TWO WEEKS LATER

River Life in Cambodia

PREACHING & TEACHING

Unbelievably for me, it has been two weeks since I posted last. My apologies for the lapse, but it has been so very busy here. One of the things that used up almost all of my waking hours was preparing for my sermon at Krachap Church on July 31. I spent many hours on it, and am happy to say that it went quite well (although I don't know how Pastor Dan does this week after week!!!). I spoke on how you do life the way Jesus taught.

As well, this past Monday and Friday (Aug 1 & Aug 5), our team did some teaching for the Kampong Thom district employees at the World Vision office. We had about 40 participants each day. We each spent a lot of time preparing for our individual presentations, the topics were: God's Love, Revelation About God (Truthbox), Plumbline, Hearing God's Voice, Holy Spirit, Cost of Following Jesus, Simple Church.

World Vision Aug 5

My topic was "Cost of Following Jesus", and (in my humble opinion) I had a really great presentation and power point ready. However, about an hour before my time slot, I was starting to feel some internal nudging. At first, I wondered if I was feeling anxious about speaking (or was it what I ate for lunch?), and then I realized it was Holy Spirit. After my many hours of preparation, I wasn't supposed to do my prepared talk.....(of course I thought - WHAT?!?!). But I had no idea what I was to do. So, at 2:30 I walked to the front, clinging to my notes with the hope that at the last minute I would realize I could still use them. Nope! I turned to the audience, set my notes upside down on the table and spoke candidly about our team and what we had all come through to be there in that room in Cambodia.

Then, because they are involved with children and so are we, I was inspired to have them do a silly action song with me (believe me, when you do this song, you can't help but laugh) It's called Making Melodies in my Heart and by the end, you have your thumbs up, elbows out, knees bent, feet apart, head tipped, tongue out, turning circles while still trying to sing the song (photo on left). It was a riot to see these very

subdued Cambodians laughing like children (photo on right)! Definitely a mood shifter and a break from all the powerpoints that had happened throughout the day. My team says that I "bowled them over" with my spontaneity. I take no credit for it; I just followed the direction He gave me, and as usual He was perfectly right.

About an hour later, we were blessed to witness two of the World Vision staff come to the front to accept Jesus! That hadn't been part of our agenda either, but obviously part of God's plan and we were honoured to have been there for it.

At our presentation on Aug 5, things went differently. Everyone modified their talks slightly (and I did my prepared one) based on our Monday experience, and it was generally a terrific day (even though we lost electrical power for several hours - meaning no computer, no projector, and even worse, no air conditioning) but in the end we witnessed three more salvations. It's so amazing how God works! Originally, there were a few members of our team resistant to us doing the talks at World Vision, as they felt it took away from what we were doing in the villages (our teachings and evangelizing). In the end, we have probably affected more people by discipling these 5 at World Vision, as they will be able to spread His Word after we have left.

VILLAGE & SCHOOL WORK

We continue to make progress planting seeds in the villages. An elderly man named Noh Kea (photo on right: he's reading Bible with our translator Peter) accepted Jesus into his life and at the end of the prayer for him, he exclaimed "Praise Jesus!" We know he will make a difference in his community; he is well-respected and much-loved. Noh Kea lost a leg during the war, and this sweet man rides his bicycle (yes, with only one leg) 18 km into town to the market (and then 18 km back home again) several times a week, with his wife riding on the bicycle with him. He has such vigor and strength and yet may not weigh more than 95 pounds! I remember the first time we met him was on a village dirt road, and we had no translator with us at the time, but through hand gestures, it was evident he wanted us to go to his hut for tea. We couldn't that day but said we would in the future. Of course, he was expecting us the next day but we didn't know that until we bumped into him at a shop a week later. So he invited us again, and we joyfully accepted. It was obvious we were supposed to connect with him.

August 7 Addition: Here is Noh Kea with his crutch in his left hand riding his bike home from his first day at Church, using only his right leg to pedal. What an inspiration he is to us all!

As well, we have been able to provide a married couple with reading glasses (photo on left) so that he can read the Bible, and in the process teach her to read. This couple has also offered space on their land (see photo below) to build a church/school/bible study group. It turns out there are several people in that area who want to attend church, but the 8 km distance is too far for them to get there on a Sunday morning.

We were going to construct a building in another village, but there have been some challenges to making progress on that one, and the need is not as great. As a result, we will transfer our energy to this one. Please pray that the weather co-operates with us. The water content is much higher right now with monsoon season; the river has risen significantly and the rains continue.

We have also purchased books and pencils for our students; I believe about 200 in all between the 3 villages we go to. These children are delighted with anything we offer them. One day, we did health & hygiene and gave them each a comb, soap, toothbrush & toothpaste and the look of wonder and appreciation on their faces was so touching.

CHANGE OF PACE

Last Friday, we went on a field trip with the Pastors and their families to pray at the top of Santuk Mountain against the idols and pagodas that are located there. It was 809 steps (and 33 degrees Celcius of course) from the bottom to the top. Tom was literally dripping when we got to the top - his shirt was soaked as if he had put it on wet!). Jeff, who lost his leg a year ago in an accident and also had hip surgery in Feb this year, made it all the way to the top. He is a miracle! When we arrived in Kona in April, he could not walk more than 1/4 block at a time, and that was using a cane! The view at the top was amazing, the monkeys were aggressive, and a little scary as one of them bared his teeth and charged at us.

Then after we spent time praying at the top, Nancy took a tumble and sprained her wrist and one of the pastor's kids fell on the steps on our way down. It was horrifying to see him trip and then go head over heels and roll down 8 steps. I was worried he wouldn't stop as the stairs are continuous. He was cut under & over his eye, which became black and blue the next day. As well, he had a scrape on his knee. But that is minor compared to what we expected. I was sure he would break something during the fall.

Pastor Sakun had made arrangements for a meal for us at the bottom, so we all shared cross-legged style (photo to right). We were pleasantly surprised by the food in such a remote area. Tom tried fried frog from the vendor, but the rest of us abstained. The crispy insects didn't look too appealing either (photo below)!

This has been quite a long post; I will try to post more frequently so it doesn't take as long to get through one. There are many things I could share, but have run out of time. It is only 3 weeks before I am back in Red Deer; it seems hard to believe in many ways that 4 months have passed since I left home. And yet, there has been a lifetime of memories already. Well, enough of that. Until next time!

HUGS!

June