We have a long flight (14.5 hours to Korea and then 5.5hrs to Cambodia). Looking forward to landing and have not even taken off yet! See everyone on the other side of the world!
Thursday, July 31, 2014
Checked in and at the Gate
Here we go. DJ and I are at the gate and ready to depart. We have about 90 minutes before we go. I had a nice morning before the flight. Matthew met Wendy and I at Bob Evans and I ate a HUGE pot roast hash, eggs and biscuit breakfast as my last American meal for a while. Then Matt drove me to the airport. It was a nice ride and I enjoyed the time to chat. I have two huge bags packed but one of them is entirely for the children in Cambodia. Flip Flops, bibles and some odds and some gifts from Andy and Amy Christopher for special folks in the country.
We have a long flight (14.5 hours to Korea and then 5.5hrs to Cambodia). Looking forward to landing and have not even taken off yet! See everyone on the other side of the world!
We have a long flight (14.5 hours to Korea and then 5.5hrs to Cambodia). Looking forward to landing and have not even taken off yet! See everyone on the other side of the world!
Tuesday, July 22, 2014
~ Almost time to go! ~
Well its about a week and a half away. We depart next Thursday and I am very excited about the trip. Today I made contact with a number of folks in Cambodia to discuss the trip. First I spoke with Sothea Da, a wonderful man who had dedicated his life to a ministry in the slums of Phnom Penh. Out of the blue he asked me if I was bringing a message to Cambodia. WOW I don't pretend to know what it means, but I have been developing a message for the children focused around leadership through Christ. I think that this message can apply to all people actually as it is more about how we should realize that in our lives, the way we live, the way we act and the things we do have an effect on those around us. How each of us has unique personalities and unique talents and gifts that God gave us to use in our lives for good. When I told him that I was working on that, he asked me to speak at a service on the 2nd of August in their tiny church in the slums. Me? speak at a service and provide a message.... butterflies!
So I have to tell you that most of the time my deepest thinking about my trip in terms of what I need to "do" while I am in Cambodia occurs in Church and mostly when I am singing. I think its when I am most open to communication and when I really connect with God. It is curious to me how God works in us and how things work out. Months ago I thought of this message. I thought... or maybe heard... Hey Stephan, you have been a leader of people, you have trained and learned about leadership for more than two decades. Maybe you should put that knowledge and experience to work for a people who probably never would imagine they can be and are leaders. So I have thought about it and worked on it for some time. touching on it here and there, and creating a power point presentation to print out and bring with me to read/present, but not knowing if I actually would do so. I still don't know actually. Once in Cambodia our schedule is fluid and we never know if we are going to go to a place on time or things will change.... its just part of the experience. So we shall see what happens. :) Stay tuned for updates on that.
In addition I have thought up a very special message for the children. But...... I'm not going to tell you until I get to tell them! You will just have to wait for it. A little hint.....
The other folks I talked to were Sokhom Sor and Ran Kimeng. Sokhom is the director of operations for New Hope for Orphans and Kimeng is a house parent in Kampot. My Step-mom Anne has given an amazing donation to NHO through all of us kids. We all talked about it and decided that we would love to have our Family donate to NHO. We are going to purchase 2 Reverse Osmosis water filtration systems for the last 2 orphanages that dont have clean water for the children and some used PCs for the home in Kampot. It is amazing the difference that clean water makes. The children are healthier. They gain weight as they are not effected by the sicknesses that come from the water and they think more clearly. They learn much better and the overall quality of their daily lives jumps up. The computers will allow the children to learn computer skills and help them with their schooling and also help them to get work when they are older. We still have more projects to do so we are going to work with Sokhom when I get to Cambodia to talk about those ideas and pick some.
So the clock is ticking down... not long now. :) Keep the children in your prayers!
So I have to tell you that most of the time my deepest thinking about my trip in terms of what I need to "do" while I am in Cambodia occurs in Church and mostly when I am singing. I think its when I am most open to communication and when I really connect with God. It is curious to me how God works in us and how things work out. Months ago I thought of this message. I thought... or maybe heard... Hey Stephan, you have been a leader of people, you have trained and learned about leadership for more than two decades. Maybe you should put that knowledge and experience to work for a people who probably never would imagine they can be and are leaders. So I have thought about it and worked on it for some time. touching on it here and there, and creating a power point presentation to print out and bring with me to read/present, but not knowing if I actually would do so. I still don't know actually. Once in Cambodia our schedule is fluid and we never know if we are going to go to a place on time or things will change.... its just part of the experience. So we shall see what happens. :) Stay tuned for updates on that.
In addition I have thought up a very special message for the children. But...... I'm not going to tell you until I get to tell them! You will just have to wait for it. A little hint.....
The other folks I talked to were Sokhom Sor and Ran Kimeng. Sokhom is the director of operations for New Hope for Orphans and Kimeng is a house parent in Kampot. My Step-mom Anne has given an amazing donation to NHO through all of us kids. We all talked about it and decided that we would love to have our Family donate to NHO. We are going to purchase 2 Reverse Osmosis water filtration systems for the last 2 orphanages that dont have clean water for the children and some used PCs for the home in Kampot. It is amazing the difference that clean water makes. The children are healthier. They gain weight as they are not effected by the sicknesses that come from the water and they think more clearly. They learn much better and the overall quality of their daily lives jumps up. The computers will allow the children to learn computer skills and help them with their schooling and also help them to get work when they are older. We still have more projects to do so we are going to work with Sokhom when I get to Cambodia to talk about those ideas and pick some.
So the clock is ticking down... not long now. :) Keep the children in your prayers!
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
Who is in charge here?
I guess I am not quite used to it yet..... I'm not in charge, God is! If you know me, you know that I am a planner, someone who for 27 years in the Army was in charge of something and who thrived in that type of environment. Even at work now as a contractor, my personality always gravitates to taking charge no matter what the situation.
Last year on our mission, I was so unsure of what was going to happen, I just relaxed and let events unfold. The George's who planned the trip where already used to this type of mission knew that though we had a plan, it usually didn't last past breakfast and that the days events unfolded within whatever God wanted us to do. You would think I would learn?
This year, I had it all figured out. As is my normal, I had a picture of what was going to happen. Fly into Siem Reap and see a number of orphanages, do some projects and then fly out of Phnom Penh. When I first heard that we would not be able to do this and that we were going to the Kids Camp, at first I was a bit out of sorts. It wasn't my plan! Meantime, Wendy found a great deal on flip flops and bought a ton for me to bring over to Cambodia for the children.
It still is amazing how things work out. Now it looks like we will be spending a few days in Phnom Penh and then going directly to the camp. This will give us a good amount of time to minister to the people in the slums. If you recall (or go back to the 2013 blog) my post on this portion of the trip, these people are of the most in need. One of the amazing events of last year was Andy's ability to give sandals to every child in need in every crazy size. A humbling day for sure. Well.... who better for me to bring flip flops to Cambodia for! When Wendy bought the flip flops, none of us knew how this would shake out. It is amazing how these things work out.
So again this year, I now have the message! Who is in charge here? Not me. I am going to serve and will do my best to keep my eyes, ears and heart open for those opportunities planned or unplanned where I can be a servant of God and help people who most need it.
My Visa is applied for, shots are done and medications are in the drawer. Today I spent some time online ordering small gifts for some of the children. I love to see them smile and laugh when you give them something small. For all their troubles in life, they are children and the smiles are the same, just beautiful no matter if they have a dirty face and live in a jungle or if they are clean and shiny in American suburbia.
I think the trip dates are pretty locked in. We depart 31 July - Arrive in Cambodia at 11pm the next day on the 1st. Then depart Cambodia on the 10th and get home on the 11th. More to come!
Last year on our mission, I was so unsure of what was going to happen, I just relaxed and let events unfold. The George's who planned the trip where already used to this type of mission knew that though we had a plan, it usually didn't last past breakfast and that the days events unfolded within whatever God wanted us to do. You would think I would learn?
This year, I had it all figured out. As is my normal, I had a picture of what was going to happen. Fly into Siem Reap and see a number of orphanages, do some projects and then fly out of Phnom Penh. When I first heard that we would not be able to do this and that we were going to the Kids Camp, at first I was a bit out of sorts. It wasn't my plan! Meantime, Wendy found a great deal on flip flops and bought a ton for me to bring over to Cambodia for the children.
It still is amazing how things work out. Now it looks like we will be spending a few days in Phnom Penh and then going directly to the camp. This will give us a good amount of time to minister to the people in the slums. If you recall (or go back to the 2013 blog) my post on this portion of the trip, these people are of the most in need. One of the amazing events of last year was Andy's ability to give sandals to every child in need in every crazy size. A humbling day for sure. Well.... who better for me to bring flip flops to Cambodia for! When Wendy bought the flip flops, none of us knew how this would shake out. It is amazing how these things work out.
So again this year, I now have the message! Who is in charge here? Not me. I am going to serve and will do my best to keep my eyes, ears and heart open for those opportunities planned or unplanned where I can be a servant of God and help people who most need it.
My Visa is applied for, shots are done and medications are in the drawer. Today I spent some time online ordering small gifts for some of the children. I love to see them smile and laugh when you give them something small. For all their troubles in life, they are children and the smiles are the same, just beautiful no matter if they have a dirty face and live in a jungle or if they are clean and shiny in American suburbia.
I think the trip dates are pretty locked in. We depart 31 July - Arrive in Cambodia at 11pm the next day on the 1st. Then depart Cambodia on the 10th and get home on the 11th. More to come!
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