Seda with Mrs. Lilly's class

Breakfast with the Capra's

Seda and her new friend Sadie

Working and Playing in the Snow

Our Ohio Wedding Reception

I tried sending this message out via Facebook, but I think I did something wrong, so, if you already received this invitation, you can ignore it!

Many people have asked if we are having a wedding reception in Ohio since we were married in Cambodia... and in fact, we are!

It will be a simple dinner party on Sunday, March 14 from 3-6 at Grace Fellowship Church, 365 Straub Road East, Mansfield, OH 44907.

If you are so inclined, we will be registered at Target, OR you can give us a gift card to any place that you like!

Don't forget to bring your camera so you can have your picture taken with Seda!

If you can, please RSVP via Facebook, or just send an email to me.... thank you so much, and we hope to see you there.

Graham and Seda

Driving motor for the last time...

One of the last few days that I was there in Cambodia, Seda was riding in a tuk tuk to take a grill back to church, and I was going to take her back home after that... she got a few pics of my driving the motor for one of the last times...

Tearful goodbyes in Cambodia...

Here are the pictures from the airport when we left Phnom Penh... rough. Really rough. It was hard to say goodbye to everyone and many tears were shed...

A last meal with the family at Pizza Company...

One of the last things that we did as a family was go to Pizza Company at Sorya Mall... some of the family had never been on an escalator before, which was really, really funny...

The night before we left...

Seda and her friends are very close, so it was so important for them all to go out together while I was at home getting our luggage together... here are some pics from their time together...

Our friends at Asia's Hope

Before we left Cambodia, our good friends at Asia's Hope had a small party for a few hours... we took a nice Boat Ride on the Tonle Sap...

Some friends at dinner

Seda and I had a great time with some of her friends... we went out to a restaurant near our house that we have enjoyed, and then went over to Diamond Island City to take some pictures...

A few weeks ago now...

One of Seda's more difficult goodbyes was to the children at her centre... here are a few pics...

First dinner in America

Here is a picture of Seda and I having dinner for the first time with my parents in America...

Arrival in Columbus

I am a little behind on my postings, so here are a variety of things that I wanted to put up, even though they are a bit late... here is a picture of us with my mom arriving in Columbus at the airport on February 22.

Seda and Graham in Ohio

Seda has discovered the miracle of carpeting...

Seda in the Snow

Seda had never seen snow before, so when she got to my parent's house, one of the first things that she did was play in the snow for a few minutes... which included having a taste!

Hello, Goodbye (one chapter ends, another chapter begins...)

The Beatles had a little nonsensical tune once that said, "You say yes, I say no... you say stop, but I say go, go, go... you say goodbye, but I say hello..."

I think that kind of sums up the way Seda and I have been feeling the last few weeks. We leave tomorrow night, and I have come to the conclusion that I have no idea how to feel or what to think about our departure from Cambodia.

We have been to numerous get-togethers over the last couple of weeks - and we have one more tonight - to say goodbye to family, friends, co-workers, ad infinitum.

Please keep Seda in your prayers, as she has felt the whole gamut of emotions, from excitement to fear and more...

The big question that looms over my head is not trying to find employment in the US or how we will manage as a couple in a new culture, or any of the other numerous questions that have swirled around in my brain for the last month. The biggest question for me is, has coming to Cambodia been a success or a failure for me personally?

I stepped out in faith in June 2007 leaving a good job, good friends, family, etc to pursue tent making in Cambodia so that I could serve orphans, another Christian school, and another church. Was it worth it? Was it a success, or not? I'll be honest in saying that my internal scales tilt in different ways on different days. There is no question that marrying Seda has been the biggest blessing, but that was a part of God' plan that I had not initially calculated.

So, with mixed feelings (yes/no, stop/go, hello/goodbye, succeed/fail) Seda and I both take another step of faith back to the US. We leave large pieces of our hearts here with family and friends, but we know that the Shepherd of our hearts is also leading us on to other things for the time being.

Thank you for all of your support, prayers, and giving over the last 2 years and 9 months. We have been so blessed by all of you... God has used every email, every financial gift, and every word of encouragement to help us. Please don't stop praying for us as we cross the ocean and transition to this new place and new chapter in our lives.

May Jesus bless you in every way,

Love, Graham and Seda

Party for Seda and her co-workers

We had a big party at our house for all of the people that Seda has worked with (read: influenced and loved - you can see it by how many people wanted to hug her!) while she was at Transform Cambodia's Centre 3:Hope House. They came for a barbecue, but it was a much more than that...

Valentine's Day Date with Seda

Date night with Seda is always fun... and no, I did not make the paper roses for her... the children at her center did... but I will remember it!

Goodbye get together at our church

Seda and I had a get together for friends at our church this past Sunday evening after the English service. As always it is sweet sorrow to know that we are leaving, and yet moving on to a new chapter...