We wrapped up the week by finding many beautiful items for the boutique (the next Tea is May 2). We toured the killing fields, Wat Phnom, and the royal palace from the outside.
We had a final dinner with our friends Daleep, Tithda, and Jackie at Suki Soup. To round out the evening we tried our first cricket. We gone to the next level.
We are packed and ready to depart for home in the morning.
Thank you for your prayers for energy. We were revived today.
Teacher training wrapped up with storytelling, worship, and games.
In the training there was a Vietnamese Pastor. There is a lot of disention because of history. They brought him in to minister to the Vietnamese people. He is hearing English, that is translated to Khmer, that is then translated into Vietnamese. He is smiling and enjoying and participating in the training. What a trooper.
VBS was acted out by the locals. They did a great job.
Chris and Mary Ann Young, the missionary who coordinated our 2007 trip,surprised us at lunch. It was a blessing to catch up. The Lord orchestrated a time of encouragement.
We did a debriefing with those from training. They shared how people can give money or do service but what Fifty5five left was a sustainable model. They had already began to use it. To God be the glory.
We leave resources for them to utilize. They already pooled the resources to use. Some of it made its way to the main floor and was being used. Their open door policy will use them to maximum capacity.
It was an honor and pleasure to serve with AIM/Rehab's House. Thank you for allowing us to be the hands and feet. Your prayers and support are the backbone of this ministry.
The teachers learned about creating costumes out of local resources. They practiced skits and other skills. They are really awesome.
The team is pretty wiped out today. Most are still waking around 3 am and at the latest 5:30. We tried caffeine and a cat nat. Neither solved the delima.
VBS was on salvation. The kids watch scruff the dog make the ultimate sacrifice for kip the robot. They learned about sin and salvation. There were lots of little hands raised to receive Jesus in their hearts.
Tomorrow finishes our service with Agape International Missions. Please pray for energy and endurance.
Day 3 Teacher Training:
We all shared different personalities and how God uses them. Becky taught the 10 commandments on her hands. Linda and Jerry taught different ideas for memory verse games. It's very fun to watch adults imitate animals. It's a fun way to teach kids scripture.
VBS:
Today was by far the best day. We taught on forgiveness of sin. The teachers had fun using the crazy bag of ideas. For example...stick out your tongue and say the memory verse. The teachers may have enjoyed it more than the kids.
It wouldn't be a mission trip without a little creepy crawly. At dinner Kelsey poured her tea and there were 3 cockroaches in her cup. Two were drowned and the other came running out at me. In America we'd have immediately left. But true to being a missionary, we stayed and ate dinner. Kelsey was done with the whole idea of tea.
The weather has been in the high 80's low 90s. We are hot and the locals are cold. We open a window or turn on a fan and they close it or turn it off. We even prayed for a family who lost a family member to the 'cold'. It certainly is not the hottest we've been in but, coming from the true cold it's hot to us. Over all it has been a comfortable trip for a mission trip. We've been blessed with air in our rooms and van. Thank you for your continued prayers. They are so valuable.
The end of the day we were happy to have a wet one and a cold one...water that is.
Today was day 2 of teacher training and VBS. We did shared different types of learners, storytelling, and discipline at teacher training. I'd like to share a few highlights. Linda had to choose between good and evil as Theresa and Jerry represented good and evil. Jerry does a mean evil. Becky shared the prodigal son with awesome foam props. Kelsey and Ron posed as kids in the classroom receiving discipline.
Ron enjoyed coconut water while others enjoyed Vietnamese coffee at break. It refueled us for the afternoon.
We are getting our cardio in from all of the stair climbing. Our rooms are on the 5th floor and the lift (elevator) requires a lot of patience. Add to that our training is on the 3rd floor. We did a tour yesterday of some garment factories and the stairs were definitely not to code. We'll be equipped to climb Mt Everest after this and our calves will be so awesome.
The entertainment came from Ron when he questioned if the sprayer (bidet) was for our hand washing. Uhm...no thanks.
Thank you in advance for prayer for endurance. Although it's an abbreviated trip, we're working hard to fit a lot in.
Today began training and VBS. We were blessed to work with those who supervise children that are being temporarily fostered for various reasons. The interpreter was a total match for Becky and the teachers were quick to participate. After a three hour training they then used their new skill to pretty much put on the VBS. These teachers have a great program in place. We are hoping, as Paul did for the churches, that we'd be an encouragement to them. We hope also to offer fresh ideas that will carry on into the ministry. Linda and Becky were inspiring. Jerry and Ron were a hit in the skit as a robot and dog. Kelsey was popular being the youngster of the group.
We'll not be sharing photos from the site at the requests of our hosts. This is to protect those they have rescued. What I will share is that we got a tour of the great work that is happening. They are closing brothels, rescuing children, educating, housing and employing people. It is pretty incredible. It pulls at the heart strings to know what has taken place there but the forward vision is spot on. They are equipping the people.
That is all these tired brain cells can muster up tonight. Thank you for your continued prayers.
We had the privilege of attending church at Rehab's House...eventually. We all woke up in the wee Cambodia hours because we couldn't last past 6:00pm the night before . We had no problem being ready to head out at 6:45am today. Our driver arrived in Cambodia time (late). He then blessed us with an unintentional scenic view of Cambodia. We arrived over an hour late to church. We were excited to see we had taught at the after school program there 7 years ago. We hurried into church and received a message that was translated for us and worshipped together. We met our hosts and talked logistics.
We spent the remainder of the day prepping for our first day of teacher training and VBS. We've changed our normal program up to accommodate the AIM group we are serving.
We were also blessed with a visit from our friends we met in 2007, Titha and Daleep. That is such a treat as you never know if you'll get to see people from trips again this side of Heaven. We did get to see Daleep when she was in the states back in 2011.
We are all doing well. We are still struggling to make it past 6:00pm. I'm thinking we'll be adjusted about the time we are set to go home:-).
Oh yes, you know how the loaves and fish were multiplied? Well that darn fish and knife multiplied here. The knife was confiscated at the airport but we were spared the rubber fish that held it. Today another knife and fish appeared. The saga continues.
Our travels have started out pretty smoothe for us. A little back tracking and a pit stop for necessary items. Even the weigh in went smoothe. They were a bit over whelmed at the amount of luggage we had so the didn't even weigh it. They did weigh our carry ons which caused a little rearranging but not much. The young man at the counter was very helpful and humorous letting things slide. Oh yes, and the knife in the rubber fish in Jerry's luggage. Poor Jerry always gets set up. The good news is only the knife was confiscated.
The 14 hour flight was good despite the turbulance and tea spillage. Our layover was almost uneventful with the exception on 3 gate changes. After Kelsey's keen eye of noticing that Phnom Phen was not on the monitor, we had to speed walk/sprint to another terminal. It was a great way to get a little exercise in between flights.
Our final flight was only 3 1/2 hours and pretty good with some turbulance and a few extra smacks on the head from the traveler behind me. It kept it entertaining. We've arrived in Phnom Pehn, hit the Russian Market, skipped dinner, and trying to keep our eyes open past 5:30. I have a feeling it is going to be an early morning.
I'm thinking of all the wonderful people who make it possible for us to be the hands and feet of this mission: those who give, pray, prepare crafts, help pack, donate supplies and food, transport us, handle our house holds, feed our families, send emails and text of encouragement, cover us at work, and our families who make huge sacrifices. You are all part of this mission. How many people make up a mission team? I suspect over 300. We thank you! You make it possible and we richly value you.
