and we started the "real stuff" . . . Day 1

Official Day 01,

We met in the room at 0715hrs and ate cereals for breakfast and did QT together and shared our thoughts.

Then we left our guest house and started the whole day of "real work"!

(Weiling and Serene preparing for their workshop along the way on the tuk-tuk)

We conducted a workshop in the morning and afternoon for 2 groups of people on Self-Discovery at Joko centre.

(Ice breakers)

(Weiling giving out the discussion cards)





(the team having a debriefing after the morning workshop.)

(going for lunch. We learnt alot from Julian as he shared with us his burdens, even while riding on a tuk-tuk. We termed it as "Tuk-tuk with Julian". Really thank God for this opportunity to work with him closely:)

(Evening lesson on Principles of Care Group)

(Timothy sharing on the principle of care group. With Somien as the translator.)

Now sitting on the bed as I prepare the flow and teaching on running cg which is going to happen in the evening today (Tuesday). Pray that God will anoint me as I prepare the points and empower me as I share to the youth christians the technical aspects of planning a cg meeting. I am treating this seriously as I know that I am not just imparting the skills but the heart and spirit as well. Update you guys again when I come back at night.

- Guan Rui -

Prayer requests for Official Day 1 Program

We are 9 hours away from our first "official" adventure to minister in Cambodia. :)

Serene and Weiling are currently busy preparing for a Self Discovery workshop for Youth on Mon 9-11am session and afternoon 2-4pm session. I can see how excited yet how nervous they are at the same time. Gave my best attempt to nag and remind them to rest early for tml. Tim will be sharing on Principle of CG in the evening time (7-9pm), first spiritual impartation of biblical principles fromt WOG for the youth leaders. Do keep them in your prayers as it will be our first few workshops to be conducted which will set the tone and platforms to build the rapport with the youths that we will be meeting tml.

There are many thoughts and reflection that I have so far but it is going to take quite some time to blog them all down. Praying to God to sharpen our spiritual senses and to increase our reliance on Him not just using the experience & skills that we have but to minister and speak His truth into the hearts of the youth.

Thanks all for arriving so early in the morning and sending us. All of us are very touched as we understand that most of you had a late night after Anniv Dinner. Hope to share more along the way in the blog and face-to-face when we are back.

We are eager and hopeful to see how God is going to use us here even though it is a short 8 days trip. :)

-- Joyce

Day 0

Today is a day of introduction and settling down. But i am so tired already... haha :) The weather here is really hot, the air is super polluted and crossing the roads is a challenge for us :) hahah.... The food so far is good! :) We had lunch and dinner at chinese restaurants. The food dun look so appealing but it is tasty :)

Today we went to the khmer rouge museum whereby it reflects the tortures the people went through in 1975. It isnt the first time that i am exposed to such things. Did research on WWII during my Secondary sch days and was quite shocked by the torture then. Some thots however still lingered in my mind: Why man can be so cruel? The extent of men's cruelty is beyond what i can understand. How can they ever do such things to their own kind?

Before coming here, i felt that the cambodians were really very pitiful esp after understanding their history and background and because of this, i would feel for them and felt that they really really need God. But today as i was visiting the museum, victims of WWII and the jews came to my mind. In actual fact, the cambodians are no different from other civil war victims. Everyone needs God and Christ is for everyone regardless of their background or 'sufferings'. Regardless of what circumstances or background, Christ represents salvation and hope and it is only in Christ that we can find salvation and hope :)

There are changes to our program and more workshops and sharing to be conducted. So now all of us are busy preparing now ;)In the next few days we will be super busy with 3 workshops a day but i am excited and anticipating to interact with the people and see how God can use me. It is not just about running the program or conducting workshops but it is about transformed lives. How as we touched their lives in little ways and plant different little seeds in them, their hearts, minds and lives are transformed by Christ and these seeds will be passed on to many others in the future.

Grateful to God for this opportunity to be here to bless the people and be part of what God is doing and wants to do here in Cambodia. So continue to pray for us, that God will strengthen us in every aspect. Thanks for for comin to send us off!

my thoughts after day 0 . . .

Finally we are here in Cambodia, by no accident.The night before flying off, i was talking to a sister till 2am. Actually wanted to sleep already, but felt unsettled cos there seemed to be some issues I need to attend to her before i fly off. I thank God for the chance to talk over phone without my mum chasing me to go to bed. Fruitful one. With much unsettled stuffs, i entrust to God these things.

" God I can't possibly minister to these brothers and sisters while I am away in Cambodia. God, You take over and help me. I know You will. "

I was so 感动 when I see so many brothers and sisters sending us off. Thanks everyone! "

Thanks to Tracy's cg who compiled a little booklet containing messages from the cg members. Very sweet for you guys to do that. Thanks everyone! Encouraged. I will read them time to time during the rest of this trip - a reminder of God's promises.

Thanks Coco for the letter as well. Be courageous and faith-filled! It is not you but God who will transform lives.

Thanks Jan and Zac for the cards.

We are fortunate to have Julian with us and facilitating this mission trip. We got a few chance to talk to him while travelling on the tuk-tuk, over lunch.

Our hearts grew heavy after the tour to Genocide Museum.

"Why does these people have to go through the pain and agony of suffering?"

" God, they need healing, right? "

" God, You love them, right? "

What can these Cambodians hope for? An increase of wealth? More jobs? Better government?Calyn brought out a good point. As we shared over dinner today, she mentioned that whatever past people may have, everyone needs God. The whole point is that everyone needs to be reconciled to God.

True.

Often times we approach the needy with much sympathy and pity, to want to give them something. But everyone needs to reconcile their relationship with their Creator God. I shall keep this in mind.

Today is day 01. Although we haven't really start to minister, today's genocide museum tour, reflections over lunch and dinner, QT - all these help to set the focus again, as now we stand on this ground and witness the condition of this land.

I pray that tomolo (monday) we start our ministering to the Cambodian youths whom we will meet for the next few days till Friday. Some of them are Christians while some are not. This will be the start of our interaction with the locals. I pray that God will add on His burden for these people in my heart. Lord, I pray that You will empower us as we will offer our service to You, preaching the Gospel and impart skills and heart.

As Christ's ambassador, I hope to be a vessel that contains God's love and compassion, ready to be shared. Since the Cambodians here are less educated, they will really take our word as the truth. We will be their source of God's truth to them. Thus this is a role which is privileged and yet also need to be really serious about it.

Continue to keep us in prayer. Cover us.

As the team embarks on the journey to preach the promises and hope of God, we expect to have spiritual warfare. Pray that God will keep us within His plan, be led by the Spirit, and move accordingly.

Update you guys again when we have internet access again in the evening.

- Guan Rui