Our missionary partners: do it right!

The reason I came was to encourage Kevin and Jill. Wooster Grace partners with people who not only verbalily ascent to our vision, but who also embody our vision.  Kevin and Jill are developing all people into fully devoted followers of Christ.

One such example is the relationships they build and the relationships they continue. While on a late night walk in Phnom Penh, Kevin discovered a tuk-tuk driver whom they had used when they were in language training years ago.  He left his usual spot in recent years because too many other drivers were crowding in his usual spot.

Here is a short video of Kevin with the man. I forgot his name. I'll ask Kevin to comment and give us his first name.

View the video on my Facebook page here. If you can't view it, then friend me so you can access video.

Grace Place Battambang Sun Aug 22

We arrived at the complex after the service had started. The children immediately stood up and swarmed our van. We could not get out.  We were greeted with the words of affection, "We love you daddy/mommy."

Each one wanted touched; hold hand, hug a shoulder, hug around the neck, eye contact with big smiles all around.  Each dark eyed child exuded amor (love).  Each face shone with love in smiles so large it would block out the sun.  Each person exemplified gratitude.

I was overwhelmed with emotion. I praise God for the rescue work we do in partnership with Asia's Hope.  We get to rescue children to save a country.

Sure, there are lots of obstacles to clear and challenges that on over the horizon. But we get to help them.

One of the older children recognized me from the photos we sent with Pastor Ivanildo at an earlier visit.  Immediately I was engulfed again by BB4 kids.  Then Yun Vannak found me. He welcomed me graciously and showed me the house.  I marvel at how well the older children help. I wonder how they take care of things. But I also know that the culture is a shared-life context. You help because you are part of the family.  That's what you do.

Overall, I am impressed with Yun Vannak and his wife. I thanked them for their sacrificial love and care for our kids.  I wept as I pondered the amazing potential of our children to change Cambodia. I look forward with prayer and godly expectation to the day as a strong Cambodian church emerges from the house of rescue to rescue other lost and orphaned ones all around Cambodia, Southeast Asia, and to the ends of the earth.

Orientation to the Culture Fri-Sat Aug 20-21

The Cambodian Team in Battambang conducted a short primer on Cambodia culture, then set out for us to experience as many aspects of the culture as we could. One to keep us awake and to get us adjusted to the time here in Cambodia; but also to get us informed about the people of the culture we get to serve at camp.

We ate a Cambodian breakfast, had a cold Nescafe cappuccino from a can, rode on the bamboo train, visited a buddhist temple where other killing field things occurred, ate lunch and dinner at restaurants in Battambang for foreigners, as well as met people in all those locations. We practiced our Khmer greetings. Many Cambodians greeted us with a sing-song "hellllllll-ooooo."  It was cute.

The experience of driving around in a van and seeing the multitudes of mosquito-like motos buzzing here and there on their way somewhere is something to see.  An even more up-close experience is riding on a moto around the streets of Battambang.

Still, the people are friendly. They smile big.  Yet it is like any cross-cultural experience--some get it and some don't.  I prayed that we would make movement towards getting it.  We wait to see how well we listen, observe, and learn.

Toul Sleng Thu Aug 19

Every person coming to Cambodia to serve the people here must tour this torture and extermination camp. The most chilling image for me is the small pile of actual skulls of deceased Cambodians on display. You can see on top of each one a hole the size of a 8 penny nail.  Pounding a nail in someone's head was a means of torture and eventual death.  Gruesome to say the least.

However, this place is memorialized.  I am told that Cambodians see this as something not to repeat. It is part of their past; but they hope it is not for their future.  The "Killing Fields" event in Cambodia is an atrocity where a people group killed their own people group.  To understand the vileness of this event, you must imagine Hitler killing only Germans rather than Jews.  Both are horrific.  But here in Cambodia the killing murdered thousands of their own people.  I meditated on this and will ask the Cambodia Ministry Partners how they lived through this as children.  I trust to gain a better understanding of Cambodian life and culture.

Yes, Toul Sleng is part of the recent past; but the historical past awaits me. Together with the team we will visit the Angor Wat temples in Northern Cambodia after the camp is over.

Sharing thoughts from tomorrow

It is Thu Aug 25 at 10am in Battambang, CAMBODIA.  I have not been able to get a decent internet connection. The TE.O Hotel has poor connectivity. Our team has also been busy with many projects and learning of Cambodian names.  Regardless, I will share several posts from my written journal from the time that I have been here; snippets really.

I will also try to upload a couple videos if I have time. Uploading videos is time-consuming.

Updates on Facebook

Because the internet is slow (256k modem slow)--yes, really--please follow me on my facebook page. I will not be able to update the blog with pics or video until I get access to better internet later.  Still, your prayers are making a difference.

Pray for Cambodian Ministry Partners who are traveling the next 6-8 hours to come to our First Aid and English Camp. Ask God for safe travels, no inadvertant delays, and a sense of purpose in coming to the camp.

Posted Sun Aug 22 at 6:30am

Stop over in Seoul

Just so you know I am in Seoul on my way to Cambodia

In Chicago to go on 14 hour flight to Seoul

I praise God for teammates. Our team is great. I get to go over with a team from Ashland GBC.

The team is so helpful.  Judy and Cindy are funny. Sunny and Joanna are good travelers.  Dave & Mary are easy-going partners.  I am so glad I get to experience this with them. 

This will be the longest trip via air in my life.  In a naive way, I look forward to it.  Others who have traveled this trek shared only negative thoughts--horrible flight; couldn't sleep; got dehydrated; or had a large individual on top of me.  Regardless, I go in the name of the Lord. 

Thanks for praying for me and the team.  It's been great so far.

I can't wait to see Kevin & Jill and Kent & Becky. 

Go into all the world

Wooster Grace values outreach. I get to go to Cambodia this time.  I praise God for a church that seeks to reach the world for Christ.

I also praise God for churches and individuals who partner together to serve our international staff.  I praise God for Pataskala GBC and the team from there who created, distributed, and compiled the English lessons for us. I thank God for Ashland GBC for mobilizing a team to teach first aid. I glorify God for Falene and Grace who get to go with us to teach English. I honor the Lord for Simon and Brandon who will join us from Orange County Grace (CA).  Together Everyone Achieves More--TEAM!

As I quickly jot a few things down, please pray for stamina in travels, safety where we go, strength to serve in the Lord, and unity despite the spiritual challenges (Eph 6:10-12).  Please also look out for my family as i am away.  In the words of Rodgers and Hammerstein, "so long, far well, auf wiedersehen, goodbye."  :)

Richardson Family leaves for SE Asia with Asia's Hope

Asia's Hope Missions Trip (July 21-Aug 6, 2010)
 
Wooster Grace seeks to reach out to the world with the love of Christ. Outreach is a primary ministry initiative.

You can read about the experiences of the Richardson family by following their blog.  Please leave a comment to encourage them as you read about what God is teaching them. 

They depart on Tue July 21 for about a 40-hour travel odyssey to arrive in Cambodia.  Ask God to give them stamina, great health, safety in traveling and return home challenged to greater service for the Lord.

Hello,
This is Stephanie Hawkins writing to you from Thailand. I came from Portugal and met up with the team in Cambodia during the first week of the trip.
Altogether I think that this has been a great trip! We have experienced many things that we had never imagined possible, the work God is doing in so many lives and have learned a lot about a rich and beautiful culture, and also about its dark side and how the devil works to lead the lords sheep astray.

Right now we are in Waing pa pao, we spent the day yesterday working on the fence surrounding the orphanage to protect the children, and painting their kitchen, which is an outdoor building with three walls and a roof. We used oven pans to roll our paint rollers on and bamboo stick to make the handles longer. We also organized some games for the kids with the help of our friend Fa the “mother” of the children at the Grow Home. And last night we gave them their sponsors boxes along with four14 t-shirts and bracelets.

Its amazing to see the joy of the Lords love shining on these childrens' faces, knowing that just 6 months ago their had no one to turn to and had never hear the words Jesus or I love you, let alone both in the same sentence.
Thanks for praying for us and these wonderful children of God.
Steph*

Go and do

The team has returned and is adjusting back to life in the United States, but there are still a couple posts for this blog that the team members wrote while on the trip. Here's Greg Wilson's perspective of the trip-

It’s Sunday morning here in Thailand as I write this and Saturday night for all of you back home. This is not the strangest thing I have become accustomed to out here, but it is strange. Nonetheless, you aren’t here to listen to me go on about matters temporal, so let’s begin.

We’re nearing the end of our adventures here in Southeast Asia and it becomes difficult to decide what to say, where do you begin? What do you put in? What do you leave out? Experience crowds upon other experiences and all deserve their own time. Yesterday I ate silkworms, last week I was surrounded by orphans in Battambang and wouldn’t have been able to type if I’d wanted to, by the time I reach home I’ll have been on seven different flights, I’ve eaten fried frog that tasted a lot like a Slim Jim, I’ve danced, worn shorts and flip-flops (anyone who really knows me will find that mental image funny), and basically been thrown headlong into a culture vastly different from my own.

And I’ve come to realize something out here, the furthest and longest I’ve ever been away from home, with an ocean between me and my native soil. I have realized what I thought I always knew, that the world is so much bigger than the little corner of it we call home and that God’s heart breaks for all of it. That sometimes we make decisions to go and see and do that seems, perhaps, headlong and reckless, at least for me who more often reads about something happening rather than being a part of it happening. That we go and do and act because that is what God wants us to do and if we have to cross an ocean to do His Will, then so be it. Only a few people who know me will get the full effect of this statement, but I say it anyway, I would not trade this experience for any number of books.
Greg Wilson


Gregory A. Wilson- Hailing from the dangerous, rough-and-tumble town of Millersburg and frequently found dealing out rough justice in the form of well-placed sarcasm and perfectly prepared bon mots, he exhibits as much flair for literary endeavors as he does for foolhardy plunges into exotic climes, bringing a much-needed sense of reckless courage to this motley band of travelers.

Hello Wooster!

                                                                                
Hello everyone:

Please pray for our team as they head home starting today. I got everyone checked on the plane and in relatively good health. Our big chief, RAD, is going to guide everyone home and we believe all will be well. This has been an outstanding trip. The team worked together well and we were blessed by the people we met. Thank you, Wooster Grace, for making it possible for us to come to the other side of the world to love and serve on behalf of our beautiful Messiah. Glory be to God!

Pastor Ivanildo C. Trindade
itrindade@woostergrace.org

Heading Home

Hello everyone,

It's about 1 a.m. here early Tuesday morning. The team just returned from the market and are getting some packing done. Some are already sleeping. Tomorrow afternoon the team flies back to the U.S. It will be a long and arduous process, so I am sure they will appreciate your prayers.

Today was the only day that was almost entirely dedicated to some sight seeing and shopping around the Chiang Mai area. It was a hot day but we all managed to survive. Sandy was much better today but Sarah was not able to join us on our tour today. She stayed back and rested at the hotel. She was with us the entire evening, though.

We visited a temple atop of a mountain in a area called Doi Suthep. People say that you haven't really come to Thailand until you visit this place. Along the way we saw the markings of spiritualism and a religion based on preforming merit in order to achieve a better live. My heart yearns for these people to be set free.

I have to turn in now. Thank you for your prayers!

Pastor Ivanildo C. Trindade
itrindade@woostergrace.org

Back in Chiang Mai

Hello everyone,

It's almost 1:30 a.m. here in Chiang Mai. We returned from Wiang Pa Pao today, a drive through some of the hottest weather we've experienced while here. Tonight we did some shopping at the Sunday market, after a program that lasted more than 2 hours, at the main campus of Asia's Hope -- in honor of Pastor Dave Atkins and his wife, Joyce.

Please pray for Cindy, who is still sick and pray for all the details of the trip back. We are definitely on the home stretch now. I know some people can't wait for that Big Mac...

We will write more when we are able to. In a few hours we will do our wrap up meeting at the top of a mountain area called Doi Suthep. It will be great!

Thanks for your prayers!

Pastor Ivanildo C. Trindade
itrindade@woostergrace.org

More Pictures

Pictures from July 3

Matt Yoder's Thoughts on Asia

                                                                             
Monday morning after having spent the night at Grace Place, we prepared an American breakfast for the kids. We made them pancakes and scrambled eggs. They loved it! What amazing children they are as a few of them had to be practically drug out of the kitchen for us to serve them because they had such a willingness to help. But this once it was our chance to serve them.

After breakfast we headed back to the hotel for a quick breather. Then we went out with the Kanes to a market which is their walmart and grocery store. You can buy everything from pigs feet and snake meat to clothes and make-up.

Monday night was our outreach which went very well. Despite having a sound system that desperately needed some TLC, it went fairly smoothly. The dances were awesome and I was told our skit was good. We were at first worried because one of the other dance teams performed a very similar skit. But, it’s all about planting seeds. I have heard that about 100 people raised their hands that prayed for Christ to come into their lives out of about 310 that were there.

-Matt Yoder

Matt Yoder's Bio - I'm 27 living in Massillon. I love God above all things. Second though, I love flying. I also like riding my motorcycle, a 1983 Honda Nighthawk. I am currently employed at Preferred Airparts in Kidron. Another hobby I have is fish keeping. I have a 75 gallon freshwater tank.

Todd Cooper's Thoughts on Asia

                                                                             
Hello from Grace Place, Thailand! We left Chiang Mi today to come out to the orphanage. It was a great trip as we drove into the mountains. The land is much more vegetated than Cambodia was. It is beautiful here! We are sleeping up here tonight, the girls in the house and the guys get to sleep in a newly built “Bamboo Hilton”, as named by several members of the team. We set up mosquito nets over beds once we got here, and shortly after, the local people fixed those nets. Ha ha. Today was a work day and it felt good to get dirty and painted up. Some of the group worked on the fencing area, which included clearing trees the old school way: axes, saws, and machetes. The other members of the group spent the afternoon painting. An entire coat of primer was put down, which was a lot.

I am very encouraged by our group. I am impressed that it’s been over a week now that we’ve been gone, there has been a lot of travelling and late nights, along with sicknesses and exhaustion, and today we did some manual labor, all the while keeping a good attitude! The group is a great group. Your prayers have really helped with all of us keeping our patience with our purpose and with our teammates, we thank you so much for that.

They fattened RAD up and fed him to us tonight. I know that sounds bad, but it’s not! The people here have a pig that they named RAD, and they prepared it for us for dinner. It was very good. The people in Thailand have a real talent for cooking. The spices are delicious! We haven’t had much of the spicy food though. They’ve fed us American hot style of food. Everyone is still enjoying it. I haven’t heard any complaints about the food.

Again, we thank you for all your prayers! We miss you all. God bless.
Todd
PS. A special hello to Steph! I miss you very much!

Todd's Bio: I was born and raised here in Wooster. I'm 26 years old and graduated from Waynedale High School. In high school I played baseball and still enjoy a hobby of church softball, including playing for four14 this year. After high school I attended and graduated from Ohio Northern University. I have a bachelor’s degree from there for Technological Studies and am using that degree in my job at TechniGraphics. I also have a diploma of Christian Studies from Ashland Seminary. I really enjoy theology and enjoy sharing my thoughts and investing in people. I don't go to Wooster Grace Brethren, but instead I go to a small church in Fredericksburg. I volunteer there with the youth and help coach the softball team. I heard about the trip at four14. I am a regular at four14 and am involved as a life group leader and sometimes help out as a photographer. Photography is another hobby of mine and I hope to bring back some great photo's from the trip!

Sarah Judy's Thoughts on Asia

Today is July 2nd Friday. I’m Sarah and here is some info on what we did today. Last night was the first night we stayed in the Grace Place orphanage in Thailand. The guys slept in the “Bamboo Hilton” and us ladies slept in the orphanage. We were served some amazing breakfast by the widows living here. Our main plans for the day were to go to the Mae Rim Youth Prison for a youth outreach. I think a lot of us weren’t quite sure what to expect since most of our other visits were with people who believed in God. It was a tough experience on my part because most of the youth there did not care that we were there. They goofed off, talked, and screamed the whole time, which was difficult for me to understand. I actually felt foreign in this place because I had no idea what they were saying or what they thought about what I said. We performed the Lifehouse skit for them and they mostly cheered when we brought out the sins in the skit including drugs, alcohol, money, and weapons. The main thing was that the seed of God was planted and if even one young adult was saved then it was worth it.

After the youth detention center and eating we went to the Huaypong Lahu tribal village. Wow talk about being out in the middle of nowhere. We were deep in the mountains and the village was mainly made of bamboo houses. They do not have many luxuries like we do in America. There was one man there who grew up Buddhist and decided to turn to God because he had no money to feed the pigs and provide for his family. He shared with us some of the songs he plays and shared his story with us. It was neat to see how the tribal people live. It made me appreciate all I have and how easy life really is for us in America. I certainly miss a good toilet and shower . Last note of business – today is my cousin Heather’s 30th birthday and I wanted to wish her a very very happy birthday since I cannot be there to call her like I usually do! God bless all!

Sarah Judy's Bio - I recently moved to Wooster, OH for a job opportunity at Wooster Orthopedic and Sports Medicine as a Physical Therapist. I grew up in Oregon, OH just outside of Toledo, OH. I graduated in May 2009 from the University of Toledo with my degree in Physical Therapy. I started coming to Grace Brethren Church about November 2009 when I first attended the young adult group Four14. Since this time, Grace has become my home and I cannot imagine my life without being a part of this church. There are so many opportunities and events that I have been blessed to attend, which were new and a growing experience for me. Going on a mission trip is something I have never done, nor thought of doing until the past year. I’m excited and very nervous at the same time for the Asia mission trip that I will be attending in June. It will be a challenging experience that will test me mentally, spiritually, and physically. I will only get through this with the help of the Lord. I ask for all of you to please pray for a safe journey for myself and the team both across seas and within Southeast Asia. I ask that you pray for good health and confidence as this does make me nervous, but I know the Lord will protect us all. And lastly, pray that I will hear and follow His guidance so that I may serve the individuals and children in the areas we visit.

Thank you all. I love you and God bless!