Pastor Bob leaves Wooster Grace

Pastor Bob Fetterhoff left Wooster Grace to travel with Jim Pike & Roger McManus to visit the people we support in Cambodia & Thailand. Their travels, pictures, and stories are on Pastor Bob's blog.

Pastor Bob highlighted one ministry in Siem Reap, Cambodia--White Dove Ministries in a blog post. Please read more about this ministry from an earlier post. You can watch a five minute video of the ministry to capture an overview of what this ministry does--rescue girls from the sex trade industry.

White Dove is a ministry of YWAM dedicated to helping girls get out of prostitution. Rescued girls live in community with other women at the White Dove Center where they learn about Jesus, get counseling, start healing, and receive instruction to learn a trade to support themselves so that they can be free from the lure of prostitution as an income.  Many girls arrive uneducated. Some are illiterate. Yet God is glorified when one girl chooses to leave the sex trade and to start a new life in Jesus. A great post overviewing the ministry and contact info is by Rachel Harman on her blogpost.

Director of White Dove Ministries & Pastor Chhom

We thank God that Pastor Chhom of the Siem Reap (Cambodia) Grace Brethren Church has partnered with this ministry to develop fully devoted followers of Christ from the ladies rescued from the sex slave industry. All praise to God!

Team is home!

The team is back in Wooster!

I praise God for their safe return. May God help them adjust to our time zone and to work through the culture shock of what has happened while they were away.

Please keep them in prayer for the next week as they recalibrate their lives to life back home. It's not easy to encounter a BIG world, to expand your vision, and then to resume life as it was. Life will be different now. May the Lord be praised with their new commitments to develop into fully devoted followers of Christ.

A couple comments/and pictures from FB from the team:

"Back home safe and sound, praise God for such an awesome opportunity and great time with the 2012 Team Hope Asia Trip! Missing my new friends in Cambodia & Thailand... ready to sleep in my nice warm bed =)  Thank you for all who prayed for me on my trip it was greatly appreciated! The Lord was able to do many awesome things threw our team (Carlin Tiano)."

"Great, not only am i in cleveland with sandals on and it's snowing, I just realized i left my jacket in Korea (RAD)."

Steve Knight changed his profile picture.

"Wow" by Traci Schar

Wow! This has been one time-warped illusion. It’s hard to keep all my thoughts straight. It feels like one month’s worth of activities is happening in a day. Today we spent the day with the GROW children. They are so very special and cared for. They are group of wonderful children. So fun and crazy like their mom, Faa. We gave them the “American experience,” by taking them shopping in a mall. Something they never had the opportunity to do previously. 

We started a mural on the walls of the new art room. As we were leaving an imprint on the walls here, I couldn’t help wonder if we too would leave an imprint on the children here. Well, I can’t speak for the children here, but I have most definitely been imprinted by them. Upon arriving at Grace Place, Battambang, I felt like I was meeting relatives for the first time. I was welcomed in the same manner, just like when we opened our home to one of our foster children and they become part of our family. This is how the children there made me feel. 

Now, I knew it was going to be that way with our sponsored child, Heng. We have pictures and have been praying for him for a long time. But, I got that feeling from every child here. It so hard to even talk about because my heart aches when I think of all the children’s faces. How could I get such a close connection in such a short period of time? I think God is breaking my heart for my future. The love from these children is amazing- praying for us as “Mummy and Daddy.” What a blessing to sponsor these little angels.

Traci Schar 

My name is Traci Host Schar and I am the wife of Charlie N. Schar. Together we have 2+ sons, Gavin (age 8) and Logan (age 4). The + is because we are foster parents, and for the past year, we have at least one more extra son in our home.  I am looking forward to going on this trip because I want to meet in person and hug another son, Heng Ny Seang.  He is one of the orphans we sponsor and he lives in Cambodia.  I have compassion for hurting children everywhere and want to help anyway I can.  I also have a heart for missions, which makes this trip super exciting for me, because it is my first mission trip!  I pray that God will use me to show His compassion to His children everywhere.  I pray that God will show me where He wants to lead me next.  God willing, I hope this will be the start of many more mission trips, maybe even long term. 

Pastor Bob makes it to SE Asia

Pastor Bob Fetterhoff is in Cambodia with Jim Pike & Roger McManus. Read his first post on his blog. Please keep this team in your prayers too.

Pray for the team returning. They are in the middle of a thirty-hour odyssey as they come home. Ask God to help them adjust to our time zone, adapt to what has happened here, and to try to share what God has done in them with passion, grace, and tact. 

I glorify God for His work through us to impact the peoples of the world for Christ!

We need time! By Jim Rhea ("Stretch")

There is a time for every season….but does it have to be this time?                                                                


Hello from the other side of the world!  I will “try” to share about my experience so far. My excitement of being here with the team is high, but the opportunity to be with the children I’ve bonded with is so much greater. 


These precious ones who pray for me every day, who communicate their love in words and actions that frankly are overwhelming... Do you know what they want from me? It’s the same thing that I want. TIME!
                                                                                                                                                                                                         We are now in Thailand but my most of my heart needs to catch up with me. For me it seems that we we're only there a few hours. To be asked to stay longer and to return every time is very emotional. There was a line in a song that said “All I ever wanted was someone to care for me, someone who’d always be there for me,even in my darkest hour”. Pray with me that I will not  let them down. 


From Wiang Pa Pao, where we have already had a wonderful day with these little ones, may God alone lead us in His way. Now it is time to go. 


Stretch

Hi, I'm Jim Rhea or "Stretch" to many of you. It is a great joy and privilege to be on this team representing the Lord Jesus Christ and His people. I live in the country, love outdoor activities--hiking, motorcycling, the mountains, God's creation. I came to Christ as a nine year old and He has led me to serve in areas that often involve youth or as I like to say, "foundational ministry". This is exactly what we will be about on this journey, i.e. widows, orphans, those truly in need. Pray for us that God will be honored.

We are at Grace Place, Thailand!

Hello everyone,

I am borrowing someone's aircard to get online. Connection is slow and it is expense, so I will be brief. Thanks for the prayers. We arrived in Wiang Pa Pao, home of Grace Place, Thailand, yesterday early afternoon. The children were waiting for us. As I type this, I can hear them outside playing and having a great time with our team. It is a bit past 8am here and the team is just finishing serving them pancakes. Contrary to the Cambodia kids, who kept coming back for more until there was no more left, the kids here weren't too crazy about the pancakes.But they did enjoy it and had a great time.

Please keep praying for the general health of the team. Stomach issues are still a problem, though imodium has done the trick for several of our team members. Everybody is in good spirits. There is a great amount of cooperation among team members and we are having a blast with the kids here.

It's a bit chilly here today (we are up in the higher elevation of northern Thailand), so we changed our plans a little. We are taking all kids and staff to a chinese buffet for lunch today. That will be a first for the children and it will give the staff a little break. Then we will go together to Hot Springs, where natural hot waters will restore our bodies and minds to perfect health. :) The kids will have fun especially since it will not be cold water. After we return today we will look at the products the widows make here and buy some things from them, then we will have dinner, enjoy worship together and distribute the gifts so many of you sent to your children. It will be a busy day.

Thank you in advance for your prayers!

Pastor Ivanildo C. Trindade

Before we go to Grace Place, Thailand

Hello everyone,

Today represented a bit of change in the crazy schedule our team has been keeping. We were able to spend time with the eight G.R.O.W. children under Sumitra (Faa)'s care. The girls had a makeover and the boys carried sand to the playground. Everyone joined in the work and the fun that came later on -- throwing balloons with a sling shot, taking pictures, swimming, shopping with the kids, eating ice cream and eating some of the best food we have eaten so far, courtesy of Beam, Faa's assistant.

But tomorrow it is back to the insane pace again as we head north to Wiang Pa Pao, where Grace Place, Thailand, is located. We will be riding on the back of trucks and sleeping in the "Bamboo Hilton." More later, but you will have to stay tuned because we will be without Internet for a couple of days.

Several of our team members are still dealing with some stomach related issues. I am feeling better but still lacking energy from little sleep. I am hoping I can resume running pretty soon, I haven't been able to for two days in a roll.

God's blessings on you all and keep the comments coming. We read them every day.

Pastor Ivanildo C. Trindade

Ah Thailand, my home away from home, thoughts from Renee Shilling

Why would you not want to live in a land that literally means "beautiful?" I cannot think of one good reason; unless of course you don't love orchids, elephants, and coconuts. But before I dig into the details of today, I must update you on some team anecdotes.

Tuesday en route to Siem Reap (Angkor Wat): Pastor Ivanildo offered people some dried cranberries as he does every time that we're on the bus. As he poured some cranberries into my hand, a red bug started crawling out from among the cranberries and up my arm. A red bug! REALLY?! Had it not crawled up my arm when it did, it would've gone straight into my mouth with the cranberries! In a fit of panic, I squealed like a little girl, and the cranberries and bug went flying out of my hands. Pastor Ivanildo reminded me that people eat those bugs in Cambodia. Yes, but ALIVE?! Unfortunately for everyone else, the reaction was too quick to capture on film. I, for one, am grateful!

Wednesday at a street corner in Phnom Penh: And today's Black Market Special (ding, ding, ding), Moto License Plates! Please, come here. I sell for good price! Would you like blue? Green? How 'bout yellow or red? Need I say more?

On a more serious note, one of our team members had trouble passing through security. Mike has a battery powered breathing machine that security would not allow him to take on the plane. While Ivanildo went to intervene, I felt prompted to pray for the situation. Ivanildo told security that Mike was disabled and he needed the apparatus while he was traveling. Security finally allowed Mike to carry his battery. Praise You Jesus!!!

I enjoyed hearing the first impressions of my teammates as we arrived in Chiang Mai. "It's a lot different than I expected." "It's more developed than I expected." "This looks like a nice place to vacation." Well I say it looks like a nice place to live! And apparently, I'm not the only one who thinks so! We picked up a stowaway at the train station by the name of Brenden Miller; maybe you know him. He is checking out different ministry opportunities for him and his wife in this part of the world.

As I walked through the night bazaar, I was reminded of why my heart breaks for this country. Young, beautiful girls dressed for success -or at least for the night. The men that they're with are so dirty. Don't these girls see what I see in them? The potential to be so much more than a one night stand? Why do women easily fall into the trap of finding their self worth in such creepy men. It disgusts me to see such degradation in this world. It really takes Genesis 3:16 to a whole new level. It must sear the heart of God.

Because of one woman's desire to protect innocent children at risk of such exploitation, G.R.O.W was founded. Faa is a young woman after my own heart, and the ministry that she is providing to 8 at-risk children inspires me. We had an opportunity to eat dinner and have a worship service with the children. Please continue to pray for the GROW ministry with the wisdom to make several decisions with expansion.

Thank you so much for your prayers, and continue to do so. We appreciate your prayers and encouragement in our obedience to carry out the great commission. God bless you!


Renee Shilling:

I LOVE people. I love how diverse we all are, and I love learning about the cultural and religious background. My favorite people in the world are children, specifically my nephews, Jonathan, Logan, and Gabriel, and my niece, Cadence. Jesus encourages us all to have faith like a child. We can all learn so much from their teachable minds and vulnerability to trust.

I am a musician, and have had the privilege of playing trombone in the Church Orchestra, and participating in the Bell Choir. My greatest musical joy is leading worship in the four14 band. I love worshiping a risen Savior, and want to lead a life that worships him. My desire is to see others develop that same passion of worshiping the only true God.

"Leading the Angels in Worship" by Ed Tirakis

Imagine that you walked into heaven and one of the first jobs you were assigned was to lead the angels in worship. That was my dilemma on Sunday. As we entered the Asia's Hope compound we were met with the usual crush of smiles and laughter and 30 plus voices shouting "Hullo D'ddy! Hullo Mu'mmy!"

Just getting off the bus is an event. While trying to avoid stepping on little toes, two sets hands quickly take your right hand and forearm, two more sets take your left hand and forearm. Another set of hands grabs you from behind and you are immediately relieved of any baggage you might have had. Meanwhile anyone who is left is hugging you from the front. You have to shuffle your feet because you can't move any faster and you don't want to step on anyone. I got led into the Team Hope Pavilion and seated on the boys side of the room, meanwhile Diane was led to the girls side of the room. As the music started, I was surrounded by children smiling warmly at me and then they began to sing. I'm telling you this was a moment I won't soon forget. The children on either side of me were were gently caressing my arms and then the worship started.

Every tear in my eyes immediately left my face. I looked over at Diane and she had lost her composure. I have never felt so welcome, so special, so honored as I did in that moment and it occurred to me that I was getting an earthly glimpse of what heaven is really like.

I had been preoccupied with so many things. What song was I going to sing? Would they have a music stand? Would there be a microphone? Would the guitar be in tune? The kids were only concerned with two things. Worshiping God and serving our team. All the details I was concerned about immediately became irrelevant in light of these little ones' love and care for us. These kids worship like they do everything, passionately, purely, and with unadulterated energy! I have been leading worship for over 20 years. I have led countless thousands in worship in that time but this day I wasn't there to lead them in worship. They were leading me. My little offering of a song that morning while politely welcomed by them, was really the least important thing that happened that morning. I've struggled to put into words what being with these kids is really like and how one can become so attached to them in such a short time. Diane and I were left unable to process our time with these kids because it is so sweet and so bitter all at the same time. I heard this quote today during my study time.

"Beauty is unbearable. It drives us to despair because it offers us, for a moment, a glimpse of an eternity that we desperately want to stretch out overall of time." (Albert Camus)

As I watched the angels worship God this day I caught for a brief moment a beautiful glimpse into an eternity that I did not want to end.

Ed Tirakis

I am the Laboratory Manager at Wooster Community Hospital. I have thought about going to Cambodia and Thailand for a few years now but always saw too many reasons not to go. God worked on my heart, and now I desire very much to go and be with the children we are trying to help through Team Hope. My goals for the trip are the following:

1. Show God's love to all the kids.
2. Connect with Ry Vith, our sponsored child.
3. Learn how Team Hope can help these little ones and save more kids.
4. Help out in whatever ways I am able, i.e. lead worship.
5. Learn more about the culture of Cambodia and Thailand. 

"Leading the Angels in Worship" by Ed Tirakis

Imagine that you walked into heaven and one of the first jobs you were assigned was to lead the angels in worship. That was my dilemma on Sunday. As we entered the Asia's Hope compound we were met with the usual crush of smiles and laughter and 30 plus voices shouting "Hullo D'ddy! Hullo Mu'mmy!"

Just getting off the bus is an event. While trying to avoid stepping on little toes, two sets hands quickly take your right hand and forearm, two more sets take your left hand and forearm. Another set of hands grabs you from behind and you are immediately relieved of any baggage you might have had. Meanwhile anyone who is left is hugging you from the front. You have to shuffle your feet because you can't move any faster and you don't want to step on anyone. I got led into the Team Hope Pavilion and seated on the boys side of the room, meanwhile Diane was led to the girls side of the room. As the music started, I was surrounded by children smiling warmly at me and then they began to sing. I'm telling you this was a moment I won't soon forget. The children on either side of me were were gently caressing my arms and then the worship started.

Every tear in my eyes immediately left my face. I looked over at Diane and she had lost her composure. I have never felt so welcome, so special, so honored as I did in that moment and it occurred to me that I was getting an earthly glimpse of what heaven is really like.

I had been preoccupied with so many things. What song was I going to sing? Would they have a music stand? Would there be a microphone? Would the guitar be in tune? The kids were only concerned with two things. Worshiping God and serving our team. All the details I was concerned about immediately became irrelevant in light of these little ones' love and care for us. These kids worship like they do everything, passionately, purely, and with unadulterated energy! I have been leading worship for over 20 years. I have led countless thousands in worship in that time but this day I wasn't there to lead them in worship. They were leading me. My little offering of a song that morning while politely welcomed by them, was really the least important thing that happened that morning. I've struggled to put into words what being with these kids is really like and how one can become so attached to them in such a short time. Diane and I were left unable to process our time with these kids because it is so sweet and so bitter all at the same time. I heard this quote today during my study time.

"Beauty is unbearable. It drives us to despair because it offers us, for a moment, a glimpse of an eternity that we desperately want to stretch out overall of time." (Albert Camus)

As I watched the angels worship God this day I caught for a brief moment a beautiful glimpse into an eternity that I did not want to end.

Ed Tirakis

I am the Laboratory Manager at Wooster Community Hospital. I have thought about going to Cambodia and Thailand for a few years now but always saw too many reasons not to go. God worked on my heart, and now I desire very much to go and be with the children we are trying to help through Team Hope. My goals for the trip are the following:

1.      1. Show God’s love to all the kids

2.      2. Connect with Ry Vith, our sponsored child

3.      3. Learn how Team Hope can help these little ones and save more kids

4.      4. Help out in whatever ways I am able, i.e. lead worship

5.     5. Learn about the culture of Cambodia and Thailand.

Th

tHThanks for praying for me!