Life in Cambodia is beginning to set in. The reality of living in a place like this takes some time to set in and to mentally BE HERE. Once you accept the fact that you are living in new place you begin to enjoy the small things and to make it your home. You invest your heart into the place you’re at you begin to see why God has called you there and what he actually wants to do through you. I have to quickly turn my focus from the minor discomforts to seeking Gods presence perspective.
We were able to spend a week at an orphanage in a village a few weeks ago. As we adjusted to sleeping on the floor in mosquito nets and taking bucket showers in rain water, we had our lives changed by these kids. They were mostly between the ages of 3 and 12 and were mostly all Christian. These kids wake up at 5 every morning to do chores before breakfast and then have a time of prayer and worship before school. They have prayer and worship three times a day and the rest of the day they are either at school, doing chores or playing games. The simplicity of their lives and their pure desire and devotion to God was nothing like I have ever seen. “Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God.”(Matthew 5:8) Seeing these kids sing to the Lord and cry out to him brought me to tears, not because of their lack in material things but because of the reality of Christ established in their lives. Those kids taught us more than we could have ever taught them.
“And he said: I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3)
God is working so visibly in people’s lives here. We were able to take a two day trip to a city called Siem Reap which is home of one of the Seven Wonders of the World Angkor Wat. God had been speaking to me allot about sharing the gospel and being available for him to move. I had these things on my mind as we headed there and had a good feeling that it was going to be more than just a weekend trip. I ended up running into two people that I was able to talk about Jesus with and pray with one of them to have a revelation of Jesus.
Our team is doing Korean classes and dance classes at the Youth Center we are working with. One of the classes has added a bible study and both have kids that are asking for bibles. The openness of the people here is incredible. They are truly hungry and wanting to know about Jesus. There is so much hope in my heart for this nation to be transformed and be built up with a foundation of Christ. What an amazing opportunity it has been to speak the love of Christ to the future leaders of Cambodia!
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Week One!
Hello everyone! I have finally found internet and a chunk of time to write. Since leaving Kona over a week ago it has been an amazing adventure learning how to lead a team of 11 all the way to Battambang, Cambodia. Our trip took us from Kona, Hawaii to Bangkok Thailand where we spent the night and left the next day for Cambodia. We had to leave one of our students back in Kona because of visa problems which ended up causing him to have to join our Haiti team. We had a three hour drive to the border which ended up being more than just a normal border crossing.
Our van driver that picked us up from Bangkok drove us and dropped us off at a official looking small office where a very polite, English speaking Cambodian man greeted us and had us sit down to start filling out visa paperwork. He kept talking to me and telling me all about how great the visa process was and how fast they get it done. I started feeling very uncomfortable looking around at all of the workers staring at me. We were just about done filling out our paperwork when the man began to tell me about the price. He was asking for 1200 per person baht which is the Thai currency. Now it's been a while since I was in Thailand and the numbers were not making sense in my head. grabbing a pen and paper I realized that he was asking $40 to process a $20 visa. This is where I started getting a little frustrated. I looked behind me to see if the van that dropped us off was still there and I didn't see it! I quickly realized that the van driver had moved the van and was sitting right behind me.
So I spent a few minutes arguing with both men about the price and why it was so much. The Cambodian man, swearing that he was an honest man, was trying to tell me that he could get it done in 10 minutes and that the real border would take 3 hours and since it was closing in an hour that we wouldn't make it in time. At this point I was angry that we had wasted our time there and knew that we were right in the middle of a scam. We packed up in the van and headed for the real border. Getting out of the van the second time was a little different. We were surrounded by men asking to carry our luggage and to help us get visas. We kept our mouths shut and walked across into Cambodia.
Battambang is a pretty large city about two hours east of the border. It is very hot and humid especially when it rains. I would compare it to breathing through a sock. The streets are pretty dirty and and very busy with people on motor bikes and a random Lexus SUV. Right now we are staying at a house that is owned by a retired Cambodian pastor. We were able to sit down with him one night and hear his incredible story of how during the time of the killing fields him and his family were taken across the border into Thailand for two years to work in deadly conditions. He was an English teacher at that time and since he hadn't worked for the government at that time he was not a target but out of suspicion there was a order sent for him to be killed three times. The man in charge of the camp liked him and protected him each time since he knew he was a good man.
The ministries we have worked with so far both involve teaching English. One of the ministries is a restoration ministry that takes care of girls that have been rescued out of sex slavery or abusive situations. The other ministry is in a poor area of the city that teaches kids English and is an amazing opportunity to disciple new Christians and share the love of Christ with the ones that aren't Christians. We will start teaching more specialty classes when the youth center starts its new quarter after next week.
I am amazed at how much English the Cambodian people speak compared to Thai people. It is amazing because it is allot easier to do friendship evangelism since open evangelism is illegal in Cambodia. A few days ago we found a gym and went that night where I met a young man named Ponits. He was a very good English speaker and very talkative. We didn't have allot of time to talk but we planned to meet back at the gym another night. I am amazed at how open and excited the people are to hang out and talk. We are very excited to spent six weeks here and live life with the Cambodian people. We are definitely getting Gods heart for the people and excited to see what God is doing in their lives.
Well that is a taste from week one. Please keep us in your prayers as we continue to settle in here and build more relationships with the people. Thank you for all your love and support! God bless.
Our van driver that picked us up from Bangkok drove us and dropped us off at a official looking small office where a very polite, English speaking Cambodian man greeted us and had us sit down to start filling out visa paperwork. He kept talking to me and telling me all about how great the visa process was and how fast they get it done. I started feeling very uncomfortable looking around at all of the workers staring at me. We were just about done filling out our paperwork when the man began to tell me about the price. He was asking for 1200 per person baht which is the Thai currency. Now it's been a while since I was in Thailand and the numbers were not making sense in my head. grabbing a pen and paper I realized that he was asking $40 to process a $20 visa. This is where I started getting a little frustrated. I looked behind me to see if the van that dropped us off was still there and I didn't see it! I quickly realized that the van driver had moved the van and was sitting right behind me.
So I spent a few minutes arguing with both men about the price and why it was so much. The Cambodian man, swearing that he was an honest man, was trying to tell me that he could get it done in 10 minutes and that the real border would take 3 hours and since it was closing in an hour that we wouldn't make it in time. At this point I was angry that we had wasted our time there and knew that we were right in the middle of a scam. We packed up in the van and headed for the real border. Getting out of the van the second time was a little different. We were surrounded by men asking to carry our luggage and to help us get visas. We kept our mouths shut and walked across into Cambodia.
Battambang is a pretty large city about two hours east of the border. It is very hot and humid especially when it rains. I would compare it to breathing through a sock. The streets are pretty dirty and and very busy with people on motor bikes and a random Lexus SUV. Right now we are staying at a house that is owned by a retired Cambodian pastor. We were able to sit down with him one night and hear his incredible story of how during the time of the killing fields him and his family were taken across the border into Thailand for two years to work in deadly conditions. He was an English teacher at that time and since he hadn't worked for the government at that time he was not a target but out of suspicion there was a order sent for him to be killed three times. The man in charge of the camp liked him and protected him each time since he knew he was a good man.
The ministries we have worked with so far both involve teaching English. One of the ministries is a restoration ministry that takes care of girls that have been rescued out of sex slavery or abusive situations. The other ministry is in a poor area of the city that teaches kids English and is an amazing opportunity to disciple new Christians and share the love of Christ with the ones that aren't Christians. We will start teaching more specialty classes when the youth center starts its new quarter after next week.
I am amazed at how much English the Cambodian people speak compared to Thai people. It is amazing because it is allot easier to do friendship evangelism since open evangelism is illegal in Cambodia. A few days ago we found a gym and went that night where I met a young man named Ponits. He was a very good English speaker and very talkative. We didn't have allot of time to talk but we planned to meet back at the gym another night. I am amazed at how open and excited the people are to hang out and talk. We are very excited to spent six weeks here and live life with the Cambodian people. We are definitely getting Gods heart for the people and excited to see what God is doing in their lives.
Well that is a taste from week one. Please keep us in your prayers as we continue to settle in here and build more relationships with the people. Thank you for all your love and support! God bless.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
He is worth it!
How is my life prioritized? Is God first in my life? Do I put other things before God? Do I seek the presence of God and live from His grace? These are some of questions that I have been challenged with lately. At this point in my life I am being challenged more than I ever have and stretched in so many ways. This challenge to put to death the old man and seek a life in Christ that is powered by His Spirit and motivated by Love.
When I prayed and ask God to take my life and make me new I had no idea what I was asking or what would come out of it. I know this is what God wants and what is best for me but I had no idea what this required. I have to say that I am at a really hard place in my life but I know that there is breakthrough ahead. I know that since I am coming against strongholds in my life and that I am seeking Christ I will have breakthrough and I will walk in more and more freedom. Since I have started battling and putting to death desires to give up and continue to press in, I am seeing breakthrough and God is revealing so much to me that I was oblivious to.
Since I am leading an outreach team, closely walking with three male students, helping manage and prepare our building for the the extra amount of students that will be arriving next quarter, working the classroom sound, as well as many other responsibilities, how do I spend time with the Lord and prioritize my relationship with Him first? I can't say that I have done this as well as I hoped I would but I am learning more than I could ever imagine. If I knew that staffing was going to be this amount of hard work and stress with constant 12 hour days and needing to be constantly physically, mentally and spiritually ready I would probably have chose a different path. I know that God is leading me in this and He is wanting me to grow closer to Him and more dependent on Him. I know that this is a lifelong process and a daily decision to pick up my cross and follow Christ.
"Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." Galatians 5:24-25
When I prayed and ask God to take my life and make me new I had no idea what I was asking or what would come out of it. I know this is what God wants and what is best for me but I had no idea what this required. I have to say that I am at a really hard place in my life but I know that there is breakthrough ahead. I know that since I am coming against strongholds in my life and that I am seeking Christ I will have breakthrough and I will walk in more and more freedom. Since I have started battling and putting to death desires to give up and continue to press in, I am seeing breakthrough and God is revealing so much to me that I was oblivious to.
Since I am leading an outreach team, closely walking with three male students, helping manage and prepare our building for the the extra amount of students that will be arriving next quarter, working the classroom sound, as well as many other responsibilities, how do I spend time with the Lord and prioritize my relationship with Him first? I can't say that I have done this as well as I hoped I would but I am learning more than I could ever imagine. If I knew that staffing was going to be this amount of hard work and stress with constant 12 hour days and needing to be constantly physically, mentally and spiritually ready I would probably have chose a different path. I know that God is leading me in this and He is wanting me to grow closer to Him and more dependent on Him. I know that this is a lifelong process and a daily decision to pick up my cross and follow Christ.
"Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." Galatians 5:24-25
Monday, August 23, 2010
Great is His faithfulness
Please read this slow and try to think about your own life.
What would I do if my right arm stopped working? I wouldn't be able to play guitar, baseball, frisbee golf, go fishing or many other things that I love doing. All of these things that I love and enjoy are possible because God has allowed me to have two working arms. I am so blessed to have the things that I have. In no case do I deserve to have what I have or be where I am.
Life can be so frustrating sometimes and can cause us to forget the things that God has done for us or stop appreciating the things we do have. Last year during my discipleship training school one of the speakers made the statement "gratitude will change your attitude." I took that and ran with it. Going on outreach to Thailand last year was amazing but there were many sacrifices that went along with it. I realised how much I had when it was taken away. Sometimes at that point its too late and we can't get back what we have lost. Thankfully I was able to come back home from Thailand and have new perspective on how much God has blessed me.
My challenge to myself and any reader is to spend a couple minutes every day and thank God for what He has done and for what He has given us. It's when I am most frustrated or just in my worst mood that this has completely changed my life.
What would I do if my right arm stopped working? I wouldn't be able to play guitar, baseball, frisbee golf, go fishing or many other things that I love doing. All of these things that I love and enjoy are possible because God has allowed me to have two working arms. I am so blessed to have the things that I have. In no case do I deserve to have what I have or be where I am.
Life can be so frustrating sometimes and can cause us to forget the things that God has done for us or stop appreciating the things we do have. Last year during my discipleship training school one of the speakers made the statement "gratitude will change your attitude." I took that and ran with it. Going on outreach to Thailand last year was amazing but there were many sacrifices that went along with it. I realised how much I had when it was taken away. Sometimes at that point its too late and we can't get back what we have lost. Thankfully I was able to come back home from Thailand and have new perspective on how much God has blessed me.
My challenge to myself and any reader is to spend a couple minutes every day and thank God for what He has done and for what He has given us. It's when I am most frustrated or just in my worst mood that this has completely changed my life.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
He restores my soul
What happens when you just run out of gas, or when you hit a wall, or you just can't do it anymore. Is it a lack of sleep, or a lack of caffeine or a lack of food? When the weight of the world is on your shoulders and you just can't do it anymore what do you do?
I got to this point this past week and was in one of the hardest spots I've been in a while. The school is going so well and I am seeing more and more of the awesome power of God in other peoples lives, but it's requiring so much more of me constantly giving of all that I have. I didn't get much rest during the weekend and started off the week physically, emotionally, and spiritually drained. This was beginning to worry me since I need to be there for the students and I didn't think that I could even make it through the week. This was where I realized that I could not do this. With all of my heart and all of my efforts I could not possibly do this on my own strength. I came to the end of myself and had nothing left to give.
This is where I realized that I was not receiving my strength from Christ. My focus went from putting Jesus first always and living from His love to putting the school and the students first and losing the intimate relationship with Jesus that I had. Getting to that point of burning out truly led me to the place of realizing how much my soul longs for the living God. These days are getting harder and harder but I know that putting Christ first in my life and seeking revelation of His love will always give me the strength and hope I need for every day.
"The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake." (Psalm 23:1-3)
If you can relate at all to how I was feeling I highly recommend checking out this weeks speaker Andy Byrd. You can listen to the podcast HERE. This gave me great perspective and taught me so much. Peace and Love!
I got to this point this past week and was in one of the hardest spots I've been in a while. The school is going so well and I am seeing more and more of the awesome power of God in other peoples lives, but it's requiring so much more of me constantly giving of all that I have. I didn't get much rest during the weekend and started off the week physically, emotionally, and spiritually drained. This was beginning to worry me since I need to be there for the students and I didn't think that I could even make it through the week. This was where I realized that I could not do this. With all of my heart and all of my efforts I could not possibly do this on my own strength. I came to the end of myself and had nothing left to give.
This is where I realized that I was not receiving my strength from Christ. My focus went from putting Jesus first always and living from His love to putting the school and the students first and losing the intimate relationship with Jesus that I had. Getting to that point of burning out truly led me to the place of realizing how much my soul longs for the living God. These days are getting harder and harder but I know that putting Christ first in my life and seeking revelation of His love will always give me the strength and hope I need for every day.
"The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake." (Psalm 23:1-3)
If you can relate at all to how I was feeling I highly recommend checking out this weeks speaker Andy Byrd. You can listen to the podcast HERE. This gave me great perspective and taught me so much. Peace and Love!
Monday, July 26, 2010
Borrowing soil
Our speaker last week, Matt Rawlins spoke on "Fear of the Lord". It was a very challenging topic and I didn't have very much time to process it all. I did go back and listen to one of the days that he spoke on the podcast that we have available Click Here. It took me about 2 hours to listen to a one hour lecture since I had to pause every ten seconds to write down certain quotes that really hit my heart.
One thing that I just barely caught was that we can borrow other peoples soil. In other words we can borrow other peoples experiences and revelation of God and use it to help us in trusting and obeying God. Now this is something that I do all the time. When I listen to speakers here or go to church on Sunday and hear the preacher share his revelation, I can usually come away with something that encourages me or gives me a boost of faith.
This made me think about my life and how many people have spoken into my life. How much soil I have borrowed from other people. I have to admit that it feels pretty good when I get to hear the latest revelation from some of my favorite pastors. Its like I just got some nice, fresh, dark soil. It looks good and it feels good at first but how long does it last before the wind blows it away, or the rain washes it away? I eventually loose grip of these revelations and then I'm back to needing more.
I am not saying that listening to sermons is pointless and that sharing revelation is meaningless. I am saying that it is important to work that soil down deep where my roots are so that I can use it to grow. I want to take that revelation and use it to build faith so that in obedience I may know/experience God. Simply, revelation requires a response.
James 1:2-4
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
One thing that I just barely caught was that we can borrow other peoples soil. In other words we can borrow other peoples experiences and revelation of God and use it to help us in trusting and obeying God. Now this is something that I do all the time. When I listen to speakers here or go to church on Sunday and hear the preacher share his revelation, I can usually come away with something that encourages me or gives me a boost of faith.
This made me think about my life and how many people have spoken into my life. How much soil I have borrowed from other people. I have to admit that it feels pretty good when I get to hear the latest revelation from some of my favorite pastors. Its like I just got some nice, fresh, dark soil. It looks good and it feels good at first but how long does it last before the wind blows it away, or the rain washes it away? I eventually loose grip of these revelations and then I'm back to needing more.
I am not saying that listening to sermons is pointless and that sharing revelation is meaningless. I am saying that it is important to work that soil down deep where my roots are so that I can use it to grow. I want to take that revelation and use it to build faith so that in obedience I may know/experience God. Simply, revelation requires a response.
James 1:2-4
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Peace
The students are here and the first week of lecture is in full swing. This weeks topic is hearing the voice of God which takes me back to last year in my DTS when I was here fresh from Cleveland and so hungry to hear God. I know these students are just as hungry as I was and it just makes me excited knowing that God is so real and wants them to hear His continual proclamation of love over them.
I started my day at 4:30am saying goodbye to my sister Jessica as she heads off to India for her Photogenx outreach. It was amazing seeing her for the month and Her extended two weeks since her visa came late. I am considering that a blessing since we were able to hang out more and pray with each other more and have crazy times of uncontrollable laughter. I consider our lives as a true testimony of God bringing families back together and uniting them in His love.
What God has been doing in my life here so far is giving me His peace. I have never been so at rest with where I'm at and what I'm doing. One thing I realized is that this school is bigger than me and discipling these students is also more than I could ever handle, but I know that it's not me teaching these students. I know that the Spirit of God is going to teach these students and love these students more than I ever could. I am truly finding peace in knowing how much God is in control of this school and in control of my life. The more that I let go of my worries and the more that I acknowledge God then the more I am feeling His peace wash over me and His joy strengthen me and His passion drive me to do things out of Love.
My hope is that I can continue to have this perspective and live from it. I know that this is the best place to be discipling these students. I hear so much about staff being burnt out and sometimes even hurt after a school. My prayer is that I can continue to live from the abundance of God and be a servant to these students constantly giving out of the overflow.
I started my day at 4:30am saying goodbye to my sister Jessica as she heads off to India for her Photogenx outreach. It was amazing seeing her for the month and Her extended two weeks since her visa came late. I am considering that a blessing since we were able to hang out more and pray with each other more and have crazy times of uncontrollable laughter. I consider our lives as a true testimony of God bringing families back together and uniting them in His love.
What God has been doing in my life here so far is giving me His peace. I have never been so at rest with where I'm at and what I'm doing. One thing I realized is that this school is bigger than me and discipling these students is also more than I could ever handle, but I know that it's not me teaching these students. I know that the Spirit of God is going to teach these students and love these students more than I ever could. I am truly finding peace in knowing how much God is in control of this school and in control of my life. The more that I let go of my worries and the more that I acknowledge God then the more I am feeling His peace wash over me and His joy strengthen me and His passion drive me to do things out of Love.
My hope is that I can continue to have this perspective and live from it. I know that this is the best place to be discipling these students. I hear so much about staff being burnt out and sometimes even hurt after a school. My prayer is that I can continue to live from the abundance of God and be a servant to these students constantly giving out of the overflow.
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