Surprise! We’re Going to Cambodia... This Sunday! Update on Missions and Re-homing Fur Family
Hello everyone. It’s been a while since we updated you all on our next steps. We’ve been praying and “hurry-up and waiting” as we’ve been listening and awaiting missions opportunities overseas.
While we were both on staff at Marathon Church, we met an incredible family, the Warren-Pages. We quickly connected with them, spent time with the family, and they have now become like family. The Warren-Pages have had their share of loss, including a special young member of the family, Maggie McLeod. In her memory, Wink McLeod, mother and now also deceased, wanted to do something in honor of her late daughter and created Maggie’s School in Turkana, Kenya. Currently, there are over 900 students at Maggie’s School, those of whom are all sponsored and given two meals a day, uniforms, and access to a safe education in a rural and commonly illiterate region.
According to the “About” page on Maggie’s School website, “There was also a water and food shortage in this region. Bishop David began to pray for a school, a church, and a well for this people of Turkana. When Bishop David heard of Wink’s idea to build a school in Kenya in memory of her daughter, it was an answer to his prayer.”
A few years ago, while on outreach in Cambodia, God gave Zac a vision of a youth development center. This would be a place for uneducated children from rural locations to not only receive an education from Khmer and Western teachers, but to also learn the forever truth that Jesus wants to be their Lord and Savior. This vision was received and has been prayed for since, but we were unsure of when that would happen or if we would be a part of that. We have since trusted that God would bring that school to fruition someday even if it wasn’t us that saw the Promised Land.
A year or so ago, after one of our weekly dinners with the Warren-Page family, they discussed the potential of Maggie’s School expanding, them being unsure of where in the world this would be. Of course, Zac and I both were very excited and shared our vision for the youth development center in Cambodia. There was excitement and anticipation for what the future may hold and faith that if this was from God, we would trust Him to see it through.
Recently, Zac and I have been home, working here and there, visiting our families and friends who have become like family, and even speaking and sharing about our experiences in Northern Ireland, India, and Cambodia. We both feel that at this stage in our lives, we are called as a couple to the mission field. We have been talking with a YWAM base in the UK about potentially coming on as staff, still being in the process of all the formalities and VISA applications.
However, a few days ago, Kim Warren-Page approached us about going to Cambodia for a month or so to scout for potential provinces and land that could be used to build a new Maggie’s School. We were both thrilled at the opportunity! To that she said, as crazy of an idea that this is, could you leave Sunday?
It didn’t take long for us to feel that this could really be the beginning of something incredible, and the beginning of the fruition of the vision God gave Zac and for Maggie’s School expansion. For more information on Maggie’s School, visit https://www.maggiesschool.org/.
So as of now, we leave to go to Cambodia this Sunday the 22nd! We are excited to be a part of the possible expansion of Maggie’s School and continue to pray that as we go in faith, God will show us step by step the path to making this happen in Cambodia. We will also be meeting up with Kim’s son, Payton Warren-Page in Phnom Penh.
Before we leave, there are a few things to figure out. As you all know, we have two amazing dogs, Luna and Kola. We have had Kola for almost five years and Luna for three. They go everywhere with us, traveling on youth retreats, national mission trips and even some home-bound and assisted living visits. (They are both certified Emotional Support Animals). They are like our children and we have loved and cherish every moment spent with them. As our traveling schedule continues to become more sporadic, it’s difficult on both girls to adjust and move around, especially for Kola. Kola is a very special little lady. She is extremely loyal, obeying commands and always coming when we call her name. She loves all humans and cares deeply for the well-being of her master. However, Kola does not do well with other dogs. She is a bit quirky, having always been particular about other dogs, tending to be aggressive and showing her dominance every time. Sometimes, if a dog is very submissive, she has no problem being around them, only growling when the dogs sniffs a part of her she doesn’t want him/her to, or if she’s laying down and they’re in her space. Kola could be described as a grump, old woman with particular taste, but one who loves and remains loyal to any person she loves. Even though she doesn’t like other dogs, she has really leaned into Luna, enjoying being her sister. It did take some time to get the two acclimated, but for the most part, they really are sisters in every way.
All of this being said, we are looking for a forever home for our Kola Bear. As devastating as this is, we know that our life of moving around and traveling for extended periods on missions is not well fit for her personality. In recent weeks, she has been a bit off, almost depressed and unable to really adjust well to the changes like she used to. We have always been a social, traveling family, but as she gets older, it’s more confusing and causes her anxiety.
Kola is an amazing dog, when she is the only dog in the household, and not around young children. She needs someone who is looking for a life-time friend who will treat Kola as more of a human than a dog. Zac and I truly believe that she doesn’t think of herself as a dog but more of a queen and therefore has no time for lowly peasants (aka other pups). All jokes aside, she is a good girl. She is fixed and up-to-date on all heartworm and flea treatments. She would need her yearly vaccines in the coming months. If you feel that you have a home where Kola would be the only dog and where she is given full access to your heart and every room in your house, please call or message us. This is a difficult decision for us to make, but we feel it’s the right one for her well-being and happiness.
We are also looking for a forever home for a rescue kitty that we found around a year ago on the side of the road in Dacusville, South Carolina. We named her Daika, and took her in, thinking she would not make it through the night. We took her to the vet, had blood work done to make sure she was healthy, had her vaccinated, and let her become an indoor but mostly outdoor cat. Of course we fell in love with her and her spunky, intelligent self. When we left to go overseas, she stayed with one of our closest friends and all-around amazing foster mom and spoiler of Daika. She is great with other animals, loves being outside, litter-box trained, spayed, and up-to-date on all vaccinations. She’s really an amazing girl who needs someone to spoil and love her. If you’re interested in opening your home to Daika, she comes with cat towers, lots and lots of toys, food, treats, and a self-cleaning litter-box. She really is an amazing cat who loves to cuddle and play. She has been living mostly inside, only going outside to catch bugs and lizards to her foster mom’s dismay. Call or message us if you’re interested in opening your home and spoiling this special girl.
We want to make sure that both girls will be cared for, loved on, and treated like family wherever they go. We would love to talk with you more about these girls if you’re interested and are willing to answer any questions. There is no adoption fee for either, but there is a certain kind of home that both need moving forward.
Also, we are having a fundraiser this Saturday night, my birthday, to raise money for our missions in Cambodia, potentially the UK *still in process*, and beyond. If you want to come hear stories about our experiences or just looking to try some yummy local barbeque, we would love to see you there. Here is more information on the event, including the time and address for the location.
There is also a Mosaic for Missions night coming up on May 3rd at 6:00 p.m. at Milestones. The $15 fee includes all of your mosaic materials. All proceeds from this event go towards missions. If you’re interested, here is more information below.
Again, we are so thankful for all of you, your support, your encouragement, and prayers. We have really come home to open arms and couldn’t be more thankful for the support we’ve received from our families and our friends while being here. We are looking forward to this next step in Cambodia and hope that you all continue to keep up with us as we let God write this incredible story full of faith, trust, and reliance on Him. We are truly open and flexible to what God has for us as a couple in Cambodia and anywhere else he wants to send us. Thank you for being a part of this mission and supporting us so that we can go and tell all the world of the love and redemption of Jesus Christ. Until next time, #justlove.
