Seeing Through Jesus' Eyes

It is Wednesday morning in Phnom Penh and I'm waking up for the first time since being in Cambodia with a minute to catch my breath.  The last few days have been spent in ministry and meeting many new people and encountering many new environments.  I want to thank those of you that have been praying for us.  We have been walking step by step into each new opportunity praying for direction and discernment.

It has been one year this week that the founder of LifeTotes, Jen Barnes, first step foot in Cambodia.  She had made a few email contacts but did not know anyone in this country.  It is hard to believe all that has happened in the past year.

My prayer has been to see Cambodia through Jesus' eyes. Bill shared a devotion with our group that describes the process that we at LifeTotes have been going through since our beginning. We have been shocked by the world's reality,  overwhelmed by the world's need, burdened by the world's hurt and now sent to the world's aid.

To describe as accurately as possible what we have seen, I want to describe in words and pictures three different areas of need we have seen in Cambodia.

The first was at Haley's House of Hope, an orphanage started by Filipino missionaries who were mentored for years by a pastor from Atlanta, Georgia.  We visited this orphanage on Sunday night and worshipped with them.  Yesterday, we visited Widow's Island, where one of the young men who grew up in the orphanage is now pastoring a church.  His mother still lives on the island.  When we arrived, I found the island to be much larger than I expected.  It is very hard to put into words what this island is like.  It was originally a place for widow's whose husbands had been killed during the Khmer Rouge to have a safe place to live with their children.  The government ran out of money to support it and many volunteer relief organizations have stepped in over the years to empower these people to learn to care for themselves.  I'm going to post some pictures so you can have some idea  of what I am trying to describe.

Riding over to Widow's Island with 2 of my favorites!!

Bill on the boat to Widow's Island with Makara, the young man who

grew up at the orphanage and is now pastoring a church on the island

where his mother and sister still live.

Several women singing for us during worship

Makara's mother is third from the left.

Our team with Makara and Pastor Sihok, the Cambodian pastor

who first reached out to Jen and told us of the needs at the dumpsite. 

We are praying that Pastor Sihok will walk alongside Makara as he begins his ministry.  

Pastor Sihok is so gifted in pastoring as well as business.  

He is an unbelievable steward of God's resources.  

Bill was able to share a Bible story message about the frustration 

of the disciples in trying to feed the 5000 from the book of Mark. 

Pastor Sihok interpreted in Khmer for him.

They were definitely a 'dynamic duo' sharing God's word.

Our team is praying about how to contribute to the work that is going on here.  One way is through a church building.  They also have several agricultural projects that could use funding that would meet the needs of the people and generate revenue to carry on the work of the church on Widow's Island.

Not only did we visit Haley's House of Hope and Widow's Island but we were able to visit on Monday, the first LifeTotes school on the dumpsite in Phnom Penh.  I have saved this part for last
because it is the ministry we have already invested in.  Pastor Sihok has been ministering at this dumpsite for several years.  He had been praying about building a school there and when Jen met him last year he told her about this.  We had been praying about something LifeTotes could help with that would be within our means at the time.  The cost of the school was $1600.  This amount was raised almost immediately. To walk on this dumpsite Monday morning and see this school at the center of this place was overwhelming.  It has become the hub for this community.  Not only is it a school, it also serves as a church, community center and monthly health clinic. The teacher at the school is married to a doctor who comes once a month to see patients at the site and dispense medication.  I want to take this opportunity to thank those of you that gave money to bring vitamins to be dispensed as well.  We brought enough multi-vitamins for 60 children and 40 adults for six months.

Walking into the dumpsite for the first time with our LifeTotes

team and the team from Sanctuary Church in Marietta, Georgia.

The children are lining up to come into the school

for a morning of singing, crafts, games, and learning more about Jesus.

I still cannot believe I'm in Cambodia with these 2.

Erin has created a hashtag for me #alla_abroad

Jen hanging out with the kids inside the LifeTotes School.

Pastor Sihok sharing with the adults before the

doctor begins see patients and dispensing medicine and vitamins.

Sarah, helping the children make their crosses.

We were able to meet with the Cambodian representatives

from Neverthirst to talk about what it would cost 

to provide a water source on the dumpsite.

This morning begins the second leg of our journey.  We are meeting with Sothea, our bag supplier from Siem Reap.  We are ordering new products and going on a 'field trip' to meet the bag makers at their homes and take them to lunch.  Pray for us as we continue forging our relationship with Sothea and 'letting our Light shine' so she can see Jesus through us.