Wednesday, 15 August 2012

Love Siem Reap

Only 3 more sleeps and we are getting on the plane and coming home for a short break.

The last 7 months of our journey in Siem Reap Cambodia have been filled with wonder at the goodness and faithfulness of God. We have learnt that without him we labour in vain.

God has given us a great bunch of people that are excited about the future and are willing to put effort into playing their part in making it happen.

We have established a bit of a name for ourselves in the city. People are becoming more and more aware of who we are and what we are doing. As we network around the place we come across people who already know who we are (they've heard from a friend). What a great testimony that is to how God can even make the small amount you feel you are doing, spread to the many.

We are making great connections in the university with both students and staff. The students in one class have been over for a party and now our connection with them has strengthened. The staff are inviting themselves over to our house and are reminding us everyday that they are coming (as if we would forget)!!!! Even our connection with the western teaching staff is getting stronger and stronger.

Lunch after church
Sunday 12th August was a huge service for us. We invited a Cambodian to come and speak to the church. He spoke to the people about doing the right thing, living right for God and helping each other. 48 people came to church and afterwards we all shared a meal together. There were a lot of people encouraged by the message and fellowship that day. 

Our village visits are getting more and more frequent as we establish relationships with the villagers. Last month we were able to visit Puok and Dom Dek a few times, eating, praying and just plain ol' socialising with everyone. Love that part of the journey, just getting down and talking real.

Visiting the children in their homes
English Classes have grown and grown and now I have 30 students registered. New ones are always showing up and just this week one of my new students came to me after class and thanked me for teaching him and said the class was such a lot of fun. Another student wrote me a lovely note and drew some flowers for me. They really appreciate it and are very responsive during class. I love to just watch how much they have grown in knowledge and relaxing more in their speech.

Marks Leadership Classes are also a huge success with students regularly coming each week. Just to get them to stop and look at thier lives and see what path they are on. To watch them as they discover those "ahah" moments when the light goes on. Very rewarding and exciting to see how we can just encourage them to think like they have never thought before.


C3 Siem Reap
Both of these avenues have been a great outreach for the church. Our church has now lots of English and Leadership students who have a heart for God and a huge desire to learn.

Please continue to pray for us. We value all kinds of support and encouragement as we do this journey with you.

Heaps of love on all of you xxx

Pastors Mark and Marian