Team blesses Africans with transportation and protein enrichment

PK-22: Saturday

Nanga in training

Today we had the opportunity to conduct training for Nanga and Kevin of ICDI to maintain and operate the backhoe and skid steer.

There are a lot of details to pass on but our goal is for the ICDI staff to continue the work with the equipment after we leave.  As with anything new, it will take them awhile to learn and feel comfortable.

They did a good job and Nanga said he did not want to stop because it was fun feeling powerful to dig and pull things with the big backhoe.  We enjoyed our time with all of the guys helping us.  After our training we continued the work on the arrangement of the shipping containers until it was time to head back for lunch.

This afternoon we did a couple fun things.  The first was to finish the long journey for a very special bicycle that has travelled with us from Ohio.  Rick, with the help of Bill Buckwalter, carried a bike through airport security check points, with the intention of giving the bike to Andre' who is the ICDI cook here in Bangui at the guest house.

Rick presents Andre with bike

So after lunch we put the bike back together and Rick presented Andre' with his bike.  A huge smile came over Andre' and he gave Rick a big hug.  Andre' said that saying thank you was not enough to express his greatfullness to Rick for this wonderful gift.

The next fun thing was to visit a farm which grows a crop called spiralina.  We got to tour the farm and see this production in action.

Bruce Imhoff, who came with me to the CAR last March, invested in this farm and they were excited to show us the dividends of that investment.  They had constructed a larger area for a spiralina pond and have cleared land for two more ponds that they hope to construct with the proceeds from their harvest from their farm.

Dale Imhoff with spirulina farmers

The spiralina has the highest concentration of protein in the world (70%).  This end product can have an awesome impact on the malnurishment probem.  In addition to the spiralina the farm also has fish ponds and banannas trees.  When the farmer found out Dale was Bruce's brother they could not contain their appreciation and did not stop thanking him.  It was great moment!  Thanks Bruce!!

We enjoyed Andre's pizza tonight for supper and we are going out to have some ice cream later

Thanks
Tim

Spirulina pool

What's on your menu for lunch? Roasted Snake?

PK-22: "Fry-Day"

PK-22: Photo courtesy of Tom Peters

Friday was our second full day at PK-22, we felt like we made good progress on our projects today.  While we waited for supplies for the skid steer loader, we began placing large shipping containers to be used as the shop area for the water well team. 

Backhoe moving containers at PK22

Shipping containers are not only for shipping supplies in from all over the world but they also serve as buildings and storage facilities for the work of ICDI.  We used the backhoe to move and arrange the containers. 

For lunch we went to a local restaurant which we had placed our order the day before.  Our meal consisted of chicken, cucumber salad, rice, gozo, and mango for dessert.  The food was actually pretty good and it gave Dale a chance to try the local delicacy of Gozo which has a unique local taste.  I encourage you to ask any of us who have eaten it before to tell you what it's like. Usually it's not a favorite for non-locals. :)

After lunch our supplies arrived for the skid steer so Dale and Rick worked to get the problems correctly.  Thankfully there efforts were successful and we finally were at full working capacity.

Dale and Rick worked on the plant nursery leveling dirt and making water diversion ditches.  I took the backhoe and began clearing a road back to where there is an abandoned building which Nanga hopes to build an office for PK-22. 

As part of my project I demolished what remained of the old building. Part way through my efforts I scooped up a funny looking tree branch which I quickly realized was a 6ft long poisonous snake.  Thankfully for me I was safe in the backhoe!  The snake retreated under some of the rubble I had just removed from the building.  John Hocking went and got a machete and then I moved the rubble to find the snake so we could make sure it did not cause any problems.  I can give more details later but I will just say the snake is dead.  One of the guys wanted to take a picture of the snake but the Africans working near us had already started cooking the snake.  They were excited that I had provided them a tasty meal.

FYI The temperature was 130 in the sun!! (At that temperature you can cook a pork loin in a rotisserie grill. Check out Ehow, step 4. Wow, that's hot! by Pastor Daron)

Thanks for your prayers
Tim

SEE what team did the night before departing the country (Picture post)

Night before leaving out of the country. Pizza in DC

PK22 is not just a Danish leather lounge chair

PK-22

PK22 Danish Lounge Chair

 Today was our first day to visit ICDI's new land called PK-22.  This land is under contract from the CAR government to ICDI to develop agricultural and development projects that will impact the people of the CAR. 

 It was our joy to receive the grand tour of the 360 acres from Nanga Kaye, ICDI's chief agronomist.  It does not take long to hear the excitement that Nanga has for the potential of this land.  The passion is infectuous and we are excited to join him in developing ICDI's fields of dreams.  Nanga was excited to show us all sides of the land which also helped us with our excercise program because we walked and walked and walked as Nanga shared his dream for each area of the land.

PK-22: Land provided by CAR government

Oh, did I mention it was around 100 degrees and very sunny!  It was hot but it was awesome to see  all the land has to offer.  Some of the dreams include: developing fields of corn, soybeans, peanuts, and other crops that will provide seeds for a seed bank as well food to eat.  Other plans are for an orchard with fruit trees.  Ponds to grow and harvest fish will also be dug too.  The new land will also provide another base camp for the water well drilling teams.  Shipping containers are already here and are going to be used to store equipment and much needed parts.  A tractor and farming equipment as well as a barn and well drilling equipment is on its way across the ocean from Ohio and will end up here at PK-22.

Our projects while we are here will involve clearing land for fields, helping with drainage, arranging and setting up shipping containers, diggings fish ponds and clearing paths making the land more accessible.

Nanga Kaye-ICDI Ag Director

After lunch we began some of our work with ICDI's backhoe and skid steer loader.  Our plan is to train the ICDI staff how to properly operate this equipment as well as use the equipment ourselves.  As our work began, we soon experienced working in Africa, that means things don't always work the way they should.  We spend most of the afternoon trying to fix the skid steer.  Rick and Dale did their best to diagnose the problems but with no success.  While they struggled with that I began to clear land with the backhoe at least it worked.  The land I worked on will be used as a plant nursery so it needs to be flat as well as protected from run off from heavy rains.

Thanks to a call to Jason Steiner of Lowe and Young farm equipment, we now have better ideas to diagnose and fix the skid steer tomorrow when we return to PK-22.

Another goal of ICDI is to be a blessing to the village that is next to PK-22 so today Tom Peters and Ted Rondeau of ICDI spent time talking to village leaders hoping begin building relationships.  We also stopped at a local restaurant to see about getting food for future days lunches. Not a fast food place but we hope to eat there tomorrow.  We put our order in today so it will be ready for lunch tomorrow.  We ordered two chickens, (yes whole chickens) cooked to order, rice, and drinks (#1combo meal).Smile!

Well, I will give you a food review for tomorrows blog entry so stay tuned.

Thanks for all of your prayers
Tim

Today in the CAR [guest post by Rick Ratzel]

PK22 land provided by CAR government

From facebook today (Thu Apr 7) "Today in the CAR..We walked around the new ICDI ag center land today checking out the 360 acres there.

(We) came back after lunch and started working on clearing land till the skidsteer shut down..Worked on it till it was time to leave,so yes I got dirty already.

Thankful for my leatherman cause tools are scarse..Should sleep good,it was hot today..Again,thanks for all your prayers,we sure appreciate them."

Please leave a comment for the team so that they can gain encouragement from your visit at the blog. 

Thanks to Pastor Tom Peters for the pictures of PK-22 from FB.  Pictured below are the tools Rick used for the day. These are the kind of things the team is working with in Bangui, CAR.  Please pray for their great health, physical stamina and rest, and godly relationships.

Skidsteer

 

 

 

 

Leatherman

 

Team arrives in Central Africa [Guest post by Tim Harley]

Bangui C.A.R. airport txs Wikipedia

Hey everyone, wanted to send a note to let you know we are here in Bangui, Central African Republic(CAR).  We arrived around 3pm local time which is 5 hours ahead of Ohio time.  We had around 24 hrs of flying time which took us from Cleveland to Washington DC to Addis Abbaba Ethiopia to Duala, Cameroon, to Bangui, C.A.R.  If you look at a globe you will realize we covered a lot of miles.

We are all tired but glad to be here, we are looking forward to getting started tomorrow morning on our main project which is called PK-22.  PK-22 is the kilometers from the center of Bangui.  By tomorrow, I will try to send pictures to post and offer more details regarding the projects and the people we will be working with.

Thank you for all of your prayers, all of our connections went well and all of our luggage arrived including a bicycle provided by Rick and prepared for shipping by Bill Buckwalter, Ride On in Wooster, OH. 

God Bless,

Tim

On to Central Africa [Guest Post by Tim Harley]

11am service-Wooster Grace commissions team

[Tim Harley will send updates on the team serving in Central Africa]

Our journey has begun!  We left Cleveland in route for Washington D.C. We have a lay over here with our next flight leaving Tuesday at 12pm for Ethiopia and then Bangui.  We will arrive at our final destination, Bangui, Central African Republic, on Wednesday afternoon at 2:30pm.  We will be six hours ahead of Ohio time. Tonight we had some time to share dinner together.
We have been joined by our ICDI team leader, John Hocking. We spent time sharing and getting to know each other.  We each shared about God's faithfulness in allowing us to be a part of this team.  We look forward to watching God work on behalf of our team to use us to impact those in the CAR.
My next communication will hopefully occur Wednesday night which will be the next time I will have access to the internet.

Thanks for all of your prayers!!

Tim Harley

9:45 Service Wooster Grace commissions team

The G.R.O.W. Kids Sing!

So one day early in the morning I showed up at the G.R.O.W. home and took the kids to school. I wish you could have been there to see the surprise look on the face of the kids as they started shouting to each other, "Adasala is here! Adasala is here." Note: "Adasala" is the name they gave me in Akha. It means something like "Father-Pastor." I felt so happy that day but my happiness trailed in comparison to their joy and excitement. It almost makes me cry when I think that for most of these kids it would have been the first time ever that "Daddy" took them to school. A moment they will probably never forget. I drove the truck with the small children in the cab (the older ones are very proud to ride on the back, with the cover and the benches we've provided for them).

The whole time from the G.R.O.W. home to the school they were singing worship songs. On the way back, I caught them singing this song about the time Jesus calmed the storm when he was out on the boat with the disciples. I thought to myself, "How fitting. These children are singing about Jesus keeping them safe from the storms of life." And that's what rescuing children is all about. No more fear of the evil person who comes like a bad storm in the middle of the night. No more pain from having an empty stomach. No more hopelessness. They are "home now." Sing on, children!

Pastor Ivanildo C. Trindade

itrindade@woostergrace.org

No One Sings Like This...

One of the reasons I love going to Asia is that when I get there I witness some of the purest, unadulterated, "raw" kind of worship anywhere on this planet. And it appears to me that every time I come these children have ratchet up their volume, devotion, expression and overall experience by a couple of notches. They sing their hearts out, they are not embarrassed in the presence of strangers -- for them worship is a body and soul experience and they give themselves totally to it. You will see what I mean when you see the two clips below. FERVOR. That is the word that comes to mind. And I have to confess, the only other times when I have felt kind of like this free to worship, is when I am in Macapa, northern Brazil, worshipping with the folks in the church where I grew up, but even then it is not as on fire as when these children open their little diaphragms and let it loose. I can only imagine how God smiles broadly at these precious ones when they enter into His presence with songs. (By the way, see if you can pick out the word for "Jesus" repeated a couple of times in one of the videos).   

Pastor Ivanildo C. Trindade

itrindade@woostergrace.org

Voices from Heaven 1

Yes, I close my eyes and keep hearing the sounds of beautiful voices. Then I wake up and I realize I am not in heaven but just dreaming about our children in SE Asia. Here I am going to try to post one of my favorite songs from Thailand, a traditional song that Christian children learn from the time they are little about the different things in nature that God created. I haven't heard other children singing it, but I am going to go out on a limb here to say that nobody on the entire planet can sing it as well as our children from Grace Place, Thailand. Enjoy it!

Pastor Ivanildo C. Trindade
itrindade@woostergrace.org

Post by Holly Clark

Blogger's Note: My apologies to Holly. I just saw this post in the edit file and realized it was never published. Well, I think it is still worth the read.

Hi everyone. This has been an incredible experience. Very emotional...every emotion. It hasn't been easy, but I can now see 1st hand the poverty and need in Cambodia. I shared with 132 children who live in a state run orphanage and the staff. Told them how much God cares about each and everyone of them. I asked if anyone had a Bible. Not 1 person had a bible. Not one. The conditions were filthy, rubble, dust, depressing like a concentration camp. I asked for the bathroom and the lady said she would take me to the "good bathroom." The good bathroom was the worst bathroom you have ever seen in USA. These kids are never touched by a loving parent, never asked how their day was, only fed and clothed and forced to live in these filthy conditions, yet they are beautiful. You look into their eyes and see beauty. Not one is forgotten by God, but unfortunately, they are forgotten by us. This is a labor of love...it's tough to see this...but it's reality and a wake up call for our "fat" lives in the USA. Don't take anything for granted, love your family, your friends and thank God that He sends teams of people to touch these childrens lives. Now I know that one person, really can make a difference. When a child throws their arms around you and calls you "mommy," and feels a loving physical touch, he/she will never forget that. Never!

Holly

And It Ends as It Started -- unpredictably!

Here I am on my last full night here in SE Asia and it is not the way I had planned it. I am sitting at the lobby of a hotel I had never stayed in, thinking about the events of the last few days. After the team left I made a visit to Faa's village and the town closest to it, where her dad had been hospitalized. I was supposed to go to a couple of other villages but it was not meant to be. Faa's dad passed away today and she, her sister Ning and several other family members (7 people and two dogs!) are already in the village for all the preparations for funeral and calling hours. This will be a whole community affair and the family looks up to these two young women, and especially to Faa, for guidance, decision making, and comfort.             

I met Faa's dad last year in his humble house. He served me a wonderful Akha meal of vegetables, rice, and some some chicken. I had a marvelous conversation with him, through Faa and her brother. We talked about Faa, how she was like when she was younger, and what she has been allowed to do. He told me one story that not even Faa knew in detail, a story about how God miraculously saved her from certain death (indeed, technically, it would have been a case of infanticide but I don't have time to go into that now).

When I asked Faa's dad whether he ever imagined she would travel the world one day, he said "no," and added that he was surprised at the very fact that she was alive, considering what almost happened to her. I will remember this man a lot, even though I only met him once.

Please pray for Faa and Ning as they minister to family members in the next days ahead.

Pastor Ivanildo C. Trindade
itrindade@woostergrace.org

Singing and Having a Blast at Grace Place, Battambang

"American" Breakfast at Grace Place, Battambang

 What a task: convincing kids who are not used to eating sweets to begin with that they are supposed to eat this sugary cereal -- for breakfast! If you study their little faces, you will get the picture. They seem to be saying, "Are you guys nuts? Where is my rice? My noodles? My sweet and sour soup? Don't you know what real breakfast food looks like?" The beef sticks, on the other hand, were a huge success, thanks, in part, to Stretch's able demonstration on how to eat it...

Pastor Ivanildo C. Trindade
itrindade@woostergrace.org

So Long!

Team is all checked in and ready to get on the plane bound to Soul, Korea and then Chicago and Cleveland. Everyone is in good health even if we all look like we've aged some years... but in fact we have gained joy that by far outweighs the years we seemed to have lost. God is good. Please pray for the team as they start the long journey back home. I will be posting some more pictures and stuff here in the next few days, Lord willing.

Pastor Ivanildo C. Trindade

itrindade@woostergrace.org

WARNING! RAD blog ahead . . . blog advisory warning in effect:)

Well it’s 4 am on Tuesday morning, I'm sitting in the front seat of a truck and I’ve just returned from yet another round of the Smecta Shuffle. What is the Smecta Shuffle? Smecta is nothing more than powdered clay that you mix with water, drink it down and the clay hardens in your intestines to create blockage, thereby stopping or slowing the effects of diarrhea. Well for me, I’ve been dancing this dance for over a week now and so clearly this trip will be logged in my memory as the trip that truly “moved me.” Also I was thinking that in some cultures they clay to make bricks, but I guess I always thought it was a different process.

I thought I might catch us all up a bit on the trip since nobody else wants to sit around and chat with me at 4 am. The last few days our communication with the outside world has been very limited. We have gone from full on internet and ease of access to the world wide web, to only an emergency phone call on a borrowed cell phone from someone in Thailand. It hasn’t been for lack of effort, oh no, there’s been two air cards (basically, a cell phone modem) two laptops, two netbooks and hours of frustration to produce for you absolutely nothing. And yet despite our non-existent web presence we have so very clearly sensed the power of God’s people back home praying.

The team has been amazing. Harlene Steiner continues to bless us with her good spirit as we harass her about being the last person to remember to take off her shoes when she enters an Asian dwelling place. However on one occasion, she caught me with the shoe slip up in a room of the hotel we were staying at, yelled at me, “RAD, your feet!” In a clear Harlene Steiner kind of tone, to which Juana heard not “RAD” but “Rat”, jumped on the bed screaming something in Spanish which I felt best for her not to translate.

Juana Hernandez has brought a such a tender heart to our team, and especially for the children as her ministry position at Grace has allowed her to truly have a significant hand in bringing the work of our orphan ministry full circle. What a joy it was for me to watch her interacting with the very children that she does so much for back in Wooster, now finally getting to meet them.

Holly Clark has found the end of herself, maybe it was in Cambodia, maybe in Thailand, but wherever, she’s there and as we spoke just last night at the end of that road she has found Jesus to be the One that carries you onward when your personal road comes to an end. Right now as I write this, Holly is sleeping on a cement floor inside of a Hill Tribe village church wrapped in the Lord’s strength more than ever. What a blessing.

The final member of our team of ladies is a gal named Trish Walker. Trish and I have been friends since 2005 when we served together on a GO Team partnered with Campus Crusade as part of the Tsunami relief effort. Trish is the youngest member of the ladies on our team, and her raw openness to what the Lord wants to teach her and her clear heart for desiring His will above all else, combined with her general life transparency has been truly refreshing.

Now there is yet another female member of our team that didn’t leave with us from Wooster, but joined us in the journey once arriving in Asia. That person would be Faa. Faa continues to win the hearts of our team members with her own brand of unabandoned love for Christ, the children of the GROW Home, and her Thai humor and phrases that are genuinely special Faa.

On the fellahs side, the Lord had some very cool things in mind when he put this would be band of scruffy dogs together. Well actually, to call us a band of scruffy dogs really isn’t accurate, because now having traveled around the back roads of Asia for over a week, I’ve really seen some scruffy dogs. I’m going home and tell my dogs, “Ed, Daisy, you better straighten up, or it’s off to Asia for you!” Which will undoubtedly strike the deepest of obedience fear in each of them.

The senior member of our male team is recently retired Mike Ohlsen. Mike has had his heart shaked and baked in everyway imaginable and having the privilege to watch him push through, press through and love without limits has been an inspiration to each of us. Although we’d all have to admit that he sure does sweat a lot.

Jason Kinnebrew, powered by the love and support of his dear wife Ashley back home came with one thing in mind. He and Ashley participate in the orphan sponsorship program through their giving at Wooster Grace and I knew when I returned last time from Asia with a picture of “their” child and told them personally of his story it was only a matter of time until at least one of them would be making the journey to personally deliver the love and care they each feel for their sponsored children. Jason serves quietly, but energetically and it has been sweat to watch him take it all in.

From the four14 side of life at Grace we have several members on this team as well. First there’s Josh Graber. Josh plays in our band back home and has brought to our team his own brand of uniqueness. One thing about Josh is that he definitely doesn’t look Asian. Let’s see, he’s tall, definitely not an Asian trait, his hair sometimes can be found to be a bit long and disheveled, nope that’s not Asian either, and yet he totally flips the coin on all of us when he gets behind the guitar and leads our team and the various groups of people we have had the privilege to worship with. Josh’s openness to the leading of the Holy Spirit in his own life on this trip has reminded me again why I’m grateful he is a part of our four14 family.

Next there’s our very own rodeo clown, down to earth great guy, Brad Warner. Brad has been a part of four14 for a number of years and yet it has taken this trip for us to really spend some quality time together to catch up and genuinely share life together. With Brad what you see is what you get. And what I’ve seen is a strong, tall, country kind of guy, melting in his heart for the children of this amazing land. Brad let’s do it all, and I’ll help attitude as truly served as a blessing to our entire team. And fyi, if you happen to know Brad be sure to ask him about the pig.

Returning for a second time to Asia is Matt Yoder. Matt serves at four14 in our Tech ministries and Matt clearly desires to be involved in the work of ministry wherever and whatever that means. One of Matt’s gifts on this trip has been his love of photography and while he and others have sought to help us “capture the moments,” Matt has lead the way in ensuring that each of our orphan sponsors back home get fresh, and updated pictures of their sponsored children helping each one feel just a tad bit more connected to a world so very far from home.

Also returning for a second time is Jim Rhea, aka Stretch. If you need a pick me up, just listen in when Jim introduces himself to large groups of Asian children using the word “Stretch” and then have them pronounce it back. Precious. Jim returns as part of our four14 family, on-loan, from the Woodville Grace Brethren church in Mansfield. Jim, again by Asian standards, a giant of a guy, brings his own brand of demeanor that can at times seem quiet and reflective, until you put this giant of a guy next to a 3’ child and he turns out to be just as sappy as all of the rest of us. My friendship with Stretch over some twenty years has illuminated to me his long time legacy of selflessness and serving that in every situation makes our team stronger.

And then finally, there’s Adam Cruise. Adam is the youngest member of our team, bringing all the props from our Wooster Grace High School Ministry. Adam has been a blessing to each of us in his own way. His youth, his untainted desire to live in the moment with whatever situation we have found ourselves, has been just down right awesome to be around. Adam celebrated his 18th birthday a couple of days ago with us and I asked him later that day what was different about having a birthday in Thailand to which he simply replied, “I’ve never woken up on my birthday to the cries of a pig being slaughtered right outside of where I’m sleeping that’s for sure.” That was the start of the day, but the end of the birthday concluded with a fireside service with the kids of Grace Place singing “Happy Birthday” in both English and Thai, something none of us will forget.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot Pastor Ivanildo. No not really. Having the chance to work with him again in this capacity continues to challenge me for the brokenness of my heart for the poor and forgotten of this world. I love this guy like a brother, but if I have to hear, “I was born on the Amazon” one more time . . . he may find himself up for adoption.

Wow, you made it through! Congratulations! I’m fully aware that by blog standards this entry was way too long but I just really felt that maybe some of you at home needed to hear from us here about how we’re all doing. On the personal side for me, this entire trip has been nothing short of miraculous. From my rough go of it with pneumonia, to the flu which forced me to leave a few days behind the team, right down to my current dancing of the Smecta Shuffle, the Lord has been in this journey every step of the way.

The word “Ambassador” seems like such a high and lofty word, and yet I understand that it is in part the capacity which I serve. The dictionary defines ambassador as a “person who represents someone or something greater than himself.” True that in all regards. To represent our Lord and Savior is clearly the fulfillment of that thought. Whether it is to Asian people, Grace Place staff, missionaries on the field, our children, this team, whoever, wherever, it is an assignment I do not take lightly and yet feel honored beyond words to share in.

The forgiveness found through Christ’s shed blood, the joy of serving Him, and the hope of His return is a message that transcends culture, broken lives and distant lands and is the message we bring and we champion as a team and as a church family of Wooster Grace. Every prayer, every dollar, every act of service drives us closer to the heart of God and a relinquishing of ourselves for a greater good, a greater God, and a greater glory for His name. That’s why you’re here and that’s why we’re here, praise the Lord.

P.S. I'll post this first chance I get when I get back to Chang Mai.

We are Back in Chiang Mai!

Hello everyone

We just came out of a total "Internet blackout." Nothing worked at Wiang Pa Pao, where Grace Place, Thailand, is located. We tried different air cards for the Internet and nothing was cooperating. We are back in the world of the Internet again and will be able to post soon. The team is finishing up a service with some college students, where Josh Graber was going to do a mini-concert and I am sitting here at the hotel lobby, waiting for them to get here. I came ahead of the team with all the loggage, so the team would not have to wait once they got here -- big plans for tonight: a real shower and shopping at the Sunday market, a special place for bargains of all sort of trinkets and artifacts made by Thai and indigenous artisans.


We had a fabulous time at Grace Place, Thailand. The children were adorable but most important, they were adoring... they sure know how to worship God with all their heart, soul, and mind. Our team was absolutely blown away by the care and love that the staff demonstrates to our children day in and day out. They are really being instructed well in the Word and there is no shortage of love at Grace Place. All of the sponsors form our church should be very proud of the work that the staff is doing here. Thanks for the investment you are making in the lives of these precious children.



More later,



Pastor Ivanildo C. Trindade

itrindade@woostergrace.org

God is Working

Hello, I am Harlene Steiner, a long-time member of Wooster Grace. I have had an interest in missions and missionaries for many years. I did a missions trip to Kyrgyzstan in 2001. Meeting new people is something I enjoy very much! I am a retired high school teacher, having taught at Smithville High School for 24 years. I do volunteer work and am involved in a variety of other activities. I hope to be an encouragement to the missionaries and the children that we will be visiting, as well as to my team members.

                                                             XXX

Hello from Harlene, I will tell you today about a couple of activities we have done in Cambodia.  A highlight was our visit to Grace Place, Battambang. We had a wonderful time interacting with the kids!  When they opened their gifts from all of you, the big smiles, laughter, and general excitement were a sight to behold! Pastor Bob and Roxanne, I took a couple of pictures of Vin Seang for you especially.  One little girl was sobbing as she looked at her gift from her sponsor, Sarah Judy.  She missed Sarah greatly! We had a great party with the kids Monday night--eating supper, and much dancing!  Very hard to leave them--tears all around!
 
Eloquent voices, words spoken haltingly, sad stories--all these describe our visit to a unique ministry in Siem Reap two evenings ago.  A pastor from Norway and his Cambodian wife have undertaken a ministry to former prostitutes, called "White Dove Ministries."*  The wife has a heart for them and helps them to get off the streets, develop skills in order to support themselves, and, most important of all, to find the Lord who loves them and gives them a new sense of worth.  They feel guilty and worthless because of the life of abuse and poverty from which they have come.

God is working in SE Asia.  Please keep praying for the people to go from fear and darkness to peace and light!  We are doing O.K.  health wise and loving the Cambodian food! Today we have arrived in Thailand and will soon depart for Chiang Mai to go to Faa's GROW home and Grace Place, Thailand. 

Love to all!  May God keep you as you weather the weather!!

Blogger's Note: These ladies are now involved in the Grace Brethren Church of Siem Reap, pastor Chomm is the pastor there. When they started the ministry they felt it was crucial to have the support of the local church. After looking for a church, they found pastor Chomm's and decided to partner with him. He not only welcomed them with wide open harms but loaned them their young daughter to be part of that ministry. And remember: this is a ministry that goes into bars and reaches out to the young women who work there. In fact, the name "White Dove" was the name of the first bar they ever started going to, out of each several ladies have come out of that life of exploitation and have now found the Lord, found hope, found skills, have a safe place and are helping rescue other young women.

"Life is a Highway"

Hey, I’m Adam Cruise and I’m a senior at Triway High School. I enjoy connecting with my friends and talking about life. At school I enjoy government and global foods classes. I also play sports including soccer, kicker for the football team, and running track. Outside of school, I like hanging out with friends. When I have some free time I like to listen to music and paint. On Sunday mornings I am a member of the HSM Tech Team and about a year ago I got involved in teaching a Kindergarten Sunday school class. Every week I look forward to seeing the kids again. I love seeing the kids and teaching them about God. I’m very glad I have an opportunity to go on this trip because I get to share God’s love with children on the other side of the world.

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Tuesday, February 23

Hello from Asia. Today was an exciting day of fun in the Cambodian sun. Today we travled to Siem Reap at 5 in the morning. We arrived in town approx. 8 but didn't reach our final destination till 9:30. After eating a "quick" breakfast, we ventured towards the ruins of Angkor Wat. We spent the entirety of the day exploring the ruins with our trusty guide Darun. Darun told us about the great and long history of the ruins. And while he was explaining about some great ruin, we were to busy looking at the monkeys. After we left the ruins and freshened up at the hotel we headed to the White Rose ministries*. Well it has been a long and tiring day.

*a ministry that has been helping rescuing and retraining ladies who once were sex workers, and allowing them to experience love and acceptance in the name of Christ.
Wednesday, February 24


You ever hear the song “life is a highway”. Well we drove life’s highway today and, boy, it was bumpy. We began our journey from Seam Reap to Phnom Penh at 8:30 after eating a nice breakfast at the Golden Orange hotel that we stayed at the night earlier. We journeyed for 6 hrs, sometimes stopping for food along the way. Along the way we were entertained by near misses with other vehicles and Faa’s comical mannerisms. Along the way pastor Ivanildo told us there was a Delicious surprise waiting for us in Phnom Penh. We continued on and soon arrived at our destination, the Lucky Burger! aka Asian MacDonald's. We all order our food and are milling about when suddenly RAD walks in the door!!! We all greeted him with excited hugs and handshakes. After hanging at Luck Burger we ventured out once more, some to the Russian Market to buy gifts for the state orphanage, some to the genocide museum. The Genocide museum was a sobering experience for every one. After the museum we went to the State Orphanage, where we shared our testimonies and gave the children a great snack, which they loved. Then we went to a restaurant to have some delicious food. And now we are back at the guest house figuring out packing for tomorrow. Our flight leaves at 6:30 tomorrow morning. Please pray for strength tomorrow as we rise from our resting at 4.

Miss you all

Adam

Long Day on the Road...

Hello everyone,

We arrived safely in Phnom Penh, after a long day on the road. Thank God for our able driver, Khan-dy, for bringing us safely to PP. Our team was able to visit the holocaust museum ("Toul Sleng") here in PP. I wish I had time and energy to tell you more, but both are precious commodities right now.

The biggest news, which I managed to keep from the team for several days, was a wonderful visit by none other than our own Pastor RAD, who arrived in PP last night. I had to literally delete some comments from the blog that made any reference to his coming. Everyone is elated that RAD is here and I've already seen the difference that his being here is making.

I will post more from Thailand tomorrow, Lord willing. By the way, pray for our trip tomorrow morning. Our flight was changed from 9:40 a.m. to 6:30 a.m. Instead of leaving our hotel at 7:00 a.m., we are leaving at 4:20 a.m. Two days ago we had to pack the bus at 4:45 to leave Siem Reap at 5:00. This time it was not something we decided to do. Pray for our team as the energy level is finally catching up with some. Holly feels much and was participating well today. Her testimony to the chidren at the state run orphanage was phenomenal.

Thanks for your prayers!

Pastor Ivanildo C. Trindade
itrindade@woostergrace.org

Pray!

We are leaving to Phnom Penh right now. It will be a long journey on the bus, so we are asking you to pray. Our day in Siem Reap was AWESOME. More on that later. Everyone is feeling well and glad they got a little extra sleep last night. The walking around the temples last night was hard, but all in all everyone fared great. We are nearing the mid-point of our trip but already feel we are so full of memories and emotions that our little hearts are about to explode. Please pray for us as we turn our heads and hearts to Thailand and then home.

All glory to God!

A Day of One Thousand Emotions

Today was a roller-coaster ride of emotion and experience. It was our last day spent at Grace Place, Battambang, and we spent most of it with the kids!! The majority of our team slept at the home last night, so we made them all breakfast this morning. Throughout the day we played soccer withe the boys, makeovers with the girls, and taught them how to tie-dye t-shirts. After we left to put on a short concert in the city, we returned to find a delightful curry had been prepared for us, which we ate with much gusto. Immediately following that came a rather loud and audacious dance party, finding us each shedding numerous pounds in sweat, and generally having a spectacular time.

In the back of our minds the whole time, however, we were dreading the looming "goodbye moment," where we were forced to say goodbye to the children who had so quickly found a cavernous home in our hearts. When the time came, many tears were shed, and there was much wailing and gnashing of teeth (I'm only barely kidding).

These children have an understanding of God's love that is incredible. You can see it in their eyes... They exude joy and peace and quiet strength, and they have left me a different man.

My eyes are still red, but i will close them tonight with a smile on my face, knowing that I've given and received the most pure sort of love imaginable and that every dollar and hour of preparation spent to come here was well worth it.

Josh Graber

Pictures... okay, only a few!

Pastor Ivanildo C. Trindade

itrindade@woostergrace.org