Cambodia Bound

Hey y'all! I'm flying out today for a two week trip to Cambodia (Click the title of this post, "Cambodia Bound," to get some information about the country of Cambodia). I'm going with my parents and three close Cambodian friends of ours. I'll try to update on here as much as possible when WiFi is available. Here's some information about this trip:

Half of the team, including my dad, has already been to Cambodia in February. This trip is a follow-up visit to the Cambodian churches they worked with. What was seven churches has become ten since February, praise the Lord! We will be going to each of these ten churches to work with them in various ways, including the following:

At some we will work to meet some basic needs as we are able in a way that will not breed unnecessary dependancy. At most if not all, we will offer basic Bible and mentoring training to lay pastors, leaders, and church members. Sharing the gospel through these churches and throughout our trip will also be a priority. A couple churches have pig farms in the process of being started and developed as a way to support the people there. There, my dad whom God has blessed with the gift of administration will be helping them with the business and figures side of this operation. There are other possible subsistence-type businesses that we will be looking into assisting as well. Children will also be surrounding us at each church, entailing children's ministry at all times! Encouragement of these churches will also be a priority through whatever activity we are involved in. Please pray for God to be glorified in and through all of these endeavors.

Another aspect of this trip lies in one of our team members, D. He is a Cambodian-American in his late teens. He and his parents make up the other half of our team, for which am very grateful! His parents spent their childhood in Cambodia and other surrounding countries, making their way to America in early adulthood. D was born here and has never been to his home-culture's country. This will be his first time to see Cambodia, and he will be meeting various family members along the way. Please pray for him in this emotionally charged journey.

The team will also be attempting to visit a Bible college in one of the major cities. This is really something I want to do for my personal interest, as well as to see if this college can work with any of the ten churches. In my mind, if there is a training center for Christian leaders in this city who will be looking for ministry opportunities in the near future, then we certainly have churches to hook them up with! Pray for this college and the Biblical equipping it is giving these Cambodian believers.

I'm sure I'm leaving something out, but this is the gist of the trip.

If you are committed to praying for me personally, please pray that I will not get in the way of what God wants to show me. Pray for me to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit the entire trip (i.e. in my attitude, in my response to seeing poverty and prostitution, in my communication and relating to my team, etc).

Prayer points include:

*Praying for the ten Cambodian churches (leadership, people, surrounding communities, businesses)

*Praying for the Bible College in the major city

*Praying for D and his first time to Cambodia

*Praying for our team to be filled with God's Spirit to do what He wants us to do

Since the team consists of portions of two families going together, pray that those of us going will be drawn together and used effectively within our family units. When we get back, it is important that we communicate to the rest of our family how God is making Himself famous in Cambodians' lives through these Cambodian churches.

Praise God that He is already at work in Cambodia, and will be at work long after we leave. We want to glorify Him in this small step we get to take into His grander, ongoing plan of redemption. Let all the nations be glad, for our God is the one true, living God!