Since I've been gone

So now I'm in Sisters, Oregon, United States of America. And it feels like I've been here the whole time... almost like I've stepped into a time machine and then went forward about 6 months. Well I know that I have changed so much, but in a way its really hard to tell because I'm just coming back to the same situation. And there are also some other hard things... like I haven't seen my dad in person for more than 6 months, and still have 1 more month until I see him face to face (besides Skype). But in the midst of all this I really need to hold on to the truth: that we will see Jesus face to face someday, and He will tell us: "Well done my good and faithful servant."

So God is good, and He never changes. And I just read a really encouraging facebook message from my best cambodian friend, and primary disciple: Behab. Here it is in its fullness:

(this is in response to me asking about the bible study)

"Yes brother! It's going great and it's growing too. There are increasing so much. now there are 20 or 22 students in class, that so excited. and last thursday I were in Ngim class (an english class at the YWAM base) to share about GOSPEL, after I finishe d everyone feel more about Jesus. Thanks God. Oh! Now there're alots of staff in battambang, so witney she's ducussing with all the new staff to plan prayer room. And It will start next week. I'm so excited. Hey nate please pray for me and I need 200$ of DTS because I completed the application form already. I love you brother and I miss you so so so so soooooooooooooooooo much.
GOD bless you!
Behab."

And thats how amazing God is! It is so cool to hear and know that God is ALWAYS working, and He is so capable of running anything. By the way, the class started out having 2 students... and The Holy Spirit just kept bringing them in!

So thank you all for partnering with me for the last 6 months, your prayers and support were a huge contribution to the fruit that is lasting and multiplying in Cambodia now.

Outreach is over. God is awesome!

So outreach is officially over. Wow! I didn't even see it coming. I feel like we were just getting into Cambodia, and today we had to say our goodbyes and have our last prayer times with the Cambodians. Well I guess time just flies when you're following Jesus!

We have seen so much happen in every area possible its hard to know what to write, but here's a summary of what we've seen God do:

• 70 people accepted Jesus
• 6 Cambodian students got baptized
• 50 students learned about God & English at the youth center
• 120 student learned about God & English in the local village
• We saw an extreme makeover in local Cafe that will be used as a ministry to the community

We also had 10 team members leave, so over the course of the whole outreach, we saw our team go from 16. We started out with a family of 4, a family of 5, and 7 singles. Then, as people got commissioned to start school and battle sickness, we were left with 1 leader and 5 singles. Pretty unique!

So there has been lots happening here that I probably forgot to write on this blog, so I hope you keep checking it to hear fresh stories that are finally getting written down!

Also because words on a page really don't do it justice, here's a video taken by our DTS school leader Johnny Gillespie which describes the work God was doing through me. By the way, you can check out his blog as well by visiting this sweet website: Johnny & Jenni's Blog

Enjoy the video!

Updated photos on Facebook!

Hey this is just an alert letting everyone know that I have recently been posting many pictures on my Facebook account for everyone to see. They are pictures of the whole outreach, from Bangkok to Battambang and a special album of our trip to Angkor Wat. It's such a blessing to have amazing technology, and I hope you are all blessed with seeing the glorious sights that I've seen!

A quick link to the photo page of my Facebook is:

Photos by Nate Uttley

Enjoy and God bless!

The many emotions of following God

I love it when people ask me how I am doing. One reason is because it shows me their love and genuine concern for my well-being. Another reason is so that I can actually think about how I am doing, which is becoming increasingly exciting every day!

I'm come to realize more and more over the last few months that one word will NOT give that question the answer it deserves. To really answer that question, in all of the depth that it allows for, I could spend all day. And then the next day hearing how you're doing, and then another day just relating to all the same emotions that we have. I hope someone is laughing about this, because I sure am!

But the truth is, sharing in that depth is so good for us! Because honesty just leads us closer to the heart of God. And when I think of all the emotions that God has for us and about us, its no wonder that our hearts are the same.

God grieves over us. God is excited about us. God has dreams for us. God rejoices over us. God gets angry about our sin. God is passionate about us. God is jealous for us. God is lovesick for us. And all at the same time! No wonder we often say we're doing "good" or "okay", to really go into detail would overwhelm ourselves and the other person asking us! But at the same time the overwhelming feeling of life just brings us closer to the man who is overwhelmed by us.

So how am I? Well, in a typical day while following Jesus, at multiple points throughout the day, many that are overlapping, I feel these emotions:

1. love for people
2. irritation at people
3. grief over the depravity of my flesh
4. joy over what God has done
5. feeling like curling up in a ball and crying
6. so much passion and energy that I feel like screaming at the top of my lungs
7. hatred towards the enemy
8. excitement about the future
9. lovesick for God
10. stressed about money
11. wondering if I'm crazy for believing in God
12. ready to tell everyone how much Jesus loves them
13. full of faith to see everyone healed, saved and delivered
14. discouragement because God is really just teaching me to be patient!
15. very ready for Jesus to come back!

So that's just a typical day in my life of following God. I've never felt more joy, more ecstasy or passion, and at the same time I've never felt more pain, anguish and grief. Is it worth it? Sometimes the enemy tries to tell me no, but then the voice of truth always rings louder, and I feel God speak to my heart:

Its worth it! Keep going! Just think of judgment day when you will see me face to face, and you will hear me say: WELL DONE! MY GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT!
And then I'll probably have even more emotions than I have ever experienced. Bring it on!