2010

Happy New Year! It feels like 2009 went by in a quick minute and for good reason. Many exciting things happened in the Morris Family last year:

· Purchased our first home in April – what an exciting experience!

· Complete remodel (almost all ourselves) from April 16-June 1^st

· June 1^st – moved into our new house (3^rd move in three years and was on Ali’s 29^th B-day!)

· June 8-15 – took a wonderful trip to Boulder, CO, to see some of our best friends; stayed a few nights in Estes Park for a relaxing getaway; ended up in Cheyenne, WY, to visit Barrett & Lindsay (Ali’s brother) where he is stationed in the U.S. Air Force

· June 21 – We began a new role as the Edmond Campus pastors at Church of the Harvest (we were previously at the Oklahoma City campus)

· June 19-20 – monster garage sale for Cambodia and unpacking (never ending)

· June 30-July 3 – Ali helped lead Royal Family Kids Camp (foster kids camp)

· July 29-Aug 12 - We took our 3^rd trip to Cambodia

· August 19 – Ali began graduate school to obtain a master’s in Guidance Counseling

· August 19 – Andy began teaching (his 4^th year) at the University of Central Oklahoma (in addition to being the campus pastor for the Edmond Campus)

We feel right in our element and thank God daily for His incredible blessings in our life. In recent months we’ve seen more than ever what wonderful and supportive family, friends and church family we have. We couldn’t ask for more!

Although we clearly had a lot happen in 2009, the highlight of the year was returning to Cambodia for our 3^rd trip. Now that we have such deep friendships with the people there, we’re able to do more than ever. At our Hope Center (orphanage) in Kampong Cham we were able to build additional bathrooms (25 kids and 5 adults were previously sharing only one), buy all of the children much needed clothing/shoes/educational supplies as well as provide a large offering to further their education and medical care throughout the year. Best of all, we got to spend 2 ½ days painting and working on the Hope Center and being with the children. In Phnom Pehn (in partnership with New Life Church), we purchased shoes, personal hygiene supplies and food to distribute to children in two different “slum” areas. Additionally, we got to buy clean water to bathe the children. The slums are the worst poverty you can ever imagine and there are small children, babies, women and men living there. Thank God for New Life church who goes there every week to reach these hurting people. They regularly take supplies in addition to teaching the kids about a God that loves them. In your prayers, pray for the children in the slums – it’s deplorable. Many of the kids from the slums have begun attending New Life on Sunday’s. God is doing a great work there.

The end of the trip took us to Kampong Thom where we visited another one of our Hope Centers. There we lead games, shared the message of David and Goliath and provided a hot meal (prepared by the locals) for more than 100 children. It’s amazing what Pastor Sokhan is able to do in this province. He feeds over 500 kids every month. Additionally, he runs the Hope Center and local church out of the building Church of the Harvest built in 2007.

Going back each year and seeing how much growth is happening is so encouraging. Your contributions to us in our efforts to reach Cambodia have multiplied more than we can describe to you. We get to see it first hand and it’s absolutely incredible how God uses your gift to literally put food in starving kid’s mouths, clothe orphans and give many a home that is a “mansion” to them. By meeting the practical needs, we’re able to truly reach people for Jesus (Cambodia is 98% Buddhist). We can’t thank you enough for your financial support and prayers!

Another highlight of the trip was meeting Channa’s family. Channa is a 60-year-old native Cambodian who came to work in Edmond eight years ago in order to pay for her children’s education. To put it in perspective, she can make $1,000/month here whereas in Cambodia the most she could make would be $30/month. We randomly met her while buying donuts where she works. This was a 1 ½ years ago and ever since then she has been teaching Andy the Cambodian language of Khmer. They meet every Monday at 11 a.m. and it’s the highlight of Channa’s week. We were able to meet Channa’s entire family in Cambodia (7 kids!) and see their home. We took our whole team and they treated us like royalty. They were so honored to have American’s in their home. We were able to encourage them with our words and by showing them video Andy took of Channa sending a message to her family. Andy is “Bong proh” or “Big Brother.” We most definitely have formed a lifelong relationship with Channa and her family. She was able to attend a Christmas service with us, which was really special.

2010 is going to be a year full of promise, blessings and great opportunities! We have so much to be thankful for and want to start this year off by telling you, our family and friends, that we appreciate you, love you and are so grateful for your place in our lives. Although we may live miles a part of just a few doors down, we may talk often or just a few times a year, regardless what the circumstance – we love you and wish you a Happy New Year!

Time to update

We got home from Cambodia one week ago tonight - almost to the minute that I'm writing this. I wish, oh, how I wish I could sit down and update our blog more often. Right now I am compiling everything so I can just "spill the beans" about our trip and how it affected us this year. It was completely amazing, humbling and life changing all together. I am a different person because of it.

I am so thankful to the amazing people in our life who have been so supportive both financially and by sending encouraging e-mails, cards, texts, facebook posts, etc. Really, just a simple line saying "I'm praying for you," means just as much as anything. I wish I could "bottle up" Cambodia and give you a glimpse as to what we do, how it changes you so that you can experience it, too. But, hopefully by looking at the pictures and reading about it, you will get a glimpse of our hearts, the people, the children and the Holy Spirit will move on your heart what he wants you to get out of it too.

There are many things to write about, but right now what is really on my mind is just how simple life is, how simply ministry is and God wants to give us a "simplistic" perspective on life and what really matters. What really does matter to you? Sometimes we skim over those types of questions and don't really think about it, but for us, we are forced to think about what really matters when we're face-to-face with children who eat once a week because of someone's heart to feed them, who otherwise would likely starve to death. I have to think about what matters because I've spent time with little girls who have been rescued from sex trafficking and have lived nightmares none of us can imagine. I don't write this to send you into a depression but hopefully to help you to stop and think, what matters in life? Is it money, position, career, friends, vacation, schedules, etc.? While those things are necessary, in our heart of hearts, we know what matters but those other things can all to often creep in and preside over what God wants us to focus on. So, take a few minutes and quietly talk to God about your thoughts and ask him for His perspective on what matters - you won't be disappointed.

We're off... almost! :)

Today is the BIG day - we leave for Cambodia at 6 p.m. tonight. I have intended to post an update well before now! We have everything we need, all of our support has been raised and we're ready to go. In summary, it was quite miraculous and completely God that we have been able to raise $30,000 in two years for our efforts in Cambodia. It's humbling and an honor to serve God in this way. It blows our minds, really. In fact, late last week, we had an extremely generous donor send in $4,500 for the projects we will be doing in Cambodia. Although we only knew this person for a short time, God connected us and their heart and we are able to do incredible things. We are now able to do the full scope of what we wanted to do, such as: build much needed bathrooms for the orphanages (Hope Centers), paint and labor projects, purchasing fruit and vegetable plants for self-sustainability, buy shoes for the orphans and street children (who literally have no shoes. Their feet are covered in scars and open wounds), medical treatment for the street children, feeding children (who only eat once or twice a week if their lucky) and so much more.

We are so grateful and appreciative to all of our friends and family for their investment in us and for being a part of reaching the world. It doesn't matter the amount, but each person did what God told them to do and because of it we're making a difference in the world. We're so thankful for our parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts/uncles, cousins, and precious friends that believe in us and are such a huge part of our lives. Our expectations are high and we know God is going to do something special and unique on this trip. Thank you for your prayers and I'll try and post as often as I can.

In the meantime, you can read daily updates on: www.gadberry.wordpress.com.

Much love!
Andy and Ali

Wedding Photos

Above: Our family
Below: Ali's precious Mimi

A special Christmas season

This Christmas season was especially wonderful as Allison's younger brother, Barrett, married an incredible woman named Lindsay (affectionately called Lizzi!). What made their wedding extra special was that Andy performed the ceremony (his first as a pastor) and it was very touching. Barrett and Lindsay are truly perfect for each other and Lindsay is the long lost sister I've never had. After Christmas and a honeymoon to Mexico, Barrett and Lindsay reside in Cheyenne, WY, where Barrett is stationed in the Air Force and Lindsay is a Physician's Assistant on base.

Christmas was very low-key and special as well. We spent Christmas day in Caney, KS, with Andy's family. The most exciting part was Avery (our neice) got a new puppy, so we had a lot of fun with that.

New Year's Eve we ended up in McKinney at Ali's dad's for a last family get together with the newlyweds before they moved to Wyoming.

What a great year 2008 was!!

Fall 2008

At the end of October, we spent a few days in Branson, MO, to shop, relax and spend some time together. We had such a great time. We got to spend a little time with Andy's aunt & uncle (Cathy and Sam) who were great hosts. Uncle Sam works at College of the Ozarks, a beautiful college just south of Branson. They treated us to a wonderful lunch on campus in their beautiful new Keeter Center - a hotel, restaurant and historic spot on campus. It looks like a real lodge and was just spectacular. From there we checked into Big Cedar Lodge on Tablerock Lake and enjoyed a private cabin overlooking the water. It was just beautiful with all the leaves turning colors. After getting some R&R we headed northwest two hours to West Plains, MO, to spend the weekend with Andy's family at his brothers house. We were all there - his brother and sister-in-law, Matt & Tally, Kyle & Karie from Wichita and his parents from Caney, KS. It was some great family time and fun being all together. His brother has a good friend who is a professional photographer so we were able to get some great family shots and a few of just Andy and I. Those of you who know me know how much I like pictures so it was great fun. It was a trick getting the kiddoes to cooperate, but they did and there are some great one's.

All of us: (from left) Kyle, Karie & Addison, Matt, Tally, Avery and Luke, Mike and Virginia (Andy's parents), Us

This is as "lodgey" as it gets. It was so much fun and the perfect place for a fall getaway.

Our Cabin!

Big Cedar Lodge - you can vaguely see the cabins on the hill that we stayed in. It is so beautiful there in the fall.

New layout

Left photo: This picture was taken spring 2008 with our precious nephew, Luke. We're wearing orange so the photo is fitting! :)

Right Photo: In the spirit of Cowboys, here's an oldie, but goodie -
Andy and I in our orange in New York City 2006.

In honor of our alma mater, Oklahoma State University, home of the COWBOYS! Go Pokes! How exciting that we're ranked number 21 in football this week!