Vuthea

Cambodia 5

Lynn and I have reminisced a few times on the old Bill Cosby monologue ...."hey, you almost a doctor" as we think about one of the students here. Our last visit we referred to him as Dream Boy, because of the specific Dreams that God revealed to him and the special things that God has done thru his life.

He is 23 years old, but looks much younger. He is a Pre Med student. Last September, a week before our visit, the students were on an outreach in a remote village. God gave him a dream and a name of a person specifically, while he was sleeping. He believed that God would help him find this person, in a village that he had never been to . When he arrived, he found it was the home of the local Sorcerer. Thru their LONG conversation, the sorcerer accepted Christ, burned all of his fetishes and he was baptized the following week, while we were visiting.

This future Doctor, has a desire to practice medicine in Mymmar someday. He is one of 14 children who was taken from his home when he was 12 years old to live at "an organization"  He is the victim of sexual abuse from both male and female adults. After coming to Christ , his life has truly been transformed . The lack of trust in people has been replaced by a joy that is truly contagious. The frown of worry and concern that we were told was there, has been replaced by an infectious smile. The JOY in his heart spreads to those around him. He is the " go to" man when anyone is sick! BUT, His present project is the beautification of the roof here at Crossroads, where I have been coming to have tea and just listen to the hearts of the students as they share! Why is he spending so much time and so much of his personal savings?

We asked him that question....

His reply......." so that this place will become a place of beauty and rest and that people who are not Christ followers would want to come and spend time here and we can find a way to tell them about Jesus"

It is Saturday.

This is their one day of no classes and no meetings....and yet this roof top is loaded with students spending the day in the heat....painting, cutting wires (to make a grid so the pigeons don't nest and continue to make a mess! ) planting flowers....and just beautifying!

Each day we are surprised and humbled by the concern and commitment of these students to practically carry out the Great Commission....to go, and teach and make disciples for God, of ALL they meet.

Continually amazed and humbled!

Judy and Lynn

Cambodia 4

Today started a little earlier as the students gather starting at 5:30 am in the Worship room right outside our window. We are still not on schedule, so we were already awake and showered before they started streaming in. The early prayer meetings are convened in each of the four dormitories, so the crowd was not quite as big.

Electricity is not as available this trip........it seems "off" more than it is on, so I take little opportunities to journal here on my lap top and "hope" that it comes on during the day to send off a note to my precious family at home, and to each of you "rope holders"

The time of prayer was so precious. Jesus was in the room. The students have a precious way of making you feel like you are gathering up with them at the feet of Jesus and sharing the concerns that are on their hearts. One big concern is ALWAYS ....praying for their families who are not followers of Jesus. They also prayed for the people who would be playing soccer with the guys in the afternoon and their testimonies before them.  It was a sweet time, and the hour, though sitting on a hard tile floor, passed quickly as we heard their hearts.

Breakfast

After prayer we walked down the street to a local outdoor market for a breakfast of noodles and pork and ???? a few other things were in there?? We all squished around the table in the midst of morning traffic rushing by on the road........the sound thudding of the cleavers all around us chopping the morning meat. It was sort of like sitting IN a butchery........every animal and foul were being readied for the fresh sales of the day. The students are great...so full of joy and stories and they patiently accompanied us as we walked around the market, fascinated that there could be so many varieties of fresh vegetables, fruits,tons of  fish being scaled and set out in a beautiful fashion, chickens displayed in a variety of ways, but the feet always being highlighted, as the delicacy that they are. After trying a number of new fruits and making our purchases, we headed back to the dorm. 

We bumped into "Kouch", tall lanky, intelligent young man. I know him has Hut Sunneassey, but he is called "KOUCH- Dimple"............for obvious reasons. His facebook photo shows an American Soldier. His desire, to serve in the American NGO or army or something to do with the USA. I wish that I was smart enough to record our meeting,  but that would have probably ruined the moment. Diana and Greg Brown are his "prayer partners" I specifically asked them because of their son Derek being at West Point. They EVER SO kindly had given us a West Point sticker AND Derek's badge from his uniform to bring to him. Lynn had purchased an Army BB cap at the Army Navy store because we knew it was Kouch's birthday. Well, the presentation could NOT have been more auspicious. He got so emotional and was so honored by having the badge.....the West Point Sitcker went immediately on his bike. He is pondering where he wants the badge......."something that won't ever wear out"   What a treat for him to feel so loved. THANK YOU TO THE BROWNS FOR BEING SO THOUGHTFUL.........

We decided to check out if there was any possibility of seeing the Super Bowl, and I thought that maybe the US Embassy would know. Of course Kouch was all over that, and offered to motorbike the two of us to the Embassy...........so off we went, with Channy driving the other bike. Weaving in and out of traffic, unhelmeted isn't a problem...but I did notice that Channys fuel tank was well below the red E. I know that site well, because to Lynn's dismay, that is where mine usually is......he said NOT A PROBLEM...........there is plenty. Until about a block later, and we sputtered along, having lost Lynn and Kouch in the morning traffic. They found us....went to get a coke bottle of Petrol.........and we were on our way again.

haha....

Lunch of rice and veggies with the students and then on to see another Abolition ministry called Bloom Cafe. It was amazing. They work with trafficked women and teach them to make the most amazing cupcakes and wedding cakes, teaching them a trade with dignity and honor and it was very impressive.

Green tea on the roof with Vuthea and Dina. Will share more about them another day, but they JUST purchased the tea pot and cups and tea is "always at the ready" They have a desire to make that roof a really neat place for the students to invite their friends to "hang out" so they can share Jesus.

On to soccer........Lynn, of course, played!! and the kids were so proud of him. Remember most don't even have Grandpa's because of the Killing Fields, where almost 2 million people were tortured and annihilated. Grandparents are a treasure.......and so to get to play their favorite sport and have him a part of that, was such a treat. Many of the girl students come by to watch and cheer and we had fun on the sidelines "girl talking"

Back to have MORE rice and veggies with the students before a quick shower and we each went our separate ways to teach small groups. All of the students are divided up into groups of 4 or 5, so there are about 20 cell groups meeting around the city. My first time where the girls live...........hmmmmmmmmmmm, another blog!! But we had such a precious time of sharing from God's word and then Q and A. "Grandma, 99.9% of the young available men in this country are Buddhist and have no knowledge of God. How can we date or find a husband?"   Much of our time was spent talking and seeing what God's word has to say. SO precious.

I walked home on the dark street, very comfortable for the short block until I saw two young men running at me full tilt. I started, for just a moment wondering if there was a fire or something wrong?? Until I heard...........MOM, MOM...........and as we got closer was scooped up into an embrace and literally swept off my feet. MESA had arrived from the Pepper Plantation. We had met Mesa last January, and he was our faithful TUK TUK driver, brilliant soccer player and MAN OF GOD. He is humble, and commited to Christ. We had not yet seen him and they had just arrived. LOTS of tears and hugs and JOY.........We talked for a long time, and waited til  Lynn finished his cell group. We will meet early this morning for breakfast and get caught up before they head back to the Plantation tomorrow. 

The students wanted to end the day motorbiking downtown to the night market, but it was after 10 and the day had been quite full.............

Today is another day.............

Cambodia 3

Thanks to you who are sending notes that you are praying for some specific student here. We really feel God's presence in some special God ordained conversations.

Thanks for your prayers for Jet lag.........I made to 3:30 this morning. It doesn't affect our daytime function, but gets us up a little earlier to pray, to read and be ready. This morning ready means showered and in the next room by 5:45 for prayer.

To be honest, those of you know us well, know that one of us is an introvert and the other isn't.  I was a little concerned about my tend to be by nature, my more introvert husband, being velcroed by the hour to "someone" either me or a student. There is not a lot of "personal space" here. Needless to say, the students LOVE Lynn already....so that provides even more velcro  .
As He preached last night he was so in sync with Chetra who was translating. It is hard to even describe the scenario. 60-70 students packed into a room all sitting on the tile floor. Last night, so many that they climbed up the windows to sit in the balcony. It is hotter than blazes, but a few fans are placed strategically around the room and it benefits a few people. When your butt cheeks are getting sore, and you have to wiggle (oh, wait, that might be JUST ME) you have to jostle two or three people to get your legs moving in another direction. The students from the tow other dorms all showed up............Last night Lynn and Chetra were on a roll, and so in sync with the Holy Spirit. The  words lowing with Chetra almost anticipating what Lynn and the HS were going to say next. After preaching for about 10 minutes (they ask him to go "at least at hour") the lights went out again.......total darkness, a PACKED room of University students now in a PITCH BLACK dark room that is hotter than one can describe now that the little fans have ceased their duties.

In a blink, cell phone flashlights were produced for Lynn and Chetra, and the message went on without a hitch...........and they continued to preach in unity for the rest of the time. Chetra seemed to even anticipate Lynn's humor and his giggles as he interpreted added that much more to the impact of the WORD being shared.  We all sat with sweat dripping down but Joy in our hearts as Lynn shared about the Ordinary people that Nehemiah had motivated to do that huge task of rebuilding the wall at Jerusalem. He used illustrations of some of the special people in OUR lives that God has used. The unlikely ones who GOD filled and used for amazing tasks  Pipor, one of the girls, who works at the Aboliton ministry Bloom Cafe,  had never met Lynn because she lives in the other dorm. She came up and said, "Grandma...you did so well. You married a man who is not only very handsome but he is GOD'S MOUTHPIECE for what we need to hear. I needed his message tonight that God wants to use each of us.

We are each having lots of one on one............and small group times throughout the day. The roof has become the meetings place. Yesterday VUthy and Pichet went and bought a tea set....it is sort of a little Starbucks up there on the roof. They found a big ceramic pottery container and bought goldfish, along with the plants. We have to giggle, because there are 3-4 who have the vision for making this a meeting place. We saw the multitudes of plants "watered" at least 3x yesterday. The poor cactus feel like they have moved to the Garden of Eden. But the love and the concern they are showing to make this a place of welcome is so touching.

Outreach is always on their minds. Sokun, a really neat young man was sharing with me yesterday that he really likes to play Basketball, not soccer...........but playing soccer is important for relationships and reaching out because that is what most University students play and so for him, it is "not about what I enjoy as much as what will influence people to be in contact with hearing Gods' Word. I am embarrassed sometimes because  don't play well, but it is more important to put aside my shyness for the greater purpose of our outreach."

Hmmmmm,  who is teaching whom???  Today we each now have four meetings.......starting with prayer at 5:45 am in this room. and added for Lynn, 2 hours of soccer with the guys. He keeps thinking as he is looking at these young, lithe, athletic University students that he is going to just WATCH..............do I hear any groans of disbelief out there? Lynn? sit and watch??? Probably not. I will be with the cheerleaders on the sidelines, cheering my man on :)

Thanks for your prayers.......not only for the teaching, but for the one on one sharing, the tea, the walks, the soccer, the "ice cream" visits, the relationship building....and he hours and hours each day of being "velcroed" to someone  at we might be a sweet fragrance of Jesus at all times.

Love, and thanks for praying!
 

Cambodia 2 - Heat & Mosquito Bites Don't Deter 'Grandma' Judy...

From: Judy [mailto:zimbi7@aol.com]
Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2012 5:10 PM
To: zimbi7@aol.com

Cambodia 2

It is 5:30 on a HOT, sunny afternoon. The electricity has gone off...Lynn is studying downstairs and I came up to the rooftop to study. Vuthy is sitting here at the table with me studying English grammar and I am trying to help, but it is obvious he remembers more than I. He reads and writes English well, but has not had much practice in conversational English, so we struggle along together.
 

Sothea, one of the older students is sitting with us. He has an ear pod in trying to learn a new Worship song from my iPod; Borey and Nora are watering the plants that grace the top of the roof. Jessica told us this morning that they fixed the roof up “before Grandma came” to make it even prettier...what an honor! There is an abundance of flowers and plants and I was wondering why I kept being tagged on FB with different flowers...now I see them in person. Borey built a treliss for some climbing orchids and it looks so pretty; a refreshing oasis in the warm city. Each tree, plant and shrub is being lovingly sprayed and pruned and talked to by Borey.

The students continue to bless me. My desire is to hear at least two of their stories each day. They come from such interesting backgrounds and it is a blessing to hear how God has brought them to this place called Crossroads.

Pichet, started at Crossroads as a Sophomore. He is a Khmer Literature major. His Mom and Dad fought a lot as he was growing up and split up; he was brought up by his paternal grandma. She is now 87 and is still commited to putting him through University. He is equally commited to paying her back for her investment in his education, although she insists she doesn’t want him to. He is in his third year and plans to teach literature in a high school out in the country. When he returns to the countryside, he knows he won’t use his English very much, but he is commited to “pay back” to his culture and invest in the lives of the Khmer students. He is a strong, refreshing Christ follower.

He asked me last night that starting tomorrow, if I would be willing to sit at 9 and 2 for an hour with some of the students...and talk about Grandma “wisdom”. Hmmmm, we could have a problem here Houston!   He said he loves his grandma so much, but that she follows Buddhism and is commited to the religion. The 'pagodas’ used to be a safe place for children and young people to go, "but that is no longer so", Pichet says.  So starting tomorrow, we will add a few more times to share with 14 students, talking about Jesus and life and walking with HIM.

Lynn shared last night on the life of Nehemiah, and his leadership style and he challenged the students to be leaders, full of JOY and committed to their task. They sat in rapt attention hearing the Word being shared; many talked with him afterwards about their own leadership style.

I am hoping the mosquitoes I've “prayed over” before whacking them, were just a plain ordinary variety!   It was a little strange coming back to Cambodia this time...a feeling like we were coming “home”. I didn’t think much about insect repellent and malaria prophylactic...until last night when I came down from the roof with upwards of 50 'love bites' from the dear buzzing creatures.

Still working on some technicalities with photos/and electricity going off at weird times, so I hope to get in the swing of this blog (Thank you Rebecca/Valerie!)

Love,
Judy and Lynn

Settling in at Crossroads

It is 5;30 on a hot hot sunny afternoon.The electricity has gone off...Lynn is studying downstairs and I came up to the roof top to study. 

Vuthy is sitting here at the table with me studying English grammar and I am trying to help, but it is obvious he remembers more than I; He reads and writes English well...........but has not had much practice in conversational English, so we are struggling along.

Sothea, one of the older students is sitting with us. He has an ear pod in trying to learn a new Worship song from my ipod; Borey and Nora are watering the plants that grace the top of the roof. Jessica told us this morning that they fixed the roof up "before Grandma came" to make it even prettier.........what an honor! There is an abundance of flowers and plants.and I was wondering why I kept being tagged on FB with different flowers...now I see them in person. Borey built a trelise for some climbing orchids and it looks so pretty and is a refreshing oasis in the warm city. Each tree, and plant and shrub is being lovingly sprayed and pruned and talked to by Borey.

The students continue to bless me. My desire is to hear at least two of their stories each day. They come from such interesting backgrounds and it is a blessing to hear how God has brought them to this place called Crossroads.

Pichet...........Started at Crossroads as a Sophomore. He is a Khmer Literature major. His Mom and Dad fought a lot as he was growing up and they split up so he was brought up by his Paternal grandma. She is now 87 and still commited to putting him thru University. He is equally commited to paying her back for her investment in his education, although she insists she doesn't want it. He is in his third year and plans to teach literature in a high school out in the country. When he returns to the countryside, he knows he won't use his English very much, but he is commited to "pay back" to his culture and invest in the lives of the Khmer students. He is a strong, refreshing Christ follower.

He asked last night if starting tomorrow, if I would be willing to sit at 9 and 2 for an hour with some of the students...and talk about Grandma "wisdom" *hmmmm, we could have a problem here Houston..........He said he loves his grandma so much, but that she follows Buddhism and is commited to the religion. The "pagodas' used to be a safe place for children and young people to go, but it is not so any longer, Pichet said. So starting tomorrow, we will add a few more times to share with 14 students.....talking about Jesus and life and walking with HIM.

Lynn shared last night on the life of Nehemiah, and his leadership style and he challenged the students to be leaders, full of JOY and committed to their task. They sat in rapt attention hearing the word shared and many talked with him afterwards about their own leadership style.

I am hoping that the mosquitos that I "prayed over" before whacking them, were just a plain ordinary variety.  It was a little strange this time coming back to Cambodia.........feeling like we were coming "home" I didn't think much about repellant and malaria prophylactic.....until last night  when I came down from the roof with upwards of 50 love bites from the dear buzzing creatures.　

Still working on some technicalities with photos/and electricity going off at weird times, so I hope to get in the swing of this blog.

Love, Judy and Lynn.....

The Trip So Far - Day 1

Received by email from Judy E., Tuesday, 1/31/12, 9:12 AM

We are almost at our destination

Greensboro to LAX...4 hour 45 minutes: (and a delightful sojourn with our 3 sons and families for 2 1/2 days)...LAX to Japan...11 1/2 hours; 2 hour layover; Japan to Singapore 7 1/2 hour flight...14 hour layover in Singaore...and now, on our last flight...2 1/2 hours to Phonm Penh. Probably 45-60 minutes to get a Visa and clear customs and we will be on Cambodian soil.  After the ride thru the city, we will probably get to Crossroads by 7 PM; a little late for "Rice",  as meals are affectionately referred to...BUT, just in time for Tuesday night Worship! We read an email in Singapore asking what Lynn's talk will be about " tonight", so we can get started right away.

Lundy will be leading worship and Chetra interpreting and the beat goes on...with great joy!

Early this morning we met two young Singaporean men, Mark and Ronald. They asked why we were going to Cambodia. We told them that we were going to meet and teach some students who were interested in studying God's Word, as well as bringing a financial gift from our church to help with flood relief. They both expressed incredulity that anyone would want to leave America to assist people so far away. What a special conversation as we shared from Corinthians...that the Love of God is what urges us and how glad we were that we were part of a church that is commited to sharing God's love and blessings with others.

After our breakfast with Paul Chang at IKEA, near the Singapore airport, we met up with two gentlemen at the airport who are also traveling to Crossroads. One is on the Board of the Mission that sponsors Crossroads, the other man is from Malaysia and is a specialist in organic fertilizer. They travel every few months to check on the progress of the Pepper Plantations which Crossroads sponsors. The pepper is far exceeding the national production, in the same way that they are seeing the Spiritual growth of the students.

The trip has gone well...we feel amazingly alert and refreshed and thankful for this privilege. We are FULLY aware of the prayers of God's people...each of you who are taking time reading this rambling epistle

Thanks for reading...and even more, Thanks for praying!

-Jud for both of us

Onward to Cambodia

Sent By Judy Everswick: January 31, 2012 2:03:08 PM - GMT +08:00

(Posted by GM Team Member: Jan. 31, 2012, 2:25 PM)

Hi everyone,

We are sitting at the gate in Singapore getting ready to board the final leg to Phnom Penh. Long trip, but we are holding up so well and I know it is all the Lord. Just checked email and the worship leader wanted to know Lynn's message title for tonight :) We will get there at 7...and their service starts at 7:30. No time for snoozing! Ha ha! PTL for people praying!

Will write more on a computer...Hopefully!

Much love to you