2014 Short Term Team - Our Last Days in Cambodia

Today we have our last stolen moments with these precious students. In such a short time, these people have touched our hearts, this country has astounded us with beauty and the Lord has taught us more about love than we could ever have imagined. 

BA and Ele with the students and their paintings of Calvary.

This week has been a whirlwind of new lessons about the deep abounding love of Christ for us and his dedication to a plan to save us all from ourselves in our sin. We have spoken about love, forgiveness and trust because the Lord has interwoven these three great truths into the fabric of our lives and on this fantastic journey to be closer to Him.

We are left with an overwhelming sense of gratitude for each moment we have been given. The students opened their hearts and their dormitories to us while we were here and we cannot be more thankful, especially when we are reminded of Thanksgiving!

Brittney and BA at the front of the classroom.

Last night, we taught on the history of Thanksgiving and how thankfulness should be present in everything that we do. It was a bittersweet time in which we made prayer bracelets and discussed the things we are thankful for.  We laughed, smiled and cried after the lesson. The students were so precious when they said their goodbyes. These memories will stay with us for the rest of our lives.

All of the students and the Team!

Recapping the week so far!

Good morning from Phnom Penh! We do not have any pictures to upload currently, but they will be coming soon!

The past two days have been filled with teaching and spending time with these students. We have small classes in the mornings with a few students, but we have been able to tutor them while they are with us and help them more individually which has been a blessing. Our afternoon classes are medium-sized with some more advanced students. It has been wonderful to share with them the message of Creation and Jesus' birth. There have been some very good questions and discussion surrounding faith and trust. The Holy Spirit has been guiding our lessons and giving us peace about each subject.

In the evenings, our team teaches a Bible lesson. We alternate between the two dormitories, Pillars and Crossroads. Yesterday, Ele and I (Brittney) went to Pillars and BA was at Crossroads. BA taught a lesson about forgiveness while Ele and I taught about Godly Love. Tonight, all three of us will teach on the concept of trusting in the Lord!

It has been difficult to find time to prepare for each lesson, but the Lord always finds a way to provide for us. Nothing is impossible with Him!

We only have one more full day here in Cambodia and then we leave on Friday. What an experience!

Thank you so much for reading~
The Cambodia Team

Crossroads Church!

Students gathering to pray

Church with the students! We started the morning with 7:30 am Sunday School. These students have such an amazing heart for the Lord. To hear their voices singing is such a heavenly sound and praise to the Father Almighty. This morning, we had worship with them and shared our testimonies with the Phnom Penh students. We were all so excited to get to share our lives with them and to hear them during a precious time of worship.

 

Each of our testimonies were guided by the Holy Spirit and beautifully different. God used each of our testimonies to speak to a different aspect of faith and of growth in the life of a Christian. The Lord was certainly with us this early morning here.  

Brother Potra singing during worship!

After breakfast, we returned to the worship space and sang "Blessed be the Name" and a few other songs. We heard a few songs in Kmer too! Then, Brother Potra gave a wonderful teaching about the way of victory against temptation and sin. We were filled with love and excitement for the afternoon after such an amazing time of worship.

In the afternoon, we went to the soccer games and cheered the students on as they played against each other in the Christmas Championship games. It was so exciting to see them out on the field. They are talented athletes!!

Back in Phnom Penh

It's a Saturday morning in Phnom Penh! Sometimes it is hard to believe that we are halfway across the world from our little Greensboro, NC.

We returned from the Snaor Village of the Kuy people yesterday morning. It was a long drive back (approximately 7 hours)! Who knew remote villages could be so....remote? We enjoyed every minute of the drive because we were able to bond, laugh and tell stories with the students. We were able to see some of the farm land and the workers while we drove. Cambodia is so unbelievably beautiful - we can see God's handiwork in everything.

The Kuy Village School with students studying in the afternoon.

When we reached the village, we had some time to walk down to the school and see the students. We taught them some English while we were there - just on the very first day! The children were so precious and sweet. In the evening, we played games and told stories to the children which was such a blessed time to see their smiling faces and hear their laughter. We taught them the song "Yes, Jesus Loves Me" and the corresponding hand motions. Our  translators told them the meaning in Khmer so the students would know who they were really singing about.

Practicing their ABCs with the Team!

The following day, we went to the school again to teach and visited the believers before returning to camp to spend time with the children after school.  We sang songs and played games around the campfire with them. The students were able to make bracelets with the art supplies that Ele brought, and we handed out toothbrushes and t-shirts to them. 

The Crossroads students have such a heart for the Kuy children and we could see how God had put this village on their hearts while we were there.

The Team teaching the students in the small overhand in the front of camp.

Today, we will be seeing Carrie again for the first time since our return and cheering while the students play soccer! We are so excited to see what God has planned for us next!

Movie Night at Crossroads

Posted on Mesa's Facebook Page today at approx. 11:30am EST
Thank you Westover Church (USA)
...Good Movies  ...God Bless

BA. Ele and Brittney spoke about the movie "The Nativity Story" and the amazing birth of our Christ Jesus. The students were given popcorn to eat with the movie after the explanation.

All the students watching "The Nativity Story".

Good to see the team back with the Phnom Penh students after their time in the Kuy villages.
Thanks for the facebook post Mesa!

On to the Kuy Villages

Just in case you're wondering, Phnom Penh time is 12 hours ahead of NC.  So in approximately 20 minutes of this post, (which in Phnom Penh will be 6am on Wed., 11-19-14) BA, Ele and Brittney will be leaving with Potra, Darith, Nirdey and Cheata to head out to the Kuy villages. During their time in the villages they will visit with believers, attend church and visit a school. They will also have a chance to hear Uncle Hun's testimony. (He was one of the first believers in the village). They will rise with the Cambodian sun and have devotions at 6:30am on Thursday and Friday and there will be many chances to fellowship with the villagers over meals and plenty of interactive time with the children.

(Please note: They will not have internet access
for the three days they are in the villages.)

1-7-14 - Meal time in the Kuy village.

Photos taken during Judy's trip back in January of this year. (1-7-14)

Hammocks at attached underneath the stilt homes, sheltering those who sway within them from the intense Cambodian sun.

Joyous smiles!

BA teaching at Pillars Church

A Facebook post by our Crossroads Brother, Mesa Kak.
(Tuesday, 11am EST):

"Thanking God for mission team member from
Westover Church (USA) teaching at Pillars Church today."

First day in Cambodia

We are so excited for our first full day here in Cambodia! It's hard to believe that we are on the other side of the world. All of us are rested up and bright-eyed for the days ahead. Praise the Lord for our safe travels!

We cannot wait to get started teaching and go to the village tomorrow. Today, we will be meeting our students and begin our first lesson with them. We were not expecting to be able to go to the village, but we are very thankful that we will have this fantastic opportunity. May the Lord bless our time with these wonderful people!

Sincerely and with love,
The Cambodia Team

They've Arrived!

Seeing this post was the BEST way to start the day! 
Praise you Father! And my thanks to Potra! (Received Monday, 6:55 AM EST and posted by a very happy Aunt Valerie.)

Father, we praise You for Your faithfulness!  Thank you for this team and all You will do during their time with the villagers and members of Crossroads Church.

Please continue to pray for good health and a precious times of fellowship and maturing in Jesus. May it all bring honor and glory to God!

And an added praise, it looks as though all the luggage made it!  Thank you for your prayers

...And They're Off!!!

Covered in prayer, our terrific trio (and family)
head to Raleigh on a brisk and beautiful fall morning.

Packing precious cargo.

The Bibles will be used during the ESL training.

Passports and Boarding Passes in hand...

...and  flashing the peace sign!  They are SO very
ready for photos with Carrie and the Crossroads students!

Our First Prayer Requests  :-)  (First posted by BA on Fri. 11-14-14):

• flights to be on-time
• enjoy all those hours in the air  (may they "fly" by)
• ability to sleep (bolt upright, how hard can it be?)
• Britt - 1st time flying!

Flights: Raleigh to Chicago Saturday 2:10pm to 3:20pm (2 hrs)

             Chicago to Doha, Qatar Sat, 7:25pm to Sun, 5:40pm (13 hrs)

             Doha to Phnom Penh Mon, 1am to 2:55pm (10 hrs)

Thank you for caring about us and joining us on this journey.

We'll end with sharing our Team Verse: 

"The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;

on those living in the land of deep darkness

    a light has dawned." - Isaiah 9:2 (NIV)

We're Ready to Fly!!

We've been preparing to leave for over 6 months!  Many wonderful hours of developing curriculum, figuring out art lessons and fun activities. Now it's almost time to board the plane(s).  Our first prayer requests  :-) 

• flights to be on-time
• enjoy all those hours in the air  (may they "fly" by)
• ability to sleep (bolt upright, how hard can it be?)
• Britt - 1st time flying!

Flights - Raleigh to Chicago Saturday 2.10pm to 3:20pm   (2 hrs)

               Chicago to Doha, Qatar  (Saturday) 7.25pm to (Sunday) 5.40pm  (13 hrs)

               Doha to Phnom Penh   (Monday) 1am to 2.55pm  (10 hrs)

Thank you for caring about us & joining us on this journey.  We'll end with sharing our Team Verse:

The people walking in darkness

    have seen a great light;

on those living in the land of deep darkness

    a light has dawned.    Isaiah 9:2 (NIV)

The 2014 ESL Team

From left to right: Ele, Brittney, and BA.

November 15-29 -  This Thanksgiving we request your prayers for our Cambodia Team as they leave for the capital city of Phnom Penh to continue our partnership of serving alongside missionary, Carrie Cook, and the Crossroads university students.

The Crossroads students worship together in song.

     This ESL team will use Bible stories to teach English to the students, as well as Cambodians in remote jungle villages.  In addition to teaching, Ele, Brittney and BA look forward to the time they will spend in prayer and Bible study with the students.  Through education and fellowship, they desire to be an extension of God’s overflowing love and grace to the Cambodian people.