So I thought I would do a Picture blog to introduce the wonderful group of girls I will be traveling and learning about life with. I really have just met these girls and can honestly say…I love them. I love how we are all different but very compatible in getting done what God has for us in Asia. I honestly believe that we didn't on accident all end up at Aim; we were placed here by the Divine to affect and change live in Asia.

We are excited for the teams who will be launching on the 19th and on the field for over four months! There are five trips launching out on three continents. And we are excited for you to be able to be a partner in the development of these young adults. They will need all the encouragement and support they can receive, because there is difficulty in the process of initiation through the situations and circumstances that arise. We would like to ask that if you support a participant, whether family, friend, or supporter, that you would continue to pray for each...

I love these girls.  Right now I am living in a children’s home called Remember Nhu.  These girls are fabulous.  I am literally living with them.  I sleep in this huge room full of bunk beds. I know you will be shocked to discover that it is loud and rambunctious at times.   The girls tend to congregate around my bed at night.  We just talk and goof around.  I know…Amanda goofing around seems so unnatural.  Anyway, I joke about how they are always around my bed, but I love them and the time we get together at night to just hang...

People are DYING…and what can I do about it???   A wat is a Buddhist temple.  It also usually has a place where monks live.   I love watching the Buddhist monks.  I saw one in 7-11 the other day.  He was drinking a slurpee.  I thought it was fabulous.   I associate monks with these super holy type people that have denied themselves and are living in complete dedication to their faith.   What I have learned since I have been in Thailand is slightly different.   A good Buddhist man is expected to serve as a monk at some point in his...

Over the past 4 days our team has been getting to know each other.  And while I’ve made many wonderful discoveries about my 7 teammates, I’ve noticed that we all feel pretty passionate about food. Here at training camp our meals have been a little different than what we’re used to. The portions have been a bit smaller than our American size portions.  We’ve had to share. We’ve been eating dishes that are served in all the different countries that teams are traveling to. (There are 5 teams leaving tomorrow to go to the nations of Kenya, Swaziland,...

“Dear God…. no.” It’s probably one of the shortest and most honest prayers that I’ve prayed in a long time, but I wanted to do nothing else in that moment than to do nothing. It’s easier that way, isn’t it?  I had just arrived in Georgia, hot and sticky and humid Georgia. Our first adventure as a team was to get from the airport to where we were staying for the night. As we began to leave, my first thought after struggling to put my backpack on was, “Gosh, I should have packed waaaay less!” We trekked across downtown...