Our Week of Firsts

What an amazing week we have had here in Siem Reap!!

Friday night saw us launch our first Youth Night. There were games, songs, stories and snacks, lots of fun and laughter and a huge thank you to our wonderful team that helped us with this very successful event. We have such a fantastic team! 20 young people came out and were excited about coming next week talking about bringing their friends - so can't wait to see how many come next Friday night. Please pray for this event as it is a great outreach and the kids love coming.


Fun with musical chairs

Due to the increasing number of people coming to church we have decided to run a Kids Church at 7am followed by our regular service at 8.30am. Last Sunday saw our first Kids Church with 15 children coming, but because it was our first one, a few of the children forgot and came later. So next week we are looking forward to even bigger things. God is good, growing our church weekly and all bringing friends with them.



Monday saw our first children's English Class with Teacher Mao. 20 children sat around tables chanting out the days of the week, greetings and asking people their name in English. What a joy it was to see them having so much fun learning a new language. A huge thanks to Mao who was able to control these 20 excited young people and keep the lesson under control - you are a legend and a champion. xxxxx


We have changed our Leadership training to Monday nights, so we bolt home straight after University and teach leadership skills to our team. They are so hungry to learn and grow and want something to bring their friends to. So now we also have a connect group on Tuesday night and prayer nights every second Wednesday (they wanted every Wednesday, but unfortunately we don't have their endless energy)!!!!!

Adult English Classes are also booming and people are coming that we have met in the restaurants, travel agencies and the markets and they are bringing their friends. There are 25 students that come now (but not all at the same time)!!



Sim, Sanh, Mao, Voan,

Last Monday was the first day of a new school for 4 of our guys. They were attending the public high school where classes are 75 or more students in one class. The teacher had no control and most of the time they couldn't hear what he was saying and there were not enough tables and chairs for all students, so some had to stand through the lessons. Then because of the lack of learning they paid the teacher for extra classes in the afternoon, but if you don't have the money to pay then you just learn the little you can pick up in the morning. We saw this as crazy and enrolled them at the New York International School. Now they learn in small classes of less than 25 and can help us to plan programs in the afternoon.

We are now running classes for English, youth group, church, and training every day and so we are quickly running out of room!!!! We have negotiated with the builder and owner of the house to completely cover the area at the front of our house, so we can facilitate these programs when we are here and also continue to run programs when we are teaching at the university. It will also enable us to accommodate around 250 people in our church services.This will provide an area that is protected from the sun and rain.
As you well know, school fees, undercover areas and great programs like these cost money. For 4 students at school we need $120 per term each (4x12 or 14 week terms) and the total cost for the undercover area is $2400.  So if you feel that you would like to be a part of this great move forward in a financial way, then please contact C3 Rockingham on +61 8 9524 5055 and let them know you are kindly donating to the C3 Siem Reap projects. We pray 2nd Corinthians 9:11 on you for your generosity.

It is such a blessing to us to know that we have many friends and family praying for us and supporting us. God is definately building his church and now that we are rapidly gaining momentum we need your prayers and support even more. We know that we can never outgive God and so we are looking forward to hearing great testimonies of how God has blessed you through your generosity.

Live your best life now

Pastor Mark and Marian xxxxxxxxxx




TEAM Camp Sihanoukville 2012

What an awesome camp we have just finished in Sihanoukville!!

We left Siem Reap on the night bus on Thursday 4th October with 6 of our leaders for the 12 hour trip to Sihanoukville for the TEAM Camp of a lifetime. Some of the boys had never seen the ocean before and one of the boys had never been on a bus before!! The journey was long but comfortable and we were all able to get a fairly decent night sleep.

We arrived in Sihanoukville early Friday morning, booked into the Beach Road Hotel and took a well earned shower and rest. They didn't rest much because they were too excited to get into the program and look around. The aim of the camp was to instill growth qualities, get them to reflect on their gifts and where they fit in the Kingdom of God and C3 church. The theme of the Camp was TEAM - Together Everyone Achieves More.
Friday morning was 3 sessions of leadership, which they eagerly engaged in and then free time in the afternoon to swim in the hotel pool or explore the beach and town.



Chubby Bunny Winner!!!
 

Friday evening was youth night at C3 Sihanoukville. What a great time we had there!! Tribal War night with team games, lots of fun, lots of spent energy with tug o war, find the shoe, and a hilarious game of Chubby Bunnies!! We learnt about team spirit and helping eachother and laughing and celebrating even if we loose!!

Games and songs in the village

On Saturday we met the team from C3 Sihanoukville and together we visited a village, where our guys were able to help out with activities and evangelism. They played games, sang songs with the children and chatted with the people. It was amazing to see how they just picked up the guitar, sang the songs and engaged the children in games, they were amazing!!
In the afternoon Mark ran a workshop with the C3 Sihanoukville leaders on basic counselling skills. This was received with much enthusiasm and was seen as really helpful for them in dealing with people in the future.



Mark preaching about Abundant Life

Sunday was catch up time for us with Ben and Cherie in the morning and mentoring time for our guys with the experienced Sihanoukville staff. They were really encouraged and gleaned from fantastic teaching from guys with years of experience. The afternoon was church were Marian gave the offering message, Mark preached and 2 of our guys gave their testimony. It was great to see another C3 church in action and it was a blessing to be a part of what God is doing on the other side of Cambodia. Pray for Ben and Cherie McGonagle as they are doing an amazing job.

Beach cricket and volleyball

Monday and Tuesday were teaching and training for us but the afternoons were a great time of team games on the beach where we were able to involve some of the locals in games of soccer and volleyball. There was plenty of shell and crab collecting and trying to bring half the beach inhabitants back to the hotel in water bottles!!! The long bus ride ahead on Tuesday night meant that Tuesday arvo was rest, play and pack up.

C3SR TEAM

What a privilege to be a part of what God is doing here with these guys. They are going to be used mightily by God to do great things in Siem Reap. They are pumped, excited and rearing to go, to see C3 Siem Reap take off in the next few months. Pray for them and us as we take the next step on this amazing journey.