July 3rd, 2014 we boarded a plane and headed to our new lives in Cambodia. This week we’re celebrating our first year in Cambodia. We wanted to take a moment to highlight some answered prayer requests and to share our main discouragement with you. Sometimes it’s hard to find a balance between sharing blessings and sharing the hard things of real life. But we want you to know that, along with all the cute pictures and answered prayer requests, we’re just a normal family with joys and discouragements in what God has called us to do. Praise His name for His continual grace and encouragement.
Answered Prayer Requests
We thank the Lord for the many delights He’s blessed us with during the past year: a smooth transition to Cambodia for all our family, a good home for us to live in, a wonderful helper for our home, good language learning opportunities, and excellent health (up to now we have been free of any “tropical” illnesses and have only had normal colds or tummy aches). We thank you for upholding these things in prayer for us.
Language Discouragement
Language learning can be discouraging, full of ups and downs. In the past year we’ve made good progress, but it’s never as much as we’d like and we always feel like we could be doing more. We’ve had to adjust our learning expectations and realize that it’s a slow process with good days and bad. Some days we’re really encouraged by good conversations with people and the understanding we have, and the next day we walk away from a conversation wondering if we’ve been studying the right language. On a whole we’re encouraged with our progress, but there are days when it’s discouraging. We appreciate your prayers as we continue with our language learning.
What’s Next
Last week Josh finished all eight levels at his school, Gateway to Khmer. The program was a perfect fit for him and we’re thankful that the Lord opened the school just when we arrived. For the next three weeks Josh will go to the school for extra one-on-one tutoring, and he’ll also be working with his teachers on some projects to help the school. After that we plan to pack up and head to Ratanakiri the last week of July. Amy has already started with the packing and is making steady progress toward our move. We’re looking forward to making this next step.Prayer Requests
Please pray for us as we pack and wrap things up in Phnom Penh. Please pray that the landlord would be willing to buy all the things we bought from the last renters (aircons, ceiling fans, curtain rods, etc.). If the landlord will not buy these things, we will have to either take them to Ratanakiri or find another buyer before we leave.
Please pray that the Lord would give both of us opportunities to share the gospel with our contacts in the neighborhood before we move.
Please pray for good health and continual language progress, for Josh as he receives tutoring at school and Amy as she continues with her tutors at home.
You have sure crammed in a lot in that year! You all look very content. I know that there are some difficult days but your smiles tell me that you know that you are where the Lord wants you to be. Looks like the kids all enjoy water play. What fun! I’ll be praying for you as you get ready for your move the end of this month. Love and miss you.
Carol