Top

 

SignUp to Receive eNews!
This form does not yet contain any fields.
    Twitter...yes.
    Monthly Archives
    Categories
    Thursday
    Jul292010

    Important Health Update & Prayer Request

    DateThursday, July 29, 2010 at 6:45AM |

    We want to thank you all for your continued prayer and support as we walk through this. It's not fun, but we know and understand God's hand is not too short - as my friend Eric would say. And as so many of you wanted to give us hugs, I think that's what we miss most.

    Noelle will be undergoing a procedure at 9am (Bangkok Time) to ensure her safety and so that there will be no complications in the future.

    Here is the email we sent out last night to our community.

    Love,

    Jacob and Noelle

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Hello friends and family. We wanted to take a moment and update you on some
    important and sad news. As some of you know, Noelle and I went on Monday for
    our first ultrasound to see our baby. We were so excited after waiting
    nearly 11 weeks to see our little one. At that appointment we were shocked
    to learn that there was a problem with the baby that had caused him/her to
    stop developing several weeks ago.

    After an appointment with Noelle's doctor in Phnom Penh, it became evident
    that we needed to seek further medical care in Bangkok, Thailand. So early
    Wednesday morning, we caught a flight in order to receive follow-up testing
    and treatment at a hospital there. Noelle will undergo a standard procedure
    tomorrow morning to ensure a healthy, safe recovery from the miscarriage.

    It is difficult to describe the emotions that one feels at a time like this.
    Pregnancy is, in so many ways, about expecting. In just a few short weeks,
    our hearts have become quickly and deeply in love with our baby and all the
    hopes and dreams that he/she represented. We are disappointed and very sad.
    At the same time, we have been so incredibly grateful for our friends and
    family -- in Cambodia, the US and around the world. Eric and Ginny have been
    a huge help and support and we have experienced so much love from them, our
    fellow Cambodian/international staff and our families back home. We miss all
    of you so much in a time like this but are grateful for how God provides. He
    truly sees, knows and acts on our behalf.

    We will be in Thailand until Sunday. We have some wonderful friends who live
    here and they have been taking excellent care of us...another sign of God's
    grace and provision. We ask for your prayers as Noelle undergoes her
    procedure today and for healing in every way as we move through this process
    in the days and weeks ahead.

    Much love,

    Jacob and Noelle Goodlin

    AuthorJacob | CommentPost a Comment |
    in
    Wednesday
    Jun232010

    Vacay to Malaysia: An Unexpected Lesson on Home

    DateWednesday, June 23, 2010 at 7:36PM |

    We just returned from spending several days exploring Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia with our IHSI Directors and friends, Eric and Ginny Hanson. They needed to work on some visa stuff and decided it was a good time for some R&R. Did we want to come with? Heck yes! So we packed our bags and headed for the land of endless shopping malls, Chili's, Starbucks and aircon. How sweet it was! 

    A few of our favorite things: Chili's chips dripping with queso, Starbucks lattes, Haagen-Daaz ice cream, perusing the vendor stalls in little India, being a part of a city which operates with organized systems and watching a movie in a theater with popcorn! The highlight of the trip, though, was spending time with the Hansons. Over the years, we have learned that building community takes time spent together, growing trust and memories established. Our trip to Malaysia was memory-building with Eric and Ginny and we loved that! We will always remember the taxi drive with the man who worked 100 jobs (it seemed like), Noelle banging her head on glass while trying to see a pen, being crammed in a booth watching the World Cup and eating ice cream at TGI Fridays, taking night pics at Petronas towers, and shopping for maternity clothes.

    The trip also taught us an unexpected lesson. We loved the comforts and order of Malaysia but there was something deeply satisfying when our plane touched down on Cambodian soil. That night we took a tuk-tuk to do some shopping and found ourselves drinking in the sights and smells (some savory, some not) of this strange and wonderful place we are so privileged to call home. It encourages us that God is knitting something into our hearts here that is summed up in the word "home." And it has caused us to think...what is home exactly? It's not necessarily having all of your friends and family nearby (though that is incredible!). It's not having everything that is comfortable and familiar at your fingertips (though Starbucks on the corner is a beautiful thing). Our conclusion at this point is that home is following God. This is what the men and women of Scripture model for us in the midst of their faults, their triumphs in faith and their failures in doubt. God is the only ONE whom we are guaranteed to have as a companion for all of eternity. As believers, we are most at home when we are with Him. 

    We are only beginning to learn this truth. Can't wait for more of the journey...

    Enjoy the little photo journey...

    Eating at Tony Romas. Yummy.

    One of our favorite malls - below the Petronas Towers.

    Pillow Bread? Something like that. These were actually quite tasty. Many new and interesting things to eat in Malaysia.  I (Jacob) stuck with mostly western food. I'm an American boy.

    After the pillow bread.

    Noelle and Ginny shopping for maternity clothes in Little India. Quite an experience. As you can see in this photo, Noelle is done with me taking pictures of her.

    The beautiful pond opposite of the Petronas Towers. Beautiful!

    Petronas Towers during the day.

    Our friends, Eric and Ginny let us take a few pictures of them.  These are so fun!

    A few photos shot by one and only Eric Hanson. Thanks, Eric!

    Buying some dragon fruit - one of Ginny's favorite!

    Traffic near Little India.

    Some local food.

    The heart of Little India. Really fun!

    Petronas Towers at night. Beautiful!

    Fountains at night. 15 sec. exposure. I love this shot!

    Another long exposure.

    The front of our favorite mall.

     

     

    AuthorNoelle | Comment2 Comments |
    tagged , , , | in ,
    Monday
    Jun142010

    Our Most Favorite Video Thus Far

    DateMonday, June 14, 2010 at 7:54PM |

    Hi everyone! At last, we have put the final touches on our latest video update. I know you will especially enjoy this one.

    We appreciate and love you all!

    June Video Update from Jacob and Noelle Goodlin on Vimeo.

    AuthorJacob | Comment14 Comments |
    tagged , , , | in , ,
    Wednesday
    Jun092010

    New Photoblog Look

    DateWednesday, June 9, 2010 at 7:14AM |

    I thought it was time to do a little work on my photoblog design. Nothing crazy, but a few changes.

    Check out the new look: click here

    AuthorJacob | CommentPost a Comment |
    in
    Sunday
    May232010

    May Has Been Good

    DateSunday, May 23, 2010 at 6:31AM |

    We haven't blogged in a few weeks, so while we are still putting our video update together, I thought I would share a few photos from May.

    It's amazing how photos tell a story. You can sit there at your computer and stare into the eyes of a child and see the joy from 30 loads of dirt being dumped on his street to help prevent flooding, or perhaps get a glimpse into the life of a laborer helping to build a safehouse for children.

    Working with In His Steps has been an honor. Everyday I spend in Cambodia, I see God on the move. He is working in the lives of many here and using a few faithful workers to share His love. 

    Hope you enjoy the photos.

    Here is a photo from Pheaktra and Heng's wedding.  They had a 100% Christian ceremony didn't participate in any of the Buddhist rituals as many do. This is unheard of.  I took tons of photos there. You can read more about their wedding on IHSI's blog here.

    This is John. John is an orphan and lives at the Foundation Center, and I have the privilege of getting to know him. He has such a tender heart, and I love how God is meeting him.

    This is Noelle and I with Pheaktra and Heng at their wedding. Such a long day - American weddings are short compared to Cambodian ones.

    Eric Hanson (In His Steps Director and Founder) with the Governor of the Kandal Province. It was such an honor to be seated at his table.

    Doesn't Aaron look adorable????  He's so precious.

    I shot some photos of new Sak Saum product that will go in the catalog.  

    Where do those coconut buttons come from? Read the blog here.

    And of course, the safehouse! Eric and Ginny met with John and Lisa Bevere with Messenger Intl.  A partnership was started and all the funding for the safehouse was secured.  These are the plans. Can you read it??

    The land where the safehouse is to be built.  This is also the same land where the Foundation Center is at.

    The cheans (Cambodian word for worker) hard at work.  They are driving the posts in the ground.

    Posts are done - now they are digging out the holes.

    I have the opportunity to occasionally teach at the Leadership Development class in Saang.  This time, I talked about trust and did some trust activities. Tons of fun!

    Sopheak is a stud. He's wearing my sunglasses well.

    The countryside outside of Saang. Beautiful!

     

    IHSI and IHSC worked together and provided some 30 loads of dirt to build this road up.  $500 will help prevent flooding and kids having to walk through sewage. God at work!

     

     

     

    AuthorJacob | Comment4 Comments |
    tagged , , , , , | in , ,
    Page 1 2 3 4 5 ... 15 Next 5 Entries ยป