After an 18 hour trip from Bangkok, we made it to Phnom Penh, Cambodia!
We stayed at the YWAM base in the city and since have moved to an apartment right across the street from the church where we will be working.
We got to meet the pastor of New Life Fellowship yesterday, Jesse McCaul, and learn all about the work they are doing here, in Phnom Penh (sounds like p’nom pen) as well as out in the rural areas of Cambodia. Pastor Jesse gave us a briefing and then took us on a tour of the church campus, which is in the heart of the city.
New Life has more to offer than just about any church I have ever seen. They start free English classes at 5:45 am and go all day! They have a “street kids” outreach once a week, they offer computer skills classes and cell groups. They also offer free dorm-style housing to the people that come from the country side to look for jobs in the city. Of course all of these opportunities…and there are more I haven’t even mentioned… are just saturated with Jesus so the people that take them are shown His love. Pastor Jesse described his method of evangelism as, “if you hang around the lake long enough, you fall right in!” This is actually exactly what happens! Some of the associate pastors on staff actually first came to New Life to take skills classes!
We have another meeting today with the departments whose ministries intrigue us the most. I am leaning towards learning more about their Children at Risk program (it is similar to Compassion, you can sponsor children and New Life makes sure they go to school, have food and clothes, etc.) as well as possibly working in the dorms.
Due to many variables including rampant poverty as well as the regime of the Khmer Rouge, the majority of the population of Cambodia is very young. If I remember correctly, about 80% of the population is under 30. That being said, New Life is a Body of believers that are just about my age!
In fact, their Saturday youth outreach meetings are pretty much made up the entire church!
J
Life in Phnom Penh is quite a drastic adjustment from the time we spent in Bangkok. We are all feeling the change this month. It is actually reminiscent of the time we spent ministering in Peru, if you happen to remember any of those blogs.
There are some highlights that are like sweet breaths of fresh air here, too!
There is a great restaurant just a few blocks from where we stay that we can get awesome Khmer and Thai food…and iced coffee…one of my latest obsessions!
I was also able to get up bright and early this morning and hike it to a nearby stadium and run and do some bleachers.
If you know me very well, then you know that exercising regularly will help keep me sane!
So those two things alone are wonderful gifts from my heavenly Father!
J
Well, thank you for letting me spill my guts all about what we are doing and how I am feeling!
I appreciate you reading and sharing this journey with me this year.
Please continue to pray and leave your comments…you don’t know how much that means to us World Racers!
Until next time….
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Check out New Life’s website at: http://www.cambodiaoutreach.org/home.html
