Let it out!

Well, here's the rundown. I am currently in Siem Reap, Cambodia (Google Earth it). I have been on a great Asian adventure for the past three weeks, and I must say, I feel great! I have had my share of ups and downs over the past six months over all. But it hasn't been anything that a few days at the beach in Vietnam, as well as some wonderful sights along the way, hasn't been able to fix! So after many days of travel and introspection, I have come to several conclusions. In no particular order, here they are:

1. Support! -- Everyone needs support to some degree. Some people need constant tending, while others are much more independant. I have learned to be more like the latter in my recent years of life, but I have learned to value the support of family and friends that much more. Being in China with a very limited support base present has made me realize how much I love my family, and how much I don't want to spend the rest of my life alone! Of course, being single has some great luxuries and advantages, and I am learning to enjoy those to the fullest. A good example of this would be my ability to travel at present without feeling responsibility for anyone else (well, sometimes I do have to take care of Brandon!). But overall, I realize I need more social support if I am to be an effective servant of the Lord during this life.

2. Impressions -- I must say I have a great deal of dissappointment in my present situation (living in China). I have realized that my first impression of it, prior to living there, I had much higher esteem than I do now. Don't get me wrong. There are aspects of the place that I absolutely love (my friends there, for one). But I have been very much let down compared to the impression that China seems to portray to people. Perhaps it has just been my personal experience, but I find they talk a lot more about honor in their society than they actually live (which is typically true of most cultures). The whole concept of face seems confusing at best (although I try to continue to understand it), and, to be honest, seems more of a "kissing up" mentality. Another general portrayal is of moral and social decency, something that everyone would commend. However, I find that, unfortunately, they are not superior to any other civilizations or cultures in this department. People are people wherever you go. All people have faults, all people have secrets they try to hide, and all people cannot acheive perfection, no matter how close they think they are. I suppose much of this dissappointment should be placed on my own idealized, or romanticized, picture of what the culture "should" be. But I must admit, that they are not quick to correct any of these misguided impressions. May we always give a true impression of our lives, and always live up to the expectations required of us by Him.

3. Life -- I continue to pursue my future, although I'm not sure what direction that is. I want to be the most dedicated and effective servant I can, but I now realize that I have been lacking in a very important area--direction. He is the only one that can give me that. I realize I have been a little selfish in some of my ambitions, and I also have a problem with committing to things. One of my favorite quotes, I now realize, I have been taking for granted. "Commit your works to the Lord, and your plans will be established." I don't want to overlook that anymore. I want a plan, but now I realize I need commitment first. After this realization, several pieces of the puzzle have come together for me, and I hope to continue the trend.

So here I am, in Cambodia, contemplating so much. I must say, I feel very confident and will continue to work on my trust in Him. May each of us contine to seek His kingdom first, and be committed to that task.

Grace and Peace,

-Kyle

I'm Alive!!!

Well, I finally have a blog that is readable at FHU! I'll try and use this as my default now. I feel like I've been shopping and hopping from blog sites for the past six months. Maybe this one will work out well. At present (for anyone interested), I am in Cambodia (southeast asia) en route to Bangkok, Thailand. We (Brandon and I) took a detour to see one of the oldest religious edifices on the planet. We actually haven't gone there yet, but will in the next day or two. I hope to have pics posted on facebook within the next week or so. If you ever read my posts, holla at me! I promise you a nice personal email and most likely regular contact.

Grace and Peace

-K