(L-R: Alex, Vermont, Candace, Sherry, Victor, Yen
...in case you were wondering...this picture was taken late at night after a long day =P)
Dear Friends,
Welcome to our Cambodia 2013 Missions Blog! I can't believe the trip is in 2 weeks! Here is some basic info about our trip:
When?
June 17 - June 28
Where?
Phnom Penh and Kampong Cham Province
What's the purpose of the trip?
World Relief
Great Exchange Fremont has decided to partner with World Relief Cambodia. World Relief is a Christian NGO that seeks to serve and share God's love for Cambodia through its work in five key areas: HIV Prevention & Education, Maternal & Child Health, Micro-Enterprise Development, Church Mobilization, and Trafficking Prevention.
Our team will be spending a week with the World Relief staff to:
1) Build Capacity - World Relief believes that the best people to reach Cambodians are Cambodians themselves. This is why the staff is almost entirely made up of Cambodians. We will be building the capacity of the Cambodian staff mainly through ESL training, basic photography training, and IT support/training.
2) Share our Lives - Our MAIN focus will be building relationships with the World Relief staff through serving alongside them as they do fieldwork and possibly through staying at their homes.
3) Learn - For many of us, it will be our first time in Cambodia (for missions), and we would like to learn about Cambodia and the work that God is already doing through World Relief. We have so much to LEARN before we can even begin considering what we could possibly do to support and serve Cambodia and World Relief.
4) Change - Our desire is that this trip will change us and how we live when we return to the states. We are not entirely sure what this will look like, but we hope it is the start of something new!
5) Prayer - "When we pray, God's hands move." (Nathan & Priscilla) When we are in Cambodia, one of the most important aspects of the trip will be prayer for the programs, the staff, the volunteers and the people that World Relief serves.
Nathan & Priscilla
Great Exchange Fremont has also partnered with Nathan and Priscilla, who are long term missionaries in Cambodia. Priscilla is a legal advocate for victims of trafficking and works with an NGO called Hagar, which strives to protect and walk with women and children who have been victimized as they journey through recovery, empowerment, and reintegration. During our time with Nathan and Priscilla, we will hopefully learn much more about the complex issue of human trafficking, what God is already doing through ministries and NGO's in Cambodia, and what we can do at home to help promote anti-trafficking.
How you can partner with us:
1) Prayer! We totally believe that what has and is happening in Cambodia is spiritual warfare. Therefore, prayer is an essential part of the trip. We will be posting prayer requests here periodically and emailing out prayer requests to those of you who have said you will support us through prayer. Please check in for updates on how you can pray for us.
2) Donations - World Relief needs working laptops and cameras. If you are able to donate a laptop or digital camera, please let Yen Pham know as soon as possible! (email: yen.pham83@gmail.com; phone: (408) 384-9367)
3) Financial Support - Each team member must raise approximately $2200 to cover travel expenses and room & board. We believe that how God will use this trip is worth the cost and would love to invite you to partner with us through giving financially. You may give toward an individual member's expenses or towards the general fund. Please contact a team member for more information on how to give!
Stay tuned for future posts detailing why each of us has decided to go on this trip. We are so appreciative of your love and support!
<3 Cambodia 2013 Team
<3 Cambodia 2013 Team
