Home Sweet Home

I have a home - I will be moving all of my things in on Monday. It is the second and third floors of a house in which a Khmer family lives on the bottom floor. We have a separate enterance to our house but the main gate we share with them. It has two bedrooms, one bathroom and then a living room-dining room-kitchen all open. On the third floor we have a open balcony with two rooms off of it each has a bathroom they open onto the balcony outside. A very different set up then my other house. I am excited to have all the main living space on one floor. It is located a couple of blocks from the university where I study. God has answered our prayers.

A New Home

Rachael and I found a house that we like today. It is above a Khmer family's home, but has a seperate entrance. It has a spacious feel and lots of windows. Please pray that all the final things that need to happen for us to rent this place would take place. Thank you.

New Language Opportunities

Today I met with one of the missionaries that helps me with studying the langauge we meet 2 times a week for a hour and a half each time. She has been coming to my house for months now and we usually study a book or I ask her questions about something else I have been studying if I need further explanation. Today she took me to an orphanage - it is right around the corner from where I live right now and I did not even know it. It was a great time. The orphanage has around 35 children ranging from 2 years old to 12 years old. I spent my time asking the kids their names and ages, playing games with them, taking some pictures and laughing. It was a time of refreshing for me, the kids were excited and having such a good time it made my heart glad. I could not understand all of the children when they talked some do not speak very clearly, but I was able to talk some. I hope to be able to visit there on a regular basis.

On the Move

As of this morning I was getting ready to move in with a good friend and missionary collegue, Rachael, to where she has been living for the last 6 months. A new contract had already been negotiated for another 6 months. As of this afternoon the landlords have changed their minds and no longer want to rent that apartment. Therefore we are both in need of a new place to move to. We are looking for something that will be able to keep us somewhat cool in the hottest times of the year and a place that is roomy... We will only be living together for a few months so I would like it to be in a nice location near some of the other missionaries for when she moves provincially. Pray as we trust God to guide not only us but also our helper in all these changes. We know that our God is a loving and compassionate God and has a plan and purpose pray that we would listen to his voice and rest in him.

Happy Valentine's Day

One of my missionary colleagues asked me what my favorite love story in the Bible is. The better question what is the greatest love story of all times?
My answer: I think that if this story was written in a modern way in a non-fiction romance novel many women would be intrigued and interested by the story (even men) – especially of a man sacrificing his life for the one he loves –dying in the place of that one. The story begins with love, leads to pursuing, and eventually the death, but then comes the source of life.
On the side of the one that is loved: at first they have interest, but then reject the lover, pushing the lover away, running to other things/people, the one is sentenced to death for the things done, but saved by the lover who takes the place of this loved one. After the death of the lover the one loved realizes the loss and is grieved, but the lover rises from the dead and they are able to have everlasting love-love that never ends.
This story would be one that may interest many and people may be excited to share it with others but would they interact with it, would it really touch them at the heart?
Maybe People are not wanting to be touched because when they are they feel there are expectations on them.
However, this is not a story in a romance novel it is truth. This is the story between Jesus (the lover) and each one of us (the loved). And there are expectations: once one has heard about Jesus one has to either accept or reject Him. What about you – if you have not accepted then you have rejected and rejection leads to death not life. But choosing Jesus is the greatest love exerience ever-one that has no end.
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http://www.dayspring.com/ecards/predesign.asp Then go to Your Divine Valentine under the Valentine Cards!

Prayer Retreat

Today was the first day of our two day field prayer retreat. First I thank God that all our missionaries in Cambodia were able to come to this time. This is the first time that I was able to meet some of them so it was great. Second I thank God for speaking to us as we spent time quieting our hearts and listening to him. Thirdly I thank God for good time of fellowship as a community. I pray that tomorrow would be just as encouraging and that God would continue to direct us and show us how to do what he wants.

Women's Camp

This year we had the first ever women's camp - 400 ladies from 3-4 different provinces made their way to Siem Reap to participate in this 3 day event. It was a beautiful sight to see this many in worship together. The church was filled to overflowing - it was nice to see the building since when I was here in 2001 I participated in bulding it. I met some girls that remembered me, they were part of the youth group that we helped with then. I had opportunity to speak with Khmer ladies and to listen alot. It was a beneficial language experience for me (e.g. singing with the other missionaries in front of course in Khmer), but it was also a very encouraging time. It was a blessing to see that the Khmer women were blessed and that God was speaking to them. I also had the opportunity to connect with other missionaries on our field that I had not yet met. It was great fun.

Structure in Studying

The more that I study the more I learn about Cambodians. In my university class most everything we do is rote and everyday I know to expect in my class. Both my teacher and my tutor have a difficult time answering questions I have about the language. What can I learn about Cambodians from this...Cambodians do not seem to question much, they were taught not to question and to do just what they were told and they seem to have a difficult time thinking outside of the box or creatively. Reason being they were never given the chance to really do this growing up. Well this has gotten me thinking about the church in Cambodia - the church is still fairly new and I cannot imagine what it would be like to be a new Christian in Cambodia. They don't have a lot of resources or a lot of ideas of what to do. I just think of everything that we have had education, many different models of ministry...I guess that is why God has us here. Please keep Cambodia in your prayers, the Christians and all of us missionaries.

Examples of some Khmer

លេវីវិន័យ Leviticus

ជនគណនា Numbers

ចោទិយកថា Deuteronomy

នាងរស់ Ruth

អែសរ៉ា Ezra

The Books of the Bible

I cannot really remember learning the books of the Bible, but it must have been in Awana. I just take for granted the fact that I know them and can locate book-chapter-verse quite easily. Now I am going through this again in Khmer language - I know now what it feels like when you don't know the books of the Bible but are trying to learn them and you come across these really strange names that you cannot read or pronounce very easily. I can identify with the Awana kids who are trying to learn the names of the books of the Old Testament it is difficult. Today was the first day that I went through the 66 names. It will take a while for me to memorize all of them but I am working on it and am excited for the day when I can easily find book-chapter-verse in my Khmer Bible.