In
May 2011, my husband, Michael, went on a mission trip to Cambodia. During his
trip he had the opportunity to meet two amazing young girls in a New Life
Orphanage, and since then our lives have been woven together by our Savior. As
a family we made the decision to financially support both the basic and
educational needs of these two girls. Again in May 2012, Michael was able to
set feet in Cambodia, and physically assure the girls that the Rhoades family
indeed cared for them and loved them. Over the past two years many letters and
pictures have been exchanged across the vast expanse of earth, but this
November, with family in tow, we will be able to reach out and grab the same
hands that wrote those letters. The idea that God would use our family to show
His love to these two girls is humbling indeed.
As my hubs and I were chatting, it just rolled off my tongue, "God doesn't need Facebook.".
He smiled and gently laughed, "You are absolutely right! I like that.".
Let me back up for just a minute. The hubs and I are going on a mission trip to Cambodia in November. He just happens to be leading the team as well. Just a couple of weeks ago, as we were sharing lunch with his project manager for the trip, a conversation came up that led to the unexpected news that our boys were old enough to join us as we serve in Cambodia. Say What?!?! Of course this news led to great jubilation and a splurge of a BACON cheeseburger (that's a whole other blog post!) in the Rhoades home that night.
So at first, I'm totally thrilled, excited, couldn't be happier. I'm not worried about this trip by any means...once we get to Cambodia. I must admit to being completely consumed by the measures to get there. I know a ton of people are praying us there, but my mind begins to tick off every dollar it's going to cost to get there. So, of course, the planner that I am, I have begun to brainstorm every possible way that we can earn some dough. I have ideas, and I'm sure that they will lead to more ideas...so about that Facebook quote.
One of the ideas, the hubs and I discussed was getting back on Facebook, logging in from our long since deactivated accounts, and asking our friends to donate to the cause. So, for the last couple of days I have prayed about this decision. It hasn't felt right. Not because I would be bugging my friends for their hard earned money, but because I didn't like who Facebook had made me become.
I judged others, sometimes harshly. I was proud, Becky-glory not God-glory, proud. I envied others, because they seemed to have it all together. ( I know deep down that's not true, but it's a lie that I took to heart.) I coveted vacations, or get togethers our family couldn't be a part of for one reason or another. I wished, on days, that my life was different. I should have finished college, instead of being JUST a mom. I should do this, or that... I should have this, or that...I should be this, or that. I didn't like ME on Facebook, simply stated. I had no interest in going back. So I prayed.
It was a simple revelation, a quiet whisper, "I can get you there without Facebook.". And so I trust. I trust that the God who said He can, will. I trust that the God who said follow, will lead.
An evening at the park...
In
May 2011, my husband, Michael, went on a mission trip to Cambodia. During his
trip he had the opportunity to meet two amazing young girls in a New Life
Orphanage, and since then our lives have been woven together by our Savior. As
a family we made the decision to financially support both the basic and
educational needs of these two girls. Again in May 2012, Michael was able to
set feet in Cambodia, and physically assure the girls that the Rhoades family
indeed cared for them and loved them. Over the past two years many letters and
pictures have been exchanged across the vast expanse of earth, but this
November, with family in tow, we will be able to reach out and grab the same
hands that wrote those letters. The idea that God would use our family to show
His love to these two girls is humbling indeed. 
