Lead, guide and direct us oh Lord

Sunday a gift of rest and refreshment!

A wonderful service at Lighthouse Church, needed that message on patience this morning! Ok so we followers of Jesus want to let His light shine; but on the way to church we loose our patience with the crazy traffic! This town is getting used to FOUR new traffic lights!!! Battambang has never had any!! So our journeying through even one of these creates a new stress! For us who think we understand, those who chose not to understand, and everyone else!! Yup, thanks Garth, that message on one of the fruits of the Spirit all Christians should be #1 on continues to show, my/ our (I wasn't driving, but I will admit I was voicing my opinion) patience needs more of the Holy Spirit! Less of the flesh!!

So that was how the day started, since then we have been enjoying the day of rest God needed and we need even more! The 23rd Psalm speaks for itself!

“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭23:1-6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

http://bible.com/111/psa.23.1-6.

We have been in Battambang a bit over three weeks, renewing relationships, sharing life with those God places in our path and even some we go looking for because He has placed them in our path in
previous years and we have grown to love them dearly!

We thank God for each relationship and pray that He will continue to lead, guide and direct us and all of our loved ones here and in the states!!

a friend buying corn at a roadside stand

We covet your prayers for us as we speak into lives of the younger generation.

We ask God for wisdom, that it is His words and His ways we speak into their lives.

We ask for prayers for the young people with decisions that will impact them for their life ahead!

We ask that we see all in God's eyes, not our own agenda!

We ask for prayers for our children and grandchildren back home as they live out their lives with their own challenges and we are far away, we know that God is in control; but oh we are so human!!

God bless each of you who take the time to read this and ask for prayer for us to be "refired" each day to serve our risen Saviour.

Good evening from Battambang!
Ed and Mary Rozenboom

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

August...many emotions, many firsts, but God is God!

Greetings from Battambang!

Nicole, Derrick and Josie celebrating!

Three of our amazing daughters were born in August, this is the first time we will not be in the US to celebrate with them. Our youngest turns 40, does that make us old, or her; no all of us will be just a day older but it is a milestone for her and us! Celebrate well Nicole, we will definitely miss not being able to celebrate this milestone with you!

We were able to listen to most of the Oskaloosa state softball games via internet and KBOE Sports! It is definitely not the same as being there but it helped! When they were playing at 2pm that is 2am here...a bit crazy...

Tara and most of the O'Lears

Again congratulations Josie and the Oskaloosa Indian Ladies on 5th in State!!

Tara will be having a birthday this month also, she just went to spend a week with the O'Lears in North Carolina!

McFarland boys on an Island near Maine

And Lynae too will be celebrating her birthday as always 10 days Tara and Lynae share the same year! The McFarlands are currently in Maine with family having a splendid time.

Grandson Levi, Jenn and Bentley are visiting Grandpa Chris and Grandma Missy and their siblings and the rest of the family. So much going on with our families back home! We love you all and miss family celebrations.

Greatgrandson Bentley with vegetables from Missy's garden

So thankful for internet, including Viber so we can stay a bit connected to our precious family!!

We too took a respite; Ed and I ventured off to an Island called Koh Chang. It is off the coast of Thailand.
It was beautiful place to spend a week, a combination jungle and beach...all created by our Almighty God. Beaches, Rocks, Rain, Waterfalls, Elephants, Song birds, Monkeys, Rain, Sun, Moon, Rain, Crabs, Flowers, Rain...yes it rained but that gave us quiet time which we

Us at a waterfall

enjoyed as well. But it did not keep us bored we have learned during rainy season, you WILL get wet and survive! There are things to do and do them we will. 

Ed here; of special interest to my Rozenboom cousins is that many families we met were on a holiday (vacation for Americans) and interestingly were from the Netherlands and even from our Grandpa & Grandma's hometown of Ede. When told that our family name was "Rozenboom", they responded "YaYa". Small world indeed. It seems most Nederlanders have a 3 week holiday from their jobs to coincide with the students 6 week Summer break.

We are back in Battambang and ready to roll! Monday morning always starts at the YWAM Base with worship, it is such a wonderful way to start our work week!

At the clinic, progress continues toward licensing...but we have already had two outreach clinics which our interns were a great part of! One of our interns detected an irregular heartbeat at an outreach clinic and now the young girl is in Siem Reap awaiting heart surgery hopefully this week.

teaching how to calculate BMI

reviewing CPR

Our interns at the clinic are fun, intelligent, complex,
intriguing, inspiring and eager to learn!

And we have truly been blest with an amazing leader and mentor for the interns in the person of Sophea! God blessed us, Dr Paul and the interns with this awesome Godly woman!

practising EEG

outreach clinic

We have also been blessed with several YWAMers volunteer to help us in many ways. It is beautiful to see God's servants serve together!

Roger a huge blessing helping set up X-ray

Roger whose daughter Suel Pratt is on the YWAM staff graciously volunteered at the clinic for most of his short time here. Roger practises and teaches Xray in California. He was here visiting and dedicated a couple weeks to getting our Xray equipment up and running again! He also used his teaching ability to train local staff. Praise God for unexpected blessings! Roger you were an inspiration in many ways!!

If you are headed to Cambodia in the near future we could sure use a lab technician to check out the laboratory!  

Progress is progress even when it moves at a speed a bit slower than we like. We are in a country who thinks and responds differently that we are used to. Pray for us not to be discouraged, to go forward boldly in faith, knowing God knows our needs even better than we ourselves do!

Thank you each for your prayers, continue to pray for: wisdom as we continue working to get the clinic able to function to meet peoples needs; the heart of each of our interns for those who know the Lord to stay strong, and God to work mightily in those who are searching for truth; pray for us to stay healthy and safe as we NEED to bike more for exercise!  But above all to be bold in the name of Jesus, whom we serve!!

Ed and Mary Rozenboom

II Timothy 1:9

He has saved us and called us to a holy life--not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time.

Is it really June 15?

Dr Paul explaining

 Wow and we last posted in April?  Time does fly!!

 April went by quickly Ed teaching Tyler for an hour each morning...

 Abby went to America for a month, so we taught the Mighty Girls while she was gone..we got to know Linda, Samphas, Kim and Chanu a bit better...along with Socheata, Nypha and Chanut (sorry girls I know I am murdering names)

 Also classes resumed at the YDC and this quarter we are teaching Conversation Class, discussing relevant topics also doing some critical thinking with them...some great discussions! In the process we get to talk about God and the DTS from Australia has been

Ed with the EEG leads the students administered

telling them  Bible Stories, some the kids act out all trying to show them how great our God is and how much He loves them sending Jesus to die for them. We are so thrilled when they actually get it that they need Jesus as their personal Savior...or even start asking questions, evidence the Holy Spirit is at work within their hearts.

In the month of April we also met Dr Paul! Dr Paul is a paediatric neurologist, there are no other neurologists in Battambang or Siem Reap so his passion is to teach others this skill. And to treat patients that are currently being treated incorrectly because the field of neurology is not understood.

Graduations this past week at YWAM - DTS & SBS

 Dr Paul has another passion to help young women from Rapha House (look online to better understand) into the medical field for jobs that they learn a skill, and also to have a job after their passion and for their dignity.  Hopefully some can go on to take the nursing program, become a doctor... We want them to know they are gifted and talented young women!

Ok that paragraph changed to we ...where we fit in is Dr Paul asked us to be on board with him to help walk through this process. We are a sounding board, hands and feet to get certain tasks done, but it truly is his passion and is becoming ours as we see the need and meet the

Back home Gus after baseball series win!

young women. It is all in God's hand as we cross bridges that aren't easy to cross to establish a clinic to treat patients and to start  training in the medical field.  Hopefully some will even advance to other schools of training as they see their potential.

We are blessed to be able to have others join in as in Molly, Sarah Lee and Angela. Opening doors for these young women to work as techs, CNA's and health care assistants to name a few. This is just the beginning...on this one too I love to claim the verse Ephesian 3:20 "Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to HIS power at work within us."

SarahLee demonstrating stretching a patient

 We see such potential in the youth of Cambodia, they are intelligent, they work hard, some of our students go to school all day, come to us to learn English at 5pm and then go off to learn another language at 6pm. They are determined to learn and have such a desire to better themselves and their country. They have school 6 days a week.

YDC Students acting out a Bible Story

 That is a snippet of the last few months, we have been occupied.

 That along with people just listening to stories, their lives...sharing Jesus, them sharing who Jesus is to them and how they came to know HIM. Hearing stories sometimes hurts our hearts so much, but we have not lived it they have.

And of course life goes on for our children and grandchildren and our extended families back home. We miss them...they miss us. We message, email, talk on the phone occasionally Skype...but we are here and they are there. We have missed important events (graduation, confirmation, birthdays, ballgames, concerts), meals and activities...tears sometime come because it is hard.

God said following His call would not always be easy, and it isn't ... we feel pulled by two
continents.  So if you see one of our girls or grandchildren give them a hug from us. Ok I know we have 12 grandsons and the older ones wouldn't take to much to the hugging stuff...but I miss their bear hugs immensely.

YDC Conversation Class

It is Father's Day, I sent an email to my Father usually I go see my Father. I love you Dad, you are a big reason we are here; your heart for missions, thank you for teaching me to love God above all and my neighbour as myself. The word neighbour is pretty broad, to Aunt Helen the neighbours were those in Pakistan... To Aunt Martha and Uncle Casey the neighbours were in Utah. We all have neighbours those we see where we are at home, work or play...show them the love of Jesus.

God bless each of you!

Ed and Mary

April already!

Greetings dear family and friends!

Thank you for your prayers and please continue in prayer for our hearts and the hearts we meet!

The break from teaching at the Youth Center has been busy, the first week of break our team from The Bridge, Ottumwa, Iowa was here for a good week, including our daughter Melissa, her husband Chris and their daughter  Hannah! It was awesome to have the whole team here but having family experience Cambodia first hand was beyond awesome! It was busy, but also some of the time, especially I, Mary spent supporting those who were not feeling well AT ALL! Most of the team had time that they needed to be very close to the bathroom or just in BED! Many different foods...which many had fun trying but maybe proved not to be so fun later!! But I believe God used each one in ways they can only imagine and they each saw God at work in Cambodia!! Their medical missions in the villages reached out to many people, people who  were so blessed to have Dr Ryan and the Medical and Spiritual Team reach out in Jesus Name!

This past week we were blest in a new way! Nation2Nation happened here on our YWAM Base in Battambang! 25 Nations worshipping and praising God together! A glimpse of Heaven here on earth!
Speakers from South Africa, Iran, Canada (native American), Switzerland and Cambodia!! The goal to reach every tribe and nation in Jesus Name! Amen!! AMEN!!

April starts many firsts for us, Ed will start tomorrow morning by tutoring a young boy who has special needs, his parents are missionary counsellors here working for Rapha House Ministries, with girls who were taken in by traffickers and now are having their souls and needs met thru Rapha House.

This week we get to work with some of the Mighty Girls teaching more advanced English! The Mighty Girls are a football/(soccer in USA)  and they are good! They just won the championship for High School in Cambodia!! Proud of you Mighty Girls!! We are blessed to get to know so many awesome ministries going on here in Battambang and build relationships in Jesus Name!

The Youth Center teaching starts up again after the Khmer New Year which is April 13-15 a very big celebration here in Cambodia!!

Thank you too for those who have been lifting me, Mary, up in prayer for my bug bite turned to cellulitis, praying the second dose of IV's I had today will help this clear up, I am feeling much better and so grateful to Dr Simon, Kyle, Melissa and Jo who have all kept check on me (and Tara from a distance) and guided, prayed, so many prayed over me, I felt so much love through this bit of a bump in the journey.

God bless each of you as you live your lives in His service!

Ed and Mary Rozenboom

A very special supper prepared for our family! Thanks Dom, Kyle and Jamie!!

Hannah painting on hands or faces, fun!

Tara totally in control of her "kids painting"

Joe and Chris triaging

Sara and Laura filling more bowls for hungry kids!

Kids eating Missy telling a story

Not sure who got wetter the men or the kids, water ballon filling, Ed S. have that answer?

Dr Ryan with Sat and Leng, conference or chat?

Ice Cream Party for last day Pronunciation Class!