Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all of our friends, family and supporters. By this time Christmas is over and the New Years celebrations have come and gone. We hope everyone made a lot of memories with loved ones.
Christmas time in Cambodia is the busiest time for every missionary. It is a perfect time to share the gospel with the Khmer people who don't know why we celebrate or who we celebrate at Christmas time.
Our family stayed extremely busy this month and we thank God for His strength to help us make it through.
The above picture was taken to document the many many traveling days our family does for Cambodia Impact ministries.
Early December we traveled to Battambang to help with a food distribution. We take our school work wherever we go. The children do well studying, despite whatever circumstance they are in.
Pastor Saran and his wife Sophinet standing with a donation of rice. Cambodia Impact funded this emergency food distribution to help with the stress during the covid season.
Lots of hours were spent making the food packages. Our children enjoyed helping as well.
KaKa and Panha are the sweetest little neighbor girls. We spent nearly two years playing with these girls in the early mornings while we waited to go to the Bible study. We are thankful their Mother joins the church service every Sunday morning instead of leaving the girls to go gamble. It has been fun to be apart of their lives.
We were blessed to join the YWAM DTS students graduation program. They spent two weeks serving in Svey Kong village. We were very encouraged having them serve alongside us.
Homeschool in the hotel room while Britton joins a village Bible study.
Our children continue to have music classes here in Sisophon. Savanna is doing well with the guitar so she spent some of her birthday money to buy her own!
Fresh grilled fish caught and prepared, given to us by our church family in Sisaphon.
We enjoyed several weeks with these sweet kittens. We willingly handed them off to a couple families in Siem Reap.
Sunday mornings in Sisaphon.
We are happy to see covid restrictions lifting and people coming back on Sunday mornings. A great message was delivered by teacher Panha.
We also had a emergency food distribution in Banteay Meanchay. It took a lot of planning and organizing on everyones part. We thank God for his safety and strength, both mental and physical, for all the organizers and leaders.
First stop in Banteay Meanchay. A house church along the Thailand border, about a 2 hour drive from Sway.
These villagers saved their own money and built their own church.
We were so happy to have a worship service together with them.
Another location. The teachers were gifted a goose.
Day 3 of food distribution in Banteay Meanchay. This time the people in the city were able to come to the church to receive their food. Approximately 400 families between Battambang and Banteay Meanchay were given an emergency food packet through Cambodia Impact.
Our first date in several months. We enjoyed our breakfast together even if we were rushed!
Complimentary heart cookies make up for a 1 hour wait on our burgers. We understand now that most restaurants here in Cambodia don't have everything on hand. We get quite the chuckle seeing them come in with fresh meat from the market.
Some work related projects and meetings in Siem Reap. We took our children to the local skate park for the afternoon.
Us girls were invited to a Christmas tea party in Battambang. We were so excited to join and eat some American treats.
Meeting new friends who are friends of friends. Us missionaries all connect here no matter what country we may come from.
Savanna enjoyed helping bake Christmas cookies.
One evening we had a village Christmas party in Sala Kraw. We printed off papers for the children to color but the crayons we bought mostly melted in a puddle before we noticed. Thankfully we were able to salvage a few. Its always a reality check when there is a needed explanation for the children about coloring pictures.
Carter enjoyed drumming with the team.
Our family enjoyed singing a few songs together.
We enjoyed singing, having a Christmas service and eating a meal with the villagers. This Christmas party was used as a time of outreach for the whole community.
Just a simple screenshot of one our monthly online meetings. We are so grateful for our mentors, our pastor and his wife in Ohio, our CTEN pastoral care couple who are willing to FaceTime with us. We cherish the encouragement and love from across the seas.
We had our Khmer brother David join us for Christmas.
Helping set up Christmas decorations at the Sisaphon church.
In Battambang again for the Svey Kong Christmas celebration.
A few drivers training lessons...
We had such a special day. Our fourth Christmas to celebrate at this church! We love all these dear people very much.
Back home in Sisaphon. A very late evening decorating Christmas cookies.
Davids first time to decorate and eat a Christmas cookie. We enjoyed showing him a few American traditions.
Another trip to Siem Reap to bring Gracie to a young women Christmas Bible study party. She enjoyed a very fun evening with some old and new friends.
Meanwhile we went to the local mall to enjoy the evening. Britton could not join because he was working near the Thailand border.
Back in Sisaphon, sorting through dirty rice that was gifted to our family.
Fresh cinnamon rolls rising in the sun.
A few lessons in the kitchen
A huge shoutout to Brittons Uncle and Aunt and cousins for sending such a special Christmas box! Truly a Christmas miracle to safely receive a package all the way from the States.
Much excitement from all! This was such a fun surprise!
More weekday village Bible studies along the Thailand border.
Britton and a new leader, Chanty, he helped to hire. They visited a model vegetable farm in search of job opportunities for villagers needing work. Many Khmer people move to nearby countries in search of work verses finding ways to have a income within Cambodia. Often when they move they leave behind their children. Modeling a strong family unit is important in Cambodia.
Back in Battambang for a meeting.
Evening spent with the youth from Svey Kong.
Visiting a solar water well project close to Battambang. Britton and Chanty are working on a plan for a new water well project in Sala Kraw village. Trying to find a solution for this village that has very little water resources.
Britton is standing in a temporary village for people whose land was taken away from them due to large factories being built.
Lunch with the villagers after the Bible study. Praising God for strong stomachs.
Chanty is training these villagers on how to save their money for things they want verses asking others for a handout. These specific villagers have waited 20 years for a toilet. They were amazed on the idea of saving a small amount of money each day that they could have had a toilet in a year. The Khmer Rouge wiped out most people with an education. While this idea seems quite logical to us, we can remember what these have been through and have grace for them. We feel education is highly important for Cambodia to change.
Back in Sisaphon. Thankful to have David with us even though it was a busy month!
Christmas Eve day, cleaning up the church yard for the upcoming Christmas party.
Christmas morning. What a surprise to wake up to a cold and rainy day. It made us feel as if we were back in the States. Some of us didn't feel well so we enjoyed having a family day and watching Christmas movies in our giant "nest"
Back in Battambang to celebrate the Christmas at Antioch church.
Our good friend Rith joined us as well.
Back in Sisaphon practicing for the upcoming party.
The greeters. The children did very well performing in several songs, and the Christmas play. Our family also sang. The program lasted close to four hours. Around 200 people joined the celebration.
Ready to perform in the Christmas play
Finally eating dinner. "Koi tea oh' is a famous Khmer dish that was served to all the guests at the party.
We had the youth from Svey Kong stay with our family over the Sisaphon Christmas.
This is a common way Khmer people travel. All packed together in one vehicle no matter how far the drive ahead might be.
We are exhausted with everything we were involved in in the month of December. We thank God for sustaining our family. Thankyou to everyone who prays for our family. The harvest is truly great and the laborers are truly few. It is an honor to serve Jesus in Cambodia.
"May the Lord answer you when you are in distress; od of Jacob protect you. May he send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion. May he remember all your sacrifices and accept your burnt offerings. May He give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed." ~Psalms 20:1-4
