Well here we are! From the Gold Coast and the Pacific to the South China Sea we start a new venture. Hesitations, misconceptions and disinclinations
left behind as we encounter new challenges, people and places that shred our
doubts and turn them into spiritual well being and wonder. Suddenly we have
found energy and sparkle as we break new ground with familiar faces all around
us. Brothers and sisters welcoming, encouraging and drawing out the light we
pray will shine from our hearts and minds during our short, three month stay.
Carried in our thoughts are the faces of brethren who sent us on our
way with prayers and their love. A final
phone call from a co-worker from previous field trips – spurring us on with his
gentle loving words. Our hearts grow stronger and our minds swell with ideas
and plans, memories and experiences, sufferings and awe-inspiring joy as we
remember how big our Heavenly Father can be in our lives and closeness to
Christ that we often lose in our busy lives at home.
On arrival at BEC2 in Sihanoukville we were met by the beaming smile
of our sister Srey Pov who lives and works at the BEC. Among her many duties, she continues to provide
us with the most delicious meals. We
were blessed to bring sister Ratana down to Sihanoukville with us as a translator
for a couple of weeks. She has been a
ray of sunshine and so helpful. She and
Srey Pov share a loving friendship, always laughing and working so well
together.
On Saturday Srey Pov’s mum came to visit us and stayed for a couple
of days. She expressed a desire to learn
about the Bible, so with the help of Ratana’s translation skills we studied
about God’s amazing book, the Bible. She
will continue to study under the Outreach Program and has taken some translated
lessons home with her, along with a Khmer Bible.
Vitou kindly came down last Sunday to install a new printer at BEC2
and was accompanied by brother Tut and Tona. It was a real team effort to
install the wiring, which links the printer to the internet. Vitou, as project
manager, certainly showed his eye for detail, skillfully directing the work,
which resulted in a very professional finish.
Tut and Tona stayed on for a few days and have worked tirelessly,
washing windows, organizing tools, cleaning and completing many maintenance
tasks at BEC2. It has been so wonderful
to have their smiling faces, always willing to tackle any tasks and help Srey
Pov. The big job today was to tidy up
the outside area of the BEC to make our frontage neat and welcoming, armed with
scrubbing brooms, a hoe, pavers and lots of muscle power!
Lynne and Steve
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Jonno and Ren