God places us. As I have emphasized in other blogs, this is a mission we all share. I hope this blog has been an encouragement to any and all who have taken the time to read it, and again I just want to say thank you to everyone for your support.

BecauseHeLives,
The Bergens.

Transition for TCKs

This year has been the year of transition for our family. I would like to say we are handling it with grace but, honestly, these last four months have been the hardest of my life.  You would think by now that I would know not to make plans! But, alas, we are human and this is just how we work!  I have been selfish though. Through all of the stress that has come with Micah going to the States and not getting our I-130s when we thought we would I have been so selfish! I haven't thought about how the girls were handling things or what would be best for them. I have just been surviving! Which, I know most of you would come back and tell me that this is okay and that "this too shall pass" and that we will get through this, and yes, I believe this is all true but what was supposed to be three months has now turned into four months going on five!  I can tell from the things the girls are saying that we have been in transition and without anything stable for too long.  My Abby thrives on routine and our lives have been everything but routine lately. 

So, all that being said, I am writing this blog to pave a way for my girls to finish off this season of our lives well.  Once again we can see the light at the end of the tunnel… maybe it is just another train coming and we will have to stop and wait for it to pass or maybe it is really the end of the tunnel. I really have no clue but regardless my children need something stable to lean on as we continue on this crazy crazy ride.

I have been talking to some very wise people lately and reading up on things my children are going through and will be going through as we transition to America and the term that just keeps coming up is TCK. (Third Culture Kids-a child who has lived or is living in a country other than their passport country for a long period of time)   I didn't really think this applied to us because the girls are living in their passport country. But even so, Micah and I are American and we have raised them as Americans knowing that going back to the States was our end goal.  So, just living in our household brings the girls out of Cambodia and sort of into America.

I bring this up because the simple question "Where are you from?" is very difficult for a TCK. Add in the word "home" and all sorts of confusion breaks loose.  If I asked you "Where is your home?" you would most likely be able to tell me with just a few words and very little thought or emotion. But to a TCK and to my girls this question is extremely difficult.  Do you mean where I was born? Where I live now? Where I have spent the most time? Where I want to be?  We asked Abby the other day where she thinks home is and she said here in Cambodia. I then asked Lily and she said it is just wherever Micah and I are. I know that their answers will be different at different stages of their lives too. 

So, as we prepare to make our way to the United States, I am asking you, as you meet and talk with my girls please be sensitive to the fact that they may not be super ecstatic to be going to America at the moment that you are talking to them. They might be missing Cambodia a lot once we are there. They might be confused about where home is. My girls, being adopted and from a culture that calls everyone aunt or uncle, even have trouble sometimes understanding who their family is.  

I want my girls to thrive. I want them to connect with people that love them. I want them to transition as well as possible.  I am going to put some helpful links on this post for anyone who wants to further their understanding of what my girls (and even Micah and I at times) are going through and how to connect better with them.

Thanks for your time and understanding.

Kelsi 

http://www.alifeoverseas.com/10-questions-missionary-kids-would-love-to-be-asked/

http://www.alifeoverseas.com/10-questions-missionary-kids-dread/

http://www.alifeoverseas.com/3-ways-to-care-for-the-heart-of-your-third-culture-kid/

http://www.alifeoverseas.com/3-ways-to-care-for-the-heart-of-your-missionary-kid/

My Dilemma

As most of you know, we have hit yet another bump in the road.

If you have been following our adoption/visa process, you know that we have been looking towards September as the end of the tunnel--based on what we were told about our paper work for Abby and Lily's I-130/visas.

Well, we have now been told that our foster care is not strong enough to prove legal custody... which was the reason that September was our end of tunnel month. Without foster care as our legal custody, we have to use our adoption decree (which we got this year) and go two years from that date... so sometime in 2018 we could start the I-130/visa process.

Honestly, I was expecting to have a problem with the visas and paperwork, because nothing has gone smoothly thus far, but was not expecting this big of a problem.

So at this point, there are two ways that people react. One is to say, "We just need to pray, cause God will take care of this bump in the road, and they will be home soon." The other is to have a shocked look of silence and just say, "I'll be praying for you."

The second is where I am at right now. It is not that I do not have the faith to believe God is bigger than this "bump," but that I have faith that believes in a God who uses "bumps" to make us more into His image. My God would allow something like this to happen for a purpose, and if we trust Him, we may not see what it is now, but when we look back, it will be certain that He was at work the whole time.

My dilemma right now is trying to pray for God's will, but also pouring out my desire that the girls can come home soon, while knowing that God could be at work either way.

This might be His way of showing one last time that it was ALL Him. He gets all the glory, if the girls come home soon, cause at this point it would take an act of God to overcome this situation.

This also might be God's way of saying, "I still have something I'm doing in you, in Cambodia." Kelsi and I felt very strongly that He was calling us home, and that is why we made all these plans, but God has a way of changing our plans... a lot. And every time He has changed our plans, it has been for our benefit (e.g. changing our plan to only be in Cambodia for nine months).

As I go to sleep tonight, the sun will rise on Kelsi and the girls--it is Friday there. If I wake up and have not heard any news, it will be another weekend of waiting. I told Kelsi, I will probably fall apart if that happens--just being honest. This has been one of the hardest weeks ever emotionally for us, and I am trying to just go about my days with the peace that passes understanding, but also completely in turmoil, and only hanging on by the grace of God and His continual support. I miss my wife. I miss my daughters. I want to be with them... now.

Pray. Pray for God's will. Pray that our desires match His and we will be reunited soon. Pray for peace in this storm.

Lastly, I want to share a song that came on while I was praying in the car on the way to school yesterday... I was in one of those about to fall apart moments, when God took over my "Random All Songs" playlist and put this on.

In My Love by Phil Wickham
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9nT0hA5PG4

Plane Tickets

Well, friends, this is one of those posts I hate writing.  I wrote one around this time last year when Micah had his appendix out and we were needing to pay for our adoptions and such and let me tell you, you all came through for us! But since then life has happened and a year has passed and here we are again...

As you know, Micah is in the states right now preparing his math classroom for this coming school year.  I am so  proud of him and excited for this new adventure! This leaves the girls and I still here waiting to get their visas. Micah's lovely mother, Della, has come to help us out until we can return. I am so thankful for her! I don't think this would have worked out at all if it weren't for her! (THANK YOU DELLA!)   Last night we were looking at flight options and just kinda talking about what we need and looking at a date that would be good and give us enough time to get visas done.  We found a ticket for October 1st that is perfect but as we were looking I noticed that even now the prices are only going up. We need to get these tickets bought! But this is where our problem is. If we save enough to pay for the visas, we only have about a 3rd of the money we need.  So, for one last time, I am asking you to pray about how God might want you to help out.  We have said it over and over, all we ask for is obedience. We know and have seen time and time again that our God is faithful and will always provide for our needs.  Is He asking YOU to help this time?

Thanks friends!
Kelsi

Stateside - Well, Partially...

It has been a whirlwind for the last couple months...

Yesterday, I was in the airport in Georgia.
Just a few days ago, I was in Poland at my brother's wedding.
Just a few weeks ago, I was in Cambodia with my girls and wife.

Currently, I am sitting in Carthage, Missouri on my brother's couch, while my niece plays Toy Story on the Wii. 

It doesn't feel real. So familiar yet foreign at the same time. 

I start the school year soon (August 11th), and will be heading to Ballard, after what seems like too short of a visit with the Bergen family, to visit with the Loyd/Teagarden family there and start getting my classroom ready.

I told my mom that this year has been full of transitions, and I am ready for some consistency and routine. With my first year of teaching about to begin, it can all be very overwhelming, but I keep coming back to the basics--God will sustain and provide me with all that I need to accomplish the work He has given me to do.

This next season is a short one (it will probably feel longer), but full of challenges. I am going to try to begin at a new school, while also transitioning back into life in the US, and all of it while my wife and daughters remain in Cambodia to finish up visa things and sell all our belongings.

Some decisions in life are easy and you can see that it was the best choice, and some you go over in your head and keep asking God, "Are you sure this is the best way?" I am sure there are many who have opinions about how we could have done it, but in the end, Kelsi and I prayed and agreed on two things. 1) I needed to be at my brother's wedding, even if I went alone and 2) It would be best for our family if I had a teaching job this year.

It worked out that the best way to do both of these things was for me to go to his wedding in Poland and then keep going on to the States, while my mom went to the wedding and then continued on to Cambodia to help Kelsi.

So for this next season, I am in Missouri and my wife and daughters are in Cambodia. I know that families (especially military families) spend time apart all the time, so I am not going to complain, but definitely keep Kelsi in you prayers, as she remains in Cambodia.

As I mentioned, she is not alone. For this season, my mom has actually flown in for back-up, and will stay with Kelsi until they all come home. Some might wonder when that will be, and definitive dates are difficult when visas are involved, but in past posts I explained how it all worked. Even so, I'll go ahead and give a run down one more time.

There are three things that you need for the visas we are applying for: 1) Proof of adoption from the government 2) Proof of legal custody for at least 2 years 3) Proof of residential custody for at least 2 years.

We have all the right paper work, but our proof of legal custody began on September 2014, so we don't meet the requirements for two years of legal custody until September 2016 (which if you remember is the date Kelsi thought last year we would be going home--only she thought it was September 16th, 2015).

I have already been in contact with the US Embassy and they said that they will handle the paper work (as long as the USCIS gives them permission, which we have no reason to believe they won't) and that the whole process tends to take about two weeks to finalize and then another week or two to be travel ready.

Kelsi is hoping to be home at the end of September or early October, but we will just have to see how the visas all work out. We don't have any doubts that they will be approved, because I showed the US Embassy our paper work in January and they said it all looked good--Kelsi and I are not in the business of coming up with a hundred scenarios in which it could get denied or they get stuck in Cambodia or a meteor hits the planet or air suddenly gets sucked from the atmosphere... Worry is defined as expending energy thinking of every possible thing that could go wrong instead of just trusting that God will take care of us whatever happens.

My job is easy, I just have to do what I went to University to do: teach Mathematics. Honestly, if I am being honest, there are moments I freak out a little, but then I remember the basics (see above).

Some of you may be wondering what this means as far as financial support, since I am starting a job and will have a paycheck now, but Kelsi is still in Cambodia and needs to continue paying rent and buying groceries and such.

I spoke with our Mission Agent about it and they have agreed to handle our finances through the end of the year, so up until December 31st 2016 we will continue to accept donations through our mission agent. This does not mean you have to continue supporting us through that date. Like always, we hope that you will pray about it and be obedient to whatever God wants you to do. We will be in transition and need to equip a house (after we find one). Our plan is to stay with Kelsi's parents for a while, until we get back on our feet.

Kelsi and I didn't really know how long we should accept support after we returned, especially since I will be working and our family will have a source of income, but the end of the year seemed like a good point at which to end it.

At this point, we still have some savings left from last year's fund raiser (after I went to the hospital, we had overwhelming support). Although the savings covers some of it, we still need to cover the girls' visas and tickets for their return to the States, and I'm sure there are a ton of "hidden expenses" that will pop up during these next couple of months. Just like everything else, we ask that you pray about what God might like for you to do, and we will just continue to trust that He will provide.

Prayer needs would be what you would expect.
Pray that Kelsi will have patience and strength as she remains in Cambodia.
Pray that the visas will work out smoothly and without too much hassle.
Pray that during this time of separation God would give our family strength and perseverance.
And finally pray that I will have the wisdom to teach in the classroom with humility and grace.

Thank you everyone for your support and I can't wait to visit with all of you!
It's good to be back.
BecauseHeLives,
Micah.

RAFT - Transitioning Well

Hello Friends,
It has been a while since I last posted anything about our lives here in PP (That's Phnom Penh, if you didn't know).

I have written before about no matter where in the world you are, eventually, you will find a routine. It may be a different routine than you would have in the States, but you will still find it. And once you are in that routine, time flies. This has been great for us, as we await our return back to life in the States, but it also means that I have let blogs and newsletters slip.

For this blog, I thought I would write about two things. One is about something I did today, and the other is about transition.

This afternoon, when I got home from school, I ate lunch (I write that so you get the idea that we are really just living life here like everyone else--routine). After lunch, I hopped in a tuk tuk with Melody, Kelsi, and I's passports in hand, and took them to get visas, because they expire on the 27th of this month. I asked for a 3 month visa, and Kelsi and Melody are getting 6 month visas... and this doesn't seem very extraordinary, except that they are the last visas we will get for our time in Cambodia.

We are coming home.

I was speaking with someone the other day about it, and they were skeptical about it all, and maybe Kelsi and I should be too, because we have been through this all before. We just needed this one piece of paper, and we could bring the girls home to the States... but then something would happen and we would have to stay longer. But this time, we are really coming home.

Adoptions are done, visas are coming, and tickets (at least mine) will be purchased within a week.

This leaves me in utter amazement at how the reality of God's faithfulness can be realized in a simple act of taking a tuk tuk ride for visas.

Secondly, we have been told by friends that re-entry into the States is difficult, and there are steps that we can take to make the transition easier.
The system is called RAFT.

R - Reconciliation
A - Affirmation
F - Farewells
T - Think Destination

Reconciliation is important, especially as believers. We sometimes think that because we are leaving a place and will most likely never see these people again, we shouldn't waste time trying to work out our differences, but that is not a Christ-minded way to think about it. In reality, the Holy Spirit brings unity, and our unity even in disagreement is actually a sign of the Holy Spirit's work in our lives. For us to be offended and cut off a relationship forever is not in the heart of Christ, which is why He said to go to the one who has offended you and make amends, and especially those whom we have sinned against. To leave a broken relationship only means that you will have regrets bearing on you (or worse, resentment) going into this new season God is giving you.

I have heard it said that affirmation is simply acknowledging that every person has an impact in your life, and recognizing that impact. For me, affirmation is almost the other side of reconciliation. Go to those who have been an encouragement to you and make it known to them. Spend time appreciating the support system(s) God has blessed you with. Although we are happy to be moving on from our season here, it does not mean that we do it whilst burning bridges. We have family here in Phnom Penh, and we do not leave them easily.

I feel like affirmation and Farewells kinda go hand in hand, except that farewell means more than just people. There are things and places about Cambodia, which we will not find in the States. Especially for the girls' sake, we need to go to that special place one more time. Kelsi and I have spent most of our married life in Cambodia, and there are special date night locations that we need to recognize before we fly thirty hours away. Leaving well means not getting so focused on the future that you rush out and never look back. One place that comes to mind for me is ICF--our home church here in PP. Those people are our family and that church has been a rock for us while we have been here--especially our small group.

To think destination means that we are realistically thinking about our transition back to the States. Where will we live, what will we do, and how will we re-enter well? I like to think that we will have no problems, but that is not true. Many have warned us of the emotional weight the transition from life on the field to life in your home country can be. Kelsi and I are so looking forward to the States, it is hard for me to think that we will have any trouble, but dear friends that I trust have said that we should consider going through debrief sessions with a counselor as part of returning, and we are looking into it.

God has already provided for us in so many ways, and we are all waiting in anticipation to be back with family and friends, and see where God is leading us into this next season of ministry.
Our time in Cambodia is coming to a close, and that means we are busy RAFTing, but we did not want to forget to let you all know how we are doing. We are still super blessed by all the support we have received, and the prayers are invaluable to us. Keep it up!

Until next time,
The Bergens.

Coming to a Close

As it seems, our time in Cambodia is starting to come to a close. I spoke with the U.S. Embassy and the Director of Consular Affairs answered all my questions about Abby and Lily's visas--she was very helpful and informative. Kelsi and I were working on a few options for returning to the States, and the Embassy was able to narrow down those options to two. We are still praying about what will be best, but I thought I would share this with all of you so you could be praying also.

The Embassy said that they would be willing to process our visa paper work, but it would definitely have to wait until September 1st (this is when we will meet the legal custody requirement). She let me know that the process in total should take about a month, and after that we would be flight ready. This means that we could all be on a plane in early October coming home for good, as a family.

I am gonna just stop and let everyone sing a song of praise and thanksgiving to God for this miracle.

Ok. So there is still paperwork to fill out, but from my conversation with the Embassy it is just that... paperwork. And it will take about a month for interviews and such.

If you read a previous post, you may remember that we were asking you all to pray that we would get to come home sooner, because the school year starts in August, and it would be nice to be able to start into a teaching job. Kelsi and I have not completely lost hope in this. As of right now, I have begun to apply for various teaching jobs, and if something were to happen with those, there is an option for me to come home at the end of July to start it, while Kelsi finishes up the paper work with the girls and comes two months later.

This is not our favorite option, but we understand that families undergo times of separation, and it would only be a short time, while I get everything ready for them to come--Kelsi would have plenty of support in Cambodia (if you were worried about that).

We are very excited to be trying to work out these details, as it just emphasizes that we are on our way home. We could definitely use some prayer, as we are trying to make these decisions, and we are so encouraged by all your support, as we hopefully finish well (another blog about that later).

That is all for now. I hope you all have a great week, and please remember to pray for us!
BecauseHeLives,
Micah.

ADOPTIONS! Now what...

WE GOT ADOPTIONS! PRAISE GOD! HALLELUJAH!
As most of you know, we got a call from our Lawyer on Thursday, and the judge approved our adoptions :)

We are overjoyed and so blessed that these two girls, who we met three years ago, are now officially our daughters, even though they have been in our hearts since the day we met them. It is like a huge weight has been lifted, and we can breath again.
A lot of people have been asking what is next, and so I would like to explain the rest of the process.
It is good to think of it less like a race in which we are at the finish line, and more like a hurdle race, in which we have cleared one more of the hurdles (a big hurdle).
I will go ahead and answer some of the big questions.

Q. Do you get to come home now?
A. Not immediately. Our adoption is a Cambodian adoption, having nothing to do with the United States, other than that Kelsi and I are American citizens. This means that we will need to take our Cambodia adoption decree and use it to get the girls U.S. Visas.

Q. How long until you can come home?
A. There are no certain dates, because it will depend on how long the visa process takes, and we will know more, after I speak with the Embassy, but September is looking like a probable date.

Q. What is the process, and why September?
A. The specific visa we will apply for is called the I-130 Petition for a Relative. It basically shows that the girls are adopted by American citizens and should therefore be allowed to inherit our citizenship. If the petition is approved, the girls will be given Immigratable Visas and we will come home. To get our I-130 approved, we need three things: an Adoption Decree (checkish), proof of residency for two years (check), and proof of legal custody for two years (check?).
Firstly, our adoption decree is final, but we there is a two week waiting period, in which the mother can appeal the adoption (Ron is not going to do that). After this, we will get another document that states there was no appeal. The last requirement is the reason we are thinking September as a likely return date. Some friends going through the same process (and a little ahead of us) were told by the Embassy that their legal custody started on the date of their Ministry of Social Affairs Foster care approval. We were granted our foster care from the Ministry in September 1, 2014, so two years from that date, puts us at September 2016. However, we have a strong contract with Bykota House under the supervision of the Ministry of Social Affairs dating back to September 2012. If the Embassy accepts that contract, than we can go home anytime after our I-130 is approved, and we will just pray about when. It is more likely that we will have to wait for September, but we can pray, and see what God does.

Q. When you get home, is that it?
A. No. We will still have to file other documents, but we will be in the States, and it will just be paper work. You will know when everything is completely done, and we have no more paper work.

Some things to be praying about. I am a teacher by profession. If we do come home in September, it puts me in a tough place to find a job. Really, schools start looking for teachers in March. I finish my term with CGI in June. My brother is getting married in July, in Poland, and I am the best man. These dates are not putting God in a box, but just to help with prayer. We would really like it if the Embassy accepts our Family Based Care Agreement with Bykota House as the start of our Legal Custody, but we are also fine with having a September date. To be honest, it feels like the end is in sight, and that is exciting. Whether it is three months or ten months out doesn't matter. We have our adoptions which is a huge answer to prayer.

Be praying that as we start to open up communication with the Embassy, that we find grace and mercy, and that we can remain patient as God works all these details out in His timing, which we know is perfect.

Thank you to everyone who has continued to lift us up in prayer, and those who have financially supported our ministry here in Cambodia. You have all been a blessing to our family, and we pray that God will bless you for your obedience and persistence.

BecauseHeLives,
Micah.

Emotions vs. Truth

Hello Everyone,
It has been a while since I have blogged about anything. I thought I would write something that has been on my heart for a while. It is the difference between what my emotions are telling me, and what I know to be the truth of God's word. We are constantly battling these two things. So I am going to write firstly my raw emotion with a blatant disregard for the truth, and then re-write the whole thing through the truth of God's word. This might get ugly, but it is ok, cause God loves us through the ugly times.

This stinks. This whole situation with our judge stinks. We have been waiting for months to hear from him about our case, and it has sucked. We assumed that we would have an answer as soon as six weeks and as late as three months, and instead it has been almost six months. He told us that we had to wait until I was 25, and when that time came, nothing. Our lawyer keeps telling us just a little while longer, but it feels like it is not gonna happen. Because the law says I have to be 20 years older than Abby to adopt her, and I am not, us getting adoptions is hopeless. We are not going to get adoptions, and we are going to be stuck in Cambodia for the rest of our lives (remember this is just emotional). There is no reason for us to be here. Everything we are doing here, we could be doing in the States with our family close by. God is not answering our prayers. He has forgotten about us. I want to go home. I want to be with my family. I want to put down roots and begin my life. This whole time in Cambodia has felt like limbo, and we are just stuck in perpetual waiting and never any consistency.

Ok. Goodness gracious. Allowing those thoughts to remain in your mind would drive anyone crazy. I am so blessed by the Psalms in this respect, because David lays it out there with God. He feels like God has forgotten him, and so he tells God, "Why have You forgotten me!?" God is not offended by this, but He gently reminds us of the truth. So here is the truth.

This situation does stink. But! God tells us that He can use any and all situations for our good if we trust Him (Romans 8:28). This doesn't mean we always get the answers we want or the pace we want, but it does mean that there is a purpose for us having to wait. I don't know what it is, but I don't have to know what it is, because I trust in the One who does. The laws do say that I have to be 20 years older than Abby, but God does not abide by mans laws, and I know He will make a way, if it is according to His will. The adoptions are not hopeless, because I believe in a God of hope. As far as being stuck in Cambodia, there is no place better than the will of God. For us, it is easier to determine where God wants us to be, because we have no choice in the matter. This should bring me a peace. We know that this is where God wants us for the time being, for this season (however long it may be), and that makes life simple. We can simply obey and continue the work God has for us here. And yes, we will always be doing the work of discipleship and spreading the gospel wherever God has us, so why is it a surprise to me that the things we are doing here apply to anywhere we live. I could lead worship, in the States. I could disciple people, in the States. I could teach, in the States. But, I am here, and God has seen fit to have me use my talents around the world, instead of in the States. Why? I don't care why... Why is a stupid question. You never get good, satisfying answers by asking "why." You just get more worries and anxiety. I'm sure someday, either this side or the other of eternity, I will have the answers to all the "why" questions, but for now, I trust. Kelsi and I were talking about how much we can relate to the Israelites in the wilderness. It does feel like we are wandering and just waiting, and yes, it is hard to put down roots in another country, especially when you don't feel called to be in that country forever, but what is the truth here? We are not meant to put roots down anywhere on this world. We are sojourners here. Our home is a heavenly home, and these "roots" I am referring to are really just the things that Jesus said to let go of to follow Him. Not one of us should be so connected somewhere that we are unwilling to leave it all behind for Christ. The longing I have to put roots down will not ever be satisfied completely until it is in my eternal home, anything else is temporal and fading. Finally, God has not forgotten us. He has answered our prayers in the past, and I believe He is answering our prayers now, in His perfect way. I would never ask that He give me exactly what I want, knowing that He has always worked everything out in the best way, with my best interest in mind.

This is the truth. And in all my emotions and worries and anxieties, this is what I am reminded of daily. So even though it is hard to hear sometimes, I know there is comfort in these words, when I truly believe them. I hope that I have not offended anyone with the first paragraph. I know God is not offended, cause He told me so. Thank you all for your prayers during this time and season in our lives. They are such a blessing to us.

BecauseHeLives
(I can face tomorrow, all fear is gone, I know He holds the future, and life is worth living)
Micah.

Court Case Update

We just got home from a church potluck, and I found an email in our inbox from our lawyer. 

He went in to see the judge this week to check on the progress of our case, and the judge explained the two things keeping our case from moving forward at this point:

1. Both parents have to be 25 years or older to adopt.

I am currently 24 years old... my birthday is on December 31st, so this is not a huge issue--we may just have to wait until I meet the requirements to have a final decision on our case. 

2. Both parents have to be 20 years older than the child being adopted. 

This is new information to us, and is also terrifying, since there is nothing we can do about it, other than maybe ask for an exception. The good news is that because of the mix up with Abby's birth certificate (most of you are familiar with the fact that she is one year younger in her passport and birth certificate, due to a mistake when we filed for a new birth certificate), Abby is only 5 years old on paper--she will "turn 6" on January 22nd, 2016 (we know she is really seven though). This means that there is a brief period in which I am twenty years older than her, from December 31-January 22. I am hoping that the judge sees this and gives us grace on it. If not, I am not sure what our next step will be.

Please pray specifically about these two issues, and pray that God's will is done in this whole court case. We would love to come home as soon as possible, but there is a chance that God still has work for us to do, and so we may be here a while longer. Your continued prayer is so vital to our ministry and lives here in Phnom Penh. Thank you, and have a great Sunday!

BecauseHeLives,

Micah. 

Email from the Lawyer

We have been waiting a while to hear back from the judge about any progress. This Thursday, I received an email from our lawyer with information that I already knew... October and November are both big holiday months for Cambodia: meaning that no one in government works. Because of this, we have seen a delay in our case. Our lawyer says that he is planning on going in next week to speak with our judge about possibly speeding up the case.

We really would love to move on to the next step, but I know that it will not happen just because the lawyer goes in to speak with the judge next week. To be honest, Kelsi and I have decided that God will have us here as long as He has planned, and we are ok with that.

It is interesting, because there are a few things that we would like to continue doing in Cambodia, but it is also nice knowing that our time will come to an end at some point (possibly soon). I have written this before, but it is the same as Paul describes when he says, "I long to be with Christ, but it is more beneficial that I stay." But on top of that, there is an urgency in our work. We need to accomplish as much as possible before we leave. Not that any of this relies on us, but we understand that before we leave we want a few things to happen: We want Boo Sovon and his wife to be planted in their faith, and the worship team at ICF to be settled with a new coordinator, and the youth bands for the middle school and high school to be ready to lead praise and worship on their own. It is the same with eternity. We long to be with Christ, but we know that we are here for a purpose, and we know that He is coming back soon, so there is an urgency in everything we do, but not a flippancy.

So please pray that the lawyer has favor with the judge, and that the judge makes a decision on our case soon, but also pray that Boo and his wife continue to grow in their faith and are firmly planted, so that when we leave they can continue to follow Christ. Pray that someone with a passion for worship will step up at ICF to take over coordinating the music. Pray that the youth bands continue to become more comfortable, and that God blesses their efforts. Pray that in God's timing we will come home to the States.

BecauseHeLives,
Micah.

What We Do, While We Wait

I have been hesitant to write a blog, because I know that everyone is waiting for us to write THE blog. The blog that tells of our adoptions... but our lives are not on hold while we wait for adoptions.

So this blog is to tell you (our friends and family) what we are doing while we wait on God's timing.

Firstly, there is an understanding that we have come to that God has us here for a reason, and when He is finished with us here, we will have adoptions and the ability to come back to the States. When Kelsi and I came, it was for a nine month short term mission trip before we settled down to have kids and jobs... ha! The reason I say that is we have never really had the sense that we are meant to be here for ever.

I am not sure that you have to have some amazing vision or dream or feeling to go on the mission field (and in reality we are called to the mission field of our daily lives, everyday), but I think that as we abide in Christ and He in us our desires become molded to His desires for us. It is my understanding that if God wanted us here forever, He would give us that desire or He would let us know in some way. In reality, we are here because in God's wisdom, we have not been able to immigrate our daughters to the United States. And for me, that is God saying that He still has work for us to do here. Really, we are blessed to have no input on it, because as planners, we would go crazy trying to find out what to do.

Kelsi and I had a transition period after my appendix was taken out and we felt that God was leading us away from Bykota House. During that time, it felt like some days I was twiddling my thumbs, and I was slightly embarrassed to not have anything to do during that time, but a friend really helped by telling me that it was important for us to really seek what God wanted from us during our time left in Cambodia. Kelsi said at one point, we really need to pray and seek what God wants us to do every day. Each day, I woke up and prayed for God to lead me that day.

Recently, Kelsi was at play group (she goes every Friday) and a friend asked her if I was still looking for what God wanted us to do, because they needed an English teacher for their ministry. Kelsi explained that it was hard for us to commit to anything not knowing how much longer we will be here, but our friend explained that they had no one and anything would be great for any amount of time, so I met with her husband at the ministry.

The ministry is called Center for Global Impact (CGI). Basically, they are a vocational/life skills training facility for young women who are either victims of or vulnerable to human trafficking. They teach the girls how to sew and make clothing, give them basic Khmer education (math and reading and writing), and teach them life skills. The program is one year long, and the girls graduate with a certificate of completion. You can check out their website here: centerforglobalimpact.org.

My role at CGI is the English teacher. There are twelve girls, and I teach three classes from 9:00-12:00 Monday through Friday, and also I am teaching the staff Mondays and Wednesdays from 4:00-5:00. I just finished my first week, and it was amazing. It is interesting teaching adults... when you teach middle schoolers (as I am more accustomed to), basically 80% of your time is classroom management. I am able to teach so much in the short time I have with each group of four students.

Kelsi has been homeschooling Abby and Lily, and in general being just an amazing mom. She has a blog all about it, so I will just direct you to that to read all about her adventure as a mom, wife, and missionary. The link is in the tabs!

Kelsi prayed about it, and felt like God was telling her that her ministry while we were still here was to the families in our small group for church. So, she has been babysitting and such on demand, which all you parents with small children know very well is a great ministry!

Our small group has been going really well, we have five regular families involved, and we meet twice a month at different houses. We are currently studying Philippians, and it has been really wonderful. I don't know what we would do without our small group.

I continue to be involved with worship at ICF, and have branched out to youth ministry on Thursday and Friday nights, in an attempt to raise up a youth worship band. God has been doing some really cool stuff with that. The middle school youth have a bass player, guitarist, and rhythm box. The highschool is coming along, but we could use some more musicians.

During the transition time, I put together a song book with simplified chords and have been recording the songs as mp3 files, because the students are unable to meet for band practice regularly. I am also working on youtube videos with tutorials. The vision is that I can send out the songs for the week, and the students can practice along with the mp3 files and videos on their own without leaving the house. Raising up some future worship leaders, and so excited to see God working in it!

Kelsi and I are very excited about the Bible study with Boo and his wife. We just finished a Bible study on prayer and reading the Bible, and now we are moving into a study on the fruit of the Holy Spirit, as we progress in their understanding of God's work in their lives. Boo said something really cool the other day in Bible study. He said, "I used to think that Christians were not good people, but then I met Mark and Rhonda, and then started studying the Bible with you, and I realized that Christians love people and Jesus wants us to help others." At some point we put the Khmer Bible on an mp3 player so Boo could listen while he drove, and he and his wife asked us to do it again, because they have a hard time seeing the words in the Bible to read it at night, and they want to listen to it every night.

I have been meeting with a Khmer brother, who leads worship at his church, on Saturday mornings and just worshiping together. He is already very good at guitar, but wanted to learn some strum patterns, and we have been just talking about different ways to play songs and dynamics of guitar led worship, and it has been really good. I have seen God using music a lot more in my life lately, and I love it. Music has always been my passion, and I love that I get to play all the time now.

So, that is it. What we do while we wait. We are still actively trying to get back to the States, but we are so content with what God has for us right now in Phnom Penh. It is an adventure everyday, and we actually really enjoy our life here. Our house is great, we have great community with our church, we are doing God's work, and we have amazing daughters who entertain us everyday.

Thank you to our supporters. You guys are amazing. We are blessed more than you know to have you praying for us and for your obedience in giving each month. We will strive to glorify God each day as we wait for His perfect timing.

BecauseHeLives,
The Bergens.

Court Update

Firstly, I want to thank everyone who prayed for us today! We received pictures from our churches in the States and had many people message us as we were heading out the door to let us know that they were praying for us. I would like to give you an update on the events of today.

I am sure that most of you were picturing us as you were praying, sitting in a court room (probably like Judge Judy) and a judge in a robe standing up high behind a podium. The reality was a small room with four desks, and plastic red stools (but air conditioned, so not as jungle as you are thinking).

We came in and sat down across from a man, that we assumed was our judge. He asked us questions from 9:00-11:00 about the history of the girls, and how we could prove the length of time we had them. Lots of background story and telling the girls to sit still.

The girls did amazing. They listened and for the most part answered questions, even though it was all in Khmer and translated through our lawyer. The weirdest question was "How are they with your family?" Which we assumed was a bad translation of the questions, "Are the girls comfortable with living with you? Are they assimilating well?" To which we answered, "Yes? We love them and they love us, and they call us mommy and daddy." We both felt like the question was not really necessary, since we were sitting there with our daughters...

Another uncomfortable moment was when the biological father was asked about. At some point we were told that he may need to be involved, because he and the girls' mother were "married" in their village. But in that moment, I remembered something Srey Ron had told me in the meeting with our lawyer... The girls' father specifically said not to put his name on the birth certificates, because he wanted nothing to do with the girls. And when I said this, the man behind the desk dropped asking about the father, and wrote down in our statement that the father did not have a say. This is why you all prayed for us. If the father was necessary, it would have caused all kinds of problems. He could have held back permission for a bribe, or a whole list of other horrible things. This was huge!

Anyways, at some point in the interview, the man got up with our papers and walked into another room. After a while, our lawyer told us that he was speaking to the judge, and Kelsi and I both said simultaneously, "Wait. He is not the judge?" As it turns out, we had been talking to a clerk. So then we assumed that we would be going in to see the judge soon, but that was not the case.

Whether for better or worse, our judge did not want to see us, he instead worked through a clerk to take our statement... not sure if that is a good thing (he just wants to get the paperwork done) or a bad thing... no need to run those possibilities through our heads.

We were then told that they would like to meet with the mother, and we needed to have some documents translated (which our lawyer mentioned might be the case, but he wanted to wait and see which documents they wanted).

So, I hope no one is disappointed. I know that some might have had the expectation that we were going to get adoptions today, but that is not how Cambodia works. It is a process, and we are making forward progress, which is a huge answer to your prayers!

Kelsi and I are settling in and waiting on God's timing, as we take these steps forward. I will write later about new things going on in our lives... basically the things that we do while we wait (I think that will be the blog title).

Thank you again to everyone who prayed. We know for sure that this day would have gone differently without your support, and we are so encouraged by everyone in our lives who love us!

BecauseHeLives,
Micah.

Prayer Points

Because we know of many people who are praying for us for our court date tomorrow, we thought it might be good to give you a list of things to pray for...

1. Morning preparation--As most of you know, Kelsi and I are not very good at mornings. We are going to need help getting out the door tomorrow with all the things that we need and our sanity. Please keep this in mind at about 6:30-7:30 this evening.

2. Well behaved girls--Abby and Lily are perfect and always obey everything we say... NOT! They are human children. Please pray that God gives them supernatural ears for listening, and gives Kelsi and I patience with them, as tomorrow will most likely be stressful and long.

3. Directions--Please pray that we arrive at the court house on time and don't get caught up in traffic or get lost, as this sometimes happens. Pray that we can make it to our destination safely, also.

4. Favor with the judge--Each judge is different, and we do not know how our judge feels about adoptions for foreigners. Please pray that he has favor for us, and that he is a kind judge with a heart for adoptions.

5. Wisdom for our lawyer--Our lawyer has won cases like ours, so I have confidence in him, but please pray that he knows what to say and how to say it.

6. Six month waiting period--Please pray that the judge allows us to waive the six month waiting period, as we have already shown we can take care of the girls for the past three years. This is normally a period for people who are just getting the children, and they are wanting to make sure it is a good fit.

7. Quick decision--We do not know how long it will take the judge to make a decision on our case. It could be months, weeks, or days, but we don't know.

8. Patience/Contentment--Kelsi and I are trying not to get our hopes up too much, but we are really excited about this, and we are hoping that it leads to us coming home to the States with our daughters for good. Please pray that we can be patient as God works this out in His timing, and also content where He has us for this season of our lives.

9. U.S. Embassy--If/When we get adoptions, we will need to still start a long process with the U.S. Embassy. Please begin to pray for favor with whomever we work with on the girls' immigration paperwork. Also, pray that Kelsi and I have wisdom in how we handle speaking with the Embassy, as this is new territory for us.

10. Thank God for all the already answered prayers!

I hope this helps, and we very much appreciate all the prayer from you guys!
BecauseHeLives,
Micah and Kelsi.

Court Date and God's Timing

In a previous blog we mentioned that we were praying to go home on September 16th. As most of you know already, this will not be happening. As Kelsi mentioned in that blog, we believe that we should be specific in our prayers, but we are always praying for God's will and timing. We appreciate everyone who prayed alongside us for this date.

As an update on the adoption process, we have been summoned to go before the judge on September 21st at 8:00 AM (Monday morning). At this time, he will hear our case. After this, it will be up to him on how long it takes to approve (or disapprove) our petition. We are continuing to pray that God softens his heart for our case, and that our lawyer is wise in his dealings with the judge.

Something that we would like to ask is for all the churches, who are willing, to hold a prayer service at 8:00 PM on Sunday the 20th. This will be when will be going before the judge, in Missouri time. Kelsi and I really believe in the power of prayer, and it would be a great encouragement to us to know that you all are praying.

After the adoptions are approved (not sure on the time table), the plan is to go forward with applying at the U.S. Embassy for the girls Immigrant Visas. I have done a lot of research on it, and I think that it will be best to go ahead and just ask them what they think is the best route. Please pray that we find someone who is helpful and sympathetic towards our situation, as the U.S. Embassy is always a wild draw on who will handle your case.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support and prayer. We are excited to see how God is working all this out in His perfect way, and we patiently await the day when we can see you all in the States, again.

BecauseHeLives,
Micah.

Renewed Excitement for the Gospel

About a year or so ago, because of some circumstances that I will not get too deep into, Kelsi began doing Bible study with our tuk tuk driver's wife (Sinuin). We asked Boo Sovon (our tuk tuk driver) if he would be willing to do Bible study, and he always said that he needed to work, because they only had a year and a half left to pay off their house or it would be taken. So we kept on praying for him and his family and trying the best we could to help them towards this goal. When we got back from the States and gave him the moto, I told him that it was God providing for his family and asked if he would be willing to do Bible study, and he said yes.

Then one day, after he had already agreed to do Bible study, I asked him how paying off his house was going, and he said, "We lost the house already. We are living in a small house further away now." And my heart sank, but I realized that he already wanted to do Bible study, so I asked, "You lost your house, but you still trust in God? You still think that God is good?" To which he replied, "Yes. God is good. Bad things happen, but that does not mean that God is not good. When we go to heaven, then there will be no more bad things." And I was just in awe of his simple faith in this, because there are many Christians who struggle with this issue and it wrecks their faith, and here is a man who has just begun to follow Christ, and he already understands.

So we began our Bible study with the Ten Commandments, because I wanted to share with them the gospel message, and I think that the gospel begins with understanding how much we fall short of God's standard. We went through each in one sitting, and I explained each with the New Testament application when necessary.

The next week, I started by asking if they thought it was possible to keep all the Ten Commandments, and they said no. So I asked whether they thought they could just keep one commandment, which led into the story of Adam and Eve in the garden. This was important, because we needed to introduce them to the idea of sacrificial atonement, which was instituted in the garden of Eden when God slayed the animal to make Adam and Eve clothes. Sinuin had heard the story of Adam and Eve before, but a different version.

We jumped from this to the Roman road, which is a series of verses in Romans that explain our inability to follow God on our own, God's gift of grace to us, and how to make Christ Lord of our lives. Boo and his wife had already made the decision to follow Christ with their lives, but I wanted to make sure that they understood the cost and that it was every part of their lives, and also understand what it means to be a "Christian" which they understand better than most as "Following Christ."

Towards the end of our Bible study in Romans, I made a side comment about Jesus raising from the dead, and said, "Do you know that story?" and they both shook their heads "no" with a puzzled expression... So for the next two weeks, we watched the Jesus Film in Khmer with them, and it was a life changing experience for everyone involved.

In the beginning of the movie, it explains that Abraham was given a promise and it was fulfilled in Isaac, but then God asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, and when Sinuin heard this, she put her hands to her mouth and was horrified. As Abraham picked up the knife and raised it in the air, she got tears in her eyes and even shrieked. When the angel appeared and the ram was revealed, you could feel the relief in the room. In that moment, I longed to have my memory wiped, so I could hear the stories of the Bible with new ears. The story of Abraham and Isaac is one that I could tell from memory with all the New Testament applications and explain all the pictures, but it would be so great to hear it like Sinuin did, with all the tension and fear, followed by the relief of God's faithfulness.

Later in the movie, Jesus brings a girl back from the dead. When He comes walking in the house, Boo and his wife turn to Kelsi and I and say, "She's dead?" and we say, "Yes." Boo says, "But Jesus will bring her back to life." He was sure of it. There was no doubt, and he had never even heard the story. And when she sat up, they went crazy with excitement.

And it wasn't just the miracles that excited them, when Jesus was teaching the multitude and speaking in parables, they talked back and forth with each other and shook their heads up and down in agreement. They actively listened to the new truths that were being taught, and you could see in their eyes that the Holy Spirit was at work.

And then Jesus was crucified, and they cried. They put him in the grave, and there was just silence in the room. Finally a few minutes later, Jesus appears in the room with the disciples, and there again the excitement in their eyes was crazy! To them, the Resurrection was the most exciting moment in the film. You could see the puzzle pieces coming together for them, as they realized what it means to follow Christ as a risen Lord. You could see that what we had talked about in the weeks before about Jesus giving eternal life made much more sense in light of the fact that he defeated death!

What I really like about the Jesus Film is that, at the end of the movie, it explains why Jesus died and how the prophets said it would happen, and it uses flash backs in the movie to remind and wrap up the main point.

Although it seems backwards to have waited to watch the Jesus Film until after a few Bible studies, I think it was better, because they had a better understanding of grace and our need for Him to die. I am excited to continue to do Bible study with Boo Sovon and Sinuin. I like to see God working in their lives in such a mighty way.

We have just begun studying Philippians in our church home group, and this last week we studied the first chapter, in which Paul writes, "If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus."

I find myself attributing Paul's words to our situation. Kelsi and I would very much like to be back in the States with our family and friends, but we also long to stay and continue to disciple Boo and his family. We are hard pressed between the two. We are going to continue to be obedient in what God has told us to do: "make disciples." As long as we are here, this is our aim, and we pray that God is glorified in our lives.

Friends, thank you for your support of us in prayer and financially. We are always blessed by your obedience, and find ourselves being blown away by God's faithfulness to our family. We remember you all in our prayers, and thank God in every remembrance of you. Until next time...

BecauseHeLives,
Micah. 

Can I get an Amen, Hallelujah, Praise the Lord!!!

"PRAISE-A-LUJAH!" 

...as my dear missionary friend George Rivera would say.  He has gone to be with the Lord but I will always cherish the time I spent with him and Rebecca in Galeana and I will always remember him when I use this catch phrase.

Our God is good!  Since my last post He has provided enough to cover both Micah's medical bills and our lawyer fees!  AND we have some left over to put toward our visas and plane tickets!!!  I can't tell you how excited and in awe I am!  God always provides and this time He has provided above and beyond what we ever expected.  Thank you all who prayed for us and those of you who gave specially this month!  We are beyond blessed by you!

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Because I believe we should be specific in our prayers I am praying for September 16th.  That is the 3rd anniversary of getting the girls and it is ten weeks away.  September has been stuck in my head for a while, every time I pray about our adoptions and going home September comes to my mind.  I don't know why, maybe it is the Lord telling me something or maybe it is just my wishful thinking,  but my God is big and can make big things happen and His timing is impeccable!  So I am praying to fly out of Cambodia on September 16th.  Micah thinks I'm crazy :p we ultimately pray for God's will and timing but why not ask specifically? 

Last year we prayed and fasted for foster care, this year I want to fast again.  You can choose to fast however you want.  Last year we each picked something to fast from (chocolate, Mountain Dew, pop...)  you can choose to do that again or you can pick a day each week to fast and pray.  Whatever you choose, fasting or not fasting,  the important thing is that you pray with us! :)

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Adoption Update:
To fill you in... since June 15th we have gotten our visas extended and all of our paperwork turned in to our lawyer.  Yesterday we thumb printed our petition and it was turned into the courts.  Now we will wait on a Judge to hear our case.  This could take anywhere from a couple days to a couple weeks.  It is very important that we pray for a good judge.  Some judges have a heart for adoptions and will be able to help us while some others don't really care.  We have no say on which judge we get so be praying for favor!  After that we are unsure, it may take a few weeks again to hear if our adoptions are approved or not.  Once our adoptions are approved (which we are choosing to believe that they will be) we will work on our paperwork to bring the girls back to America for good.

The Raw Truth

When Micah and I were engaged we decided to take a Dave Ramsey: Financial Peace course.  We had heard that a lot of marital spats stemmed from finances so we wanted to start as strong as possible, especially knowing (well thinking anyway) we would be living on teacher salaries our whole lives.  Little did we know we would actually be living on donor support as missionaries for three years and counting.  We have tried our best to follow our Financial Peace plan, envelopes and all.  We have tried to save up an emergency fund. We have tried to be good stewards of what God has blessed us with. But to be honest, it is really really hard.  Yes, I could write for hours about the ways God has provided for us but even so it is still difficult to live month to month hoping and praying your supporters don't forget about you.  Making every decision hoping you don't offend a supporter.  Only slightly more difficult is asking for the support in the first place.  The thought always runs through my head, "Who am I to be asking anyone for money.  It was our choice to adopt, not theirs, and now I am asking them to pay for it?"  In America when we needed more money we would just work more for it.  Micah would take on extra hours at the golf course, I would do different jobs at school.  But here, that is not an option, although I did try to sell my cakes for a while… I sold three.   Here we have to ask our family and friends when we need extra funds and that is hard! So hard and humbling.

It seems like every time we have some money saved up (the money that family and friends have so generously given to us) and we are in a comfortable situation, something happens and we need more for this reason or that.  So, once again I face my pride and ask.  I write my blog about why we need money this time and think "When are they going to get tired of me?"  But I bite the bullet and do it anyway, and I pray.  I pray that God will bless my writing, I pray that He would call someone to give, I pray that someone will be obedient to His calling just one more time.  And He always comes through!  In our three years in Cambodia we have not ever missed a meal, yes, there has been a few weeks that we lived on eggs and Mama Mei (Ramen Noodles) but God always provides for us.

So, here I am again… asking God to bless this writing, asking for Him to speak to your hearts, asking that someone be obedient to His calling.

Last week Micah met with our adoption lawyer and settled on a price ($4000), we were pretty excited because we were only a little short of that in our savings account and we still had some supporters in America waiting on the word to give their "Change for Adoptions."   Then Saturday happened… Micah woke up with appendicitis and needed emergency surgery (Blog Link).  In going back and forth from home to the clinic I had to dip into our savings to pay the tuktuks and to buy quick and easy food because I just didn't have time or energy to cook the meals I had planned for the week.  And of course today we got the bill for his surgery and hospital stay…$747 (still a lot cheaper than America) and that leaves us needing help once again.  At this point we still need $1300 for the lawyer (this still doesn't cover visas and such but we will cross that bridge after adoptions are final) and our doctor bill of $747.  We know that everything happens in God's perfect timing and that He will work everything out for His good but we also know that in order to receive we have to ask.

So I am asking you, reader, family member, friend, whoever you may be to ask God what He would have you do.  Is He asking you to give?  Is He asking you to pray for us?  Is He asking you to send an encouraging word?  Whatever your case may be all I ask is that you be obedient to God.

Thanks,

Kelsi

Micah Is Hospitalized

Some background here... About two week ago, a friend told me that she had some crazy stomach bug that was leaving her with horrible cramps in her stomach. A week ago, Kelsi had some stomach issues that cleared themselves up after a couple hours. So, on Saturday, when I woke up with horrible stomach pains, I assumed that it was that same bug. At five-thirty, I was uncomfortable, and it felt like someone was reaching inside of me and tearing at my stomach. I decided to tough it out, because I assumed it was the bacteria or a bug, but it was not. From five-thirty to ten, I lay in bed as my appendix was trying to burst. When I finally went to the hospital it turned out that I had abscessed appendicitis (google it). 

When I arrived at the hospital, our doctor said, "Let me guess, you have horrible diarrhea." I answered, "Nope. I actually have not gone to the bathroom all day." Her face changed, and she reached over to my stomach and pressed down on my lower right side, and I cried. She turned to the nurse and said, "We have to get this boy an emergency ultra sound, now." So I was sent in a tuk tuk to the nearest ultra sound clinic (twenty minutes away). The tuk tuk ride was awful... I cried every bump of the way. When we got to the ultra sound clinic, they did not want to see me, because I did not have an appointment, but they decided to let me go ahead, when I laid down on their floor... I guess they got that it was serious. During the ultra sound, the doctor was curious why my whole abdomen was in pain, so I explained that I had waited all morning and had been clinching in pain so much, that everything hurt at this point. She soon found out, clearly, that it was my appendix, and I rode back to our normal clinic with the ultra sound pictures. When I got there, our doctor gave me pain killers... THANK YOU, GOD, FOR PAIN KILLERS! I was like a new person. Kelsi and I went on to the surgery clinic which was about thirty minutes away, and they began doing the prep for my surgery. This involved a heart test (healthy heart, check!) and blood pressure (good blood pressure, check!).

I have never had surgery. This one was not a "knock you out" surgery. They gave me a shot in my spine, and I slowly went numb from the chest down... and it was the. most. terrifying. experience of my life. I grew up with three brothers, and we used to wrestle. Whenever they would gang up on me and pin me to the floor, I would have a sudden burst of adrenaline and break free, because I hate being pinned and not being able to move. As I felt my legs going numb, I freaked out. Not just a little freak out... my arms went numb because I was hyperventilating, and the anesthesiologist asked me if I would rather be knocked out for the rest of surgery, which of course I said yes to, but alas it was too late. It is a horrifying feeling to slowly lose the ability to move your body. Suddenly, your toe itches, and you can't move against the others to scratch it. The surgery itself was only about forty minutes long, but the anesthesia lasted for seven hours. I laid in a bed not being able to move, and was told that I was not allowed to sit up for twenty-four hours, not that I could.

After the surgery, I slowly gained feeling as the night went on, and I found out the joy of catheters. Halfway through the night, I finally asked the nurse to just take it out, because I could not sleep, and it seemed to not be working. I was right, it was not working properly, and he pulled it out... I'm gonna go ahead and type that again real slow so you get the picture better... he ppppuuuuullllllleeeeedddddd it ooooooooouuuuuuuttttttt! And after the longest second of my life, I slept for the rest of the night soundly.

The next adventure came the next morning, as I was transferred back to my regular clinic for post op. The nurse came in, and Kelsi asked when we were going to transfer, as most of the staff could not speak English, and we were eager to get answers about recovery time and when I could eat (I had not eaten since Friday night). The nurse picked up the phone, and then hung up and said, "Ok. We go now. Get up." I had not stood up since my surgery the day before, and now I was walking down three flights of stairs to a taxi, while holding my IV in the air. We then road in a taxi to our normal clinic. Here's a picture:



Once we got to our normal clinic, things got a little more comfortable. The staff speak better English and it is just more familiar. What I then discovered is that our doctor believes in using as little pain medication as possible during post op--"so that the patient doesn't over do anything." And when you have had a catheter, you find yourself in a situation in which you weigh how much you have to go to the bathroom against how much it is going to burn. I waited as long as possible, and finally, when I could not hold it anymore, I went, and I screamed, and I bashed my fist against the concrete wall.

It is now Tuesday, and I have two more days of recovery in the clinic before I can go home. Kelsi and the girls have come to visit me everyday in the morning and then at dinner time. I am ready to go home, and get back to normal life, as this weekend was a very painful one. I guess I should give some kind of reflection on this.

A lot of people take 1 Corinthians 10:13 out of context. They say, "God will never give you more than you can bear." I want to clear up that this verse is firstly speaking on temptation. God does not allow us to be in a position in which we have no choice but to fall to temptation, but He gives us a way of escape. This verse is not speaking on pain and suffering. I had a discussion with a friend once and we decided that we believe that God gives us more than we can bear all the time, purposefully. If we were able to handle all the pain and struggles of this life, we would never come to Him. This weekend has been the most painful weekend of my life, and because of that I drew near to God. When I was scared in surgery, I sang my favorite worship songs, and it calmed me down. At night, when I couldn't sleep, I cried out to God to give me rest. As I have been missing my family and my house, I ask God to be my sufficiency. 

We all have a choice when faced with difficulties in life. We can choose to take them and say that God is either not good or not in control or we can take them and say, God can make good of this, and I trust that no matter how terrible things are, He is always in control and will one day set all things right. I am certain that there will not be appendicitis in Heaven, and I am certain that when God created Adam, He did not plan for him to have it, either. Disobedience and separation from God have caused these pains, and I long for the day when I will be free from my sin and reunited with God. 

For now, please pray for my recovery, as I am still in quite a bit of pain, and I miss bedtime routine with my daughters and evenings with my wife. 

BecauseHeLives,

Micah. 

Boo's Moto

Before we left for the States, I went on a tuk tuk ride with our driver Boo Sovon (we just call him Boo). You may remember from earlier posts that Kelsi has been doing a Bible study with his wife, and we have been talking to him about the importance of going to church and getting involved to grow in his faith for his family. He has always said the same thing: that he would go when he was able to pay his house off which would be in about a year. But he has been saying that for about a year and a half, so we keep praying for him. When I was riding in the tuk tuk with him before we left, it sounded awful. We got out and I asked him about it, and he showed me that his engine was falling apart, and in general his moto was breaking down. I asked him how much it would cost to get a new moto, and he told me. He then explained to me that he used to be a bus driver, but his vision has been getting worse so he could not handle the long drive to Siem Reap. Basically during our discussion I learned that if his moto breaks down, he is sunk. So I told him that I would ask my friends in the States if they would ask God if they were supposed to help him with a new moto. While in the states we spoke to First Baptist in Schell City, Missouri about Boo, and they decided that they were the ones to sponsor his new moto. Here is the before and after:

It has more power than his other moto and since it is new it will last a long time. We have already heard people complimenting him on it. Kelsi mentioned that it would be great if he could use it as a witnessing tool. When people say something about it, he can tell them that God provided for it.

I decided to have my friend Seyha come and translate when I gave the moto to Boo. I told Boo that 

God loved him. And when we trust in Jesus and seek His Kingdom, He provides for all our needs. I said that God told my friends in the States to give him this moto, because He cares about him and his family. He said "Thank you God for my moto!" I hope that this gesture has built Boo's faith. As we have been here and seen God provide for us, we know that it has made us trust in our God more and more, who always provides. Thank you First Baptist Schell City! Your generosity and obedience is a blessing to us and those with whom we minister here in Cambodia. Continue to pray for Boo and his family, as they grow in their faith and begin to follow Christ, not just because they work with foreigners who follow Christ, but of their own decision. We are blessed by Boo, and we are so grateful that we were able to bless him in this way. Again, thank you First Baptist Schell City!

BecauseHeLives,

Micah.