Something Different

So this morning was time number six that I ran into my Canadian friend. It is beyond hilarious to me. As much as I can’t wait to get home it is conversations with this guy that make me want to stay. We are having breakfast tomorrow to continue our pondering of why there is a world at all.

Channoeun is awesome. He comes and picks me up everyone morning. He is so encouraging on our motto rides.

For DTS (Discipleship Training School) I’m teaching on the character and nature of God. I love our class. It was a much lighter load as Cy did over half of the teaching. He did an outstanding job teaching on God’s Justice and Mercy. He helped so many students. Our class ended with me talking about God is Love and I shared some stories and it was really clear that God was moving in several students hearts. I’m so excited about our last day. I really hope God continues to reveal who He is.

After class I talked with Vegat (at least I think that is his name) When he was five he got ran over by a train. When he was 11 his parents left him. He became a beggar on the streets. He would shine shoes. He shared how one time he went three days without getting any  money and didn’t eat and he cried. Less than a year ago he came into contact with a guy by the name of Martin (a saints name if I ever heard one) and he helped him out. He paid for Vegat to get a wooden leg, gave him a place to stay, taught him English, and introduced him to Jesus. He then came to Battambang and is in the DTS and I’m so humbled by him. He is clinging to the idea that God has never stopped looking for him.

I then got to go out for lunch with two staff friends. Justin and Suel. It happened to be Justin’s birthday so I helped them celebrate by asking them 100 questions.

After that I spent some time with a newer friend Steve and we processed some life.

I then went to youth center and helped a person with their English homework.

I then went and taught an English class at the Youth Center. It was God Day and the topic I was assigned was the Fall of Man Kind. Seriously this was the coolest thing in the world. I talked through the Genesis account of the fall. I talked about how adam and eve were busted. How they screwed up and deserved death. But God didn’t give them death. Instead he covered over their mess up by killing an animal. Later God send himself to cover over not just adam and eve but all who look to him. I shared several stories that I have acquired in my life that help people see what God is like. One of the stories is about a dad who loses his son in a water park. The main point of the story is God is looking for you. One of the students asked – how can I know that God is looking for me. This would be a good thing to know God. Several of the students agreed. UNBELIEVABLE. So I shared with them different ways that I believed God was looking for them and several of them stayed after inquiring to learn more. SO AWESOME.

I then went to the river park with my friends Ngim and Nana. We did some dance watching, stand eating, and story sharing. I love seeing Battambang and getting out of the base and seeing students from the youth center around the park and have them shout out hi teacher.

After some games at the base I have finally come back to the house I’m staying at.

I have one more full day. Looking forward to it.

Alright here is a run down of what the past few days have been like.

The long flight over included 16 glasses of water 4 coffees 2 cokes one airline Korean Style, one airline beef, and one airline chicken meal. It is one of those trips you just do – you don’t think about it – you just do it.

My hotel that I stayed at the first night was very nice and the breakfast was top notch. I did manage to confuse the syrup and soy sauce and my pancakes tasted different than what I expected. I felt bad about waisting food so I ate them anyways. Not a big deal except that I have a soy allergy and I am now lit up with itching. My visit the doc from our medical team to get a little relief.

Took a cab ride with a dude with a major goatee. While on the way we came across a major traffic jam that was due to a house that had collapsed on the side of the road. Those pictures are just so hard to take in.

I’m staying at the home of one of the YWAM leaders which is a huge blessing. They are very generous and kind to me.

I hopped right in and did lunch with them and another couple whom thebridge supports. It is crazy how quickly we just jump in and start talking.

My night sort of nose dived after that. I remember eating dinner with leaders of the school I’m teaching for this week and then getting home and falling asleep.

Monday started with base worship. The team here has been praying for quite sometime about acquiring permanent land. Recently they took a major step in faith and began the purchasing process of large piece of property that will take a God size miracle to pay for in a very short amount of time. The past week everyone on staff has been praying for how they are to give sacrificially to this which includes maybe selling possessions. It was a very huge day for them as this was the time for them to give their gifts. I have been in conversation with one of the leaders about how thebridge would like to partner in this. I am adamant that the better we become at being generous the more we will see God at work. Well the Lord spoke a number to me that is ridiculous. The number is way out of bounds as to what I should commit on behalf of thebridge but I will always strive to be obedient even if it means taking a risk rather than playing it safe and missing out on a God moment. I love God moments but they never show up when I don’t need faith. So we committed a LARGE sum of money to help YWAM Battambang purchase some land. WE REALLY NEED TO SELL THE EZRA HOUSE!

The Monday morning continued to rock and roll as I began teaching. I’m teaching on the character and nature of God. It took me a little while to get use to speaking through a translator but Yuka is amazing and we figured out our stride. You can keep praying for him as his job is much more difficult than mine. Pray for energy for him.

I saw our team at lunch and they looked very tired. More to come on this in a bit.

I then jumped on the back of motto and went to a coffee shop. While their I met a Canadian and we talked spirituality, evolution, and his dislike for Christians being in Cambodia. It was a very exciting talk for me. The more we talked evolution the more flustered he got. I told him that I was fine with evolution but it wasn’t how things began but rather how things change.

I then returned to the base (as it is called) and showed up during youth time. Picture hundreds of teenagers showing up and participating in various classes of learning English, Guitar lessons, and hip hop dance lessons. This goes on for a couple of hours. I ended up talking to a student and worked with them on their English and sat in on another class.

I ran over to the other base grabbed some food, saw that our team is VERY TIRED and went back to base 2 to teach an evening session on the Glory of God. I showed one of my favorite videos on creation – here. Prior to teaching I snuck in some ping pong with a group of guys from Hawaii. Teaching cross culturally is most difficult when working with numbers. I quickly realized that amazing numbers of how big, fast, or vast things are is quickly lost. This slowed my teaching down a little but we called it a night and I returned home exhausted.

Got a great night sleep and woke up early to my chicken alarm which is 5:00am. Got to chat with my wife a little bit -as well as my mom. I love technology. I then had breakfast with another staff person and sped away to get to my teaching just in time. Today I spoke on the omni’s of God. All Knowing, All Present, All Powerful. It was an amazing morning. I had two different times of response and students really responded. You could clearly see God at work. Very powerful!

I then took all of the internationals out for lunch in the hopes of encouraging them further. They were so pumped to eat a meal that wasn’t rice. I borrowed bicycle for the first time and enjoyed the adrenaline rush of trying not to kill myself.

Upon returning to the base I followed up with a student who shared some very difficult things. It was humbling to hear them process their home life and trust in God.

I’m not getting a little rest before another meal with a staff person and then tonight I am teaching on marriage to all of the married and engaged couples. I’m really looking forward to this but at the same time I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed by the task at hand.

A few prayer requests:

I have not had much interaction with thebridge team but my observation is they really could use some prayers. Energy, strength, encouragement, Jesus, and joy! They are serving so hard but I think it is taking its toll on them. That and the food and the heat and the jet lag.

You could also pray for the students in my class. There are over 30 of them and they are doing a great job. We have a lot more to cover in a short amount of time.

You can pray for thebridge to sell the Ezra House.

You can pray for my family. My little ones really start to struggle around this time as they miss daddy.

You can pray for me that the Lord uses me in each situation and that I find myself  to be right where I am suppose to be to best be used by him.

This dude really doesn’t need to be introduced but I’m so pumped to share with you Intern #5!

Tommy Wilkins has been serving in our Student Ministry for the past two years and it is clear that God is calling him to HUGE things for the kingdom. Tommy will officially start with thebridge at the start of 2012.

This Sunday we are taking OurOneOffering. At thebridge we don’t pass the plate for various reasons. Our crew gives joyfully each week by placing their tithe or gift in our joy boxes, setting up an automatic withdrawal, mailing their check in, or online. I’m absolutely convinced our offering would go up each week if we passed a plate but I want people to want to give. I want them to do it joyfully. I want people to be obedient not guilted.

However – Once a year – We take an offering.

This offering is above and beyond whatever someone puts in the joy box. We pass a hat and invite people to generously give to ouroneoffering and 100% of that money goes to buying socks, underwear, jeans, shirts, hats, and coats for kids in the Ottumwa Schools. Last year we were able to bless 12 students. We are looking to double that this year.

I’m not sure who was crying more last year when the students were opening the gifts – me or them. It was so humbling to have students get that excited about socks and underwear. Several students changed clothes on the spot!

A few weeks later I got a note from the school administration that expressed their thanks on behalf of the teachers. They said the moral of each student who received a gift went through the roof. I WANT IN ON THAT! I want in on those things that make an eternal difference and sometimes those things start with making a practical difference in someone’s wardrobe.

If you would like to be a part of this by making a contribution now click here.

I’m going back!

I really didn’t think I would be going back this soon but certain things lined up and after Jenny and I processed this opportunity for a few days I decided to join our medical and serving team from thebridge this January. My role will be a little different in that I’ll be teaching at DTS on the character and nature of God. I’m super stoked and very humbled by this invitation and love that I’ll be over there while other bridge people are there.

One of the things that I love about our partnership with Cambodia is that it is growing deeper all the time. Our heart for what God is doing over there is constantly growing and we are always looking for ways to be more involved. In fact, this year one couple from thebridge is going over to serve and be available to help for an entire month.

When we started thebridge I knew we wanted to be involved in an international kingdom impacting opportunity. I had no idea how dynamic such a partnership could be. Our friends over there consistently are sharing their lives and we are always praying for one another. I can’t wait to see our friends we financially support and catch up face to face.

Many prayer requests will be rolling out about this adventure for our team and my family.

It is just five weeks away!