Posted in General Posts by Meredith Trlica on 8/22/2010
This week-
I moved home this week for the first time in two years.
It was unexpected. (not in the original plan)
But that is life- it doesn't not always go according to plan.
To say the least- I was stressed, emotional, and overwhelmed about this transition. I had no plans for what it was going to look like and to be honest I was not really excited.
I felt out of control, dependent, and kinda confused.
But the Lord blessed me in that more than I could of ever thought- even though I was stressing about not having a job and feeling a lot of pressure about what I am I going to do over the next two months- all the Lord did was bless me.
All week I just felt loved by everyone around me. Running into people, and just feeling having a genuine conversation with them. Not just my family and friends living around me but I would get a nice message from my friend on the west coast and then the next day the sweetest text message from a girl on the east coast, who I haven't talked to in a while. Just because.
All of the messages were just encouraging and filled with love- for no reason.
Or just a great conversation with someone I haven't talked to in awhile.
Although I don't know what the two months are going to be like I feel like this dog- and I am okay with that!
Posted in General Posts by Meredith Trlica on 8/19/2010
I don't remember how I stumbled upon this video, but I can't seem to quit thinking about it.
My first response when I watched it made me think of when I worked at a sexual and domestic violence shelter. The women's stories I would hear. This is what I picture in the spiritual realm.
But as I have watched it more and more I realized this is can be anything in someone's life- when we buy in that the lies in our head are true.
doubt,
worry,
feelings of unworthiness,
the need to measure up to those around us,
and how easily we forget the Lion at our side- who has already won the battle!
the analogy is due to the fact that i am currently reading chronicles of narina :)
Posted in General Posts by Meredith Trlica on 7/29/2010
The other day I was sitting on the couch with one of my dear friends talking about choices. She found this book about our choices- how people make them, and how they change the course of our lives.
I sat and thought of choices we make, or reasons we make decisions:
peers
opposite sex
image
pride
parents
God (hopefully all of them)
Sometimes each of these draw us towards or away from a decision. I remembered acting in defiance and doing the opposite of everything my parents told me to do! :) (and sometimes still do) .
A lot of decisions we have to "figure out on our own" and usually those decisions we like best, even if nothing goes right- because we chose it for ourselves- we understood why we were making that decision.
My friend and I also talked about why God has made it our choice to follow Him - How he doesn't want to force his children to believe in Him. He gave us the world to see Him, beauty surrounds us everyday, so we know He is there - Reminds me of why scientists cannot deny there is a God ("higher being")
But following Him, giving our life away is a choice.
that choice is a choice compelled by love!
2 Corinthians 5:14 "For Christ's love compels us"
Once we experience Christ's love it compels us to do things, to follow Him- no matter what!
Those are the decisions that last- those are the ones that change your life, when you were so compelled by the Cross - and you choose to follow Christ, you choose to be obedient to what HE has called you to, you choose to love those who are hard to love, you choose to love someone even when you don't want to, you choose to love
even when you don't quite understand everything.
I also think about the decisions that lead these girls in Cambodia to prostitution. How much of it was their decision? How old were they when they had to make these decisions? Did they even have a say?
I pray for the opportunity I have to tell them about Jesus. To see these women encounter the love of Jesus. To be compelled by His love.
Posted in General Posts by Meredith Trlica on 7/7/2010
For the fourth of July for the last 20 years- I, along with 30-40 of my closest cousins go to a Dixi Dude Ranch. You may be asking what is a "dude ranch". It is actually what Texas is known for (I didn't know this), but in 1000 Places to See before You Die- in Bandera-Texas - it talks about the Dixi Dude ranch, and I go every year!
It is a ranch with a bunch of cabins on the property that you stay in, a main house where our meals are served at when the bells rings (there is a 30 minute warning bell for meals as well), a pool, and horse corral- where you can ride horses three times a day if you want. All surrounded by the beautiful hill country of Texas!
So my family and I sit around for four days visiting, swimming, shopping, horse back riding, and eating! It is so nice to be able to sit down and just hang out with all of my cousins, see the new additions, and talk about life- and ask stories about when my mom was younger!
My dad and I sit out on the porch in the afternoons and just chat- about anything and everything- my sister and I sit and be goofy for hours. My favorite thing is to ask questions about life to people- I love being around family- it comfortable, you always know you are loved. And for the most part you get to laugh a lot. My dad loves to be funny- and he is.
For the last couple of years, I have been working with a family- I have started baby sitting for the couple's date night and now just been helping them out with whatever.
I love them- they are my family away from my family. I just love being around a family and being apart of something- they invite me for dinner, I helped plan the little girl's five year old birthday party, they invite me to church. I feel apart of the family.
It is just nice to be around a family when you are off at school, I feel comfortable with them- because I know I am loved and accepted.
Now I have my team! who will be like my family for the next two years. We will livetogether, we will be love and accept each other. They are my sister's in Christ.
And everyday we will be going out meeting new girls- telling them how they are loved and accepted by the Lord. We are apart of the family of God. We are His children.
Posted in General Posts by Meredith Trlica on 6/17/2010
This summer has been different to say the least:
I have graduated college,
I am moving literally half way across the world,
I am moving out a house that I have lived for the last two years with my best friends,
I have no had a bed all summer,
I am trying to raise support,
I am selling all my possessions,
Thats just the beginning but yet I remember the little things (that aren't so little)
That I am surrounded everyday with people who love and support me,
My friends surprise me with picnics,
The family I baby sit for (and also adore) invite me to stay for dinner and I get to have a family dinner-(which I LOVE),
I get to hear my sister say "I am proud of you",
Someone I haven't talk to in over a year supports me,
My friend and I go for a walk and she tells me stories of "fat camp" (and amazing conversations she is having with people at camp)
I get to see my roommate trust in the Lord,
I get to see a friends face light up as she plans a beautiful wedding with a man- who loves her as Christ does,
I have a God how Loves me just the way I am,
A stranger at church says thank you for going on mission,
I find out Cambodia is exactly 12 hours difference - so it's easy to remember,
the Lord continues to provide- like money falling out of the sky,
I get to catch up with a high school friend, after two years,
I have parents who love me and think I am worth something,
I have parents who don't ask me to sell my body for money,
Cambodia is the size of Missouri (fun fact!),
That I can see God's glory when I look outside,
I have clean drinking water,
a little boy get sad that I am leaving for two years, and when his mom tells him I am coming over to day -he says " ITS A MIRACLE!!!!",
The God of the universe trust me to share His name.
The Lord is constantly blessing us, and sometimes it's hard to see with the chaos of life- but sit for a moment and rest in Him- knowing He will provide, and bigger than anything I can imagine!
Posted in General Posts by Meredith Trlica on 6/6/2010
This morning I was so blessed!
and by default of that I got so excited.
The family I sit for, for the past two years has a man at their church who was a missionary in Cambodia from 2000-2007 and he spoke this morning. It was so good to hear him talk about his love to the country and the people. Although, he also talked about the heart ache the country has gone through. He plans to go back for a couple months this fall- and has an opportunity to stay long term. (but hasn't decided one way or another)
He started and ran a clinic in Phnom Penh that is still there today.
Afterwards- I went up and introduced myself to him (he had known who I was and what I was doing from the family I know)
We exchanged a few words about how much he loved the country and the people. And how he could not wait to get back.
He gave me is card with all his contact info.
and then said "See you in Cambodia!"
Ahhh I loved it- I keep saying it to myself today :)
Posted in General Posts by Meredith Trlica on 6/3/2010
I just finished my last year of college at Texas State University where I graduated with a Bachelors in Social Work. Over the last two years I have felt the Lord calling me into missions. He has been preparing me by giving me a heart to see girls find their worth in Christ. In August I am going to Cambodia for two years to work with a missions organization called AIM (Adventures In Missions). I will be working with girls (ages 15-25) caught in the sex trade.
Sex trade is the fastest growing crime in the world today. In Cambodia, girls are being pressured by their own families to go into the city and sell themselves. In fact, ninety percent of the prostitutes in Cambodia are selling themselves because of their families. My heart breaks when I hear this: to know that a girl is being told sell her body, to know this is how she is finding her worth, this breaks my heart.
Over the last two years I have grown restless towards this injustice. At the same time I long to see these girls find their true worth in Christ. The Lord has been softening me toward how girls are influenced by the world. By going to Cambodia, I hope to build relationships with these girls. I will be going with a team of 3 other from the states to live life them. Our vision is to show them a God who loves them and finds them worthy.
If they decide to walk away from prostitution I will be able to connect them with an organization called Daughters of Cambodia (www.daughtersofcambodia.org). This ministry will provide them with counseling, education and job skills, as well as empower them to walk in the freedom of Christ, and no longer have to sell their bodies.
I am asking you to be apart of my team by supporting me prayerfully and financially. If 60 of you will give $25 a month, I will be fully funded to go and help for two years. Will you join me in this?
Posted in General Posts by Meredith Trlica on 6/1/2010
This last week I was in Georgia for Go Corps training. I had an amazing time- I got to meet my team, meet other recent grads going off on mission and meet others who have been on mission before. It was a great experience and a great group!
Saturday morning I flew out from Atlanta to Houston Texas and the Lord blessed me with a little gift.
I sat next to this older man from Nigeria and he had a Beautiful little girl in his lap - she had the most beautiful eyes- they reminded me of Jasmine off Aladdin- but a little darker but with that light in them (I would of taken a picture of her but that isn't really socially acceptable so i found this).
They both seemed tired and we didn't really speak much- I asked how old the little girl was - 22 months. And proceeded to tell him how beautiful I though the little girl was - he just smiled and the little girl was out.
I got the impression he didn't want to talk.
Then drinks come around - He couldn't put down his tray table- so I invited him to put his drink on mine.
THEN he asked me to hold the baby while he goes to the lavatory- She was so precious - she was so tired she just fell right into my arms - holding on to me and fell right to sleep! She trusted me completely- no fuss- she even had this adorable little snore!
I LOVED IT- I just loved her whole heartedly and didn't want him to come back :) she was so sweet in my arms.
I was on cloud nine the rest of the flight- and as I was reflecting the Lord shared with me thats what he wants to do with us-
just hold us- allow us to just trust in him and fall into his arms
every single of one of us-
and I began to think of every girl/women I will meet or see in Cambodia and He feels that way about them!
For the fourth of July for the last 20 years- I, along with 30-40 of my closest cousins go to a Dixi Dude Ranch. You may be asking what is a "dude ranch". It is actually what Texas is known for (I didn't know this), but in 1000 Places to See before You Die- in Bandera-Texas - it talks about the Dixi Dude ranch, and I go every year!
