April 2016 continued...

The time here in Cambodia continues to go quickly here as we continue the ministry. Lately I have found myself feeling like my daily life has become rewardingly so normal to me and in turn I'm beginning to really feel that Cambodia is my home. I praise God that he has allowed me to get so familiar with this ministry. We continually see him working in the students, staff, and interns. It's really awesome to know that God's hand is at work in the people around me and to know that God is working a real change here in Cambodia. 
This month the students finish their first term at the Bible school so a lot of this month was wrapping things up, finals, vacation and prep for the new term. However, before a lot of that started we all had the chance to make a special outing. Around the beginning of March in old Bible student contacted us and requested that the students at the school participate in a local Christian group singing contest. We happily accepted in the students begin practicing the song "Above All" in Khmer. When the day finally came we got all dressed up, practice a bit more and headed to the event. It was quite humorous when we arrived. It looked as if it was a children's singing contest, rather than a young adults thing. We joked about it but soon after we could see that there was older contesters as well. We spent the day they are watching the show, singing and having fun. The students performed and although they didn't win anything I know they really appreciated the experience. It was really encouraging to see so many Christians gathered in Siem Reap to sing songs to the Lord. It was all so inspiring to hear the Korean missionaries speak about how their country before was similar to Cambodia and how now it has changed for the better. The encourage the people here in Cambodia that God is moving, working and he is in the process of changing this country! 
This month is a celebration month for the Khmer people because this is the month that they celebrate their new year. I was blessed to have the opportunity to go and celebrate with my friends what are interns in their Village from the 11th to the 18th. The celebration is quite different from our new year in the states. They celebrate their new year for two weeks in the school's get that time as a holiday. There are three days in that time that are especially special. I spent three and a half days and 3 nights at Sister Sheanghai's house and three days and four nights at Sister Sothiya and Sister Somaly's house. the first chunk of my time was spent at Sister Sheanghai's house. I really enjoyed meeting all her family, speaking with them and getting to know them a bit. It felt a little bit like home as it was just her parents, her and I staying there. It was nice to have some peace and quiet and spend some good quality time with Sister Sheanghai. While I was there we mostly just relax and I was pulled deeper into the culture as she allowed me to help cook and do the normal daily activities. I also really enjoyed being able to eat a lot of delicious mangoes at her house because her family has their own trees. smile emoticon we went to see her siblings, ran errands around the village, and made a trip to the market. We also spent a half day of fellowship at Sister Sothiya and Sister Somaly's house with the students that live in nearby villages. All of us talked, ate special food, played around a bit and sang some worship songs. Another trip out with Sister Sothiya and Sister Somaly what's first a quick trip to Saron's house, then to the Church of four of our Bible school students in a different village. It was so cool to see their Church, witness many baptisms, eat together, have some fellowship, dance and talk. After we spent time there we continued on to go to the base in Kranktumum. When we got there we were not able to spend a lot of time because it was a long trip. However, it was so good to see the missionary couple down there and speak with them a bit. They then proceeded to give us instructions for upcoming projects. And we headed back home. On the last night at Sister Sheanghai's house I was able to go with Sister Sheanghai to see the celebration in the temple. There are three days and nights of big celebration. At night they start the music at around 9 p.m. and it plays loud until midnight. The people come to eat a little, dance and have a good time. We didn't decide to join in a big group of dancers but it was cool to see it all take place. Overall I really enjoyed my time at Sister Sheanghai's house. I felt happy when I was there and blessed that God allowed me to spend that time there. I really hope in the future I will get to do it again. The rest of my time was spent with sister Sothiya, some time with sister Somaly and their family. The evening of the 11th and most of the 12th was just nice relaxing time, spending good time with their family, meeting them and talking. When I returned to their house from sister Sheanghai's house on the 16th we prepared to go out. In the morning sister Sheangahai, sister Sothiya and I took a cool trip to the river near their Village to sit, eat and look at the nature. I'm glad we had the chance to do that, when we had finished eating lunch we took a nice but short trip to sister Sreymoms house and to visit friends in the afternoon. Then we went to Sarons house for her second and Main celebration of her wedding in the village. We chatted when we were there and told them unfortunately we wouldn't be able to stay too long. They were so kind and insisted that we eat. When we were finished, we prayed for sister Somaly and sister Sheanghai to send them off to Kranktumum. Sister Sothiya and I stay there a bit longer, talked, and spent time with others. Please continue to pray for Saron and Yi as they continue their journey in Christ together. They are such awesome people and I really love, admire and respect them. That night sister Sothiya and I decided to take another trip to the temple to watch some more dancing. The next day we washed clothes, went to the market, spend time with her and sister Somaly's family, as well as going to visit Sister Sheanghai's house one last time. Then the rest of the day was relaxing and prep for our long car ride to Siem Reap the next day. Enjoyed spending time there as well I speaking to their family and spending some time relaxing. I think it was good to experience a solid chunk of time in the village allowing me to delve into the culture even deeper. I feel especially blessed to have been able to spend that time at the houses of close friends. It was awesome to see where they had grown up and experience most of their life. I think God that he provided for me in that.
General Village Ministry and Ministry at the school is going well. The kids in the village continue to have small but good changes in their character. It's truly a continuous blessing to venture to the village and teach the kids every week. Getting to know the kids more and speaking with them makes my heart happy. I feel as if I'm really starting to know and feel mutually comfortable with people and families in each Village. The Lord has allowed me to truly experience the life here, continue to give me joy and teach me and I feel abundantly blessed by it. the ministry at the school is going well. Mondays and Tuesdays are English, guitar class and phonics class for Sunday school training. I love working with the students at this school. With the amount of time they spend together in the personal time they share, it has become like a family. God has blessed the place with unity. As they're continuing to learn please pray that God would give them strength and understanding. Please also pray that the Lord would provide the needed time for new opportunities.
A big thank you goes out to all the people thinking about us here and praying for us. We all truly appreciate it and know that God is working through the prayer. We do have a few prayer requests. Please continue to pray for the students at the school and in the village. Pray that God would bless their families and open their eyes to see his goodness. Pray for safety as we travel for Ministry. Please pray for all of our futures and guidance from the Lord to fulfill his will. Please pray for all of our health, strength, wisdom and understanding and to have zeal to push ourselves closer to our Father. We received news in our first meeting of the month that the missionary couple in the South would be leaving to go finish up their visa process and that we needed to send two of us staff down there to watch the base. So as it turns out sister Sheanghai and sister Somaly has been down there since the 16th and I will change places with sister Somaly to stay with sister Sheanghai on the 13th of May until around the 6th of June. So please pray for the missionary couple as they travel and that God would work in the business that they need to complete. Also for the peace, safety, health, faith and strength of sister Sheanghai, sister Somaly and myself. 
Official news of my return date has been received. I will be home on the 13th of July in the afternoon. When thinking of this I feel happy that I will be seeing my family and friends soon. However, I ask for prayers because despite that a big part of me is feeling sad. I will be leaving what is home for me now. I have grown to deeply love the country of Cambodia. While I've been here, I've met people and made friendships that I truly treasure. I've grown to truthfully love and care about the people here. The kids, families, students and people that I work with involving the ministry have really obtained a special place in my heart. Some more than others. As I'm praying for the future I feel as if maybe my work for the Lord isn't finished here and I hope it isn't. Please pray for the future of the ministry here in Cambodia and that God would provide for it. God bless you all and your families as well. Thank you again!