My experience in Cambodia was much different from VN last year (doing optometry vs. children's ministry) -- though the food tasted much the same and there are mopeds everywhere!!! =) a pix to share from a friend.....

Pam – Thursday October 26, 2006

So much has happened since the last time I posted and I’m sure it seems as though our team had ‘dropped off the face of the earth’ last weekend when we did not have internet access for several nights, but God has been doing some wonderful things on our team and in our hearts. It’s been a week of recovery and relapsing of physical illnesses but the Lord has been abundant in His grace and mercy. Today was our last full day of clinic and we traveled about 30 minutes out to Brother Hung’s home in Sen Sok Village, just outside of Phnom Penh. It was a full day of clinic but many of our team members were able to ‘drop in’ for a few minutes with the childrens’ ministry and just enjoy worshipping in song and dance! Even the cheerful voices of the children were an encouragement to those of us ministering in the clinics as we were reminded of the joy they had in praising the Lord!

Earlier this week, we had a ‘day off’ on Monday to enjoy some time sightseeing (mostly shopping) around Phnom Penh and I was so excited to go but that morning, I woke up completely exhausted, even though Dr. Mike had graciously moved our wakeup time one half hour later J I ended up not being able to go after two bouts of nausea (that did not end favourably) and spent the rest of the day in bed. That ended up being a blessing in disguise as God knew that I really needed the time of refreshing and prayer. As I thought about the different things He had shown me in the past week, the phrase ‘let go and let God’ came to mind. The decisions of faith people made this week, the number of patients that were promised to be seen every day, ministering effectively as we shared the good news, all the logistical planning – we can try and plan everything so that it follows a perfect progression to a predictable conclusion but when it comes to peoples’ lives being changed by the Gospel, that is something that is ‘all God.’ God’s sovereignty needs to be over all things in all aspects of our lives and when we surrender our own wills, then I think we will truly live abundant ‘spirit-filled lives’. When I was reminded of this wonderful truth, I was able to enjoy serving the Lord so much more and the joy I had was both energizing and overflowing. In the last few days, the Lord has blessed me so much in meeting amazing people and hearing about or even witnessing their stories of suffering and faith. I pray that this lesson will stay fresh in my mind and heart as we head home in the next few days.

After having a couple of days off we were back to work. I had a hard time getting up this morning as well as some others and as result we got a late start. Today we were going to have clinic and minister to soldiers at a Cambodia army base. It was an hour drive and we were running an hour behind. When we were almost there Mike informed us that because of our tartiness that we made our brothers who worked so hard to set everything up look bad. This was the 1^st time that the army opened there base up for us and we kept them waiting an hour. It was an eye opener for all of us and made me re think where we are and what a privlage and honor it is to serve these people and we need to respect that.

 When we arrived the top generals welcomed us very formally and graciously and introductions were made and we stated to set up clinic. The top five generals were given priority and treated first.

You know it never fail that the person I don’t want to pray for or share the gospel with Mike always gives them to me. The head general I’m guessing he was head because he was the 1^st patient was intimidating. Jeff & I were talking later saying “you know that they have kill people we just don’t know how many”.

 Well to say the least I was given the opportunity to pray for this man when I asked him what he wanted prayer for he said “please pray for the people of Cambodia that their suffering would end and that they would have a better future”. After I prayed the powerful leader he just sat there motionless and stared for 30 seconds, you know the look when God had touch someone. My interputer looked at me smiled and said “for God’s kingdom”. Thank you Jesus!

We have faith that God is good and is alive and working in Cambodia.

Carter and Alan are feeling better but please keep our sister Pam in prayer after all her hard work today she came back feel ill again.

Also please pray for patience, even though we are getting tired we want to be able to continue to serve everyone believer or non believer with Jesus in our heart.

Thank you everyone for your prayers.

We miss you and we love you.

Blessings to all

Gaylen

  Today, we had a day of rest.  We went to the Russian and Central Markets to shop.  The evening was spent reflecting on our time here in Cambodia.  It was a good day.

 I have been thinking a lot about a common complaint that many people have in the medical clinic.  Powerlessness.  I remember asking one woman what was concerning her, and that was the term the interpreter gave me.  I didn’t understand what that meant so I asked for a further explanation.  No strength.  No energy.  I took a good look at the woman, and I saw it in her countenance.  Her gaze was turned to the floor, her shoulders were slumped over by so many years of burdens, and her worries formed deep wrinkles on her face.  My heart felt for her.

 There are many reasons to explain the powerlessness many of the people here felt.  Life has been difficult for them.  Many of the people I saw worked physically demanding jobs only to barely make ends meet.  They know that there are people in the world who have so much more, and yet they have been denied access to that abundance.  Most of the people with this symptom also were young adults during Pol Pot’s dictatorship.  However, I came to realize that it was not the social circumstances, but the spiritual circumstances that caused these folks to feel powerless and hopeless.

 The social circumstances for many believers of Cambodia are not very different.  What is different is Jesus Christ.  Those who know God seem to have an unending energy to serve God.  There is strength and joy in their actions.

 Those with powerlessness were hoping I could give them a medicine to heal their pain.  The missions team did better.  We shared God’s love.  It is amazing how many faces lit up when they heard the truth.  Many have accepted Christ.  It is my prayer that the seeds that were planted will grow.  That when people begin to feel powerlessness they will turn to the ultimate Healer who will give them strength.

As we served and had fellowship with the pastors and leaders of the churches of Cambodia in Sihanoukville I sensed the joy and the coming together of hearts and minds in love for one another.  We were shown much love from those who have so little yet were so rich in love.  It was a humbling experience.

I’m happy to see the devotion and commitment of all the five young men who serve as our translators.  They bless us.  They help us see God’s love and restoration of Cambodia.  They represent the future.

The visit to Toul Sleng Genocide Museum was quite difficult for many of us.  Yet in that deep sorrow and pain we have hope, for many hearts are open to His gospel of peace in Christ, and we are so grateful for those that accept the gift of salvation we share.

I’m reminded of  II Chronicle 7:14

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and see my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

I thank God for having this opportunity together with the people of Cambodia to pray God’s healing will be ended.  It is now time for healing and restoration from our God.

Jeremiah 33:6 Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing with it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundance of peace and security

Sunday

10/22/06

No clinics today, but instead a day to contrast the horrors of Cambodia thirty years ago with the bright hope found in Jesus Christ.

In the morning, our team visited the Tuol Sleng Museum.  The Khmer Rouge converted what had been a high school into their main interrogation center.  Over 20,000 men, women, and children were tortured there before being taken to the killing fields.  The enormity of the evil still present left me feeling numb.  Passing from room after room filled with photos of the victims, I came upon a section of photos of children.  I could not hold back the tears.

In the afternoon we went to Choeung Ek, the killing fields.  Two thirds of the mass graves have been unearthed, with 9,000 bodies removed.  You will still find shreds of clothing and bone fragments uncovered as the layers of soil erode.  This is the most infamous of the nearly 5,000 such sites discovered.  Do the math and you’ll understand the scar that remains on the national psyche.

But God is healing that scar.  The generation that was both executioner and victim is dying off.  God is healing Cambodia through its’ children.  In one of our clinics, I shared the good news of Jesus Christ with a government official in his late forties.  Out of all the people I’ve shared the gospel with here, he is the only one that did not want Jesus to come into his heart.  When I asked him what was holding him back, he told me that Christianity is for young people, and he was too old.  Although saddened by his words, there was some truth in what he said.  Many of the Cambodians coming to Christ are too young to have experienced the killing fields.

After leaving Choeung Ek, our team was blessed to be able to worship with Pastor Bunthoen’s church.  He is one of the pastors we are working with in Phnom Penh.  He lost loved ones to the Khmer Rouge, and has turned down an opportunity to move to the United States, just so he could become a pastor, so great is his passion to see the hope found in Jesus spread throughout Cambodia.  The children of his church sang a praise song, a dozen radiant faces beaming with the love of Jesus, including Pastor’s two lovely daughters.  The contrast with the Tuol Sleng photos was unforgettable.

Think of the Israelites wandering in the desert for forty years, so God could give the Promised Land to a new generation.  It’s been thirty years since the killing fields.  The window of religious freedom may not always be as open as it is now.  I have seen how God is using people like Pastor Bunthoen to bring Jesus Christ to Cambodia.  Right now is the time to support him and all the other pastors here.  They are busy equipping a new generation that will bring Christ to all of  Cambodia.

Many of us have been dropping like flies as far as health issues.  Thank God for the few of us you have been healthy and spirited.  Most of these issues deal with flu-like symptoms.  The ‘d’ train and ‘c’ train (you know, diarrhea and constipation) have picked many of us up with first class tickets.  I’m sure when we look back on these discomforts we’ll laugh about them, but right now it’s not funny and it is taking a toll on many of us.  Nausea, fever, chills, joint aches, stomach and intestinal cramps are bringing our bodies down to fatigue and exhaustion at times.  Add that to the heat and humidity and it doesn’t make a pretty picture for some of us.  Just today three of us had to stay back as the rest of the team took advantage of our day off to enjoy some shopping and sight-seeing.  Those team members were Dave, Pam and myself.  Dave is suffering from some kind of stomach virus and is really trying to ride this wave out.  Pam has a fever and her entire body is having trouble staying at a constant temperature..different parts are cold while others are hot.  She also is having some g.i. ailments.  As for me,  I’ve been ill since last Thursday with the worst of it hitting me last night.  My first class ticket has been stamped many times and with first class I’ve gotten most of the above with a bonus of  minor fluid build-up in my left lung.  Doctor Jim (thank God for him) put me on some anti-biotics.  I am starting to feel much better.  Jim was also sharing how this year’s team has taken the most hits health wise.  Some of us are beginning to think God is trying to tell us something.  Are we really relying on Him completely?  Hmmm.

Please lift up our health, that God would show His glory through us and to us by making us aware of our humility towards Him.  That we continue to cry out to Him for His mercy and restoration of our bodies.  Giving all, not just some, but all of ourselves over to Him so we know without a doubt that He is our healer and redeemer.  May our spirits and bodies be replenished and restored to overflowing so we may continue God’s great work for His children of Cambodia. 

 Last Thursday was another stretching time for me.  Alan Luke came down with some kind of viral infection and was out for the day.  We are prayer partners and roomed together the first week.  At 1am that day I heard a voice calling out to me.  Now I’m a heavy sleeper so for me to hear anything is amazing to me.  Alan was faintly calling out to me for help.  I awoke and turned to him only to see that he was shivering and in a lot of discomfort.  He felt as if someone had kicked him and his entire body was aching intensely.  He wanted me to cover him in prayer.  It was, in my mind and heart, an attack on not only on his body but on Alan’s spiritual fortress.  The morning came and Alan was definitely out for the day. 

 I was switched to dental for the day, serving with Albert, Yachiyo and Ruth.  It was a stretch but also a blessing that I was able to serve in two different ministries!  God’s provision and peace were present as Albert did his thing and we were able to share of God’s message.  We prayed over our patients deeply.

 God is at work in this country, in it’s people as He restores and redeems Cambodia from the horrors of  30 years ago.

Hi everyone!

“Wow!”  is the first thing that comes to mind when I try to sum up this first week here in Cambodia.  There have been lots of ups, some downs but all in all a truly blessful experience and one I’m that I’m SO glad to have been a part of so far. 

So today was Saturday. Thursday was a really difficult day in clinic.  The conditions as usual were extremely hot and humid, and by 4 o’clock I was extremely exhausted.  I did not want to do anything.  I could barely even eat dinner, and you know how much I love to eat.  I ended up having a fever and some strange stomach cramps that made me feel really miserable.  It wasn’t until today that finally I could crack a smile again.  I really thought to myself that I would not go on a missions again, and that this much pain and discomfort was not worth it.  However, through the power of everyone’s prayer I recovered.  Those negative thoughts I had were quickly set aside.  Today in clinic I just saw everyone working really hard and the Spirit really working in everyone.  The patients were just so appreciative of the help that we were able to provide and many decided to accept Christ into their lives too!  It was truly a joy to see this happen.  The people of Cambodia are so open to hear about the good news of Jesus Christ.  I know this is definitely why we are here.  They are just waiting to accept Jesus into their hearts, and need only for someone like us to spread the Gospel. 

I especially love the children here.  They are so joyful, smile so readily, and listen so attentively when we tell them about Jesus.  It really touches my heart when we make them smile and laugh.  I came here thinking that I was here to touch and bless the lives of the Cambodian people, but in reality I was blessed just as much, if not more.

I’m so excited so see God work in us and the people of Cambodia in the upcoming week.  My experience here has just been so awesome.  Although we are so tired and exhausted at the end of every night, by simply calling on God and asking to be re-engergized, He gladly does so.  He only waits for us to ask. 

Please pray for our team members who are sick.  Carter, Kellie seem to still be under the weather.  Pray also for the rest of us that our health will be maintained. 

Thanks so much everyone for your prayers.  The team here in Cambodia can totally feel your love and support. There is so much to tell, can’t wait to tell you guys more about it! 

In Him,

Albert