Lynn Departs

We returned a while ago from the airport to see Lynn off. His time went so quickly and he became beloved of the students. Our roles have changed and now I will be doing the daily teaching at night as well as two English classes each day so I probably won't write as much as before.

A few highloghts of the last few days....
Visiting Chab Dai  ministries for their morning devotions and to hear about their work. They are a coalition of ministries that are involved in Human Trafficking. What does it say of the state of mind of a country of only 14 million people that has 52 KNOWN organizations with Abolition as its main focus? Chab dai works to bring the organizations together so as to cooperate and coordinate and best reach this overwhelming need of HELP for this country. They are a present force in making a difference in this country both presently and proactively planning to have a presence throughout the Greater subMekong Delta area. We were impressed by the commitment, integrity and quality of the staff working so hard for the Lord.

After a day of classes here at Crossroads,  we headed over, by Motorbike to Pillars...another branch of the ministry.  Pillars dormitory houses more of the Fourth year students and graduate students headed up by Pastor Rathana a 27 year old with a heart for God! What a joy he is. We had dinner with the students and then a time of worship. We had been asked to stay overnight in the dorm with them, so there was no rush to get home or thru a great time of fellowship.   What a treat! 


Lynn stayed in the dorm with the guys and I stayed in a room with 3 other girls..all of whom sleep on bunk beds. A few of the students had mattresses, but most slept just on the metal slatted beds. One on the girls asked if I could talk with her after the meeting and I plopped down on her bed, only to hear the "twang" of metal as I landed.  The girls have many questions...just like college girls in the States. How do you know when you meet the right guy? What if he wants to serve God in the country but I have studied hard and have a job waiting in the city? . I was up til well after midnight with two different girls who were just so precious....Chenda and Soursddy.

I remember how excited Lynn was when our son Brad downloaded the flashlight APP on his phone. Cell phones are not new here, nor are the flashlights on them. Our electricity goes out OFTEN, and in two ticks, all the flashlights are on. As they were at 5 am, with everyone up getting showers and having their devotions by flashlight....or in the case of Leaksmey, finding her way to my bunk at 5:15, to share her story and ask for advice on her love life. SO sweet. Sooooo sleepy, but it was precious time of tears and joy and prayer.

Last night was Lynn's last night to share with the students,  followed by a roof top Valentines party. A few students had helped make cupcakes with me. OH MY, that was a labor of love. 86 cupcakes....in a stove that made one batch of 12 at a time, with just a knob, but no register, sometimes it was 600 and sometime 200 degrees! We had with the bags  for each of them, with a note to each student. It was a fun farewell....lots of happiness and love and eating and photos. Grandpa Lynn is so loved here, and it was with sadness that we headed to the airport this morning and he is on his way back to Greensboro.

Several of the students now live at e Pepper Plantation, and we have not had much time with them. I am headed to the bus station at 7 tomorrow. Someone will put me on the right bus...and hopefully I will arrive "near" the plantation five hours later! Then I will text and either Potra or Mesa will pick me up on their motorbike :) they are serving with the Kuy people, and it is a LONG way out and they too are eager for fellowship.

There is no Internet there obviously, so won't write again until Friday night or Saturday. Thanks for your prayers as Lynn and I travel in different directions but feeling so united in the opportunities that God has given us.