Hello friends and family! As always we hope this finds you doing well. Again we are having a more unusual month as Cambodia has had manymore cases of Covid. The city of Phnom Penh is on house lockdown and the rest of the provinces are in province lockdown. So besides a for few days, we haven't been able to travel outside of Battambang. Our work here has slowed down quite a bit too. We are doing our best to be respectful to the government and the Khmer people. Its quite a challenge to remain home but we are thanking God for a safe place to be during this time.
Our 2020-2021 school year has came to an end. The children worked very hard to complete their grades. All of their final tests have been recorded. We spent several days working hard to finish up the school year.
Hot season means mango season here in Cambodia. Our neighbor came knocking at our door late one night with a big bag full of mangos. What a yummy treat! We cut them up and putting them in our freezer to use later.
A lonely Buddhist temple.
No nation can expect to receive the blessings of the one true God of the universe when its own people knowingly bow down to worship false, powerless, imaginary gods. The God of the Bible is a jealous God who will have no other gods before Him. " You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or in the earth beneath or the waters below." -Exodus 20:3-4
On Easter morning our family woke up before the sunrise and drove our motos about 20 minutes from our home to a nearby lake. Here we watched the sun rise, shared communion together and read the story of Jesus death and resurrection. We had a special morning together celebrating the risen Savior.
Easter evening we had some company in our home. We baked a couple pies for dessert. This was the first time any of these Khmer friends had ever tried traditional American pie. It was fun to share an Easter meal that represents our culture. A comment was made that they had never been so full. :) So we assume they enjoyed it.
Savanna enjoys helping in the kitchen.
The boys are happily burning their finished school books! What an accomplishment for our children. Three years of homeschooling done in Cambodia.
A few days were spent swimming with some friends at their hotel. These specific friends were in Battambang having hand surgery and happened to get stuck here when the province shut down. Dave and Joyce are from Canada and we have known them since language school in Phnom Penh. We have children the same ages so this was a blessing to get together during this time.
We did get to join a special church fellowship meal before the Khmer New Year. We love and care about each one of the church members.
Sweet little Soakna asked Carter to open her sucker.
She is growing up so much.
Such a special meal provided by our family and Pastor Sarans family.
Thankyou to everyone who financially supports our family. There is a lot of areas of need here. Because of you we can give above and beyond.
We figured out how to have worship over FaceTime with our beloved friend David. He is living in Phnom Penh and is alone with his Mother. Most of our Khmer friends, though wearing happy smiles, lead a hard and difficult life. We have enjoyed staying in close communication with him during this time.
Game time! Afternoon games with Dave and Joyces boys. We enjoyed having their family over for dinner a couple nights.
The resort close to our home remains open while other restaurants have shut down. Because they are far enough out of town and also their restaurant seating is outdoors they have been able to stay open.
Some very quiet streets. This lady is taking lettuce to the nearby market.
The boys and Britton spent a night out in the village for fun. Awhile ago our family introduced hotdogs and marshmallows over the fire to our Khmer friends in Svey Kong. It has became a requested tradition that they all love.
Britton continues to join Bible Studies alone when he can. Because our family is a big group we are quite noticeable when we all go out to the village. So out of respect during the current situation Britton will often go alone.
Beautiful sunsets over harvested rice fields.
We enjoy stopping and talking to the water buffalo on our almost daily bike rides. We live in such a beautiful area.
One evening we planned to go to a reservoir called Kam Ping Pouy about a 45 min Moto drive from our home. It is such a beautiful lake with a sad history. It was hand dug by the Khmer people during the Khmer Rouge. We enjoyed a quiet evening by the water.
We wanted to stay and watch the sunset but riding motos home in the dark can be a little dangerous. Catching the sun going down before heading home.
Of course we had to stop and take a picture of the sunset. The skies were filled with cotton candy pink clouds. Fresh wind in our faces. Smiling and happy children thankful for this moment in life to be here in Cambodia. We are grateful for this opportunity that has been given to us by God.
Savanna joined Bible study one morning.
Cambodia Impact sent money to buy rice and soup mixes to hand out during this time. Around 250 rice and soup packets were handed out in Svey Kong and Sisapon.
The Svey Kong youth helping so well.
Thankful to be here and serve where needed.
Kristy and her good friend Kakada and all Kakadas sisters.
"And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I will tell you, that person will certainly not loose their reward." -Matthew 10:20
Lots of soup boxes being packed to take too Sisapon.
Another swimming day with our friends. Meanwhile Britton and I went and packed up the possessions of a friend who is from Battambang but stuck in Phnom Pehn. Because of the unknown lockdown length she is not able to return to Battambang to pack her life of two years here. This is a bummer for many to have to leave suddenly. We were happy to help. Her suitcases and boxes will be taken to Phnom Penh by taxi.
After some discussion we decided to take a week off from school and jump right back into a new school year. We will take some time off in the future when things let up here reguarding covid. Thankyou to everyone who sent extra money or specific funding to set up our school room. We are thankful for a quiet space to have for our homeschool.
Little treats set out for our first day back.
Savanna is starting 2nd grade.
Brysen is starting 6th grade.
Gracie is starting 10th grade.
Carter is starting 8th grade.
Our little orphan kitten is growing so much! She is happy and healthy.
Britton has enjoyed setting up a small plumbing system that he brought from the states. It is keeping our flowers watered nicely. A small project to keep him busy during these lockdown days.
The government announced the opening of borders between the provinces. Britton and the group from Svey Kong packed up a rented truck and headed out early.
Enjoying breakfast with our Svey Kong family.
Such a special blessing during this time.
Our family was given some specific giving money so we were able to buy materials for a roof in Sisapon. A seemingly small fix but a huge blessing for the receiver.
Thankyou Jesus for providing
They spent a day in Sisapon before the government announced they were once again shutting down borders. Even though more help is needed in Sisapon, a window of time to pass out food was a blessing and a connection. The gospel was shared with the truck driver. Encouragement and love was shared while passing out the food at the home churches. Through this specific giving of rice and soup, many people heard the gospel message for the first time.
Even though it is the hot season we have been getting a lot of rain in the afternoons. "Big muddy puddles are super fun to ride bikes through", says the Filbrun boys.
Thankyou everyone for your continued love and support. We are filled with gratitude.
