Tragic News

We have just found out that one of our "hosts" who God has used to develop all of the projects that we were apart of and uniquely gifted and placed in Cambodia, passed away today with upper respiratory problems. This comes as an incredible shock. He was young and leaves a wife and 4 children along with a team that admired him and looked to him for leadership. He was an amazing man and impacted my life in unbelievable ways while only knowing him for a week. 

While this is an earthly tragedy and we weep for his family and for those closest to him, let's praise God for this servant. A man who served the people he loved with vigor, leaving everything he had on the alter. A great father and husband and a visionary that ran a hard race in hopes of seeing Christ's message transform a country. His life was a true example of what it means to live be a "living and holy sacrifice...a spiritual service of worship." (Rom. 12:1)

Garrick, while breaking this news to our team, used this verse which I think is a great truth that we should hold in our hearts in a time like this:

Col. 1:17 "He is before all things and in Him all things hold together." 

We ask you to pray for these things in these difficult moments for Cambodia:

1.) Pray for his family, that the Lord would hold them tight in this moment. That they would feel his grace and his love as they deal with losing a father and a husband. 

(because of security concerns we want to keep his name and his family's name anonymous but our Father knows of this servant's family)

2.) That the rest of the team in Cambodia can deal with the loss of a brother, friend, and leader. More responsibility is going to placed on every member of the team in order to continue the work on the ground. Pray that God would give them strength

3.) Pray for the Cambodian people. This servant was loved by the Cambodian people both believing and non-believing. Pray that God would use this death as a catalyst to embolden believers to live out their faith and that those who are lost could see the hope that comes from living a life of faith in Christ even in the midst of tragedy. 

Fragile Group

God continues to move in the village where our dentistry team served. There is now a bible study group that had started there and we have heard reports that it is growing stronger!

However it is at this stage that problems can arise. Groups like this don't get to this stage very often.

Please pray that the hearts of the people in this group will be emboldened for the gospel.

Pivotal Man

We all know that one person that is incredibly influential in their community, a person that others look to and follow even though they are not powerful or a person in a formal leadership role. 

There is such a young man named Bunruon in the village where our team worked. When one member of our team asked him what he believed he said, "I'm almost a believer." When pushed deeper he said he had a hard time understanding why Christians don't always act like Christians and it was hard concept for him to understand. Throughout the week members of our team loved on him and encouraged him and he is getting closer and closer choosing to follow Christ. We've heard that this last Sunday he visited the local body of believers and brought his Buddhist sister. 

Lift Bunruon up in prayer and pray that the Holy Spirit would break his heart and open his eyes to the Gospel and that He could be used to influence those around him. 

What it Meant

Our feet are back on American soil and it's time to figure out what it all means. 

I apologize for not being able to update our blog and give more detail of our trip throughout the week. The daily prayer requests were created before we left and because of the internet connections and time constraints we weren't able to update the blog like we would have wished. With that being said we are so thankful for your prayers and support.

We were all touched in different ways by the things we saw and experienced: a culture separated from Christ, idolatry, poverty, and yet hope for a future. 

I hope that you will ask those that you know that went on this trip how the Lord spoke to them and used them. Because of security concerns I want to be vague on this blog but they will be able to discuss more in detail about the believers and followers of Christ who are being used by the Lord to make a difference in the kingdom. 

Here is what I've learned: 

Man is entirely evil and hopeless without Christ. Simply put, we have nothing to live for and nothing to gain from this life without the blood of Christ. It is the message of Jesus Christ that transforms culture and transforms lives. The selfless and sacrificial love of Christ changes hearts. 

The things we concern ourselves with in America are just as silly and pointless as the alters and empty idols that the Cambodians worship.

God doesn't just call some people or the spiritual elite to live this sacrificial love but he calls all of us who are members of His body to act as one and serve those around us. 

God is calling you to your Cambodia... your neighbors and co-workers and family and friends. He wants us to be proactive. To seek out the lost and the hurting in our world and be His hands and feet and love them as he would. 

Continue to pray for Cambodia and that God will continue to break the hearts of a people shackled by tradition and living without grace. Continue to pray that the Lord would raise up Christian leaders and strengthen and embolden his people Cambodia and here in the US. 

Thank you again for your prayers! 

Day 10

Prayer Requests:

1.) Ease of adjustment coming home- keep jet lag at a minimum

2.) That we would have many, many stories of God's power and goodness to share

3.) That we would never be the same

Day 9

Prayer Requests:

1.) Safe travel and good weather conditions (no snow storms in Minnesota!)

2.) Calm our spirits as we approach home.

Day 8

Prayer Requests:

1.) For many open doors to share the Gospel

2.) The Holy Spirit's leading for each of us