Singing during the Leaders' bible school.
Showing posts with label Cambodia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cambodia. Show all posts
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Home at last
We drove into Sutherlin around 6PM after nearly 35 hours of traveling taking us from Cambodia through Seoul, Tokyo, Los Angeles and Portland. The Mexico team pulled out less than two hours before our arrival, be sure to follow their blog. Continue to check out SFCGlobal as we will continue to post missions information as well as more about Cambodia and the Krung people.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
No Photos Please
A few experiences from today:
I found out that it is not OK to take a picture of the US Embassy.
KFC is now in Cambodia and it's still finger lickin' good. You can get your chicken with french fries or rice.
Kids with cages full of little birds want you to pay to set one free. However I read beforehand that the birds are trained to return to the cage.
The National Museum is still interesting, full of ancient statues and artifacts.
I was asked if I wanted Tuk Tuk (moto taxi) too many times to count. Maybe we just wanted to walk!
I found out that it is not OK to take a picture of the US Embassy.
KFC is now in Cambodia and it's still finger lickin' good. You can get your chicken with french fries or rice.
Kids with cages full of little birds want you to pay to set one free. However I read beforehand that the birds are trained to return to the cage.
The National Museum is still interesting, full of ancient statues and artifacts.
I was asked if I wanted Tuk Tuk (moto taxi) too many times to count. Maybe we just wanted to walk!
Traveling 30 hours
We will soon be leaving for the airport with about 30 hours of travel until we reach Portland then another three hours home. It has been a great trip. Please pray that we finish strong.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Mexico Team
As I sit here in Cambodia on the tail end of our trip, I am thinking of the Mexico Team as they prepare to leave the day we return. The last few days before a trip are very vital to the team's success, I hope that each person whether going or sending would take a few minutes to pray for spiritual prepardness for each member of the team.
"As it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!'" Romans 10:15
"As it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!'" Romans 10:15
Psar Tuol Tom Pong and Tuol Sleng Museum
Ed and I had a chance to do some shopping at Psar Tuol Tom Pong, known as the "Russian Market" to foreigners because many Russians shopped there in the 1980s. After a bite to eat at a shaded little restaurant, we visited the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum.
Here's a bit of Cambodian history: After the capture of Phnom Penh by the Khmer Rouge in 1975, Tuol Svay Prey High School was taken over by Pol Pot's security forces and turned into a prison known as Security Prison 21 (S-21). S-21 was designed for detention, interrogation, torture, and killing after recieving and documenting detainees' "confessions". Many who were detained were later shipped off to the "killing fields" to be killed and dumped into large pits. Between 1975 and 1978 records indicated over 10,500 people (not including the many children) were prisoners here. There were only seven survivors of this prison. An interesting note, in 1993 the former leader of S-21, Kang Keck lev (also known as Duch) left the Khmer Rouge, later became a Christian and was baptized in 1996. He had been quietly ministering with a Christian humanitarian organization among the rural poor. Duch has since been imprisoned with his Bible at his bedside. He is the only former Khmer Rouge leader to admit to the terrible atrocities he has committed. God's grace can change anyone. Don Cormack in his book "Killing Fields, Living Fields" says it this way "Two names in particular come to mind when we think of the horrors of that time: Pol Pot, the mastermind of the revolution, and Duch, its chief executioner; two notorious, condemed men... In 1998, in a jungle hideout, the former died, alone, bitter and unrepentant; the other chose life, turned in faith to the cucified Savior and said 'remember me'. As they dumped his remains on a bonfire, Pol Pot's erstwhile comrades in arms cursed his memory, 'Just burn, burn.' Duch, imprisoned in Phnom Penh...has heard the promise of Jesus,'You shall be with me in paradise.'"
Here's a bit of Cambodian history: After the capture of Phnom Penh by the Khmer Rouge in 1975, Tuol Svay Prey High School was taken over by Pol Pot's security forces and turned into a prison known as Security Prison 21 (S-21). S-21 was designed for detention, interrogation, torture, and killing after recieving and documenting detainees' "confessions". Many who were detained were later shipped off to the "killing fields" to be killed and dumped into large pits. Between 1975 and 1978 records indicated over 10,500 people (not including the many children) were prisoners here. There were only seven survivors of this prison. An interesting note, in 1993 the former leader of S-21, Kang Keck lev (also known as Duch) left the Khmer Rouge, later became a Christian and was baptized in 1996. He had been quietly ministering with a Christian humanitarian organization among the rural poor. Duch has since been imprisoned with his Bible at his bedside. He is the only former Khmer Rouge leader to admit to the terrible atrocities he has committed. God's grace can change anyone. Don Cormack in his book "Killing Fields, Living Fields" says it this way "Two names in particular come to mind when we think of the horrors of that time: Pol Pot, the mastermind of the revolution, and Duch, its chief executioner; two notorious, condemed men... In 1998, in a jungle hideout, the former died, alone, bitter and unrepentant; the other chose life, turned in faith to the cucified Savior and said 'remember me'. As they dumped his remains on a bonfire, Pol Pot's erstwhile comrades in arms cursed his memory, 'Just burn, burn.' Duch, imprisoned in Phnom Penh...has heard the promise of Jesus,'You shall be with me in paradise.'"
No WIFI
For those of you that noticed there was no post yesterday. We were traveling most of the day and didn't have WIFI access along the way. I know, can you believe it! Please pray that we finish strong, and please continue to pray for the Mexico Team as the depart this week.
Sights and Sounds
We left Ban Lung around 6AM, headed to Phnom Penh. There were many things I noticed on the way as we transitioned between rural areas to a more populated area. Here's a list in no particular order:
School childen in white shirts and blue pants or skirts walking or riding bikes along the road to and from school (I don't know how they keep the white shirts clean).
Mechanical hand tractors with trailers full of logs and sticks.
Billboards advertising beer.
Vendors along the riverfront in the town of Kratie selling all kinds of fruit.
Road construction crew using tree branches for traffic barriers instead of the orange cones we are used to.
Our driver honking when passing into oncoming traffic.
Ox carts carrying all kinds of things.
Driver handing money to officers at various check points (I think it was for the planks of wood stashed under our seats).
Party tents set up in middle of the road for wedding receptions.
Our driver downing a Cambodian Red Bull energy drink.
New bridge construction everywhere.
Boy leading cows along the road.
Road sign with only a big exclamation mark!
Spirit boxes along side the road.
Stopping for a load of wood planks being placed under the seats (this was what led to the money being paid along the way).
Ornate Buddhist temples.
Driver using one hand to talk on cellular phone using the other to drive and still managing to honk the horn.
Views of the Mekong River.
Monks in safron robes on the back of motos.
Floating fishing villages along the river.
Cham (people group) villages with Muslim mosques.
Traffic going every which way in Phnom Penh.
More honking.
Finally the quiet whisper of the air conditioner in our room after a long days drive.
School childen in white shirts and blue pants or skirts walking or riding bikes along the road to and from school (I don't know how they keep the white shirts clean).
Mechanical hand tractors with trailers full of logs and sticks.
Billboards advertising beer.
Vendors along the riverfront in the town of Kratie selling all kinds of fruit.
Road construction crew using tree branches for traffic barriers instead of the orange cones we are used to.
Our driver honking when passing into oncoming traffic.
Ox carts carrying all kinds of things.
Driver handing money to officers at various check points (I think it was for the planks of wood stashed under our seats).
Party tents set up in middle of the road for wedding receptions.
Our driver downing a Cambodian Red Bull energy drink.
New bridge construction everywhere.
Boy leading cows along the road.
Road sign with only a big exclamation mark!
Spirit boxes along side the road.
Stopping for a load of wood planks being placed under the seats (this was what led to the money being paid along the way).
Ornate Buddhist temples.
Driver using one hand to talk on cellular phone using the other to drive and still managing to honk the horn.
Views of the Mekong River.
Monks in safron robes on the back of motos.
Floating fishing villages along the river.
Cham (people group) villages with Muslim mosques.
Traffic going every which way in Phnom Penh.
More honking.
Finally the quiet whisper of the air conditioner in our room after a long days drive.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Scrapes, scratches, and the Gospel
Today was our last day in Ban Lung but we made the most of it. We started our journey with a one hour trek by motos to Thun village. After a few scrapes and scratches for Ed and the loss of the brakes on my moto (leading to my scrapes and scratches), we arrived very dusty at Thun. There were about 35 people in the small room. We were a bit late so they all graciously sang an extra song so we coud hear it. Kreg was asked to give the message and I gave a short testimony. There were a few questions after Kreg had finished which he asked Ed to answer. It was great to be a part of the emerging church in this area.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Sightseeing and Fellowship
Today (Saturday) we were able to do a bit of sightseeing. Near the top of a hill overlooking town is a buddhist temple which has a huge statue of a buddha lying down, it is known as the reclining buddha. A couple monks were cleaning up around the area. Buddhism in this part of Cambodia is mixed with the local animistic beliefs and spirit appeasement. Please pray for the freedom that was taught earlier this week. Next were visits to a couple waterfalls in the area. It is nearing the end of the dry season so there wasn't much water flowing but still worth the trip. Something about water has a universal attraction. We traveled along a dirt road through a rubber tree plantation. Rubber and cashews are major exports from Ratanakiri. It was a nice afternoon. We had dinner (spaghetti) with the Olsons, then off to Saturday evening fellowship. It was nice to connect with everyone one more time before we leave for Phnom Penh on Monday. Ed gave a great message of encouragement from Ephesians to the families and an explaination of why and how SFC became involved in the area. Tomorrow we will ride out to Thun village for church, please pray for this village and the group of believers there. It is about an hour ride on motos, so please also pray for our travel.
Friday, March 11, 2011
What does canned fish have to do with bible school?
The first generation leaders bible school finished up today with an explaination regarding a contoversy with another worker in the area having to do with the word of God. At the end of the session each student was presented a certificate along with a case of sardines in tomato sauce. The gift might seem kind of strange to us but it will be something to take back to their families, which many have been away from for the past week. Overall the two bible schools were very successful this week. I am glad we were sent here to experience it and share a bit of it with you. We have much more to share when we get back.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
How Great Thou Art
The "first generation" bible school started today with the singing of the familiar tune, alternating in Khmer and Jarai (one of the tribal languages in the area). About forty brothers from several different tribes are here today, Krung, Brou, Jarai, Kachok, as well as Khmer. Different tribes and languages, one God. The theme for the two days is "When the scripture speaks, God speaks!". Kreg had a lesson based on 2 Timothy 3:16 "All scripture is God-breathed...". This doctrine is very important in the emerging churches as well as the church in America since it is sometimes overlooked causing division. Continue to pray for these leaders and teachers.
Interesting Flavors
Note to self, avoid durian flavored ice cream bars, even if advertised as chocolate covered.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Comments
I changed a setting to be less restrictive for those of you wanting to comment on the blog posts. Hopefully it will help. We would love to hear from you.
Krung Bible School - Day 3
"You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature, rather to serve one another in love." Galatians 5:13
This was the memory verse for the final day of the bible school. Students took turns reciting it just after lunch. Shortly afterward two pieces of paper, stapled together, were handed out. On the paper was the fourth chapter of Galatians in Krung! The first three chapters had been completed for the first day but not the rest. It was a joy to see this newly translated chapter being read silently as soon as it was handed out. Although the final three chapters we taught in Khmer (the Cambodian national language), the students now had another chapter to read in their heart language. Tomorrow and Friday are crucial days for the "first generation" leaders who will gather for a bible school of their own, the teaching will be on the word of God. Please pray for both the students' understanding and the wisdom of the teachers.
This was the memory verse for the final day of the bible school. Students took turns reciting it just after lunch. Shortly afterward two pieces of paper, stapled together, were handed out. On the paper was the fourth chapter of Galatians in Krung! The first three chapters had been completed for the first day but not the rest. It was a joy to see this newly translated chapter being read silently as soon as it was handed out. Although the final three chapters we taught in Khmer (the Cambodian national language), the students now had another chapter to read in their heart language. Tomorrow and Friday are crucial days for the "first generation" leaders who will gather for a bible school of their own, the teaching will be on the word of God. Please pray for both the students' understanding and the wisdom of the teachers.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
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