Sunday.
Rooster woke us up at 4am.....gotta love it.
We had a wonderful worship service with the kids this morning. 2 hours, with the older kids running the service. I am amazed at how mature the older kids are. They seem to have a true heart for God. Plus they really watch over the younger kids. The service consisted of many Khmer songs, and scripture readings. The mission team then read some meaningful scripture verses, and we had a nice discussion with the kids about those verses. Continue to pray for their spiritual growth.
The team then prepared a nice pancake breakfast with the entire group. The kids LOVE pancakes!!!
Then, we had another session of board games, followed by some group games (eg, police/burgler, musical chairs, etc). What a wonderful time.....the kids had a great time. And a special thanks to our interpreters, who coordinated all of the activities.
Carol and Chuck had a nice discussion with one of the orphans, Srey Mom. She is one of the Sky Ministry "orphanage leaders "(i.e., an orphan designated by Sky Ministries to be a group leader at the orphanage, and also voted into the position by the other orphans). She shared with us about her childhood, her mother and sisters death (both on the same day), her abusive step mother, and her "adoption" by Child Rescue. She has really flurished in the leadership roll at the orphanage. However, she misses having a spiritual friend with whom she can share. She stated how sometimes she feels God is not with her. We explained how all Christians feel that way at some time in their spiritual life....however, God never leaves us. We also told her that although we may not be there all of the time, we pray for her daily. We also talked to her about the poem "Footprints", and will try to find her a copy of the poem in Khmer. Please keep her in your prayers. She is such a wonderful example to all the other kids.
Prior to our leaving, we shared another snack with the whole group. A lovely assortment of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, Pringles, and watermellon. Man these kids can eat!!!.
We then left for Phnom Penh around 4pm.
Dinner was at a restaurant owned by one of the interpreters (Naree). What a treat....and wonderful food. I am just amazed how God brought her to our Group for specific reasons......i.e, she has such a strong faith, she has a tremendous love for the kids, and she relates very well with the older women (specifically the cooks). But what blew us away is that we have been searching for some sort of crop at the orphanages that can be relatively easy to grow, and can result in a quick and plentiful crop. Guess what?.....her father ran a banana farm. It just so happens that banana trees are easy to plant and maintain, they produce a lot of fruit monthly, the leaves can be sold for thatch roofing, the trees produce mushrooms that can be sold to restaurants, and the trees grow almost everywhere. Her father can sell us trees to plant. So God answered our prayers through her. Praise God!
That was our Sunday. Please pardon me if this makes no sense.... It is late.
Next email will discuss our trip to the southern Cambodia, and our orphans in Svey Rieng.
Thank you again for your prayers. We miss you all.
these emails are so encouraging, i am very glad the way God is connecting people and putting peaces together! (Prea yen, tronchi prea ocha sao rin, net tan sun pinda pragna! / Our God, is an awesome God He reigns!)
thanks for share good news! God still blessing you all!
cecilia
Posted by: Joe Hamrick | February 24, 2009 at 05:16 PM