We are back in our hotel room for the last night. My how time flies when you're having fun. Mary is cutting out the last of some crafts for Jeevits house so I guess I'll take my turn doing the reporting. Had a little lighter schedule today, had breakfast in the room and didn't have to be anywhere until 8:45. We helped with King's Kids again at 9:00, finished there around 10:30 then biked out to Pastor Timothy's village for the rest of the morning. The outreach team from Kona is building a water catchment container by his church but I still had not heard the rest of his story that he started telling last week when we were there. It is a story of being in the military under 2 different dictators, escaping the last one and then later being caught and put in prison and then finally being released. It is a long story so I won't go into all of that. We had prayer with him and said some encouraging words and then headed back to base to finish some business we had there and then to lunch with Sat, one of the staff our Bridge Church supports.
We ate lunch at a Korean cafe in the upstairs and it actually had soft comfortable chairs to sit in while we dined. Rina came after lunch to hang out for a while and then we biked back to the hotel to get ready for an evening out with Laura from Jeevits house and her 2 charges, Ruen and Rain. We went by Tuk Tuk accross the river to a barbecue place that was quite unique. The table has a big hole cut out of the middle and they put a container of hot coals in the hole and cover it with a cone shaped grille that has a trough around the outside where they pour water in. The water boils so you can cook the vegetables and prepare the noodles while the cone has a chunk of lard in the center which melts and runs down the cone. You place the meat on the slanted side and it cooks in the dripping fat. Like I said, it was unique. It was a fun time and I don't think I ever saw two little boys put away that much food, we asked Ruen if he had a hollow leg, of course he did not understand that statement! A group of kids from YWAM also showed up to eat there as well.
When we got back to the hotel we both felt we had eaten too much for the day so a swim in the pool was perfect before we retired for the night! Since it was only our 3rd time since being here so we thought we should take advantage of that while we could. That was a refreshing end to the day. Tomorrow will be a day of saying goodbyes and packing. We'll probably leave BB at 5:30 or 6:00 PM and take a taxi to Siem Reap where we will leave Cambodia
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Monday, January 30, 2012
Monday, starts with Base Worship!
Monday, started early with skyping with the Rays, that was fun! Good to see them all! Then after a quick breakfast of cereal and oranges, a quick shower, off to the YWAM Base for Monday morning worship! Praising God together to start the week, can it get any better? John the new DTS speaker for the next two weeks started us off and sorry John, but since we heard you at worship we heard Justin at SBS, then you speaking on the Hearing God Speak, and tonight basically what are the characteristic of the Holy Spirit, so yup I cannot remember the first one today! Chalk that up to age or being blessed by soooooo much today! Worship was great I loved the song about breaking our chains!! Great one Anthony!! loved it!! Set the spirit free! And they bid us goodbye as we will be gone before Wednesday evening worship! We were blessed with everyone praying for us, no one can ask for a better more blest send off!! We accept prayers on our behalf for decisions of what next!
On to SBS to hear Justin Pratt introduce Numbers, focusing on us learning from the mistakes of the Isrealites of old, are we making the same mistakes they did, do we have idols? The faithfulness of God to a sinful people, where do we fit in these pictures? where do we recognize ourselves? are we learning from Isreal's mistakes, from our own mistakes...
At morning break we headed to DTS to hear from John, John has been with YWAM over 30 years, WOW! He is speaking on Listening to the Holy Spirit, this morning was a review of last week, do we recognize God's voice, are we satisfied with listening to others or do we have a relationship with God that we actually take time to listen to God, do we recognize His voice.
DTS is over at twelve, so we had a half hour to spend with God by the pond, listening, reading His Word! A great quiet time. On to lunch at the base the soup was loaded with pineapple, so awesome!
Then we sat a visited with Piseth, thanks Piseth that was an great time today, thank you so much for sharing with us, your vision for sharing about your country, we can tell you are proud of Cambodia! We love you and will continue to pray for you, and your upcoming marriage! Wow!
We spent time with Anna, she shared thoughts and visions, thank you Anna I know your schedule is crazy, but we so appreciate your openness and input!
Then we went back to the Hotel for a bit of a respite then over to Mark and Ashley's as Mark wanted to show us an apartment that we might be interested in for next year, we can rent it by the month. These are all things we need to hear from God on, what is His plan for us! But again thank you Mark and of course Tre, for taking time to show us, what a perfect spot right downtown, walking distance from the market, not far from the base! God's hand must be in all of what we see and do!
Then on to find some supper, to City Cafe as were the Kona girls! Great food, good connections, then they off to worship at Stuart and Johanna's and we back for another lecture from John this time on the Characteristics of the Holy Spirit! John thank you for your sharing a passion, how do I know it is one of John's passions, because he can hardly give Yuka time to translate in Khmer, and John is off and running again on the next thought! Yuka you did awesome! well except the bells that was too funny!
But John has such a passion about who the Holy Spirit is and how important the Holy Spirit is to each of us, we need to recognize his characteristics so we understand his importance in our spiritual lives!!
After a bike ride in the in a little bit of light, thanks to a sort of headlight we installed on one of the bikes, we are back at the hotel reflecting and planning for what all we have to do yet in one and a half days here in Battambang.
Thank you God, what a blessed day we were given today!
Good night and may God richly bless each of you in your walk with Him!
Ed and Mary
On to SBS to hear Justin Pratt introduce Numbers, focusing on us learning from the mistakes of the Isrealites of old, are we making the same mistakes they did, do we have idols? The faithfulness of God to a sinful people, where do we fit in these pictures? where do we recognize ourselves? are we learning from Isreal's mistakes, from our own mistakes...
At morning break we headed to DTS to hear from John, John has been with YWAM over 30 years, WOW! He is speaking on Listening to the Holy Spirit, this morning was a review of last week, do we recognize God's voice, are we satisfied with listening to others or do we have a relationship with God that we actually take time to listen to God, do we recognize His voice.
DTS is over at twelve, so we had a half hour to spend with God by the pond, listening, reading His Word! A great quiet time. On to lunch at the base the soup was loaded with pineapple, so awesome!
Then we sat a visited with Piseth, thanks Piseth that was an great time today, thank you so much for sharing with us, your vision for sharing about your country, we can tell you are proud of Cambodia! We love you and will continue to pray for you, and your upcoming marriage! Wow!
We spent time with Anna, she shared thoughts and visions, thank you Anna I know your schedule is crazy, but we so appreciate your openness and input!
Then we went back to the Hotel for a bit of a respite then over to Mark and Ashley's as Mark wanted to show us an apartment that we might be interested in for next year, we can rent it by the month. These are all things we need to hear from God on, what is His plan for us! But again thank you Mark and of course Tre, for taking time to show us, what a perfect spot right downtown, walking distance from the market, not far from the base! God's hand must be in all of what we see and do!
Then on to find some supper, to City Cafe as were the Kona girls! Great food, good connections, then they off to worship at Stuart and Johanna's and we back for another lecture from John this time on the Characteristics of the Holy Spirit! John thank you for your sharing a passion, how do I know it is one of John's passions, because he can hardly give Yuka time to translate in Khmer, and John is off and running again on the next thought! Yuka you did awesome! well except the bells that was too funny!
But John has such a passion about who the Holy Spirit is and how important the Holy Spirit is to each of us, we need to recognize his characteristics so we understand his importance in our spiritual lives!!
After a bike ride in the in a little bit of light, thanks to a sort of headlight we installed on one of the bikes, we are back at the hotel reflecting and planning for what all we have to do yet in one and a half days here in Battambang.
Thank you God, what a blessed day we were given today!
Good night and may God richly bless each of you in your walk with Him!
Ed and Mary
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Sunday a full day!
Sunday, the Lord's day! We left our Hotel in a tuk tuk for the ride out to Pastor Khive's church, we stopped at base to pick up Synouen, Srey Mom, Annie and a very quiet young gentleman. We had a great ride chatting and enjoying the ride into the country!
The church we attended was being built last year when we were here some of our team was able to go and share with the pastor, praying for the pastor and asking a blessing on the church. Today it was very evident how important that short visit was to Pastor Khive, as he thanked us many times for the visit last year and for our being there today, they are such grateful people. Pastor Khive Phon asked Ed to share his testimony, which he did with the Pastor's granddaughter ably translating. Then she translated to English while the pastor preached. We were also blessed to share communion with these people, thank you Lord for that gift as well!
Back to our Hotel, change our clothing and then head to the base for Sunday dinner, as we arrived at the base there were new faces the DTS Team from New York had arrived, so it was our pleasure to welcome and meet them! More young people serving Jesus, from all over the world! into all the world! They will spend time here and then onto Thailand for three weeks.
After lunch we stopped to bring Rothana and Nimun their books, it was a short visit as we did not have an interpreter with us, just smiles and gesture's of love! Then on to Jeevit's House to help with Family Day, which means 100 to 250 some kids come to play listen to a Bible Story and have supper, yes they feed all of them! It is sort of like the loaves and fishes story but this time it is rice, eggs and cucumbers!! When we arrived Sasha and Emmanuel were almost finished frying the eggs, and Erin had cut all the cucumbers! way to go guys, an awesome accomplishment!
We were thrilled to see the New York Team arrive to help out and I believe they were as blest as we always are by these great kids! Laura is ably watching over everything, mending wounds, talking with the moms...The time does fly!
Then on with Garth and John to see the land, that in itself is a whole story of God working in Cambodia, the base is buying land and all I will say at this time, God never ceases to amaze me, time and again seeing Him mightily work in His way and His timing! Back to the Hotel to take Rina and Salli, plus two of Rina's friends to supper! It was a bit of a late supper and we are now back in our room ready to call it another day of God's work in Cambodia being accomplished by his people of all nations, tribe and tongue!
Go where God is working, be in the center of His will!
Ed and Mary
The church we attended was being built last year when we were here some of our team was able to go and share with the pastor, praying for the pastor and asking a blessing on the church. Today it was very evident how important that short visit was to Pastor Khive, as he thanked us many times for the visit last year and for our being there today, they are such grateful people. Pastor Khive Phon asked Ed to share his testimony, which he did with the Pastor's granddaughter ably translating. Then she translated to English while the pastor preached. We were also blessed to share communion with these people, thank you Lord for that gift as well!
Back to our Hotel, change our clothing and then head to the base for Sunday dinner, as we arrived at the base there were new faces the DTS Team from New York had arrived, so it was our pleasure to welcome and meet them! More young people serving Jesus, from all over the world! into all the world! They will spend time here and then onto Thailand for three weeks.
After lunch we stopped to bring Rothana and Nimun their books, it was a short visit as we did not have an interpreter with us, just smiles and gesture's of love! Then on to Jeevit's House to help with Family Day, which means 100 to 250 some kids come to play listen to a Bible Story and have supper, yes they feed all of them! It is sort of like the loaves and fishes story but this time it is rice, eggs and cucumbers!! When we arrived Sasha and Emmanuel were almost finished frying the eggs, and Erin had cut all the cucumbers! way to go guys, an awesome accomplishment!
We were thrilled to see the New York Team arrive to help out and I believe they were as blest as we always are by these great kids! Laura is ably watching over everything, mending wounds, talking with the moms...The time does fly!
Then on with Garth and John to see the land, that in itself is a whole story of God working in Cambodia, the base is buying land and all I will say at this time, God never ceases to amaze me, time and again seeing Him mightily work in His way and His timing! Back to the Hotel to take Rina and Salli, plus two of Rina's friends to supper! It was a bit of a late supper and we are now back in our room ready to call it another day of God's work in Cambodia being accomplished by his people of all nations, tribe and tongue!
Go where God is working, be in the center of His will!
Ed and Mary
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Saturday a day of sharing stories!
We started our day at Cafe Eden with Rina and her brother Karya "Ya" as he likes to be called. We had a great breakfast as always at Cafe Eden, and fabulous fellowship, it was a busy place as they have great food and internet access. So also there were DTS Students there skyping their families, we even got to meet some parents in America!
Mentioning ladders in Cambodia, the men are of slightly smaller stature and weight so for American men to stand on their ladders is maybe not even wise, I do not think they were meant to hold someone over 120 pounds even wet! That would put Ed and I off limits and we were both on a ladder yesterday at the same time! Just another idea of things we do, ya gotta do what ya gotta do! to get the job done!
Ok, off that subject, on to Jeevit's House to get our laundry, on to the Hotel to deliver it, the few minutes we were at our room, the Hotel gal who cleans our room, knocked on the door, she had my flip flops in her hand cleaner than they have been since I bought them! I had worn another pair today and all the red dirt they have here those sandals were gross, she took them and washed them! WOW, I felt so blest! So, so sweet!
Off to meet some girls on the DTS Staff to take them out to Saturday lunch! and get to know them better, Synouen, Srey Mom, and Neth are such lovely, wonderful young women who have come to love Jesus and want others to know Jesus and encourage their faith, lives and help the new christians share the Jesus on, and on!! It was a joy to get to know them. Synouen and Srey Mom are going with us to church tomorrow!
We headed back to our Hotel to rest and cut crafts, then on to Chennuoen and Kovonne's home for a great home cooked meal, thanks to both of you! for your great hospitality and sharing your vision for starting churches in Cambodia! You clearly explained the dire need for the villages where new christians are without churches, some would have to travel 100 miles which the people cannot afford to do and it is not even feasible for them to do. Oh the need is so great in this country it really speaks to our hearts!
We biked back in the dark, my headlight worked great yeh! and we didn't have far to go! but here we are again safely in our Hotel room basking in God's glory over this wonderful country of Cambodia, so much done, but so very much to do! Please say a special prayer for those spreading the gospel in Cambodia and other countries where there are thousands who have not heard the good news of salvation! And we who have must Go Ye INTO ALL THE WORLD!
Good night, God Bless each of you! May HE rock your world!
Ed and Mary
Friday, January 27, 2012
Friday! Yikes our last Friday in Cambodia for a while!
The day started with a trip to the base to acquire some tools, and then on to Jeevit's House to secure the roof boards that Bill and Brian so ably put up. But the hot sun was starting to warp the boards so we had gotten some screws that would scinch them securely! Mark sent over a tuk tuk with his ladder and drill, thanks Mark! And thank goodness Emmanuel or should I call him a Monkey? He navigates up and on there like he is a monkey compared to the agility of our 60+ years so thank you Emmanuel for the great help this morning!! He did have to leave and we did get the job done both sides even the middle rafter is now attached - thought you would like to know Bill and Brian!!
While there I was able to wash the last load of laundry, which come to think of it is still on Laura's line! That will be a tomorrow thing!
After mission accomplished at Jeevit's House, we hauled the tools from Base back, had lunch at Base, then Rina met us to go to the Book Store. When she got there she said are you going to bike all the way there? Ok that should have been a clue, but no, we said we will be fine! Yeh, it was a long bike ride, but we made it again! Found the desired books; it makes me sad that children have no books to read so, we bought some books for a couple children 10 and 14 year olds, hope they enjoy them, and tape for Laura. Then you guessed it we had to go back, yup same distance back! I wish our bikes had mile markers on them or maybe I don't want to know that it really wasn't as far as I thought...
But we did stop for something cool to drink at Cafe Eden, a great resting spot, then on to the market to find a french press of sorts, we are missing our morning coffee and Rina is a great dealer we tend to just pay the price, not Rina she bargins!! big time! Then Rina had to be at base to help with the Youth Center, so we continued our shopping on our own, needed more cereal, yogurt, milk and ok so we picked up banana chips too!! they are so good!
Back to our Hotel, cool off and cut crafts! then we walked to Secret Cafe for a great evening meal, where the meal cost 1.60 and the soft drink 2.00. go figure! We both had a delicious Khmer noodle and pork dish, the flavors were fabulous!
Walked back sat outside by the pool a while but the bugs were bothering me, Ed never notices them but I have had enough bites already, need not invite more! So I came up to the room to blog and relax. might even cut our some more parachuters (crafts).
Another great day, Lord thank you for keeping us safe in our travels, for guiding our feet, hands, and hearts! Tomorrow another full day, but it is Saturday so that is the day the base staff has off! We can find our own food and plan to take some kids out for meals, so many here live on so little, it isn't hard to find ways to make them smile and add a little blessing into their lives!
Thank you again Lord, for we have sooooo much, we do not deserve!
Be blest and check out Cy's blog to see a bit more of what we see and do here especially while the team was here with us! @ blogbycy.wordpress.com
Good night and God bless,
Mary and Ed
While there I was able to wash the last load of laundry, which come to think of it is still on Laura's line! That will be a tomorrow thing!
After mission accomplished at Jeevit's House, we hauled the tools from Base back, had lunch at Base, then Rina met us to go to the Book Store. When she got there she said are you going to bike all the way there? Ok that should have been a clue, but no, we said we will be fine! Yeh, it was a long bike ride, but we made it again! Found the desired books; it makes me sad that children have no books to read so, we bought some books for a couple children 10 and 14 year olds, hope they enjoy them, and tape for Laura. Then you guessed it we had to go back, yup same distance back! I wish our bikes had mile markers on them or maybe I don't want to know that it really wasn't as far as I thought...
But we did stop for something cool to drink at Cafe Eden, a great resting spot, then on to the market to find a french press of sorts, we are missing our morning coffee and Rina is a great dealer we tend to just pay the price, not Rina she bargins!! big time! Then Rina had to be at base to help with the Youth Center, so we continued our shopping on our own, needed more cereal, yogurt, milk and ok so we picked up banana chips too!! they are so good!
Back to our Hotel, cool off and cut crafts! then we walked to Secret Cafe for a great evening meal, where the meal cost 1.60 and the soft drink 2.00. go figure! We both had a delicious Khmer noodle and pork dish, the flavors were fabulous!
Walked back sat outside by the pool a while but the bugs were bothering me, Ed never notices them but I have had enough bites already, need not invite more! So I came up to the room to blog and relax. might even cut our some more parachuters (crafts).
Another great day, Lord thank you for keeping us safe in our travels, for guiding our feet, hands, and hearts! Tomorrow another full day, but it is Saturday so that is the day the base staff has off! We can find our own food and plan to take some kids out for meals, so many here live on so little, it isn't hard to find ways to make them smile and add a little blessing into their lives!
Thank you again Lord, for we have sooooo much, we do not deserve!
Be blest and check out Cy's blog to see a bit more of what we see and do here especially while the team was here with us! @ blogbycy.wordpress.com
Good night and God bless,
Mary and Ed
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Perfect Thursday!!
Thursday, a most wonderful day, for starters it only got to 84 degrees so it was a lovely temperature, even for biking! After our morning cereal, we biked over to Jeevit's House to play with children from 9-11, we did puzzles, played "Match" a few times, jacks with rocks all rocks, swinging kids on the playground! Learning Khmer and having a total blast with that, we had four girls I would guess to be twelvish they were playing jacks with rocks, they invited us to join in then began the Khmer lessons, much laughter as I don't think we did so good, but oh the joy of laughter!! We also shared English with them, they were trying to teach us "I love you" in Khmer and we taught them English. The precious moment was when the one little girl left and she said "I love you, Mary" talk about melting your heart, you get the picture! Mine melted!!
We then went to SBS looking for Ed's sandals, ok explaination...here before you go into any house you take off your sandals, so yesterday when we went to SBS our sandals joined the many already on the steps. When we left for lunch he took a pair, but this morning when he was putting his sandals on in the room to leave, he said these aren't mine! So back to SBS, but his sandals were not there, so Erin wrote a note on the Erase board that Ed had the wrong sandals and if someone had his to contact him!
Then on to Mark and Ashley's to take our laundry off the line, and Ashley blessed us with cold latte's, thanks again Ashley that was the perfect treat today. While we were there another herd of cattle walked by so I got some great pics, but Tre said "Mommy why does she take pictures of the cows?" Ashley explained that I do not normally see that where I live. So sweet for him, big deal!
Then on to base for lunch which we shared with Erin, Rina, Johnny and Meling, it was delicious today, I love it when there is pineapple in the soup! So great!!
After lunch we were blessed with Rachel sharing her story with us, love you Rachel you are one amazing woman, we first met Rachel King at Molly and Kellee's wedding then here she shows up at Laura's last Friday, we both looked at each other like we know you from somewhere! So good to get to know you better, love you Rachel you are incredible!
Back to the Hotel, and disposing of old meds, job done!! then back to Mark and Ashley's great fellowship always is getting to know these incredible YWAMers, they are the most giving people I have ever met! Praise God for his work thru these people who have given their lives in service to HIM!
Mark and Ashley your hospitality is fabulous and your dedication to your students, amazing, we Praise God for your willingness to serve! And your wisdom in understanding boundaries!!
Then back to our room to cut our more crafts! Getting there!! Get more printed Laura we just might get bored when these are done! Time to get ready for our special evening out!
Oh I almost forgot when we got to Base 1 to pick up Rina for the evening, Pok came to show he had Ed's sandals so the lost is now located but Ed did not have Pok's on so they will switch tomorrow! Kinda cute the look on Pok's face when he saw Ed's we call Jesus Sandals instead of flip flops, we call them Jesus sandals, how do we know what Jesus sandals even looked like they could have been flip flops for all we know! Ok That was random!
Laura set up our evening with Rothana and her brother, we are blessed to sponsor Rothana, anyone desiring to help these kids whose families are effected by HIV/Aids we can get you the details! it is only 35.00 a month to meet most of their needs for school and food! If you can bless someone you will be the most blessed, especially if you get to come meet them!! YEH!! Any way, we took Rothana and her brother out to supper, with Rina as a translator, it was so fantastic!!! We got to know here a bit better and we could share a bit of who we are with her, I even had pics on the camera to show Ed combining corn and soybeans, I had some videos of that! Told them about tapping syrup from maple trees, they told us about school and loving to read but not having time to go to the library and the library is not open in the summer. So no they do not have books to read, guess we are heading to a book store tomorrow! A child must have books to read! Right??
Ok so can you see why I said it was an awesome day! Really, awesome, then we got to skype the birthday boy, ok a day late but he was still up before his morning nap when we contacted Jen for us tonight so he jabbered away, called us "baka-baka" love it!
Ok so it is only 9pm, but it is time to say good night! and GOD BLESS!
Singing praises for the blessings of another day in Cambodia! Thank you Jesus for this most awesome opportunity you have blessed us with, your precious name be praised! For you alone are worthy!
In His name alone!
Humbly, Ed and Mary
We then went to SBS looking for Ed's sandals, ok explaination...here before you go into any house you take off your sandals, so yesterday when we went to SBS our sandals joined the many already on the steps. When we left for lunch he took a pair, but this morning when he was putting his sandals on in the room to leave, he said these aren't mine! So back to SBS, but his sandals were not there, so Erin wrote a note on the Erase board that Ed had the wrong sandals and if someone had his to contact him!
Then on to Mark and Ashley's to take our laundry off the line, and Ashley blessed us with cold latte's, thanks again Ashley that was the perfect treat today. While we were there another herd of cattle walked by so I got some great pics, but Tre said "Mommy why does she take pictures of the cows?" Ashley explained that I do not normally see that where I live. So sweet for him, big deal!
Then on to base for lunch which we shared with Erin, Rina, Johnny and Meling, it was delicious today, I love it when there is pineapple in the soup! So great!!
After lunch we were blessed with Rachel sharing her story with us, love you Rachel you are one amazing woman, we first met Rachel King at Molly and Kellee's wedding then here she shows up at Laura's last Friday, we both looked at each other like we know you from somewhere! So good to get to know you better, love you Rachel you are incredible!
Back to the Hotel, and disposing of old meds, job done!! then back to Mark and Ashley's great fellowship always is getting to know these incredible YWAMers, they are the most giving people I have ever met! Praise God for his work thru these people who have given their lives in service to HIM!
Mark and Ashley your hospitality is fabulous and your dedication to your students, amazing, we Praise God for your willingness to serve! And your wisdom in understanding boundaries!!
Then back to our room to cut our more crafts! Getting there!! Get more printed Laura we just might get bored when these are done! Time to get ready for our special evening out!
Oh I almost forgot when we got to Base 1 to pick up Rina for the evening, Pok came to show he had Ed's sandals so the lost is now located but Ed did not have Pok's on so they will switch tomorrow! Kinda cute the look on Pok's face when he saw Ed's we call Jesus Sandals instead of flip flops, we call them Jesus sandals, how do we know what Jesus sandals even looked like they could have been flip flops for all we know! Ok That was random!
Laura set up our evening with Rothana and her brother, we are blessed to sponsor Rothana, anyone desiring to help these kids whose families are effected by HIV/Aids we can get you the details! it is only 35.00 a month to meet most of their needs for school and food! If you can bless someone you will be the most blessed, especially if you get to come meet them!! YEH!! Any way, we took Rothana and her brother out to supper, with Rina as a translator, it was so fantastic!!! We got to know here a bit better and we could share a bit of who we are with her, I even had pics on the camera to show Ed combining corn and soybeans, I had some videos of that! Told them about tapping syrup from maple trees, they told us about school and loving to read but not having time to go to the library and the library is not open in the summer. So no they do not have books to read, guess we are heading to a book store tomorrow! A child must have books to read! Right??
Ok so can you see why I said it was an awesome day! Really, awesome, then we got to skype the birthday boy, ok a day late but he was still up before his morning nap when we contacted Jen for us tonight so he jabbered away, called us "baka-baka" love it!
Ok so it is only 9pm, but it is time to say good night! and GOD BLESS!
Singing praises for the blessings of another day in Cambodia! Thank you Jesus for this most awesome opportunity you have blessed us with, your precious name be praised! For you alone are worthy!
In His name alone!
Humbly, Ed and Mary
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Wednesday, only one more week, yikes so much to do!!
Hard to believe we have only one week here, so much to do, so many people to touch base with to get to know better.
It was a great day, we joined SBS (School of Biblical Studies) again today, Mark Smith taught on Leviticus, Mark is a great teacher, he understands Leviticus and why it is important to us, because it points to Christ the ultimate sacrifice!
On to the base for lunch, we joined Justin, Souel and Levi for lunch; great fellowship! Then on to run a few more errands for various supplies for us and work to be completed, most now accomplished! No Bill they do not have a power washer so that is out! We have not found the ladder we are looking for but maybe next week they will be finished celebrating the Chinese New Year and more shops will be open!
We did find the buckets, pliers, and screws we needed. On to Jeevit's House to deliver the supplies, and we picked up some hard labor work :) crafts to cut out for Laura, I think that one is not to tough!
On the way back again we needed air for Ed's bike this time! Well back and then over to Mark and Ashley Smith's house it is right across from our Hotel, pretty neat! I needed to do laundry, so I put in a load visited with Ashley a bit, then back to our room to start cutting out some crafts for Kings Kids!
Wednesday evening worship was awesome, Garth finished the book of Acts they had been studying that for a few months! Elizabeth, Luke and Yuka lead worship, Johnnie and Piseth started and ended the service, Garth spoke while Stuart translated, oh the team work of bilingual services! Gotta love it! Garth had an awesome challenge for us to live like Paul! Wow! Preach the gospel to whomever will listen! Go with God!
After worship we had a wonderful meal shared with Garth and Caroline and of course Lyla, she is so sweet, not feeling the greatest today as she had her shots today! yuck! We love their vision for YWAM and it's furture. Go YWAM Battambang you are a motley crew but you love Jesus with a great passion and we are blest to know you!!!
Back at the Hotel we finally connected Skype with Jennifer we tried to catch Jude before naptime as it is his 2nd birthday today but he is actually sick and was in bed for a much needed nap, but we did talk to Jen and Nate a bit too! A neat way to end our day!
Blessings to all who connect we hope you see a bit of Jesus hands and feet in Cambodia through our eyes, Ed and Mary
It was a great day, we joined SBS (School of Biblical Studies) again today, Mark Smith taught on Leviticus, Mark is a great teacher, he understands Leviticus and why it is important to us, because it points to Christ the ultimate sacrifice!
On to the base for lunch, we joined Justin, Souel and Levi for lunch; great fellowship! Then on to run a few more errands for various supplies for us and work to be completed, most now accomplished! No Bill they do not have a power washer so that is out! We have not found the ladder we are looking for but maybe next week they will be finished celebrating the Chinese New Year and more shops will be open!
We did find the buckets, pliers, and screws we needed. On to Jeevit's House to deliver the supplies, and we picked up some hard labor work :) crafts to cut out for Laura, I think that one is not to tough!
On the way back again we needed air for Ed's bike this time! Well back and then over to Mark and Ashley Smith's house it is right across from our Hotel, pretty neat! I needed to do laundry, so I put in a load visited with Ashley a bit, then back to our room to start cutting out some crafts for Kings Kids!
Wednesday evening worship was awesome, Garth finished the book of Acts they had been studying that for a few months! Elizabeth, Luke and Yuka lead worship, Johnnie and Piseth started and ended the service, Garth spoke while Stuart translated, oh the team work of bilingual services! Gotta love it! Garth had an awesome challenge for us to live like Paul! Wow! Preach the gospel to whomever will listen! Go with God!
After worship we had a wonderful meal shared with Garth and Caroline and of course Lyla, she is so sweet, not feeling the greatest today as she had her shots today! yuck! We love their vision for YWAM and it's furture. Go YWAM Battambang you are a motley crew but you love Jesus with a great passion and we are blest to know you!!!
Back at the Hotel we finally connected Skype with Jennifer we tried to catch Jude before naptime as it is his 2nd birthday today but he is actually sick and was in bed for a much needed nap, but we did talk to Jen and Nate a bit too! A neat way to end our day!
Blessings to all who connect we hope you see a bit of Jesus hands and feet in Cambodia through our eyes, Ed and Mary
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Tuesday, Chinese New Year arrived, with a lot of firecrackers!
As the title says, today we were welcomed with a Chinese celebration of New Years. A truck about the size of my grain truck stopped on the street in front of the hotel. It was loaded with people who started coming down a ramp on the back of the truck and they were carrying drums and costumes and then it all began. There was a clown like character directing and two human dragons dancing and jumping around all to the beat of drums and cymbals. Then there was a thunderous roar of fireworks right at the entrance of the hotel-they apparently have not yet heard of OSHA or DNR. The air was full of smoke and the paving brick was littered with burnt fireworks. I got close up for some video and then the clown started sprinkling water from an urn and I decided it was time to duck into a hall.
We had a hard time deciding this morning whether to go to DTS and hear more about listening to God's voice, which is very worthwhile, or help Laura with "Kings Kids". Once a week Laura goes into the slum and takes kids to the youth house and reads them a Bible story and then do a craft. We went into the slum with Thera to gather the kids while Laura was getting supplies. Today we ended up with 20 kids and the craft was finger painting. I learned that there are actually kids more artistically challenged than me, and that's not good.
After cleaning up the floors and our hands from the paint we had a meeting with Krissy at base 2 which is where the business office is. We finished the morning with the last part of the lecture and then the usual rice lunch.
We wanted to get a light attached to Mary's bike so the 2 of us headed out on our bicycles for an adventure. We biked out over the river to the other side of town where there are bike dealers and found the same place where we had purchased the bikes and he had no lights that worked so we finally with sign language persuaded him to mount a portable head lamp that we had purchased earlier. He had no drill so took a pair of scissors and bored a hole thru the plastic and put 2 bolts thru and mounted it to her basket. He worked on it for probably a half hour and charged us a whole dollar for the bolts and his time. What a deal. Actually we kinda had fun communicating with the man at the bike shop, he is trying to learn English so he kept asking us what is this "bolt" "nut" etc in English and then he would tell us the Khmer word. He asked for our phone number so he could continue to ask us words. We went grocery shopping on the way back and stopped at the White Rose for some ice cream, actually fruit shakes and cooled off a bit before coming back by way of the bakery for some bread.
This evening, after our supper here at the hotel (fresh bread w/peanut butter and jelly) and some yogurt we got a tuk tuk and took Phally & Samphas out for ice cream and a visit. They are the only married couple that live on the base so have a huge responsibility in that they are modeling what a Christian Khmer marriage should look like. As Samphas said according to the students and staff who attend they expect the foreign marriages to be different, but he and Phally want to model a Christian Khmer marriage.
They asked questions on marriage, we talked with them and encouraged them in their work and in modeling the Christian Khmer marriage. To us this was very special, this is why we are in Cambodia!!
And now after another wonderful day in beautiful Cambodia, we are in our room and ready for a night of rest so we can do it all again in the morning.
Ed & Mary
We had a hard time deciding this morning whether to go to DTS and hear more about listening to God's voice, which is very worthwhile, or help Laura with "Kings Kids". Once a week Laura goes into the slum and takes kids to the youth house and reads them a Bible story and then do a craft. We went into the slum with Thera to gather the kids while Laura was getting supplies. Today we ended up with 20 kids and the craft was finger painting. I learned that there are actually kids more artistically challenged than me, and that's not good.
After cleaning up the floors and our hands from the paint we had a meeting with Krissy at base 2 which is where the business office is. We finished the morning with the last part of the lecture and then the usual rice lunch.
We wanted to get a light attached to Mary's bike so the 2 of us headed out on our bicycles for an adventure. We biked out over the river to the other side of town where there are bike dealers and found the same place where we had purchased the bikes and he had no lights that worked so we finally with sign language persuaded him to mount a portable head lamp that we had purchased earlier. He had no drill so took a pair of scissors and bored a hole thru the plastic and put 2 bolts thru and mounted it to her basket. He worked on it for probably a half hour and charged us a whole dollar for the bolts and his time. What a deal. Actually we kinda had fun communicating with the man at the bike shop, he is trying to learn English so he kept asking us what is this "bolt" "nut" etc in English and then he would tell us the Khmer word. He asked for our phone number so he could continue to ask us words. We went grocery shopping on the way back and stopped at the White Rose for some ice cream, actually fruit shakes and cooled off a bit before coming back by way of the bakery for some bread.
This evening, after our supper here at the hotel (fresh bread w/peanut butter and jelly) and some yogurt we got a tuk tuk and took Phally & Samphas out for ice cream and a visit. They are the only married couple that live on the base so have a huge responsibility in that they are modeling what a Christian Khmer marriage should look like. As Samphas said according to the students and staff who attend they expect the foreign marriages to be different, but he and Phally want to model a Christian Khmer marriage.
They asked questions on marriage, we talked with them and encouraged them in their work and in modeling the Christian Khmer marriage. To us this was very special, this is why we are in Cambodia!!
And now after another wonderful day in beautiful Cambodia, we are in our room and ready for a night of rest so we can do it all again in the morning.
Ed & Mary
Monday, January 23, 2012
Monday!
Monday we started with breakfast at the cafe, they were out of something so couldn't have our Bread Omlette, but survived quite nicely on the fried rice, with sausage (which looks to us like bacon) and eggs, onion...
On to base for Monday's worship, Samphas lead with words from Nehemiah, about how foolish the Isrealites looked to the outsiders when rebuilding the walls, but when the Isrealites built the walls very strong in 52 days, who then looked silly?? Encouraged the staff regarding the plans they see God leading YWAM to build, we must trust God in this!! And to go forward with unity, explaining the prayer that started today and will continue, daily!
Then we joined DTS (Discipleship Training Session) on Listening to God Speak to us, it was so awesomely good, Bethany a young woman originally from Montana, now on staff at Siem Reap came for the week to lecture on Listening to God Speak. What are the ways 90% is from reading the scriptures, sometimes God does tell us in various ways, and thru others who confirm or have a message from God for us. In prayer do we only talk to God, do we ever take time to listen? We say God I need and answer, we sorta talk, talk, talk, God are you listening, do you hear me?? Then we walk away and God is saying I am listening, are you? where are you going, please stay and listen....and on we go about our way and we missed hearing his voice because we were not "being still and knowing that HE is GOD!" Oh I could go on and on and I am possibly not making sense because second hand is not the same as really listening, oh how that fits in! :)
Ok so then we sat quietly at one of the huts kind of reflecting on the mornings message, and one of the Kona guys Ethan comes up to us, he said Ed I have a shirt for you, my mom sent one and it is to big, and none of the other guys fit into it either, so he went and got the shirt it fit Ed perfectly, a true blessing as we hadn't taken a lot along and it is a cool type shirt the kind you need in 90 degree weather, so thanks again God for another blessing!
After lunch we headed back to the Hotel, Ed has a burning throat today and not feeling the greatest so he felt like sleeping, I laid down to read...I was pondering I Corinthians 1:17 and the next thing I know it is 4:30pm, I think we were both tired.
Back to the base for session two of Listening to God Speak, recognizing God's voice, using the shepherd as an example and we are the sheep. Great example! Many great examples thru scripture and trusting scripture always testing what we hear from ourselves and others against scripture.
We took the tuk tuk tonight so no worries Iowa Team we are safe back in our Hotel again!
Blessings to you all, trusting God!
Ed and Mary
On to base for Monday's worship, Samphas lead with words from Nehemiah, about how foolish the Isrealites looked to the outsiders when rebuilding the walls, but when the Isrealites built the walls very strong in 52 days, who then looked silly?? Encouraged the staff regarding the plans they see God leading YWAM to build, we must trust God in this!! And to go forward with unity, explaining the prayer that started today and will continue, daily!
Then we joined DTS (Discipleship Training Session) on Listening to God Speak to us, it was so awesomely good, Bethany a young woman originally from Montana, now on staff at Siem Reap came for the week to lecture on Listening to God Speak. What are the ways 90% is from reading the scriptures, sometimes God does tell us in various ways, and thru others who confirm or have a message from God for us. In prayer do we only talk to God, do we ever take time to listen? We say God I need and answer, we sorta talk, talk, talk, God are you listening, do you hear me?? Then we walk away and God is saying I am listening, are you? where are you going, please stay and listen....and on we go about our way and we missed hearing his voice because we were not "being still and knowing that HE is GOD!" Oh I could go on and on and I am possibly not making sense because second hand is not the same as really listening, oh how that fits in! :)
Ok so then we sat quietly at one of the huts kind of reflecting on the mornings message, and one of the Kona guys Ethan comes up to us, he said Ed I have a shirt for you, my mom sent one and it is to big, and none of the other guys fit into it either, so he went and got the shirt it fit Ed perfectly, a true blessing as we hadn't taken a lot along and it is a cool type shirt the kind you need in 90 degree weather, so thanks again God for another blessing!
After lunch we headed back to the Hotel, Ed has a burning throat today and not feeling the greatest so he felt like sleeping, I laid down to read...I was pondering I Corinthians 1:17 and the next thing I know it is 4:30pm, I think we were both tired.
Back to the base for session two of Listening to God Speak, recognizing God's voice, using the shepherd as an example and we are the sheep. Great example! Many great examples thru scripture and trusting scripture always testing what we hear from ourselves and others against scripture.
We took the tuk tuk tonight so no worries Iowa Team we are safe back in our Hotel again!
Blessings to you all, trusting God!
Ed and Mary
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Sabbath rest, thank you Lord, you know it was needed!
The team should be flying over Canada presently somewhere up in the cold land, pray the trip is going well for both flights, the anxiety, of being stuck in a plane for 14 -15 hours can seem endless. Then we pray for the trip from Chicago to go smoothly and the welcome home to be sweet!
We left Siem Reap by bus this morning at 9:30, after a delicious breakfast at Ivy Garden Outdoor Cafe!
The bus ride was enjoyable, cool and quite comfortable. The view from the bus is fabulous, as you can see much more clearly than the from the taxi; possibly because you cannot look ahead so we did not see the conflicts of narrowly missing on coming traffic, or sideswiping as we passed other traffic, so we just enjoyed scenery! or slept some of the way at least Rina and I did, Ed is not good at sleeping other than in a bed...he doesn't know what he is missing out on :)
We arrived back in Battambang 3 1/2 hours later, walked to the Pastor's House and acquired our bikes to head back to our home for the month, it was good to be back in familiar territory, felt like we were home!
Relaxed, refreshed, ate some yogurt, banana chips, a dish of cereal; then we headed to the pool! AWESOME! That was amazing, I even slept by the pool for a while so it was a tremendously relaxing day, much needed!
Yesterday we met some people in Siem Reap that are coming to Battambang to see about YWAM, that was no coincidence, it is so amazing how God works! One of the ladies gave me a card that she felt compelled to write and give to me ... the picture was a leaf and the words said "finish what was started", she said maybe you know what that means...wow! God even speaks thru total strangers, angels unaware??? God is faithful, are we??
Ed and I walked to Secret Cafe, it is on the block of our Hotel, and ate our evening meal, while we were sitting there a herd of cattle walked by, very peacefully thru the crazy traffic! yes we are in Cambodia! It is awesome!
We left Siem Reap by bus this morning at 9:30, after a delicious breakfast at Ivy Garden Outdoor Cafe!
The bus ride was enjoyable, cool and quite comfortable. The view from the bus is fabulous, as you can see much more clearly than the from the taxi; possibly because you cannot look ahead so we did not see the conflicts of narrowly missing on coming traffic, or sideswiping as we passed other traffic, so we just enjoyed scenery! or slept some of the way at least Rina and I did, Ed is not good at sleeping other than in a bed...he doesn't know what he is missing out on :)
We arrived back in Battambang 3 1/2 hours later, walked to the Pastor's House and acquired our bikes to head back to our home for the month, it was good to be back in familiar territory, felt like we were home!
Relaxed, refreshed, ate some yogurt, banana chips, a dish of cereal; then we headed to the pool! AWESOME! That was amazing, I even slept by the pool for a while so it was a tremendously relaxing day, much needed!
Yesterday we met some people in Siem Reap that are coming to Battambang to see about YWAM, that was no coincidence, it is so amazing how God works! One of the ladies gave me a card that she felt compelled to write and give to me ... the picture was a leaf and the words said "finish what was started", she said maybe you know what that means...wow! God even speaks thru total strangers, angels unaware??? God is faithful, are we??
Ed and I walked to Secret Cafe, it is on the block of our Hotel, and ate our evening meal, while we were sitting there a herd of cattle walked by, very peacefully thru the crazy traffic! yes we are in Cambodia! It is awesome!
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Saturday the team should be flying out soon!
We met at the Pastor's House to have devotions and prayer before the team left, many from the staff were there to send the team off with prayer! We appreciate their devotion and blessing!
We went with the team and Rina to Siem Reap to tour, shop, fellowship and send them off. Some chose after we had lunch some left to tour Angkor Wat, some to shop at the markets and then to just sit and relax. Some of us did all three, of course! Bill, Olivia, Ed and I had Rina as a guide since she was taught about this in school, it was a great help!
When we arrived back from Angkor Wat we all headed for pizza before the team left for the airport, 5 loaded tuk tuks headed to the airport, they are off on a long trip back to the US!
Thank you so very much, Tony, Joan, Brian, Kim, Kirsten, Sarah, Janielle, Casey, Nicole, Olivia, Cy and Marty for your presence here in Cambodia! Sharing of your talents, time, love, devotion, energy, sweat and even a few tears! God worked mightily through each of you, His name be praised.
When they left, Rina what are you going to do, well bed seemed fine to me but she had that look on her face, so we said and what do you want to do, well the NIGHT MARKET, so we went. That is a much cooler time to take in the Market I must say. Then we topped it off with fruit smoothies at the Blue Pumpkin!
Now we are back at the motel, and ready to call it another day!
Tomorrow back to Battambang, I could go on with stories but another day!
Good night and God Bless!
Ed and Mary
We went with the team and Rina to Siem Reap to tour, shop, fellowship and send them off. Some chose after we had lunch some left to tour Angkor Wat, some to shop at the markets and then to just sit and relax. Some of us did all three, of course! Bill, Olivia, Ed and I had Rina as a guide since she was taught about this in school, it was a great help!
When we arrived back from Angkor Wat we all headed for pizza before the team left for the airport, 5 loaded tuk tuks headed to the airport, they are off on a long trip back to the US!
Thank you so very much, Tony, Joan, Brian, Kim, Kirsten, Sarah, Janielle, Casey, Nicole, Olivia, Cy and Marty for your presence here in Cambodia! Sharing of your talents, time, love, devotion, energy, sweat and even a few tears! God worked mightily through each of you, His name be praised.
When they left, Rina what are you going to do, well bed seemed fine to me but she had that look on her face, so we said and what do you want to do, well the NIGHT MARKET, so we went. That is a much cooler time to take in the Market I must say. Then we topped it off with fruit smoothies at the Blue Pumpkin!
Now we are back at the motel, and ready to call it another day!
Tomorrow back to Battambang, I could go on with stories but another day!
Good night and God Bless!
Ed and Mary
Friday, January 20, 2012
Friday-Final workday for Iowa team
Its 9:40 PM on Friday here in Battambang. We are finally back to our room after another very fulfilling day. We started the day at 5:00 AM getting ready to go. Had to be at Pastors house at 6:30 for devotions and then to our final clinic at Pastor Timothy's Church. It was a 15 minute ride on bicycles but we had 2 ambitious volunteers to ride our bikes so we could ride the tuk tuk. It was a long morning as we ministered to 140 patients under the lean-to of the church while some of us made balloon swords, others played games with kids, and still others just helped where needed. I had the privilege of visiting with the pastor for quite a while and what an interesting story his is. He was 15 when the Pol Pot regime began the slaughter of the educated citizens and he was a sympathetic member of what he thought was the right political cause so at 16, joined the army and remained a faithful follower of the dictator until the regime was invaded by the Viet Cong Communist army. Rather than surrender and be shot to death, he joined the Khmer army and was forced to live in the jungle for 5 years without shelter or food. He became quite ill with Malaria and malnutrition so in 1986, he escaped during the night and unfortunately that is where the story must end because he was called away to help interpret for someone at the clinic. I will finish that conversation in the next while because I want to learn more about him and his road to salvation. I do know that, in his words, a big white missionary just like me came every year to encourage him but that he became to old and now he thanks God that I can come to encourage him.
Our clinic lasted until after 12:30 so we missed lunch at the base and decided to go to Cafe Eden for lunch. On the way, Mary's bike had another flat tire so the rest of them went on while she and I found a place to fix the tire. Mary found a chair to sit in and the repair man pointed me to a hammock in the shade. He pulled the tube out, patched it but it still leaked so he finally did what i tried to tell him in English right away. He put in a new tube. After paying a whole $2 for the repair we made our way to the cafe for lunch.
While we were having lunch as Cafe Eden, Kim was doing her third CPR Class for the YWAM Staff and students who are required to take it, thanks Kim for being in charge of all three classes, we know it kept you up late two nights and today you missed lunch! I know some of the time Janielle and Kirsten assisted Kim!
After lunch it was back to Jeevits house for a few final touch-ups on the playground, empty suitcases of supplies, and various last minute clean up duties and then back to the base for some debriefing and rest.
About 10 of us went to Gecko for dinner and some of us, even I ate Asian food while others stuck to more traditional Western food. I had VietNamese noodles with tangy Asian sauce and Mary had fried pineapple rice with chicken. Then a wild tuk tuk ride back to the base. We went on to meet with Rina and tell her about the plans for tomorrow and then back to our room.
Thanks to all of our Iowa Team for spending your time, money, talents, energy, sweat, stress, short nights with the strange noises in a strange country! You all affected the lives of many dear people here in Cambodia. We praise God for each of you! Tomorrow you start your trip home. May you be blessed as you each go back to your normal routines in the US.
That was our day. It was again hot and humid but a wonderful day. May you all have the same.
Ed & Mary
Our clinic lasted until after 12:30 so we missed lunch at the base and decided to go to Cafe Eden for lunch. On the way, Mary's bike had another flat tire so the rest of them went on while she and I found a place to fix the tire. Mary found a chair to sit in and the repair man pointed me to a hammock in the shade. He pulled the tube out, patched it but it still leaked so he finally did what i tried to tell him in English right away. He put in a new tube. After paying a whole $2 for the repair we made our way to the cafe for lunch.
While we were having lunch as Cafe Eden, Kim was doing her third CPR Class for the YWAM Staff and students who are required to take it, thanks Kim for being in charge of all three classes, we know it kept you up late two nights and today you missed lunch! I know some of the time Janielle and Kirsten assisted Kim!
After lunch it was back to Jeevits house for a few final touch-ups on the playground, empty suitcases of supplies, and various last minute clean up duties and then back to the base for some debriefing and rest.
About 10 of us went to Gecko for dinner and some of us, even I ate Asian food while others stuck to more traditional Western food. I had VietNamese noodles with tangy Asian sauce and Mary had fried pineapple rice with chicken. Then a wild tuk tuk ride back to the base. We went on to meet with Rina and tell her about the plans for tomorrow and then back to our room.
Thanks to all of our Iowa Team for spending your time, money, talents, energy, sweat, stress, short nights with the strange noises in a strange country! You all affected the lives of many dear people here in Cambodia. We praise God for each of you! Tomorrow you start your trip home. May you be blessed as you each go back to your normal routines in the US.
That was our day. It was again hot and humid but a wonderful day. May you all have the same.
Ed & Mary
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Thursday! a busy day!
Thursday, started out our running a bit behind, so we got to our team devotions and meeting late, then we biked back to our hotel, to try to bring the fruit basket to the people who helped us, but again they were not home... on to the base to get supplies to work with on the playground at Jeevit's House. We also stopped at a business that had cement blocks we acquired four a the cost of $1.00 we tied them to carrier on the back of our bike, kinda shorted the butt space but it worked it is called transporting cement blocks.
On to Jeevit's House for kids and a clinic, a crazy busy morning many, many kids, if you are on facebook I will try to send pics others have posted already, then after lunch at the base and most everyone stopping for something to drink at our little cafe near the Pastor's House 9 of the team and the translators headed a clinic 30 minutes away to do a big clinic they saw 125 people today! Some very seriously ill, it is hard to see such poverty and know we are here only one time a year! Ok Ryan maybe we can change that huh??
5 of our team, Joan, Brian, Bill, Ed and I went back to Jeevit's House treated the playground with some anti termite solution, it stunk really bad, if I were a termite, I wouldn't go near it! Then we varnished the entire playground, we wooped that thing done by almost 6pm! we rocked!! The guys have to finish the roof tomorrow! Oh I must tell you we had our adventure hauling cement blocks; but Bill got to haul lumber! While we were on lunch break we saw someone hauling rerod just mostly dragging it sooo...Bill and Brian went to the lumberyard needing one more long board, so they just tied it behind Bill's bike and drug it, Brian actually took a video of the process it was quite hilarious!
After all teams arrived back it was out to supper some took Phally and Samphas out to supper, and the rest of us, plus Sokly and Sopheap all went to Gecko for supper and relaxed and shared stories of the day! After we returned from supper in the tuk tuk, we went to the family to deliver our fruit basket of thanks, they appreciated it so much and really smiled when they saw the fruit basket they had a crate or two of oranges, they in return gave us a bag of fresh oranges it was sweet!!
Thank you Lord for blessing us with another awesome day! We ask for a great and refreshing night of sleep so we are able to go out and be your hands and feet again tomorrow, oh and Lord thanks so much for this fabulous blessing of being able to be in Cambodia and love on these wonderful people.
Blessings, Ed and Mary
On to Jeevit's House for kids and a clinic, a crazy busy morning many, many kids, if you are on facebook I will try to send pics others have posted already, then after lunch at the base and most everyone stopping for something to drink at our little cafe near the Pastor's House 9 of the team and the translators headed a clinic 30 minutes away to do a big clinic they saw 125 people today! Some very seriously ill, it is hard to see such poverty and know we are here only one time a year! Ok Ryan maybe we can change that huh??
5 of our team, Joan, Brian, Bill, Ed and I went back to Jeevit's House treated the playground with some anti termite solution, it stunk really bad, if I were a termite, I wouldn't go near it! Then we varnished the entire playground, we wooped that thing done by almost 6pm! we rocked!! The guys have to finish the roof tomorrow! Oh I must tell you we had our adventure hauling cement blocks; but Bill got to haul lumber! While we were on lunch break we saw someone hauling rerod just mostly dragging it sooo...Bill and Brian went to the lumberyard needing one more long board, so they just tied it behind Bill's bike and drug it, Brian actually took a video of the process it was quite hilarious!
After all teams arrived back it was out to supper some took Phally and Samphas out to supper, and the rest of us, plus Sokly and Sopheap all went to Gecko for supper and relaxed and shared stories of the day! After we returned from supper in the tuk tuk, we went to the family to deliver our fruit basket of thanks, they appreciated it so much and really smiled when they saw the fruit basket they had a crate or two of oranges, they in return gave us a bag of fresh oranges it was sweet!!
Thank you Lord for blessing us with another awesome day! We ask for a great and refreshing night of sleep so we are able to go out and be your hands and feet again tomorrow, oh and Lord thanks so much for this fabulous blessing of being able to be in Cambodia and love on these wonderful people.
Blessings, Ed and Mary
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Cambodian Funeral
Well, a new experience that few would have the privilege of witnessing. Mary and I and Kim from our team and Rina our dear daughter friend from Cambodia attended the funeral of the Pastor's mother-in-law.
The Pastor is not really our pastor while here but he is the one whose home the team stays in and did as well last year. We shared a common bond from last year so we asked if it would be appropriate for us to attend the funeral. The pastor insisted that it would be an honor so we went. It started at 8:30 in the morning and 4 of us rode the tuk tuk to the home of one of the grandsons where the body laid for the normal 3 days. There must have been several hundred people there and it was nearly a normal service that we would experience in the US except that there were people talking and socializing while 2 separate pastors were preaching. Rina tried to interpret for us and did a wonderful job, to explain often what was said and explaining some of the traditions of the Khmer people.
It was a Christian funeral, such a blessing to witness a Christian Khmer funeral, so there was a burial at a cemetery which was probably 10 kilometers away from the home. The procession was led by a tuk tuk carrying very large boom boxes playing music. there were hundreds of motos with 2 or 3 passengers on each. We were in someone's air conditioned van with more people in it than it should hold and at the end of the procession was a heavily decorated truck with the casket.
At the cemetery, several pastors spoke including pastor that invited us to attend. Another interesting moment was that someone led the singing with a as I would call it a "recorder" (like we used to play in fourth grade) and it led the singing beautifully. It so reminded us of the hymns we would sing, but they seemed sad to us today. The pastor's wife was quite upset and came to Mary for consolation. It was an awkward moment because we weren't family but that is where she placed herself for most of the committal service. Someone brought her a chair and then another for the pastor next to her and so we used the fans given to us to cool them while they sat. It was a God moment that really is hard to describe. We are 3 foreigners who just happened to be where we were needed at that time. More evidence yet that "nothing happens by chance". God is in control and places us in one another's paths in His time.
There is much more that could be said about the funeral and we will remember that experience for a long time. After we got back from that, we checked at the base and found no one around so since today was the day for the free afternoon, we went with Kim to the bank since she had not been and then went for lunch at Cafe Eden, did a little shopping for groceries and then went to SBS house to see a few students who had requested medical check-ups.
We went uptown again to buy a fruit basket for the family who so graciously helped us following Ed's bike accident last evening but to our disappointment they were not home, we pray we get to thank and bless them.
At 5:30 we attended the presentation by Garth, YWAM director, as he explained the program here in Battambang to just the Iowa team. We promised that we would stay awake this time because last year we struggled to do that. He generously said that he didn't remember that. YWAM is an exiting ministry that is far reaching. There is YWAM ministry in 192 countries making it the largest para church evangelical ministry in the world.
6:15 was the Weekly community praise service. We were honored to have Marty, our Bridge pastor teach the message. It was a great message as usual and really enjoyed both him and Yuka, a Cambodian Staff person, interpret for him.
After the service it was to the City Cafe for dinner. Olivia wanted to spend some time with us so we invited Yuka along as well. Yuka certainly knows first hand what it means to be rejected by father, mother, brother and sister because he had to leave his family when he made the choice to follow God's ways rather than his family's Buddhist tradition. What a testimony he has.
We bought a light for the bikes this afternoon so after another busy day in Battambang we rode a little more safely back to the hotel for the night. Devotions with the group at 6:30 in the morning and away we go on another day.
Good night,
Ed & Mary
The Pastor is not really our pastor while here but he is the one whose home the team stays in and did as well last year. We shared a common bond from last year so we asked if it would be appropriate for us to attend the funeral. The pastor insisted that it would be an honor so we went. It started at 8:30 in the morning and 4 of us rode the tuk tuk to the home of one of the grandsons where the body laid for the normal 3 days. There must have been several hundred people there and it was nearly a normal service that we would experience in the US except that there were people talking and socializing while 2 separate pastors were preaching. Rina tried to interpret for us and did a wonderful job, to explain often what was said and explaining some of the traditions of the Khmer people.
It was a Christian funeral, such a blessing to witness a Christian Khmer funeral, so there was a burial at a cemetery which was probably 10 kilometers away from the home. The procession was led by a tuk tuk carrying very large boom boxes playing music. there were hundreds of motos with 2 or 3 passengers on each. We were in someone's air conditioned van with more people in it than it should hold and at the end of the procession was a heavily decorated truck with the casket.
At the cemetery, several pastors spoke including pastor that invited us to attend. Another interesting moment was that someone led the singing with a as I would call it a "recorder" (like we used to play in fourth grade) and it led the singing beautifully. It so reminded us of the hymns we would sing, but they seemed sad to us today. The pastor's wife was quite upset and came to Mary for consolation. It was an awkward moment because we weren't family but that is where she placed herself for most of the committal service. Someone brought her a chair and then another for the pastor next to her and so we used the fans given to us to cool them while they sat. It was a God moment that really is hard to describe. We are 3 foreigners who just happened to be where we were needed at that time. More evidence yet that "nothing happens by chance". God is in control and places us in one another's paths in His time.
There is much more that could be said about the funeral and we will remember that experience for a long time. After we got back from that, we checked at the base and found no one around so since today was the day for the free afternoon, we went with Kim to the bank since she had not been and then went for lunch at Cafe Eden, did a little shopping for groceries and then went to SBS house to see a few students who had requested medical check-ups.
We went uptown again to buy a fruit basket for the family who so graciously helped us following Ed's bike accident last evening but to our disappointment they were not home, we pray we get to thank and bless them.
At 5:30 we attended the presentation by Garth, YWAM director, as he explained the program here in Battambang to just the Iowa team. We promised that we would stay awake this time because last year we struggled to do that. He generously said that he didn't remember that. YWAM is an exiting ministry that is far reaching. There is YWAM ministry in 192 countries making it the largest para church evangelical ministry in the world.
6:15 was the Weekly community praise service. We were honored to have Marty, our Bridge pastor teach the message. It was a great message as usual and really enjoyed both him and Yuka, a Cambodian Staff person, interpret for him.
After the service it was to the City Cafe for dinner. Olivia wanted to spend some time with us so we invited Yuka along as well. Yuka certainly knows first hand what it means to be rejected by father, mother, brother and sister because he had to leave his family when he made the choice to follow God's ways rather than his family's Buddhist tradition. What a testimony he has.
We bought a light for the bikes this afternoon so after another busy day in Battambang we rode a little more safely back to the hotel for the night. Devotions with the group at 6:30 in the morning and away we go on another day.
Good night,
Ed & Mary
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Thank you LORD!
We just prayed a prayer of thanksgiving for protecting us and sending angels to minister to us! On our way home a bit late, we missed our turn onto the Hotel Road, usually we turn by the gas station light; but it was closed so we missed the turn. Ed said to me we are in the country the road is narrower and we never are in the country, there are always businesses along the road; so we turned around and headed back. We were part way back, we had just met a car; and it was totally black absolutely no street lights, which happens frequently even on our normal road; but Ed pulled over to stay to the side but he was already on the side; so he actually turned into the ditch and down he and his bike went! to the bottom of the ditch, thankfully there was not black or green water in the ditch, in fact there was no water in the ditch. Also it happened right by a house where the man of the house immediately was at Ed's aid by going down to get him and pull his bike out of the ditch. Then they insisted we come to the house, especially when the saw blood running down Ed's face, it did look bad; but we know how the head bleeds, Ed did not want to go into their home to drop blood but they insisted and made him sit on their nice couch and believe me it was nice! The mother of the house immediately got gauze and menthol she rubbed Ed's head until there could be no dirt, trust me she CLEANED his head and hands, and leg! and coated it with menthol, then some how we communicated where we were going and they walked us to our Hotel with a light, did I say God sent his angels! Nothing serious, and blessed immediately! Thank you Lord!!
Now back to our day! we started our day by heading to Jeevit's house to work on laundry again, but Sasha had already folded our laundry and Laura had a load in so that would be continued at a later moment today! Then on to enter in with King's Kids again this time a the Boys Home, another YWAM home for students, anyway Laura brings the kids from the village (slums) to the Boy's Home for Kings Kids telling them a Bible Story, a craft and today we washed heads for lice a lot of heads and we clipped finger and toe nails, all teaching striving for better hygiene.
While we were kidding :), Brian and Bill were varnishing board to be put in place on the playground!
Then lunch some of us had a bit of time for a few errands, then lunch, some choosing not to have lunch as stomachs are having trouble with food changes, diets, maybe even a bug of some sort, so pray for health for our team, as when one is away and not feeling well it is very draining on bodies, minds. The devil can be so sly in ways to tear us down, to discourage us in our work, he works in many ways to confuse us, to destroy us, to make us doubt... the list goes on! Prayers for each team member would be greatly appreciated!! and much needed, you are our wonderful prayer warriors, we treasure your prayers we are the body of Christ, without the hands, feet, eyes we are not complete so without you all praying for us we are not complete!! YOU ARE IMPORTANT TO THIS TEAM!!
This afternoon another clinic, at the Boys Home for the village people, they ministered to at least 100 souls and had to turn away at least 30, which is very, very hard to do! While that part of the team was at the clinic others of us were at Jeevit's House, Ed, Brian and Bill scrubbing the cement walls with bleach as they are mildewing, Joan and I were dutch cleaning, babysitting and mending stuff Grandma type ladies do, just because we can :), Laura is so busy with her ministry there are not enough hours in the day to do everything! Ed and I stayed a while with Rain and Ruen since Laura was still translating for our clinic, after a bit Ruen opened the gate and the neighbor kids came in, it was fun watching how kids universally play similar games listening to them count in Khmer was fun, but we did occasionally have to settle a difference and since we do not speak very much Khmer that was a bit challenging but generally they played well together and it was totally amazing to enjoy!
After a wonderful supper at the base, we attend the marriage talk that Marty did for the married and engaged couples, thanks Marty for blessing those couples! He did a bit of Mr and Mrs Betterhalf, the Bridge Family knows what that is, great stuff huh to share with our brothers and sisters across the world! Good food for any marriage, whether you are almost married or married 40 some years!
Tomorrow we will have another experience, Ed, I and Kim will be attending a Khmer funeral, it is a christian Khmer funeral, to the team from last year it is the Pastor whose home our team stays in, his mother in law died, early Sunday morning the funeral is tomorrow morning. Kim and Janielle were able to bless her in her last few hours by tending to some sores and administering pain relief we are so thankful they were able to bless her in her last hours here on earth. So tomorrow we will honor the family by attending her funeral.
Then our journey home well we expounded on that enough!
So blessings and praise!
Ed and Mary
Now back to our day! we started our day by heading to Jeevit's house to work on laundry again, but Sasha had already folded our laundry and Laura had a load in so that would be continued at a later moment today! Then on to enter in with King's Kids again this time a the Boys Home, another YWAM home for students, anyway Laura brings the kids from the village (slums) to the Boy's Home for Kings Kids telling them a Bible Story, a craft and today we washed heads for lice a lot of heads and we clipped finger and toe nails, all teaching striving for better hygiene.
While we were kidding :), Brian and Bill were varnishing board to be put in place on the playground!
Then lunch some of us had a bit of time for a few errands, then lunch, some choosing not to have lunch as stomachs are having trouble with food changes, diets, maybe even a bug of some sort, so pray for health for our team, as when one is away and not feeling well it is very draining on bodies, minds. The devil can be so sly in ways to tear us down, to discourage us in our work, he works in many ways to confuse us, to destroy us, to make us doubt... the list goes on! Prayers for each team member would be greatly appreciated!! and much needed, you are our wonderful prayer warriors, we treasure your prayers we are the body of Christ, without the hands, feet, eyes we are not complete so without you all praying for us we are not complete!! YOU ARE IMPORTANT TO THIS TEAM!!
This afternoon another clinic, at the Boys Home for the village people, they ministered to at least 100 souls and had to turn away at least 30, which is very, very hard to do! While that part of the team was at the clinic others of us were at Jeevit's House, Ed, Brian and Bill scrubbing the cement walls with bleach as they are mildewing, Joan and I were dutch cleaning, babysitting and mending stuff Grandma type ladies do, just because we can :), Laura is so busy with her ministry there are not enough hours in the day to do everything! Ed and I stayed a while with Rain and Ruen since Laura was still translating for our clinic, after a bit Ruen opened the gate and the neighbor kids came in, it was fun watching how kids universally play similar games listening to them count in Khmer was fun, but we did occasionally have to settle a difference and since we do not speak very much Khmer that was a bit challenging but generally they played well together and it was totally amazing to enjoy!
After a wonderful supper at the base, we attend the marriage talk that Marty did for the married and engaged couples, thanks Marty for blessing those couples! He did a bit of Mr and Mrs Betterhalf, the Bridge Family knows what that is, great stuff huh to share with our brothers and sisters across the world! Good food for any marriage, whether you are almost married or married 40 some years!
Tomorrow we will have another experience, Ed, I and Kim will be attending a Khmer funeral, it is a christian Khmer funeral, to the team from last year it is the Pastor whose home our team stays in, his mother in law died, early Sunday morning the funeral is tomorrow morning. Kim and Janielle were able to bless her in her last few hours by tending to some sores and administering pain relief we are so thankful they were able to bless her in her last hours here on earth. So tomorrow we will honor the family by attending her funeral.
Then our journey home well we expounded on that enough!
So blessings and praise!
Ed and Mary
Monday, January 16, 2012
Monday, a new day!
Today we started out by heading over to Jeevit's House to do our laundry, we plan to finish it tomorrow!
Then on to worship with the entire YWAM Staff, students, guests working are all desired to start the week off with combined worship. We happened to be present at an exciting time of YWAM prayerfully following God's will in purchasing land to build a new base on. At present the YWAM base is all in rented buildings, scattered in a section of town. They do not want to leave town and go out into the country they totally want to be a part of the city so they effect the city and it's people.
Today was the first fund raising asking God to lead and supply the monies needed for buying the land, it was exciting to be a part of that day.
On to Jeevit's House to help with Kings Kids, Laura tells a Bible Story encourages the children to learn a Bible verse. Then we helped with crafts and out to play on the playground. Many of the children touched our hearts, they are so precious. After the children left for their homes, out came the suitcases of clothing, craft supplies, books, DVD's the rest of the team brought. The supplies were all sorted, by many hands, while Bill, Brian and Ed decided how best to fix the roof on the playground. Bill and Brian tore off the old while Ed and I headed to the Hotel for our tape measure, then all to the base for lunch.
After lunch Bill, Brian and Ed along with Piseth headed to the lumber store for the needed supplies, while the rest of us gathered again at the Pastors House where the tuk tuk came to pick up the medical supplies so we could head to our next clinic!
The lumber crew acquired the lumber and headed for Jeevit's House with the lumber to varnish it. The remainder of the team plus a few others joined in to assist, and of course our faithful interpreters, we would be lost without them. Everyone was busy as the people keep coming, we were at the clinic till a little after 5pm.
Some headed to the Base for lunch, some to City Cafe and a few whose tummies are not feeling to good chose not to eat, we would covet prayers for our teams health nothing serious, but some are not feeling well so prayers for a great night of sleep and stomachs to feel better, colds to resolve would be greatly appreciated!
Hopefully all are back at the base by now as tonight at Jeevits House Janielle, Kim and Kirsten are teaching CPR classes to the staff here, Cy was their escort. Those classes were to be over by shortly after 9pm sooo, it would be great if all are now back at the Pastor's House, ready for a good night of sleep.
Good night and God bless, I will admit one of these paragraph's had a funny appearance a bit ago as a sentence looked like this kkkkkkkkkkk, I was literally falling asleep, so again good night, sweet dreams!
Ed and Mary
Then on to worship with the entire YWAM Staff, students, guests working are all desired to start the week off with combined worship. We happened to be present at an exciting time of YWAM prayerfully following God's will in purchasing land to build a new base on. At present the YWAM base is all in rented buildings, scattered in a section of town. They do not want to leave town and go out into the country they totally want to be a part of the city so they effect the city and it's people.
Today was the first fund raising asking God to lead and supply the monies needed for buying the land, it was exciting to be a part of that day.
On to Jeevit's House to help with Kings Kids, Laura tells a Bible Story encourages the children to learn a Bible verse. Then we helped with crafts and out to play on the playground. Many of the children touched our hearts, they are so precious. After the children left for their homes, out came the suitcases of clothing, craft supplies, books, DVD's the rest of the team brought. The supplies were all sorted, by many hands, while Bill, Brian and Ed decided how best to fix the roof on the playground. Bill and Brian tore off the old while Ed and I headed to the Hotel for our tape measure, then all to the base for lunch.
After lunch Bill, Brian and Ed along with Piseth headed to the lumber store for the needed supplies, while the rest of us gathered again at the Pastors House where the tuk tuk came to pick up the medical supplies so we could head to our next clinic!
The lumber crew acquired the lumber and headed for Jeevit's House with the lumber to varnish it. The remainder of the team plus a few others joined in to assist, and of course our faithful interpreters, we would be lost without them. Everyone was busy as the people keep coming, we were at the clinic till a little after 5pm.
Some headed to the Base for lunch, some to City Cafe and a few whose tummies are not feeling to good chose not to eat, we would covet prayers for our teams health nothing serious, but some are not feeling well so prayers for a great night of sleep and stomachs to feel better, colds to resolve would be greatly appreciated!
Hopefully all are back at the base by now as tonight at Jeevits House Janielle, Kim and Kirsten are teaching CPR classes to the staff here, Cy was their escort. Those classes were to be over by shortly after 9pm sooo, it would be great if all are now back at the Pastor's House, ready for a good night of sleep.
Good night and God bless, I will admit one of these paragraph's had a funny appearance a bit ago as a sentence looked like this kkkkkkkkkkk, I was literally falling asleep, so again good night, sweet dreams!
Ed and Mary
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Sunday, Jan 15
Today started with instant coffee in our room, quick showers then off to the main base on our bicycles for breakfast at 7:00AM. After breakfast our group split into 4 to attend worship services various places in the city and surrounding villages. Mary & I, Kim and Olivia went to the "village church" in the slums close to our base. Church starts around 8:30 to 9:00 and lasts for about an hour and half. We sat on chairs on a dirt floor at the home of a very dear Christian lady. She was so gracious and remembered us from last year. We were also privileged to have Rothana, an eighth grade girl that we sponsor, to be in church with us. I sat next to her and she just smiled at both of us. What an amazing young woman. She has nothing; but is in the top (#1) in her class at the public school and she wants to be a doctor. Next to her was her mother who seemed to have a leadership role in the church and on my lap was Rothana's little sister. Both mother and little sister have aids so it just breaks your heart to see the reality of what they must go through on a daily basis. Some of the time I held a little 6 month old baby who kept wanting to wet kiss me on the lips. Later other people told me that he was not wearing diapers but fortunately nothing happened.
After a slow walk back through the slum with Kovonne, the pastor's wife, we made it back to the base to wait for others to return from church and then lunch. While waiting for lunch it rained quite hard for about an hour-quite unusual for this season but it was refreshing and cooled the air nicely.
We had a short break and then opened a clinic at 3:00 for the base students and staff. Many showed up for this clinic and we finished around 5:30 but saw 47 people with a range of health issues. The frustrating part is for the pharmacist who regularly does not have the proper medication or we are already out.
Marty arrived today, he starts teaching SBS tomorrow, actually when we were leaving after supper he was meeting with some SBS Staff.
You may remember that I and Brian played with fire yesterday. We were trying to dispose of expired meds by burning them. It didn't work and so we had a mess of blackened pills and melted capsules that we had to finally dowse with water and put in Jeevit's house office overnight to keep them away from kids that live and visit there. So, I remembered that every day when leaving our hotel, we always go past a big boiler that heats water from the hotel and it is wood/coal fired and a very big fire. A light bulb went off in my mind so I found a moto and Cambodian driver, knowing that I would also need an interpreter and we headed to the hotel to see if we might burn the drugs there. Someone led us to the manager of the hotel and he spoke perfect English. He asked how he could help so I told him why we were in Cambodia and what our problem was and he was absolutely thrilled with what we are doing and gave us permission to burn them in the incinerator.
At 6:30, was again supper time and had an enjoyable visit with some native Cambodian students and a delicious rice and vegetable/pork meal and now are back at the hotel. The bike ride in the dark is a scary situation but we made it fine and both are very pleased and fulfilled with what God has put in our paths again today. We are both healthy and well and have no concerns.
Blessings
Ed & Mary
Today started with instant coffee in our room, quick showers then off to the main base on our bicycles for breakfast at 7:00AM. After breakfast our group split into 4 to attend worship services various places in the city and surrounding villages. Mary & I, Kim and Olivia went to the "village church" in the slums close to our base. Church starts around 8:30 to 9:00 and lasts for about an hour and half. We sat on chairs on a dirt floor at the home of a very dear Christian lady. She was so gracious and remembered us from last year. We were also privileged to have Rothana, an eighth grade girl that we sponsor, to be in church with us. I sat next to her and she just smiled at both of us. What an amazing young woman. She has nothing; but is in the top (#1) in her class at the public school and she wants to be a doctor. Next to her was her mother who seemed to have a leadership role in the church and on my lap was Rothana's little sister. Both mother and little sister have aids so it just breaks your heart to see the reality of what they must go through on a daily basis. Some of the time I held a little 6 month old baby who kept wanting to wet kiss me on the lips. Later other people told me that he was not wearing diapers but fortunately nothing happened.
After a slow walk back through the slum with Kovonne, the pastor's wife, we made it back to the base to wait for others to return from church and then lunch. While waiting for lunch it rained quite hard for about an hour-quite unusual for this season but it was refreshing and cooled the air nicely.
We had a short break and then opened a clinic at 3:00 for the base students and staff. Many showed up for this clinic and we finished around 5:30 but saw 47 people with a range of health issues. The frustrating part is for the pharmacist who regularly does not have the proper medication or we are already out.
Marty arrived today, he starts teaching SBS tomorrow, actually when we were leaving after supper he was meeting with some SBS Staff.
You may remember that I and Brian played with fire yesterday. We were trying to dispose of expired meds by burning them. It didn't work and so we had a mess of blackened pills and melted capsules that we had to finally dowse with water and put in Jeevit's house office overnight to keep them away from kids that live and visit there. So, I remembered that every day when leaving our hotel, we always go past a big boiler that heats water from the hotel and it is wood/coal fired and a very big fire. A light bulb went off in my mind so I found a moto and Cambodian driver, knowing that I would also need an interpreter and we headed to the hotel to see if we might burn the drugs there. Someone led us to the manager of the hotel and he spoke perfect English. He asked how he could help so I told him why we were in Cambodia and what our problem was and he was absolutely thrilled with what we are doing and gave us permission to burn them in the incinerator.
At 6:30, was again supper time and had an enjoyable visit with some native Cambodian students and a delicious rice and vegetable/pork meal and now are back at the hotel. The bike ride in the dark is a scary situation but we made it fine and both are very pleased and fulfilled with what God has put in our paths again today. We are both healthy and well and have no concerns.
Blessings
Ed & Mary
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Our first Clinic, Yah this is what we are here to do!
Today is Saturday back to Cafe Eden for breakfast as a Team, then on to buy a some lunch to enjoy after we sort thru all our supplies and get organized!
Stopped at the market for some fruits from Cambodia! Dragon fruit, tiny banana's, and many tasty but I cannot remember the names, at the local little grocery store we also acquired peanut butter, jelly and some absolutely delicious yogurt. Then Ed and I searched out a bakery for the bread, found some great bread!
Back to the Pastors House for sorting and organizing for our work here! The medical people organized the medical supplies and organized supplies to take to our clinic at Dat's house. The rest of us worked with more supplies for Jeevit's House, game supplies, flip flops, tooth brushes and tooth paste, and the water bottles we brought for YWAM to sell!
After all the organization was completed Cy, Kim and Sarah left to go thru the supplies needed at Jeevit's House, and someone and I biked back to find a missing key all ended well! Then lunch and some reflecting time, praying for demons to be released from those in Battambang controlled by a demon or demons! Satan is powerful everywhere but we know our God is so much more powerful than Satan could ever hope to be!! We must claim that power if we are to be effective in this world.
Then when all ready to roll we headed off to our first clinic! Yeh, the excitement was contagious! Wow with a doctor, a nurse practitioner, a nurse, and a pharmacist (a real one this year!!) We had a ballon maker, and some amazing people who love to play with kids, some of us who love to count pills for pharamacists and even a couple who like to burn things (legal of course) that I would imagine we could leave to your imaginations! yep we will...
The team headed back to count and organize more meds, for our next clinic, tomorrow afternoon we will do a small clinic for the YWAM staff and students.
Ok so we love Cafe Eden as well as the staff at YWAM has the day off on Saturday so we have to find our own food on Saturday as does all the staff and students at YWAM. So our team headed back for supper and fellowship! The tuk tuks delivered us safely home, and I think most were headed for bed, good and tired loving the thought of being able to be Jesus hands and feet, to a people He loves dearly and we are coming to love them as well!
To bed so we can be rested to go to God's house tomorrow, whether that is the slum church, or one of the churches of those we work closely with thru the YWAM community in and close to Battambang!
God bless all you dear people who are following our blog and the work being done across the world!
Ed and Mary
Stopped at the market for some fruits from Cambodia! Dragon fruit, tiny banana's, and many tasty but I cannot remember the names, at the local little grocery store we also acquired peanut butter, jelly and some absolutely delicious yogurt. Then Ed and I searched out a bakery for the bread, found some great bread!
Back to the Pastors House for sorting and organizing for our work here! The medical people organized the medical supplies and organized supplies to take to our clinic at Dat's house. The rest of us worked with more supplies for Jeevit's House, game supplies, flip flops, tooth brushes and tooth paste, and the water bottles we brought for YWAM to sell!
After all the organization was completed Cy, Kim and Sarah left to go thru the supplies needed at Jeevit's House, and someone and I biked back to find a missing key all ended well! Then lunch and some reflecting time, praying for demons to be released from those in Battambang controlled by a demon or demons! Satan is powerful everywhere but we know our God is so much more powerful than Satan could ever hope to be!! We must claim that power if we are to be effective in this world.
Then when all ready to roll we headed off to our first clinic! Yeh, the excitement was contagious! Wow with a doctor, a nurse practitioner, a nurse, and a pharmacist (a real one this year!!) We had a ballon maker, and some amazing people who love to play with kids, some of us who love to count pills for pharamacists and even a couple who like to burn things (legal of course) that I would imagine we could leave to your imaginations! yep we will...
The team headed back to count and organize more meds, for our next clinic, tomorrow afternoon we will do a small clinic for the YWAM staff and students.
To bed so we can be rested to go to God's house tomorrow, whether that is the slum church, or one of the churches of those we work closely with thru the YWAM community in and close to Battambang!
God bless all you dear people who are following our blog and the work being done across the world!
Ed and Mary
Friday, January 13, 2012
We are all in Battambang, ok except Marty!
Greetings it was a very long day for the team, after a short night of sleep, following a very, very long flight, the team woke to have a great Cambodian breakfast! We relaxed a bit then began the journey to Battambang via 2 vans and one taxi! We are a big group!
I cannot speak for each of them, but I for myself venturing thru Cambodia in a van with 11 people taking in Cambodia for the first time it is priceless! Just experiencing how they navigate travel in itself is an experience! The countryside, the villages, the animals, the people, the various types of vehicles, the houses, the schools, the fields, each unique!
We arrived at Battambang, barely in time for lunch so no settling in, we walked together from the Pastors house, their home for the next 9 days, to Base 1 where we eat our meals. We were greeted with great applause from the staff and students a great Khmer welcome! Lunch was great then we ventured around a little bit until Anna, of Cafe Eden arrived for our orientation to YWAM, to Khmer culture advise for us to best shine our light without offense to their culture and religion. As with everything there are right and wrong ways to let our light shine for God's glory!
Following the orientation we launched off in three tuk tuks to have a small tour of Battambang, mostly the probable places we will be working from, or YWAM base's for reaching out to Battambang. Such as the School of Biblical Studies (SBS), Jeevit's House, & Cafe Eden. Then we walked back and took in a bit of the market, back to have Garth (Battambang YWAM Base Director), gave us a tour then of the Youth Center where they offer English, Computer and various other classes that are accredited thru the education department of Cambodia.
After supper at the base it was back to the Pastor's House for room assignments and settling in for hopefully a good night of sleep for everyone. Then we walked back to the Hotel, a cool shower and some relaxation will be a blessing for all this evening!
We are now a team, with much to do, the schedule looks busy; so pray for great team unity, pray for wisdom and great accomplishments for God'a kingdom!
Blessings to all, we ask prayers for our entire team each precious individual that felt called to do God's work in a country foreign to each of us!! God is in CONTROL!!
Ed and Mary
I cannot speak for each of them, but I for myself venturing thru Cambodia in a van with 11 people taking in Cambodia for the first time it is priceless! Just experiencing how they navigate travel in itself is an experience! The countryside, the villages, the animals, the people, the various types of vehicles, the houses, the schools, the fields, each unique!
We arrived at Battambang, barely in time for lunch so no settling in, we walked together from the Pastors house, their home for the next 9 days, to Base 1 where we eat our meals. We were greeted with great applause from the staff and students a great Khmer welcome! Lunch was great then we ventured around a little bit until Anna, of Cafe Eden arrived for our orientation to YWAM, to Khmer culture advise for us to best shine our light without offense to their culture and religion. As with everything there are right and wrong ways to let our light shine for God's glory!
Following the orientation we launched off in three tuk tuks to have a small tour of Battambang, mostly the probable places we will be working from, or YWAM base's for reaching out to Battambang. Such as the School of Biblical Studies (SBS), Jeevit's House, & Cafe Eden. Then we walked back and took in a bit of the market, back to have Garth (Battambang YWAM Base Director), gave us a tour then of the Youth Center where they offer English, Computer and various other classes that are accredited thru the education department of Cambodia.
After supper at the base it was back to the Pastor's House for room assignments and settling in for hopefully a good night of sleep for everyone. Then we walked back to the Hotel, a cool shower and some relaxation will be a blessing for all this evening!
We are now a team, with much to do, the schedule looks busy; so pray for great team unity, pray for wisdom and great accomplishments for God'a kingdom!
Blessings to all, we ask prayers for our entire team each precious individual that felt called to do God's work in a country foreign to each of us!! God is in CONTROL!!
Ed and Mary
Thursday, January 12, 2012
The Team has arrived in Cambodia!
We started the morning with a bike ride to City Cafe for breakfast and coffee, then on to SBS for the last lecture on Revelation, thank you Sean Ellis for unfolding Revelation in a new light for us one of comfort, encouragement and the mission of go ye into all the world to reach the lost that is what Revelation is about!
Then after lunch at the base, uptown with Sat to get our team phone all ready for use! Back to the base to ready for our trip to Siem Reap, we shared the journey with Sandra her daughter Erin is and SBS student in Battambang and Sandra had come to spend 10 days just to take in a bit of what her daughter is up to, Sandra is an OB nurse so of course she could join in a bit on some prenatal calls with Johanna the SBS student midwife who makes calls to those in need in the slums. Anyone who comes finds a need to be filled!
We had the usual adventurous trip from Battambang to Siem Reap, we too arrived safely acquired rooms for all had supper and then on to the airport to bring Sandra for her flight to Canada and to meet the first flight coming from Iowa, Bill, Kim, Kirsten, Janielle and Sarah who arrived unscathed but looking a bit tired!Praise God the team has all safely arrived in Cambodia!
After a very quick drop off at the Hotel with those who arrived on the first flight it was back to the airport for the next seven, Tony, Joan, Brian, Casey, Olivia, Nicole and Cy!! Yeh we are all here, this time it took two vans one for supplies and luggage and one for people!
Eveyone is in their room, and hopefully sleeping, or soon to be and so am I, good night and God Bless each and everyone of you!
Mary, Ed is already asleep!
Then after lunch at the base, uptown with Sat to get our team phone all ready for use! Back to the base to ready for our trip to Siem Reap, we shared the journey with Sandra her daughter Erin is and SBS student in Battambang and Sandra had come to spend 10 days just to take in a bit of what her daughter is up to, Sandra is an OB nurse so of course she could join in a bit on some prenatal calls with Johanna the SBS student midwife who makes calls to those in need in the slums. Anyone who comes finds a need to be filled!
We had the usual adventurous trip from Battambang to Siem Reap, we too arrived safely acquired rooms for all had supper and then on to the airport to bring Sandra for her flight to Canada and to meet the first flight coming from Iowa, Bill, Kim, Kirsten, Janielle and Sarah who arrived unscathed but looking a bit tired!Praise God the team has all safely arrived in Cambodia!
After a very quick drop off at the Hotel with those who arrived on the first flight it was back to the airport for the next seven, Tony, Joan, Brian, Casey, Olivia, Nicole and Cy!! Yeh we are all here, this time it took two vans one for supplies and luggage and one for people!
Eveyone is in their room, and hopefully sleeping, or soon to be and so am I, good night and God Bless each and everyone of you!
Mary, Ed is already asleep!
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Wow it is Wednesday, we left the USA one week ago!
Our team leaves for Cambodia today! They board out of Chicago around noon Jan 11 Chicago time! We are praying for safe travels for both flights! See you all tomorrow evening in Siem Reap!
Ok we started out our day, with the usual devotions, breakfast and then oh my how time flies, we are to be at the Base to meet those going to work on Anna's house! We missed them but did find the work site, and joined in Mary painting walls, while Ed did carpentry work, until noon, after a quick stop at the market for some fruit we headed back to base for lunch.
Going to base for lunch is so much more than rice, broth and veggies or maybe even meat; it is getting to know the Khmer and International students and listening to their stories like Sharon from the Netherlands or Sunouen from Cambodia, both have lived so much life already and their faith in God just blows us away!! It makes us look so self sufficient when they trust God for everything because they have nothing!
Well two very different stories but yet their trust and faith in God, WOW!! So you see we get fed so much more than physical food!
Then after lunch we headed back to our Hotel, acquired a tuk tuk to bring all the supplies we brought to Jeevit's House. Loaded up we arrived and unpacked, sorted and packed away for Laura's use, when each need arises, she is pretty well stocked with many item! Thank you to all who donated, Laura was excited!
Will post pictures when the can upload, internet can be a bit iffy at times at the Hotel.
Then we walked back to the Hotel, a bit of a jaunt but when you walk instead of bike you do get a different view, biking I navigating traffic, walking one can just enjoy and take in all the scenery! Either way it is an experience!
Got cleaned up and headed back to the base for Wednesday evening meeting, it was a great intoduction to DTS, this is the week DTS starts and so the community pastors were invited to join us and to pray with the new team, a big team of 30 students! Chennouen had a great intro to DTS and a great motivational, inspirational talk really for each person who attended and that is one big group for Wednesday night fellowship!
Then supper and bed, trust me this is pushing it I am ready to call it a day! but a great day!! Tomorrow we will hear the last lecture on Revelation, get a phone ready for use, pack up and head to Siem Reap to meet our team coming in from the Bridge and the Kunz's, so excited to see them all experience these awesome Cambodian people!
Blessings to each of you, thanks for the prayers, say an extra prayer for those traveling a long time to arrive in a strange land!
Ed and Mary in His Name
Ok we started out our day, with the usual devotions, breakfast and then oh my how time flies, we are to be at the Base to meet those going to work on Anna's house! We missed them but did find the work site, and joined in Mary painting walls, while Ed did carpentry work, until noon, after a quick stop at the market for some fruit we headed back to base for lunch.
Going to base for lunch is so much more than rice, broth and veggies or maybe even meat; it is getting to know the Khmer and International students and listening to their stories like Sharon from the Netherlands or Sunouen from Cambodia, both have lived so much life already and their faith in God just blows us away!! It makes us look so self sufficient when they trust God for everything because they have nothing!
Well two very different stories but yet their trust and faith in God, WOW!! So you see we get fed so much more than physical food!
Then after lunch we headed back to our Hotel, acquired a tuk tuk to bring all the supplies we brought to Jeevit's House. Loaded up we arrived and unpacked, sorted and packed away for Laura's use, when each need arises, she is pretty well stocked with many item! Thank you to all who donated, Laura was excited!
Will post pictures when the can upload, internet can be a bit iffy at times at the Hotel.
Then we walked back to the Hotel, a bit of a jaunt but when you walk instead of bike you do get a different view, biking I navigating traffic, walking one can just enjoy and take in all the scenery! Either way it is an experience!
Got cleaned up and headed back to the base for Wednesday evening meeting, it was a great intoduction to DTS, this is the week DTS starts and so the community pastors were invited to join us and to pray with the new team, a big team of 30 students! Chennouen had a great intro to DTS and a great motivational, inspirational talk really for each person who attended and that is one big group for Wednesday night fellowship!
Then supper and bed, trust me this is pushing it I am ready to call it a day! but a great day!! Tomorrow we will hear the last lecture on Revelation, get a phone ready for use, pack up and head to Siem Reap to meet our team coming in from the Bridge and the Kunz's, so excited to see them all experience these awesome Cambodian people!
Blessings to each of you, thanks for the prayers, say an extra prayer for those traveling a long time to arrive in a strange land!
Ed and Mary in His Name
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Tuesday's happenings in Battambang
Another day in beautiful sunny Cambodia. We have been attending a lecture series on the Book of Revelation and part of our assignment was to read the entire book of Revelation-the students of SBS had to read it 3 times and answer many questions as well. We are only guests so they are taking it easy on us.
Had intended to go to City Cafe for our coffee fix and breakfast (a tradition started last year) but reading 22 chapters takes longer than you think so instead ate fresh bread (bought on the street last nite) with peanut butter and jelly, cereal with soy milk and fresh oranges. Left for the lecture about in time only to find out that Mary's bike had a flat tire so walked down the street until we found someone to repair it. I know, just air it up, well we did that last nite so knew this was the real thing-the tire has a hole in it. Tried to give the mechanic $1 but he only wanted 2000 reils ($.50). What a deal.
The lecture was very informational and inspiring. Sean Ellis, the guest speaker is a genius who could do anything he would want as a vocation but has given his life to teaching the Word of God in YWAM schools around the world. During one of the breaks, Mek, one of the students asked me if I was the doctor that was coming with the medical team from the US. Flattering for the moment but I told him the doctor wouldn't be here till next week. He went on to say that he would like a doctor to look inside of him because he doesn't always feel well. I thought that this 18 year old looked pretty healthy and then he told me he was 33 and that he lived in and survived the "killing fields" where much of his family did not survive. He did relate several medical conditions that he has lived with all of his life so we will make a point to have him checked out by our doctor.
After the usual rice and vegetable stew lunch at the base we attended a presentation of the Kona Hawaii outreach team. They have been trained in how to purify and collect water for drinking and sanitation and will be teaching the students how to make a hand water pump, a sand filter and a rain water collection system. Not sure if we will have time to attend that because we promised to help Anna at Eden's cafe do some remodeling of another space for living quarters for her and Salle, an orphan friend of ours that we met last year.
Rested for a while at our room then went for evening dinner to Garth and Caroline and baby Lila's home. Garth is the director of the YWAM base in Battambang and has a huge responsibility but has been blessed abundantly. They live in a very nice rented home near the base. After the meal it was back to the base for another lecture from Sean Ellis on the authority of the Scripture. What a privilege and at the same time responsibility we have because we have been given the gift of the Bible, in fact many copies of the Bible. This has not been the case for much of the Church's history.
Again, a long rewarding day in the Lord. It is now bedtime here and if my math is correct it is 9:00 AM in Iowa.
Blessings from Ed & Mary
PS Forgot to mention that old people should not ride bikes on unlit streets that are still crowded with cars, motos and other bikes. We will try to avoid that from now on.
Had intended to go to City Cafe for our coffee fix and breakfast (a tradition started last year) but reading 22 chapters takes longer than you think so instead ate fresh bread (bought on the street last nite) with peanut butter and jelly, cereal with soy milk and fresh oranges. Left for the lecture about in time only to find out that Mary's bike had a flat tire so walked down the street until we found someone to repair it. I know, just air it up, well we did that last nite so knew this was the real thing-the tire has a hole in it. Tried to give the mechanic $1 but he only wanted 2000 reils ($.50). What a deal.
The lecture was very informational and inspiring. Sean Ellis, the guest speaker is a genius who could do anything he would want as a vocation but has given his life to teaching the Word of God in YWAM schools around the world. During one of the breaks, Mek, one of the students asked me if I was the doctor that was coming with the medical team from the US. Flattering for the moment but I told him the doctor wouldn't be here till next week. He went on to say that he would like a doctor to look inside of him because he doesn't always feel well. I thought that this 18 year old looked pretty healthy and then he told me he was 33 and that he lived in and survived the "killing fields" where much of his family did not survive. He did relate several medical conditions that he has lived with all of his life so we will make a point to have him checked out by our doctor.
After the usual rice and vegetable stew lunch at the base we attended a presentation of the Kona Hawaii outreach team. They have been trained in how to purify and collect water for drinking and sanitation and will be teaching the students how to make a hand water pump, a sand filter and a rain water collection system. Not sure if we will have time to attend that because we promised to help Anna at Eden's cafe do some remodeling of another space for living quarters for her and Salle, an orphan friend of ours that we met last year.
Rested for a while at our room then went for evening dinner to Garth and Caroline and baby Lila's home. Garth is the director of the YWAM base in Battambang and has a huge responsibility but has been blessed abundantly. They live in a very nice rented home near the base. After the meal it was back to the base for another lecture from Sean Ellis on the authority of the Scripture. What a privilege and at the same time responsibility we have because we have been given the gift of the Bible, in fact many copies of the Bible. This has not been the case for much of the Church's history.
Again, a long rewarding day in the Lord. It is now bedtime here and if my math is correct it is 9:00 AM in Iowa.
Blessings from Ed & Mary
PS Forgot to mention that old people should not ride bikes on unlit streets that are still crowded with cars, motos and other bikes. We will try to avoid that from now on.
Monday, January 9, 2012
We were blessed to meet Rothana who we sponsor, she is first in her 8th grade class and wants to be a doctor, we are so proud of her! And it was so wonderful to actually meet her.
We watched a husband and wife making shell for spring rolls, they sell them to her sister in law who then makes the spring rolls and goes to market with them. This is how they make their living, oh I wish I could post the picture, but it would not upload maybe another time.We played with children they all love to be loved.
One lady got a new door on her house and was so proud to show it off. It is a couple of bamboo sticks with a new 5' long piece of corrugated tin.
It was also bath time it seemed as people were pouring water over themselves all the while standing in mud. Needless to say the street/path was muddy making it hard to negotiate our bikes.We were introduced to a grandpa and grandma who were caring for
a large number of children whose mothers were in the prostitution
business. Many of the children we are holding are HIV positive meaning they have aids or will soon have it. -Watched an aunt giving
anti-HIV medication-spoon fed white powder which the child
obviously didn't like.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Revelation - WOW!
Ok it is Monday!
We started the day with Base Worship, great stuff, they shared their vision, pretty amazing, scary, overwhelming and awesomeness all in one! Then Raddy spoke using Jesus feeding the thousands, he is a man of faith!
On to listen and take in SBS, our first experience and we were blest to hear one of the best SBS leaders speak on Revelation! Powerful! could be one word to describe it! Those SBS kids unpacking the scriptures inductively, with guidance from those who have gone before. But listening to Sean Ellis speak on Revelation, it gave it a whole new meaning, we can join in every morning this week, how could we pass up such an awesome opportunity!
Then he will speak again on Tuesday evening after supper, he will be speaking on the authenticity of the scriptures - wow and we get to listen!
This afternoon, soon, we head to Jeevit's House to spend time with Laura, then we will join her as she goes to call in the slums. Supper again at the base.
I just know the time is going to go way to fast, we were visiting with Kovonne after lunch and in discussion talking of all the people we want to connect with, spending an evening with her and Chennouen, and she said before you know it, you will be saying "we only have three days left how can we do it all..."
Must not panic, must relax enjoy the moment! Praise God we are here and can be enjoying an feasting on His Word, His Work, HIM!
Blessing to each of you,
Ed and Mary
We started the day with Base Worship, great stuff, they shared their vision, pretty amazing, scary, overwhelming and awesomeness all in one! Then Raddy spoke using Jesus feeding the thousands, he is a man of faith!
On to listen and take in SBS, our first experience and we were blest to hear one of the best SBS leaders speak on Revelation! Powerful! could be one word to describe it! Those SBS kids unpacking the scriptures inductively, with guidance from those who have gone before. But listening to Sean Ellis speak on Revelation, it gave it a whole new meaning, we can join in every morning this week, how could we pass up such an awesome opportunity!
Then he will speak again on Tuesday evening after supper, he will be speaking on the authenticity of the scriptures - wow and we get to listen!
This afternoon, soon, we head to Jeevit's House to spend time with Laura, then we will join her as she goes to call in the slums. Supper again at the base.
I just know the time is going to go way to fast, we were visiting with Kovonne after lunch and in discussion talking of all the people we want to connect with, spending an evening with her and Chennouen, and she said before you know it, you will be saying "we only have three days left how can we do it all..."
Must not panic, must relax enjoy the moment! Praise God we are here and can be enjoying an feasting on His Word, His Work, HIM!
Blessing to each of you,
Ed and Mary
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Sunday afternoon
It's a quiet Sunday afternoon right now, both of us sitting on the bed after a wonderful morning of worship and meal at the base. No wedding music this morning but the party next door to our room went all night so sleep was a bit sketchy.
After a breakfast of cereal with soy milk and bread and jam we rode our bikes about 2 miles out into a village for our morning worship service. We travelled with a group of about 20-25 students and staff from the YWAM base. Had coffee and fellowship outside the church while children were having Sunday School. Met a lot of neat "kids" (20 year olds). Some of those kids have experienced so much life already. It makes us aware again of how much we have lived a sheltered sanitary life in the midwest. The world is so big and yet so very small. We all serve the same God and He provides for all of our needs but our needs and the needs of most of the rest of the world are vastly different. I was asked to lead the communion part of the service. It was such a God moment to declare the Truth about the elements with an interpreter and to see and feel the true communion of the saints in a world half way around the globe. God is Good.
After resting a bit in our room we will go to a 1st anniversary celebration of the opening of Eden's cafe. It is a new establishment that was started by a YWAM student from the states. Its purpose is to serve the people of Cambodia by training folks in how to hold a job and to develop skills so that they can in turn go out and make a living on their own. The proceeds are used to benefit hungry children.
After that, we'll probably head back to our room to get ready for tomorrow's activities which start a 8:00 with worship at the base then to a 3 hour lecture on the Book of Revelation.
Blessings
Ed & Mary
After a breakfast of cereal with soy milk and bread and jam we rode our bikes about 2 miles out into a village for our morning worship service. We travelled with a group of about 20-25 students and staff from the YWAM base. Had coffee and fellowship outside the church while children were having Sunday School. Met a lot of neat "kids" (20 year olds). Some of those kids have experienced so much life already. It makes us aware again of how much we have lived a sheltered sanitary life in the midwest. The world is so big and yet so very small. We all serve the same God and He provides for all of our needs but our needs and the needs of most of the rest of the world are vastly different. I was asked to lead the communion part of the service. It was such a God moment to declare the Truth about the elements with an interpreter and to see and feel the true communion of the saints in a world half way around the globe. God is Good.
After resting a bit in our room we will go to a 1st anniversary celebration of the opening of Eden's cafe. It is a new establishment that was started by a YWAM student from the states. Its purpose is to serve the people of Cambodia by training folks in how to hold a job and to develop skills so that they can in turn go out and make a living on their own. The proceeds are used to benefit hungry children.
After that, we'll probably head back to our room to get ready for tomorrow's activities which start a 8:00 with worship at the base then to a 3 hour lecture on the Book of Revelation.
Blessings
Ed & Mary
Friday, January 6, 2012
Getting supplies an adventure!
Saturday almost 1pm already. We awoke to the Cambodian wedding music, explanation of that is when someone gets married in Cambodia they celebrate for a few days, and all the while of those few days this music is playing or someone is talking over a loudspeaker, do not ask me what they are saying.... but the music each day starts at least by 4 or 4:30AM, that is early, very early!!
I used earplugs and went back to sleep, Ed heard it for a long time before more slumber came, then we had to hurry to be at the YWAM base to meet Sopheap and Laura, with boys in tow. Off to find us used bicycles for our time here, everything is an adventure trust me! Bike acquired off to the market for fruit and a few other supplies to tide us over if we miss a few meals here and there. Which we did today but only two meals, and we have been snacking on our fresh fruit, ok we did buy little cakes which remind me of round dutch letters! Not bad!!
So now we have transportation of our own! I only fell once on the trip back and that was onto a high curb with some grass and dirt, so nothing major! It is a bit challenging to ride here as it is generally a free for all, no traffic signals you just go and so does everyone else!! Trucks, cars, buses, moto, tuk tuks and bikes! Ok so you may pray for safety that could be a good thing!!
And the good thing is I fell before we got the groceries, so I only spilled me!!
Well off to meet Rina who is going to give us a tour of SBS, and then off to a soccer game with Laura and the boys.
Blessings to all,
Mary
I used earplugs and went back to sleep, Ed heard it for a long time before more slumber came, then we had to hurry to be at the YWAM base to meet Sopheap and Laura, with boys in tow. Off to find us used bicycles for our time here, everything is an adventure trust me! Bike acquired off to the market for fruit and a few other supplies to tide us over if we miss a few meals here and there. Which we did today but only two meals, and we have been snacking on our fresh fruit, ok we did buy little cakes which remind me of round dutch letters! Not bad!!
So now we have transportation of our own! I only fell once on the trip back and that was onto a high curb with some grass and dirt, so nothing major! It is a bit challenging to ride here as it is generally a free for all, no traffic signals you just go and so does everyone else!! Trucks, cars, buses, moto, tuk tuks and bikes! Ok so you may pray for safety that could be a good thing!!
And the good thing is I fell before we got the groceries, so I only spilled me!!
Well off to meet Rina who is going to give us a tour of SBS, and then off to a soccer game with Laura and the boys.
Blessings to all,
Mary
Welcomed to Battambang!
A wonderful afternoon and evening of being welcomed to Battambang!
First shortly after we arrived Laura, Ruen and Rain stopped in for a visit, it was so good to see them again and hear how Laura is doing, find out she needs the playground treated and Ed is anxious to get back see if bolts need tightening etc.
Then we walked to the YWAM Base for the evening meal, and were greeted by, Piseth, Sopheap, Channouen, Kovonne, Samphas, Rina, Yuka and many, many more!! Hello to last years team, and they are awaiting this years team!! Rina gave me a ride back to the Hotel and Samphas gave Ed a ride each on moto's. So our first meal back at base, awesomeness!!!
We are headed out tomorrow to find bicycles, see SBS, and Jeevit's House let the fun begin!!
I hope the people in the next room decide to sleep soon! the walls are VERY THIN!
Good night and God bless,
Ed and Mary
First shortly after we arrived Laura, Ruen and Rain stopped in for a visit, it was so good to see them again and hear how Laura is doing, find out she needs the playground treated and Ed is anxious to get back see if bolts need tightening etc.
Then we walked to the YWAM Base for the evening meal, and were greeted by, Piseth, Sopheap, Channouen, Kovonne, Samphas, Rina, Yuka and many, many more!! Hello to last years team, and they are awaiting this years team!! Rina gave me a ride back to the Hotel and Samphas gave Ed a ride each on moto's. So our first meal back at base, awesomeness!!!
We are headed out tomorrow to find bicycles, see SBS, and Jeevit's House let the fun begin!!
I hope the people in the next room decide to sleep soon! the walls are VERY THIN!
Good night and God bless,
Ed and Mary
Arrived Battambang!
It is now 3:35pm, just settling into our home for the next month!
We had the normal horn honking ride from Siem Reap to Battambang, that means every time the taxi driver passes a bike, pedestrian, scooter, tractor another motorized vehicle going slower than he chooses to go, he honks the horn and passes. Which is 95% of the time!
Our trip was good it was so good to see the sites of Cambodia, people walking cows, theirs shops along the road, people in the rice fields, ladies doing laundry by water that looks to dirty it couldn't clean anything, people fishing, lots of rice and rice straw either in stacks, still in the field in mounds, or being hauled either by tractor, byke, or truck. I hope to post some pictures of this.
The people are friendly and gracious. They are poor, but their eyes smile if you connect. It is so very good to be here, we are thankful, may God use us to bless those we come into contact with.
Ed and Mary
We had the normal horn honking ride from Siem Reap to Battambang, that means every time the taxi driver passes a bike, pedestrian, scooter, tractor another motorized vehicle going slower than he chooses to go, he honks the horn and passes. Which is 95% of the time!
Our trip was good it was so good to see the sites of Cambodia, people walking cows, theirs shops along the road, people in the rice fields, ladies doing laundry by water that looks to dirty it couldn't clean anything, people fishing, lots of rice and rice straw either in stacks, still in the field in mounds, or being hauled either by tractor, byke, or truck. I hope to post some pictures of this.
The people are friendly and gracious. They are poor, but their eyes smile if you connect. It is so very good to be here, we are thankful, may God use us to bless those we come into contact with.
Ed and Mary
Thursday, January 5, 2012
We are in Siem Reap!!
Good morning from Siem Reap!
I did try to post last evening, but all the headers were in Khmer and I had no idea what I was doing as there is no post of last evening!
We are so thankful to have arrived safely in Siem Reap, we will travel by taxi today to Battambang! No more air travel for a bit. We did meet lovely people on the flight, one lady was on her way to Siem Reap for the first time in 32 years, she left with her children (did not speak of husband at all) to go to the refugee camp in Thailand 32 years ago, two of her children died but the daughter who is accompanying her on this trip was born in the camp. She had so much in her eyes as she was telling me her story, I just wanted to hug her!!
We arrived with ALL of our luggage, the tuk tuk driver said you must stay a long time, I said most of it is to be given away, as are the four 50 pounders - exciting, we pray a blessing on all of the gifts sent with us to Cambodia! But he did get it all on the tuk tuk, and as we flew thru the streets of Siem Reap we were very thankful it did not tip over!
Our Hotel room is amazing thank you Garth or Caroline for setting up such amazing accomidations for us! I slept well and Ed is still sleeping, I slept more on the plane than he did and it is still only 6:30am.
Praising God for safe travels thus far, and asking his guidance on our time spent here in Cambodia!
Blesssings to all,
Ed and Mary
I did try to post last evening, but all the headers were in Khmer and I had no idea what I was doing as there is no post of last evening!
We are so thankful to have arrived safely in Siem Reap, we will travel by taxi today to Battambang! No more air travel for a bit. We did meet lovely people on the flight, one lady was on her way to Siem Reap for the first time in 32 years, she left with her children (did not speak of husband at all) to go to the refugee camp in Thailand 32 years ago, two of her children died but the daughter who is accompanying her on this trip was born in the camp. She had so much in her eyes as she was telling me her story, I just wanted to hug her!!
We arrived with ALL of our luggage, the tuk tuk driver said you must stay a long time, I said most of it is to be given away, as are the four 50 pounders - exciting, we pray a blessing on all of the gifts sent with us to Cambodia! But he did get it all on the tuk tuk, and as we flew thru the streets of Siem Reap we were very thankful it did not tip over!
Our Hotel room is amazing thank you Garth or Caroline for setting up such amazing accomidations for us! I slept well and Ed is still sleeping, I slept more on the plane than he did and it is still only 6:30am.
Praising God for safe travels thus far, and asking his guidance on our time spent here in Cambodia!
Blesssings to all,
Ed and Mary
WE ARE HERE!!
Greetings from Seim Reap, Cambodia!!
We and ALL our luggage arrived safely at 9:16 this evening, we are now relaxing in a wonderful motel that Garth or Caroline set up for us, I am relaxing on a bed as we speak, so good to stretch out after the long day of travel.
Oh my you should have seen the look on the face of our tuk tuk driver, when he saw all of our luggage, he said you must be staying a long, long time! We assured him it was not all for us mostly to give away!
We met many lovely people on our flight over had a wonderful talk with a lady coming back to Cambodia for the first time since she left it 32 years ago. She was accompanied by her daughter who was born while in the refugee camp in Thailand, she and her daughter survived but she lost two other children. Her story is one of thousands here in Cambodia.
Oh and to my surprise my blogging queue's are now in Khmer, those will be extremely helpful since I have trouble speaking the language, much less reading it.
So if strange things happen well it might not be all my fault!
Blessings and enough rambling for tonight!
Ed and Mary
We and ALL our luggage arrived safely at 9:16 this evening, we are now relaxing in a wonderful motel that Garth or Caroline set up for us, I am relaxing on a bed as we speak, so good to stretch out after the long day of travel.
Oh my you should have seen the look on the face of our tuk tuk driver, when he saw all of our luggage, he said you must be staying a long, long time! We assured him it was not all for us mostly to give away!
We met many lovely people on our flight over had a wonderful talk with a lady coming back to Cambodia for the first time since she left it 32 years ago. She was accompanied by her daughter who was born while in the refugee camp in Thailand, she and her daughter survived but she lost two other children. Her story is one of thousands here in Cambodia.
Oh and to my surprise my blogging queue's are now in Khmer, those will be extremely helpful since I have trouble speaking the language, much less reading it.
So if strange things happen well it might not be all my fault!
Blessings and enough rambling for tonight!
Ed and Mary
Monday, January 2, 2012
Before we leave continues!
Well it was quite a weekend!
We packed as we mentioned before, last minute supplies delivered, and as of Monday evening even our backpacks are packed except for a few last minute items.
But Sunday was an eventful day, headed to the Bridge where Marty started his series on Mark my Words, the book of Mark a challenge to be Jesus Apprentices! that was a great message...one we cannot just chalk it up for "having heard it" that was not Jesus way! Then after a meeting we headed home, my folks were there to visit a bit and bid us good bye for our journey. We did have a lovely visit, but it ended with Mom falling as they left, now she is in the hospital at Pella Regional with extreme bruising, swelling on her knee and so much pain! Tomorrow they will do an MRI as the xray's showed no breaks but when there is so much swelling something can be missed. So pray for Judy and Otto Vos, pray for healing for Judy, and she is Dad's primary care giver so that adds to the difficulty.
I was able to stay with Dad Sunday night, and will be there tomorrow yet but then it pretty much falls on my not so Little brother Jer and his wife Jodi to round up help after we leave the country, so that is heavy on my heart tonight. My other brother Mel who lives the next closest has pnemonia and bronchitis he is very sick so, he could use some prayer as well for healing. This family's gotta quit falling apart! Ok, Mary not a joking matter, (but I can hear Mel say it)
Just an update on progress and pain, God the healer is in charge so we must all trust that!
Blessings, Mary
We packed as we mentioned before, last minute supplies delivered, and as of Monday evening even our backpacks are packed except for a few last minute items.
But Sunday was an eventful day, headed to the Bridge where Marty started his series on Mark my Words, the book of Mark a challenge to be Jesus Apprentices! that was a great message...one we cannot just chalk it up for "having heard it" that was not Jesus way! Then after a meeting we headed home, my folks were there to visit a bit and bid us good bye for our journey. We did have a lovely visit, but it ended with Mom falling as they left, now she is in the hospital at Pella Regional with extreme bruising, swelling on her knee and so much pain! Tomorrow they will do an MRI as the xray's showed no breaks but when there is so much swelling something can be missed. So pray for Judy and Otto Vos, pray for healing for Judy, and she is Dad's primary care giver so that adds to the difficulty.
I was able to stay with Dad Sunday night, and will be there tomorrow yet but then it pretty much falls on my not so Little brother Jer and his wife Jodi to round up help after we leave the country, so that is heavy on my heart tonight. My other brother Mel who lives the next closest has pnemonia and bronchitis he is very sick so, he could use some prayer as well for healing. This family's gotta quit falling apart! Ok, Mary not a joking matter, (but I can hear Mel say it)
Just an update on progress and pain, God the healer is in charge so we must all trust that!
Blessings, Mary
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