The one great transformation happened in the Bible was when Saul-the former persecutor of Christians-encountered God on the road of Damascus in Acts 9. We all know that he was changed and began preaching the good news.
The morning of April 7, Thursday, at Battambang Cambodia, I again went with the Outreach Team to a school and an orphanage in Preydach Village. The orphaned kids wearing their uniform of white shirts. The Team did some singing with the orphans and rendered two skits. Ruth Shih shared her testimony with an interpreter. She also taught the children origami and Trillium Chang shared the gospel through straw and the cube cards with Pastor Lim as the interpreter. After lunch, the team went to Asia's Hope orphanage in Battambang. The orphaned kids were so nice and lovely with their yellow shirts. They welcomed us with hugs and smiles and held our hands even when we had not got off yet from the van. I started to feel different like wanting to cry by the immensity of presence of love in the place. The Outreach Team had visited them the day of April 6, when I was with the Construction Team and they were so love stricken that they wanted to see, play, hug and talk with them again. Honestly I was also smitten by these orphaned children. They started to teach us some hand-games and had put stickers on our faces. These children were so adorable that our "goodbyes" were so hard.
After Asia's Hope Orphanage, we went to the site of the new orphanage of New Hope for Orphans, where the Construction team helped build a fence. We had our dinner and a small farewell party for our last day in Battambang. The Construction team did some shopping for the orphaned kids in this place early in the morning. They bought slippers and clothes. The night was so lovely, the Mission Team playing with the orphans, singing and hugging them for the last time. I was singing, Jesus loves me yes I know, on our dinner table and the orphans with us on the table started crying while singing. I started to hug and tell them that even though we were leaving, we would not forget them, and would be praying for them, and promised that we would be back to see them. Everyone was so emotional and we had a prayer led by Pastor Sinai. We prayed for the new place and for the children and for the coordinator of the place. After prayer we lit some firecrackers to our enjoyment. What we had experienced this day and the past days was life-transforming. It was a supernatural transformation. I believe that each member of the team has been changed to a better person with a new better perspective in life. Like Saul who became the apostle Paul, the Lord has put a fire in our hearts, a fire of love, a fire of hope, a fire to share His word, and a fire to be an instrument to change a child's life from darkness to light. This fire cannot be quenched and it all began with a small step of just deciding to join a mission trip.
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws -Ezekiel 36:26-27
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Trusting God with Tomorrow
This morning, April 9, I took some chinese noodles for breakfast and coffee after I packed and prepared my things and luggage to go to the airport later around 10 a.m. Waiting at the lobby for Maryann and the group, they went out for breakfast and shopping at the Russian market. I needed to stay to download all photos to my mobile me and to do my work here on my computer at the hotel lobby because of their slow internet. Well this is our last day in Cambodia and it's like having mixed feelings. I feel happy that I will be able to see my Mika and Yumi again (my two furbabies) later the day but I feel sad too, remembering the orphans and their unhappy faces when we said our goodbyes to them.
Yesterday morning, April 8, we traveled from Battambang to Pursat and went to Pursat 2 Children's Home, we shared the word of God through singing and gave them some bag of goodies. The orphans received us with bright smiles and hugs and rendered two dance numbers for us that we really enjoyed. In the backyard they are raising pigs and some chickens. We also met one male Portuguese volunteer-teacher in a classroom with the orphans, and he is teaching them English.
We traveled back to Phnom Penh in the afternoon for about 5 hours and after we ate our dinner and celebrated Maxine Tu's 16th birthday, we proceeded to Phnom Penh Children Home and Church Building to have a small meeting and sharing of each one's stories and experiences for this mission trip. After prayer and devotion, we headed to our lodging place to have our much needed rest for a long day trip after our meeting.
As I opened my computer to work on it during the night, I had felt deep in my heart the big help that these little orphans needed, having seen their plight, I would like to do more but could do only so little, just promising them that I would be praying for them and loving them with hugs and smiles and telling them the love of Jesus for them, and that God is always there to help them. I wish I could give them more or do more and I felt so hopeless that I could not give or do enough to help them. Suddenly as I poured my anxious heart to God, I have felt His peace and reassurance that He is working and our mission team had done just what He wanted us to do, one small work, one small deed to a bigger step ahead that He alone can do. I can only say that I have to trust God with tomorrow because even in the darkest place or time, He will surely send His light through His children to help the people and children in straitened circumstances. Thank You, Father, that when I am afraid, I just need to trust in You (Psalm 56:3)
Yesterday morning, April 8, we traveled from Battambang to Pursat and went to Pursat 2 Children's Home, we shared the word of God through singing and gave them some bag of goodies. The orphans received us with bright smiles and hugs and rendered two dance numbers for us that we really enjoyed. In the backyard they are raising pigs and some chickens. We also met one male Portuguese volunteer-teacher in a classroom with the orphans, and he is teaching them English.
We traveled back to Phnom Penh in the afternoon for about 5 hours and after we ate our dinner and celebrated Maxine Tu's 16th birthday, we proceeded to Phnom Penh Children Home and Church Building to have a small meeting and sharing of each one's stories and experiences for this mission trip. After prayer and devotion, we headed to our lodging place to have our much needed rest for a long day trip after our meeting.
As I opened my computer to work on it during the night, I had felt deep in my heart the big help that these little orphans needed, having seen their plight, I would like to do more but could do only so little, just promising them that I would be praying for them and loving them with hugs and smiles and telling them the love of Jesus for them, and that God is always there to help them. I wish I could give them more or do more and I felt so hopeless that I could not give or do enough to help them. Suddenly as I poured my anxious heart to God, I have felt His peace and reassurance that He is working and our mission team had done just what He wanted us to do, one small work, one small deed to a bigger step ahead that He alone can do. I can only say that I have to trust God with tomorrow because even in the darkest place or time, He will surely send His light through His children to help the people and children in straitened circumstances. Thank You, Father, that when I am afraid, I just need to trust in You (Psalm 56:3)
Friday, April 8, 2011
Scorching heat, Bright smiles and Warm Hugs and unconditional love
I went with the Construction team April 6, after we had our devotion about acceptance and our scripture was Romans 15:7. The orphanage was approximately ten minutes away from the place we are staying. The place is huge and the team is helping to build a fence around the area. The first personal impression for the place was, "It's way too sunny out here." The open area on which the team needs to build the fence was full of bright sunshine that will make you drink a lot of water for the day, especially when you are doing construction. As a person who is not used to stand and be in the heat for long hours, I could tell you now that I feel like screaming, "It's too hot, I feel like I am in an oven"
While I was taking photos at the site, I felt that I was starting to feel bubbles in my stomach and started giggling to myself and talking to God, "Yes, I know you're laughing now because I am walking out here in this scorching heat. I am even wondering, why I am doing this". And I felt in my heart that God was telling me, "That's why you can feel the breeze, and you haven't fainted yet because I am walking with you and giving you My Strength. My heart stopped for a moment and realized the fact that I was really walking in the heat and not fainting yet. I used to faint when I was in high school because of my health, I have this very short tolerance for heat.
It was inspiring and encouraging to see the Construction team doing their work, especially that all of them are not used in doing construction. I could see that they still have their smiles and good attitude. They still were very sweet and loving to the orphans and even talked with them and played with them and hugged them. Doing a short-term mission work is really a serious tough job. You can never do something that is beyond your comfort zone if you don't have love in your heart, that unconditional heaven-sent love.
Pastor Doug led the devotion (our scripture verse was Romans 14:19) after lunch about building up and had encouraged us to find ways to build each other. I've got all my building up and encouragement from seeing how the construction team worked and shared love to the orphans and I also got encouragement from the orphans. One orphan girl climbed a mango tree and picked some green mangoes for me to eat, and it was sour but salt made the difference for me. I dipped the green mango in salt and I love green mangoes. It is like the lives of the orphans, very sour because of their poor circumstances but because of the salt, which is the love of God through His children helping these orphaned kids, and just like the green mangoes that do taste better for me because of the salt, the lives of these orphaned kids will get better because of love.
While I was taking photos at the site, I felt that I was starting to feel bubbles in my stomach and started giggling to myself and talking to God, "Yes, I know you're laughing now because I am walking out here in this scorching heat. I am even wondering, why I am doing this". And I felt in my heart that God was telling me, "That's why you can feel the breeze, and you haven't fainted yet because I am walking with you and giving you My Strength. My heart stopped for a moment and realized the fact that I was really walking in the heat and not fainting yet. I used to faint when I was in high school because of my health, I have this very short tolerance for heat.
It was inspiring and encouraging to see the Construction team doing their work, especially that all of them are not used in doing construction. I could see that they still have their smiles and good attitude. They still were very sweet and loving to the orphans and even talked with them and played with them and hugged them. Doing a short-term mission work is really a serious tough job. You can never do something that is beyond your comfort zone if you don't have love in your heart, that unconditional heaven-sent love.
Pastor Doug led the devotion (our scripture verse was Romans 14:19) after lunch about building up and had encouraged us to find ways to build each other. I've got all my building up and encouragement from seeing how the construction team worked and shared love to the orphans and I also got encouragement from the orphans. One orphan girl climbed a mango tree and picked some green mangoes for me to eat, and it was sour but salt made the difference for me. I dipped the green mango in salt and I love green mangoes. It is like the lives of the orphans, very sour because of their poor circumstances but because of the salt, which is the love of God through His children helping these orphaned kids, and just like the green mangoes that do taste better for me because of the salt, the lives of these orphaned kids will get better because of love.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Renewed Hope
Dusty Road, narrow road, bright sunlight as we traveled to our destination yesterday morning, April 5. Great tiring day but every moment was worth it. The looks on the faces of the orphans were so overwhelming, those unexplainable feeling that gave you gladness in heart and loneliness as you witnessed the true plight of the orphans in Cambodia.
Chuck McElroy led our devotion at 7:30 a.m. and the morning scripture was Ephesians 4:32 for our Outreach Team and then we left for our destination. We went to an orphanage in Chheu Theal and met Pastor Tay and the orphans that welcomed us with smiles and hugs. We shared the gospel through songs and skits and then gave them some bags of goodies. We also went to Rongkor Village at Banteay Meanchey Province for another orphanage, and shared the gospel with songs and skits again, with animal-balloon making and taught origami and did manicure with the orphans. It was such a happy moment for everybody, the smiles and hugs were everywhere. Love was such a strong presence in the place. We did visit a school too and shared the gospel again with the students with skits and songs that you will see in the photos.
We had our devotion again in the evening and our scripture was 1 John 1:7, and then we had our dinner and proceeded to the place where we are staying, and the Outreach Team did some more packing of goody bags for the next day. It was such a lovely day and each one of us are getting closer together. I've learned about having a renewed hope today from the orphans, that no matter where you are, and no matter how poor your circumstances, there will always be hope because God loves us. Yes, God is sending His children to these little orphans to share His love and His Hope. My hope is renewed like a glowing flame that will never be snuffed out as I have seen from this place. Praise God for every hope renewed and for every love that was shared.
Chuck McElroy led our devotion at 7:30 a.m. and the morning scripture was Ephesians 4:32 for our Outreach Team and then we left for our destination. We went to an orphanage in Chheu Theal and met Pastor Tay and the orphans that welcomed us with smiles and hugs. We shared the gospel through songs and skits and then gave them some bags of goodies. We also went to Rongkor Village at Banteay Meanchey Province for another orphanage, and shared the gospel with songs and skits again, with animal-balloon making and taught origami and did manicure with the orphans. It was such a happy moment for everybody, the smiles and hugs were everywhere. Love was such a strong presence in the place. We did visit a school too and shared the gospel again with the students with skits and songs that you will see in the photos.
We had our devotion again in the evening and our scripture was 1 John 1:7, and then we had our dinner and proceeded to the place where we are staying, and the Outreach Team did some more packing of goody bags for the next day. It was such a lovely day and each one of us are getting closer together. I've learned about having a renewed hope today from the orphans, that no matter where you are, and no matter how poor your circumstances, there will always be hope because God loves us. Yes, God is sending His children to these little orphans to share His love and His Hope. My hope is renewed like a glowing flame that will never be snuffed out as I have seen from this place. Praise God for every hope renewed and for every love that was shared.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Unspeakable joy
I have realized that there is something in this world that you really cannot buy and that is to have genuine joy in your heart. The outreach team went to two orphanages in Battambang today, April 4, and it was quite fulfilling to see the smiles and happiness on the faces of each orphaned kid that we had met. They were beaming with joy and love as each one of them gave us a welcoming hug. We sang to them and rendered our skits and taught them some animal-baloon-making and took a lot of photos with them. They loved to give us loving hugs and enjoyed talking with us. We also gave them some bags of goodies that we have packed this morning at the lobby of the hotel. The practice of the skits were also done at the hotel lobby and we also talked about our activities' schedule for the whole week.
This morning, April 4, we had our devotion with Pastor Doug at 7:30 a.m. after our breakfast. And we talked about love and serving one another and the scripture verse was Galatians 5:13, yesterday's scripture was John 15:12. And after devotion, the Construction team went to their destination to help build a kitchen and a fence in one new orphanage of New Hope for Orphans in Battambang. They were full of smiles as they went off to their destination not minding or thinking about the hard menial task they will do under the sweltering heat of Cambodia. I admire this team, with love in their hearts and strength from the Lord, they fully trust that God will give them enough strength for the day to show love and inspire the orphans by helping them build a kitchen and a fence.
As the Outreach team bid their goodbyes to the orphans, and as one of them saying my goodbye to those lovely friendly children, my heart was struck with a pang. You will only know what I've meant if you will join a mission trip and hug these little ones. But there was something else that I have discovered besides the heat and tiredness that came with this mission trip, there's this unspeakable joy that you will feel deep down in your heart. The joy that you have made someone smile today, the joy that you have been a channel of blessing of the Lord to a child, the joy that you know that you have inspired and encouraged some people but most of all, the joy that you know that you have made your God smile for doing your calling that He has put in your heart.
I have been inspired and encouraged today by my mission group but mostly by the brave smiles of those little ones that we have visited today. They have a smile even they know that they still have tough days ahead of them and they are still very young but they have taught me to be happy and to have a smile even having so little in life. Unspeakable joy, I cannot deny, O Lord my Father, thank You for this awesome day!
This morning, April 4, we had our devotion with Pastor Doug at 7:30 a.m. after our breakfast. And we talked about love and serving one another and the scripture verse was Galatians 5:13, yesterday's scripture was John 15:12. And after devotion, the Construction team went to their destination to help build a kitchen and a fence in one new orphanage of New Hope for Orphans in Battambang. They were full of smiles as they went off to their destination not minding or thinking about the hard menial task they will do under the sweltering heat of Cambodia. I admire this team, with love in their hearts and strength from the Lord, they fully trust that God will give them enough strength for the day to show love and inspire the orphans by helping them build a kitchen and a fence.
As the Outreach team bid their goodbyes to the orphans, and as one of them saying my goodbye to those lovely friendly children, my heart was struck with a pang. You will only know what I've meant if you will join a mission trip and hug these little ones. But there was something else that I have discovered besides the heat and tiredness that came with this mission trip, there's this unspeakable joy that you will feel deep down in your heart. The joy that you have made someone smile today, the joy that you have been a channel of blessing of the Lord to a child, the joy that you know that you have inspired and encouraged some people but most of all, the joy that you know that you have made your God smile for doing your calling that He has put in your heart.
I have been inspired and encouraged today by my mission group but mostly by the brave smiles of those little ones that we have visited today. They have a smile even they know that they still have tough days ahead of them and they are still very young but they have taught me to be happy and to have a smile even having so little in life. Unspeakable joy, I cannot deny, O Lord my Father, thank You for this awesome day!
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Cambodia, migraine, internet connection and love so powerful
Today, April 3, I woke up 4 a.m and got this intense migraine and I could not find any black coffee. I ate some biscuits and took my advil and and then take a warm shower before going back to bed to rest again. Yes, we are in Cambodia now, in Phnom Penh, and it's very fine weather for all those sunshine lovers. The Cambodia mission team went to worship service at Fellowship Word of Life Phnom Penh Church at 10:30 then proceeded to Pizza Hut for lunch and finally I've got my coffee. Gradually my headaches was getting better after I took my cup of coffee. Everyone was very concern and eager to help find a coffee for me early this morning but they could only find those instant 3 in one thing that doesn't work for me. After lunch we went to an orphanage in Kampong Chnang. The team interacted with the people around, especially the orphans, hugs and smiles were present all around as bright as the sunshine everywhere in this place. The orphans were friendly and appreciated the warm talks and hugs that were showered to them. We went to Battambang for a couple of hours drive. We arrived on our destination and then ate our dinner and planned for the next day before going to sleep.
I thank and praise God that we got wifi here now, where we are staying. Yesterday, our flight went okay even we had a little mishap, thanks for Henry for his help in the airport. After we arrived and had taken our lunch, we went to visit Cambodia Genocide center and Killing Fields to get some knowledge of the history of the place. The visit were very depressing for me to learn how hate was so prevalent in this seemingly peaceful country in the past years. And how this hate was used to kill and torture thousands of people. I looked around and everyone in our team was praying for the place while walking around. I could feel on those faces how they were being affected by what they were seeing and learning on this place, what events had occurred that was so vehemently inhuman. I am so glad to feel God's presence in the place because of the love that I've felt on each of my team. They did not know but they are carrying with them the love, so powerful that healing the hatred that happened in this place. Only God knows how and only He knows when and whom to send to bring His love to a hurting needy place like Cambodia.
I thank and praise God that we got wifi here now, where we are staying. Yesterday, our flight went okay even we had a little mishap, thanks for Henry for his help in the airport. After we arrived and had taken our lunch, we went to visit Cambodia Genocide center and Killing Fields to get some knowledge of the history of the place. The visit were very depressing for me to learn how hate was so prevalent in this seemingly peaceful country in the past years. And how this hate was used to kill and torture thousands of people. I looked around and everyone in our team was praying for the place while walking around. I could feel on those faces how they were being affected by what they were seeing and learning on this place, what events had occurred that was so vehemently inhuman. I am so glad to feel God's presence in the place because of the love that I've felt on each of my team. They did not know but they are carrying with them the love, so powerful that healing the hatred that happened in this place. Only God knows how and only He knows when and whom to send to bring His love to a hurting needy place like Cambodia.
Monday, March 21, 2011
A Little Help From My Friends
Sometimes when you need help drastically, you'll be amazed by what God will do. I was thinking about my Kaibigan magazine mailing and it's a big work and I've been having problems with my office printer to print the address labels so last Thursday, March 24, I went to Gateway, the church office. I printed my labels there and of course good thing that Nely, and Erlinda and Ana were there and of course Lilia who already sticked on the stamps on the brown envelopes. It was tiring but it was fun, being with friends and doing the work of the Lord with love was so awesome. We gifted ourselves a sumptuous pizza for our effort for the day. I knew for a fact that I could not do the bulk mailing of 50s and 100s and the individual mailings by myself. The packing of the 100s of Kaibigan magazines was artistically done with a little effort from me because I had lots of helping hands.
Amazingly, God gave us a very good weather that day, not frigidly cold and wet as the past days.
I've realized that if you do what you can do in God's ministry and kingdom, then God will do what you cannot do. He is the Lord my help, our Jehovah Ezer.
Amazingly, God gave us a very good weather that day, not frigidly cold and wet as the past days.
I've realized that if you do what you can do in God's ministry and kingdom, then God will do what you cannot do. He is the Lord my help, our Jehovah Ezer.
Psalm 33:20, "Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield."
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