Day One!

Seeing as the rest of the team appears to be suffering from jet lag, I took it upon myself to write about our first day into Cambodia =D

**warning: a post that is probably too long below**

So before I even get to how my first day went, I'd just like to mention that for Candace, Sherry, Yen and myself, our flight from San Francisco to Phnom Penh went very smoothly with the only hiccup being the one part that we didn't think could go wrong, waiting to be picked up from the airport.  Due to a slight miss-communication about airlines/arrival times, our little group of four ended up waiting a little longer than we expected after going through customs without any problems.  Just thought that that was amusing and wanted to let everyone (especially those who prayed for us to have a painless trip!) know that we got to Phnom Penh without any problems.

Anyways, for those of you who don't know, I really don't like the heat.  In fact, it was actually one of my personal prayer requests (that I would be able to get used to/stand the heat in Cambodia) that I had for our Cambodia Team Prayer Night.  When the airplane landed in Phnom Penh and we were walking out on to the walkway, I could feel a sudden increase in temperature and humidity and was instantly worried thinking that if the insulated walkway was this bad (though still tolerable), how bad would it be once we got out of the airport?

Luckily, however, when we actually got out of the airport and waited to be picked up, I found out the insulation on the walkway was pretty much non-existent and it felt pretty much the same as it did outside as it did inside the walkway.  So overall the day was, in my opinion, actually quite tolerable though still definitely uncomfortable.  Another helping factor was the fact that both our van and our hotel rooms have air conditioning (which is the only reason why I am writing this post as I would not be enjoy having my laptop fan spewing hot air into an already hot hotel room), this will hopefully allow us to get used to the heat and humidity a bit more before next week when we move out of our nice air conditioned room into the outlying provinces...

I realize that so far I haven't actually talked about anything that we did in Cambodia so I'll get to that.  The first thing that we did after getting picked up and dropping our stuff off at our hotel was to go to a buffet for lunch with Nathan.  There we got our first taste of Cambodian food (as I'm not going to count the order of fries that Yen ordered at the airport Burger King in order to get the wifi password to contact Victor and Nathan) which included a dish that had several winged ants in it.  I personally believe that they were cooked in as part of the meal but I think that I'm the only one so I'll leave it at that.  What we did next may seem like a bit of a downer at first, but I hope that you will be able to read through to the end and see how it might not be a totally dark experience.

After the buffet the four of us left for the killing fields while Nathan went home and Victor waited to pick up Vermont as he arrives after us.  At the killing fields, we followed the audio tour and learned about the terrible things that were done to the people of Cambodia.  While all of it was terrible, two things stood out to me the most.  The first of them was something that was called "the killing tree" which was a thick tree that was part of the killing fields.  The tree was given that name as it was used by the Khmer Rouge to smash open the heads of helpless infants and babies as they held them by their feet.  The second was while walking along the trail, Sherry and I saw a part of a jaw just laying on the ground, not part of any exhibit that was formed by the staff there, but just laying there on the ground.

After going through the killing field tour we went to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum to see the things done by the Khmer Rouge in the high-school converted to a security prison.  Again the things that were described there were terrible and I personally felt like there was no way that I could actually connect with how the Cambodian people must have felt at the time as I have never been through anything remotely close to what they've been through.  The part of the Museum that felt the most real to me was a series of rooms, one after another, of boards filled with pictures of all the people that were put through the prison.  It just seemed to go on and on; some of the boards contained pictures on one side of the board but many contained pictures on both.  Each picture was of an individual, each different and unique, who just got assigned a number and eventually tortured and executed.

You may now be getting depressed hearing of atrocity after atrocity; I'll admit that I was starting to feel down myself.  At dinner, however, Nathan mentioned that he didn't want to show us these things just to show us how bad things were, but also to see how things are getting better.  After hearing this, I thought a bit about what we had seen earlier in the day and realized that I was missing a vital part of the experience that Nathan was trying to get us to see.  From the killing fields, there was a Stupa made to honor and remember those who were killed in the killing fields.  The act of creating a tour of the killing fields means that they want to spread the word on what happened and they want the world to learn from what happened in Cambodia to prevent more genocides from happening.  From the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, there was a section at the end that was set up by the Hiroshima Peace again showing that they are hoping the rest of the world would be able to learn from the genocide that happened in Cambodia, along with those around the world, and to prevent genocide from happening again.

Well hopefully you did manage to get through to see the light at the end of the tunnel as I was brought to see with the help of Nathan.  After the museum, we didn't do anything as intense for the rest of the day.  By the time we were done with the museum, Victor had just picked up Vermont and they were on the way back to the hotel so we headed back there so that we could meet up with our final team member and get together for dinner.  For dinner, a few of us tried fried tarantula and there was much screaming and fright XD

I apologize for the lack of pictures (and in the case of the tarantula eating, videos) as I did not actually bring my camera or cellphone.  I'm sure the other members will upload them in a post once they're all over their jet lag though.

So guess you'll just have to check back if you want to see pictures/videos of people eating tarantulas!

(check back anyways even if you don't, you can just skip that part if you want, there will be plenty of other good stuff)

PhamJamStudio to Cambodia - why oh why?

--- Once Again I say to you - My Beloved Family and Friends ---

This passage below sums up my reason for travelling to Cambodia

30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’[a]31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b] There is no commandment greater than these.” - Mark 12: 30-31

STEEP bought backpacks and filled them with school
supplies to give to low income students

Seems like I have a heart for the impoverished, neglected, marginalized, widows, orphans, oppressed, vulnerable, dis-empowered, and so on. I suppose this was a gift from God? :)

For me, I live in conflict knowing that there are so many people out there that for systemic and or individual reasons, lack the basic amenities that most of us middle class folk enjoy daily - food, shelter, nice clothes, safety, freedom, peace, health, smartphones, and so on. 

Children might be the best at praying!

Don't you wonder what life for everyone would be like if we all followed God's two greatest commandments above? I think we'd ALL be better off so likewise, I'll go live out my faith, this time, by travelling to Cambodia.

Teaching ESL to adults in Cambodia

If you haven't read my support letter, here's your 2nd chance to support us! Though I am being laid off (surprise!) as of June 14th, I don't actually need financial support from anyone.  Actually, I can spend a good part of my savings to buy enough cameras/PC's for World Relief on my own. Supposedly it shouldn't be hard for me to find a new job, but I may be humbled real soon!

Despite my somewhat cavalier outlook towards my financial stability, I do want to encourage you to participate in God's work - would it not be beautiful to help uplift a country that has struggled through years of civil wars, a recent massacre, human trafficking, and the highest HIV rate in all of Asia? We seek to empower the World Relief staff by teaching them ESL, photography, and IT/network maintenance

32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.- Luke 12: 32-34

Even though I speak of supporting a struggling country like you might expect from faithful Christian, I also pray that I am humbled by God's work in Cambodia while I learn a little more about them. I also pray that my heart is filled with the loving heart of Jesus Christ so that among many other things, I can return home and share with you all of my experiences - maybe you'll feel a twinkle in your heart telling you to reach out in your own way :)

Please pray for my team and me - we're leaving in 10 days!!!

Yen

He walked a mile

And everytime I close my eyes 

I see the nails, I hear the cries 

He did not keep Himself away 

He was no stranger to my pain 

He walked a mile in my shoes 

He walked a mile

Growing up, Clay Crosse's song, He walked a mile, was a song that I often put on repeat. Over, and over, and over. If you have not heard it before, watch the Youtube video above, highly recommended. I really like it that much. For God, to walk as we did, to suffer pain, absolutely amazing, His love for us. It meant a lot to me. 

There are several ancillary reasons why I am going to Cambodia. The first being is that my wife wanted me to go: photography and computers are my passions and she said it would be a good match. We also wanted to build community with our church, and what better way would it be to go to the trenches with brothers and sisters and to serve our Lord and Cambodia by providing support for NGOs. It would also allow us to see the church's vision in helping local and global communities and to participate in helping serve wherever we may. These are small, but important steps for us.

For me, this is the main reason that I am going: for my dear friend, I will walk this mile. This August, I'm going to be my friend's groomsman. While he is Chinese, his future wife is Cambodian. If it meant so much to him that I should be his groomsman, he equally means so much to me that I want him and his new family to know God's love. Whatever seeds may be planted, whatever conversations may be started, this trip will allow me to experience and serve Cambodia and to bridge my cultural understanding of his fiance's motherland. This is a mile that is worth walking.

19Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law.22To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. 23I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

1st Corinthians 9:19-23

The Long Road to Cambodia

Cambodia 2013 has been 4.5 years in the making for me.

When embarking upon my teaching career, one of my hopes was that I would be able to participate regularly in short-term missions during my summers off.  Soon after I first joined Great Exchange Fremont in 2008, the second Cambodia team from GRX was sharing about their experience from that year’s trip, but at the time I didn’t really have a personal connection with Cambodia.

As 2009 rolled around, I was burnt out from my first year teaching and decided on vacationing instead of missions.   Then 2010 came and went because I planned on getting a dog.  Finally, I was ready to consider going in 2011, but due to transitions within the church, Great Exchange Fremont didn’t send a team that year.  2012 came around and the trip fell after my school year would begin.  I remember telling one of our pastors, Victor, that I would go the next year if the trip fell in June.

By God’s timing, this year’s trip ended up falling (quite unexpectedly and at the very last minute) in June.  However, the decision to go was still a struggle.  The older I get the more responsibilities seem to tie me down: my house, my dog, family responsibilities, etc.  Additionally, I have wrestled with the questions about the value of short-term missions.  How much can really be done in two weeks?  Am I just trying to “take the easy way out” in terms of evangelism by going on a mission trip to feel good about myself rather than staying and reaching out to those around me here?  What if when I come back life just goes back to normal as if nothing happened?

So what made me finally decide to go?

11)    I couldn’t get past the whole God’s timing thing, and the fact that I had essentially promised to go if the trip fell in June.

22)    I received a mission support letter from my cousin Eric, who will be going to Rwanda this year for missions.  In his letter he talked about how time has flown by and he’s found that he’s gotten settled in his comfortable suburban lifestyle, but how God was calling him to go!  It reminded me of two things.  First, life is not going to get any less busy as I get older.  As a single woman, I have relatively little responsibility compared to my cousin, who is married with three kids.  It also reminded me of the desire God had put in my heart when I graduated and planned on doing missions during my summers off, and it reminded me that it’s been 7 years since I last went on a mission trip!

33)    One of my biggest fears is still that I will come back from this trip unchanged.  However, over the past 4.5 years, I have supported my friends who have gone to Cambodia each year through prayer and financial support.  Through hearing their stories my heart for the country has grown.  Supporting others has also given me to opportunity to see the impact that this trip has had on numerous lives.  Because of Cambodia missions, one of my small group members moved to Cambodia, one of my small group members embarked on a 1.5 year missions trip (she has since returned and is on our team again this year!), and several friends have gone back to Cambodia multiples times.  Additionally, Steep, the small group I currently attend was born from the first Cambodia trip in 2007.

44)    I truly believe in purpose of this trip.  During my time at Great Exchange I have seen my church’s relationship with Cambodia mature, which reminds me that this trip is more than just a two-week trip, it’s about growing a long-term relationship that has already been established over the past 6 years.  It is an exciting privilege to get to be a part of what God is doing in Cambodia, and to be a part of deepening the relationship between my church and our partners in Cambodia.

In short, God called, and I decided I better start listening.  Please continue to keep myself and the team in prayer!  Thanks for your support!

<3 Candace

Why me?

Why am I going to Cambodia?

I've grown up in a Christian family and the churches that I've been a part of have mostly been about teaching doctrine.  While there have been mission trip opportunities I never really thought about actually going always thinking that I wasn't ready, there wasn't time, or some other excuse.

Fast-forwarding to 2012, still without having giving much thought as to going to mission trips, I ended up in Fremont due to a job opportunity that the Lord had provided for me.  Not knowing anybody in the area nor having a church that I was planning on going to, I fell into a cycle of thinking that I’d find a church the next week.  Finally at the urgings of brothers and sisters in LA to find a church I decided to take a look at GrX Fremont as it was close and a sister from LA had told me about it.

After attending GrX Fremont for a few months, I found out that they were planning a missions trip to Cambodia for two weeks.  When I first found out about it, I thought that it sounded interesting but didn't think that I had enough vacation days accrued to take two weeks off so I didn't give it much thought.  Wanting to learn more about what the church was going to be doing in Cambodia, I attended an info-session about the trip even though I wasn't planning on going.

During the info-session, Victor had brought up that the main purpose of the trip was not to go and try to help the people there, but rather to try to learn and to start building long term relationships with the Cambodian staff already working there.  This was interesting to me as almost all the missions trips that I had heard of were about going and doing things, such as building houses, teaching vbs, or some other service to the people.  Still thinking that I didn't have enough vacation time accrued, I didn't think about it too much after that.

After hearing a few people talk about possibly taking unpaid time off for the missions trip, I thought that maybe I could do that and decided to actually calculate how much time off I would be able to take by the time it was time to go.  To my surprise, it turns out that I would have just enough to take the two weeks off!  Once I found that out, I was still hesitant as I wasn't sure if I was ready to go until I thought again on what Victor had said during the info-session about going to learn and build relationships with the staff there.  I decided that I would probably always have reasons to not go on missions and felt like God had led me to this opportunity to go to Cambodia.

So here I am on the team and about to leave in just a couple short weeks!  Thanks for all your support and please remember us in your prayers!

Why am I going on this Cambodia 2013 trip?

Where to start ... from the beginning: I went on our first ever missions trip to Cambodia in 2007, which was also my very first missions trip. I was debating on whether or not I should go ... Victor straight up said to me, "Sherry, you should go."

And as cliche as it sounds, it changed my life ... but not in the romanticized way most people would imagine it. The first 10 hours we had set foot in Cambodia, I sprained my ankle severely while playing with the kids at the first orphanage we visited. That's not what changed my life though. =P What changed my life was sharing just 10 days with people that had yet to overcome so much strife and seemed so poor,  in our American middle-class eyes, but were so rich in their faith with the Lord. God was in every part of their lives and they were forced to depend on Him because they had nothing else to rely on! How blessed was I to be a part of His hands and feet in this country that was once so dark? When I returned, a few of us on that trip started the small group, Steep, with the vision of steeping every part of lives in Jesus. Missions should be embedded in our lives and not just across the world.


Here I am relearning how to walk with the help of these sweet kids after spraining my ankle.
Cambodia 2007

Short term missions changed my life so much, I returned to Cambodia with GrX in 2008. Plus, I had yet to really set BOTH feet on Cambodia soil for more than 10 hours. I wasn't sure why God called me there again, but I obeyed, and while I was there, I got His call to GO. Go ... where!? That started the new adventure of quitting my job, moving to Hawaii to do God's work with the non-profit, Surfing The Nations, and through them go on more missions trips, including the Philippines, Egypt, Jordan, and Israel. And when I returned, I led a GrX trip to Japan to help with the tsunami relief effort. They were all adventures of sharing the love of God through actions, conversations, relationship-building, prayer, struggles, miracles ... and fun! Each time, God shows me more of who HE is, in which I'm challenged to bring home and live out in my life back here.

Which brings me to today! I think in the past six years, one of the most important things I've learned about God from my own experience is that He doesn't NEED us to do His work. God exalts us, not the other way around. And if I'm not obedient in doing His work, then someone else will be ... but I'd miss out on the adventure that He's called ME on. I'd miss out on witnessing the work He's doing in Cambodia through our missioanaries there (Nathan & Priscilla). I'd miss out on the new relationships I'll have, the challenges of living uncomfortably, the skills He's equipped me with, the team He wants me to be a part of, the stories He wants me to bring back to you! Because not everyone has this opportunity to go, but I do! So I hope that I can be a faithful servant, team member, body of Christ to represent those who are unable to go, which leads me to the importance of those that are here. You're just as important in His plan for the Cambodians who we go to love, and your prayers are what makes our team be equipped with the armor of God, able and willing to complete His work. Thanks so much for sending us!    

We Need Your Prayers!

Dear Supporters,

Here are some simple things you can pray for as our team prepares to go to Cambodia:

1) Team Unity - as we have such a fast-forwarded timeline for this trip, there is only a small amount of time for us to bond as a team before heading to Cambodia.  Please pray that we would make the most of the little time we have to grow closer to one another through prepping and fellowship.

2) Hearts Ready to LISTEN and RECEIVE - It is tempting to go into a mission trip with the mindset of DOING something awesome, but we really believe that God is calling us to have hearts that are willing to listen and learn.  Please pray that God would continue to reveal to us how he is already working in Cambodia (specifically through World Relief and Nathan & Priscilla) and how we can be a part of God's Kingdom work there.

3) Nathan & Priscilla and World Relief - Our team is only going to Cambodia for two weeks, but our partners, Nathan, Priscilla, and World Relief are in it for the long run.  Pray that God would continue to motivate and sustain them and those they serve.  Also, Nathan and Priscilla have a newborn and the week we arrive, Priscilla will be returning to work at Hagar from maternity leave.  Please pray for strength and wisdom and rest, as they are new parents.  Please also pray that our trip would be a time of encouragement to them.

Thanks for your prayers!

<3 Cambodia Team 2013