CAMBODIA TEAM THURSDAY MIDNIGHT:
Hello from the Cambodia Mission Team – we arrived safely! Thanks to those of you who will be checking in on our daily updates. We have planned for this trip being very intentional about being open for whatever plans God had in mind. Boy did he have a big one for us to start. On our day of departure (Wednesday), Al Paulsen, one of only two experienced team members, had some health concerns that led him to decide not to travel. What a disappointment! We are still shocked and thinking about how this will change the plans we made. But even more we just miss Al being a part of the team and in Cambodia, the kingdom of wonder, once again.
After that we traveled with no significant issues and have arrived safely in Phnom Penh. Jesse met us as we left the airport among crowds of travelers. We got to experience the sights and smells of this great city. We have been up, more or less, for the past 30 hours. It is midnight here (noon for you) and we are ready for some sleep.
The entire Cambodia Mission Team is so thankful to our family and all those who have supported this effort. We ask for your prayers. Pray that God will lead us to act in faith whatever the circumstance, and pray that His love will shine through in all we do.
CAMBODIA TEAM FRIDAY NOON-ish:
It’s our first day in Cambodia! After some sleep, we woke this morning to the sound of a rooster crowing. No kidding. In the middle of the big city of Phnom Penh there was a very persistent rooster who was also, apparently, an early bird. We had a Cambodian breakfast of noodle soup and sweet coffee. Next we spent the morning viewing the S-21 site and the killing fields. It is very sobering to consider that terrible chapter of Cambodian history first hand. Lunch was traditional Cambodian style, without shoes and sitting on the floor, and the second half of the day was spent travelling to Kampot.
Travel here is not like in the United States, with all manner of motorbikes, tuk-tuks, and large vehicles weaving in and out of each other. Fortunately our experienced driver got us through without a hitch. We had a chance to see the landscape, the lifestyle, and quite a bit of poverty that made us very thankful for our blessings. We also saw factory workers commuting home standing in the back of a cargo truck. There must have been 40 or more people crammed in each vehicle, making their way home. Never again will I complain of a traffic backup when I can sit in an air conditioned car and listen to the radio while I wait!
Finally our Cambodia Mission Team arrived in Kampot safely. We had a chance to share a meal with Jesse from Stronghold Cambodia, along with his wife Naomi, and their younger son Solomon. It was a very pleasant reunion for me. Now it is off to bed to prepare for VBS tomorrow. Thanks for your prayers–keep ‘em coming!
Submitted by Pastor Kempin on Friday, January 10, 2020
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