For a Season

For a Season...

We come to Cambodia for the hot season, or so it seems.

But we come to Cambodia to love people and open doors to share the Gospel and God's Amazing Love with the people God puts in our lives.

Sometimes we come thinking we have plans; but God's plans and ways can be very different, so we must stop, and ask ourselves, why do we come? Whose plan is best?

People come and people go, good byes are hard, change can be painful, but our God is faithful and His plan has eternal goals.

We teach English, we lead Conversation Class, we build relationships, we watch soccer games, we play games, we bring girls home when they need a ride, we meet people in many different ways. We encourage, we listen, we pray with people in all walks of life.

We meet people from all over the world for a season. So many we would like to know better, spend more time with, seems so many are in our lives for a short time. But again it's Gods timing, we trust His plan, His will and His ways.

Some days are hearts are so full and some days we feel so empty. We just had a short break thanks to the King of Cambodia taking three days to celebrate his birthday, we only taught three hours in the morning. We took time to refresh, read, do crossword puzzles, swim, and rest!

We miss our family in the states, we miss concerts, games, track meets, birthdays... But we are thankful for Internet, phone calls, Viber, photos and videos are priceless! We know God is everywhere with each of us, we are so thankful for their love even from a distance! We love the phone calls sharing new things or chatting on messaging or Viber, letting us know what is going on in their lives.

Each season has a purpose, "there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:" Ecc 3: 1
" Ecc 3:14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him." Fear meaning, realize He is God, the only God!

So we go with great vigor to open our eyes, hearts and minds this season while we are in Cambodia, to each person our lives touch, may we love them with God's love and grace.

The Pastor this morning reminded us of one of my favorite verses. Eph 3:20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen

People ... Relationships .... Sharing

Out to supper with Ben and Rina before she leaves Cambodia

Supper with friends

 The past weeks have been eventful, and as you can see it is all about people.

 We would never consider comparing ourselves with the Apostle Paul, but we do try to live by the words God inspired Paul to write.

 In Ephesians Paul writes a letter to the people of Ephesus: 14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15  from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge- that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we can think or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

 

Iowa team saying goodbyes

Here we work alongside fellow Christians whose goal is the same as Pauls and ours to see the nation of Cambodia grasp how wide and long and  high and deep is the love of Christ, so they may be filled with the fullness of God!

   The people of Cambodia who have come to know Jesus as their Lord and Saviour know that this power of His is able to do immeasurably more than any of us can think or imagine, to God be the glory!

Grandpa Ed with kids

   So we teach English and Math, and we build relationships with young people. These young people desire to learn more, to get a job, and for most of them their desire is to go back to their villages and share what they have learned with their loved ones and friends.

   So the cycle continues, sharing the good news!
 
   Opportunities come in all different ways: giving a ride, sharing a meal, meeting to encourage over a meal or just a shake or coffee.

   We brought books along from our daughter Nicole's class and others, as their school was choosing a new curriculum. First we could not find the right place now we wish we had all the books we could get our hands on, so if anyone is coming bring more books :)
 

Bringing Leng's kids to play soccer

   Our Rav4 full of kids, on a hot Sunday afternoon, were met by two tuk tuk's loaded and I mean loaded with more boys ready to have fun with their church leaders to spend time playing soccer and of course snacks!

  The beginning of building the YWAM Base here in Battambang, started with Praise and Worship at the land!  Here in Cambodia whenever a building project is started they ask the spirits to protect the workers and the work. We call upon the Holy Spirit with songs of praise and prayer to protect the workers and the work!  Then they pounded the first foundation pile into the ground and we shouted in praise to our God in heaven!

The start of building the Battambang YWAM Base

  This week we took the challenge and rode the Bamboo Train, a great adventure, I am certain we will do again! Thanks Sopheak and Joy for the invite, and all who joined in; it was good! After the train experience enjoyed the Dumpling place for a meal which is a very popular place here in Battambang. Price is very inexpensive and the food prepared from scratch is wonderful.

  Worshipped this morning at Rapha House where many of our student both live and worship.

 The Bamboo Train with friends!

   We do not post pictures of those we teach at times for their protection, there are so many times we would love to take pics and post. But is that wise, often no, we love them and care deeply for each of them. If they put their pics up fine, but we do not want to display them as a prize or for pity! They are real people with real life going on about them just like our kids
                        in the states.
                   
                           Yesterday, the kids trying to sell bracelets at stop for the Bamboo Train, were so begging "Madame buy from me if you buy" I took their little faces and said to them you are precious jewels; they are I want to go back and tell them about Jesus, so one day they to will be wearing crowns in heaven! Every kid on this earth needs to hear the story of Jesus and know he loves them.
               
   "Jesus loves the little children all the children of the world, red and yellow, black and white. They are precious in His sight Jesus love the little children of the world!"

  Thanks for taking the time to visit with us!

  Prayers appreciated for hearts to be open to always be  willing,
  Ed and Mary

Back in our home in Cambodia

 Beautiful Cambodia

Warm weather, ok HOT, but much more important the people of Cambodia!

It is always the people that draw us back, the beautiful dark brown eyes that you look into, the welcoming eyes, the searching eyes. God placed in our hearts a love for these amazing people that we cannot explain; but it is real, it is God's love and many times we cannot find the words to explain the love that we feel for these people.

The growth in Christ in many people even tho they daily face struggles we do not comprehend in the states. Their joy in striving to live for Jesus.


New Christians facing the challenges of living a
Christlike life in a Bhuddist home or country.

Christians who are serving in their own country, sharing the gospel with their own people. The DTS Teams just left for 2 weeks to go out to serve; some are from Cambodia, some from other countries. The same goal, sharing the gospel of Jesus. DTS is Discipleship Training School in YWAM, Youth with a Mission here in Battambang, one of the NGO's we associate with.

A young couple who left the security of their YWAM Community to serve God and share the gospel in another region.

God did not say life would be easy but He promised to walk through the life journey with each of us, a constant reminder to lean on Him, learn from His Word, trust Him with each part of each day.

I read in my devotional the other morning about how Corrie TenBoom worried she did not have enough strength for what God would put in front of her and her wise father said "but God promised to  give you the strength when you need it."

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be the glory in the church and in Jesus Christ throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." Eph 3:20

Read that verse a few times, ponder it, believe it!

God bless each of you!
We covet your prayers,
Ed and Mary