Getting Settled

I have so many things I want to tell you all about. I am so thankful for the opportunity to share through this blog about our family and what God is doing here in Cambodia. If you can believe it we have been in Cambodia for over three months already. I find it hard to believe sometimes. We are finally starting to feel settled. Well, more accurately I am starting to feel more settled. Megan has been working since a couple weeks after we got here, which I think has helped speed up the process for her. For me, not only are we in a new country learning a new language and all the other cultural things, but I have transitioned to being the stay at home parent. Not that I mind, but spending my days shopping and doing laundry, and cooking and cleaning, has taken some getting used to.
 
I like to think I have always had respect for stay at home parents. My mother was a professional homemaker, and she was one of the hardest working people I have ever known. However now that I find myself living that life, I definitely have a better appreciation for it. It is a lot of work. It also is an incredible blessing. For years I missed out on being home with Harper and Ember, being available for sick days, and having daily time to be intentional about our lives and home.
 
But after three months, the settling has been going well and we have started to feel more at home. Our team at HPC has been a major factor in that transition. Our team has welcomed us so well, and been so engaged, that it has really helped us feel connected and like we have a community around us. It is hard, but it would be so much harder being here in this foreign country and culture without all of you if it weren’t for our incredible team here.
 
It has also helped me transition to start meeting with people. I am focused on language learning right now, but I have started meeting with a few people a week. This has been a great chance to see what God is already doing here, and start building relationships. Many of the people I have been meeting with have similar passions for journeying with God and men. One of the men I met with a few weeks ago is in the process of writing curriculum for a men’s year-long school. One of the guys started celebrate recovery here and runs men's meetings throughout the city. One of the guys I met with is one of HPC’s Khmer staff who started a soccer program, that has opened up the door for him to do weekly discipleship with dozens of young people. There have been more, but they all are Godly men making a difference in the lives of others. It’s been a blessing to see God moving here.
 
Your love and support has been another big part of why we have been able to transition and get settled here. Thank you so much for you prayers and to all who have reached out to us; it really means a lot! I can’t wait to share more with you all next month. ​As always, please email or message us on social media how we can be praying for you.

With our love,
The Holmes Family; Ember, Harper, Megan, and Aaron