You eat our food, we eat you.

Just a day after the "dog episode" (you can read from the post entitled "Don't mess with the Cambodians", a cat came by hoping to look for food, but it ended up being the food! Once again, animals in Cambodia must learn not to mess with the Cambodian.

REST

Rest – What come to your mind when you first read the word “rest”?
Naturally our understanding tells us that to rest is to cease from doing whatever work that we are doing and come into a state of being inactive.

On the other hand, we read in the different parts of the epistles, where we were being asked “to be watchful”, “stay alert”, “continue in prayer”, “do the work of ministry with perseverance” and even Jesus said that he must do the work of Him who sent him while it is day (John9:4).

The thought of it already makes one feeling exhausted and tired. Now, how do we strike a balance between what is mentioned above with Hebrew 4:8-11?

Hebrew 4:8-11 says:
For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience.

Sabbath-rest – Does it means a day rest of doing totally nothing? I’m not a bible scholar neither a bible school graduate so I won’t try to sound impressive here with clever explanations. But just want to share with you what I felt the Holy Spirit is saying to me with regard of what I had experienced recently.

It had been for a while that I was feeling tired physically and mentally with the work of ministry.There were times I knew that I had kept going on with my own strength. Sometimes, things turned out pretty well, but I knew deep inside it feels lousy. I am reading the Book of Hebrews lately and came across Hebrew 4:8-11 and the one verse that spoke to me was verse 10.

It says: “for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work…”

“…rest from his own work…” This really makes me re-evaluate my heart. The works that I do might seem good and profitable to the recipients, but are those works being done out of knowing that it is being guided by God or just my good ideas? And the thought “In God there is life” came to mind. This thought helped me to see the difference between works done through the inspiration of God and works done through human effort.

Works that are inspired by the Spirit of God will naturally bring life because God is life. This life not only flows to the recipients of the good works but also to the person whom God used as the channel. It refreshes both the recipients and the servant. Hence, the servant does not need to strive trying to achieve good results for good results will come naturally because the life of God is there to bring forth good fruits. We find rest even in the midst of carrying out the works.

However, works that birth out of human effort exhaust not only the servant but also the recipients. When the servant is worn out, naturally his flesh takes over and we know that anything that is done out of flesh just doesn’t glorify God, and remember, the works of the Kingdom of God is to touch lives. Those lives are precious to God and may we always handle them with much care.

This simple revelation encourages me a lot and had helped me to come to a place of finding rest (in God) even in the midst of doing works that demands lots of energy. I hope this simple sharing encourages you too. God bless!

New kids in the house

The center has been very busy over the past few weeks. We have several new ones coming to stay with us. All together we have 10 joined us. Although they miss home, but they are doing pretty well adjusting to the new living environment and getting to know the rest. Each of them came with a story. Among them some were being sexually abused and some of them their parent died of HIV. We thanked God that He has brought them here. Keep them in prayer that they will continue to grow in the Lord.


Chan Tow (back) & Chan Tee (front) - the twin sisters


Srai Veerng

Wiin

Vaan

Sokvanda

Kim Sung (left) & Imm (right)

Mary (or Ma-ree in Khmer)

Isak

Don’t mess with the Cambodians!

In the recent week, we have strange thing happening at the girls’ dorm. The girls informed us that there were blood stains on the floor of the bathroom as well as the floor at the bedroom area. It happened on two different days in the week and the girls also told us that they heard voices during the night and noises of people splashing water in the bathroom.

Being in Cambodia where the activities and manifestation of spirits are common, our first thought was could this be another spiritual confrontation again. I said ‘again’ because this is not the first time adults or children told us that they hear “voices”. Through our pass experience, we knew that this place is not “clean” in the spiritual realm.

Now, back to the story of the blood stains, we prayed with the kids, encouraged them through the word of God and exhorting them to not be afraid but trust in the power of God. Meantime the adults had a discussion. We decided to monitor the situation for a few days to see whether the same thing happen again.

Two days ago, we noticed that one of the female dogs was bleeding and it left spots of blood stains on the porch at one the buildings. (Now is the mating season for the dogs, so the bleeding could be due to that reason). We think that the blood stain at the girls’ dorm could be from that female dog. So, wanting to be sure that it is from the dog and not something spiritual, Buna, the director of the children center here decided to slaughter the dog!

This morning, that female dog was slaughtered and guess who had a party? The Cambodians!
(Note: To all the animal lovers out there, don’t ever let your pets mess with the Cambodians, they will end up in the pot!)

Now that the dog is gone, we will see whether the blood stains still appear. Main time, we appreciate your continuous prayer for us and the work of ministry here.

Dog curry with bread - how yummy!


A big pot of dog curry. Want to try? They said it taste better than chicken!

Sokpi enjoying the meat!

The little ones loving it too!


And to the dog - we will see you in heaven!

Kids being kids

It is almost about a month since the Malaysian team was here, yet the kids are still practicing their group cheer every now and then. Some of them even came up with their own telematch games and each time when there's a winning team, they will shout their cheer!

Today, Samnang - the youngest in the center gave me the best laugh of the year. I was busy wrapping some story books, Samnang came by to sit with me as he always does. So, he started to pick up the books and look at the pictures. There were other kids in the room as well. At one point I over heard Samnang telling the others "This is me, Do we look the same? Same right?" Then the rest started laughing.

Being curious, I went over and take a look, immediately I burst out laughing too! It was a picture of a monkey!!!!!!!! Now, let me tell you why Samnang said that the monkey is him.

Samnang was in the Monkey team in the camp organized by the Malaysian team. He is so good that untill now, he can still recite the entire group cheer. Being at this young age, he tend to associate familar pictures with himself, so anything related to monkey he will be very excited and will feel that he is part of it. Hence, when he saw the picture of the monkey he said that it is him!

Two big eyes, two big ears, rounded face just like him!

So, it is very important what we impart into the children because they have memory like an elephant. They never forget! So, always remember to impart truth and love!

Note: I've been busy with teaching and we have new kids joining us. Sorry, if you have been waiting for an update. I'll write about the new kids who had joined us in another post. Thank you for being patience :) God bless!


We look alike!