Cambodia Outreach 2010

Tuesday 21/12/2010 - Day ONE - Depart SYD and Arrival in Singapore/PP

It was amazing. It was crazy. It was super exciting. Woke up in the morning really early, picked up a few people, got to meadowbank, and left all together for airport. Said our goodbyes, and got on our flight at around 9:30am... Flight went to S'Pore first, then 2 hour lay over there, then the connecting flight to Phnom Penh. The sights and sounds [and smells] of arriving in Cambodia were absolutely amazing. Culture shock? Maybe. Ready to run hard out for Jesus? Definitely. The team is doing good [or so it seems] We all arrived at the airport, I think everyone was individually trying to find their bearings and trying to get used to the place, Vansy picked us up from the airport, and we got to his place. and man, what an amazing place he has. like a mini 3-storey house. sorted out the room situation, and had a quick [and intense] glory sesh. Just giving praise to our father. praying over a few things, then Vansy wanted to take us out to a Chinese restaurant to have dinner, we got to hear him just share his heart, ate the good food, [I dont know if the food and drink were safe for me, but oh wells, we're not gonna die right?] then later in the night we dropped everyone home, and Sylvia, Vansy and I went to the airport to pick up P Josh - to find out his flight has been delayed an hour. haha! so we eventually got P Josh, and came back home, and slept. its morning now of day 2. We have some things lined up today. How exciting!! YEEEEEE JESUS!

Wednesday 22/12/2010 - Day TWO - City Tour/ Prayer walk day

So today was a crazy day also. Woke up, started the day with quite a rushed quiet time, then had a quick team worship session, then we went out and went to the Khmer Rouge Killing Fields first.. this place was really intense. like. I didnt know what to be feeling, but my heart was more broken for the people and I got a better idea of their background, culture and history. It was truly a broken, broken place. Genocide really has done its crazy damage here, then after we left the killing fields, we went to the S21 Jail site, where they held the prisoners and tortured them, this place was even more intense than the killing fields, we didnt really know what to do, feel, say, or even pray. I think the guys were a little bit in shock at what was going on, but all in all, definitely an eye-opening and a heart-breaking experience. God gave us all a bigger heart for this nation... Then after that we went to the king's palace, which was really epic. crazy temple-style buildings with just.. alot of land, and just beautiful stuff [and obviously there was Buddha things everywhere we went, this place was really chill, and gave us a better idea of their culture I think... Then we went to the markets, had an epic food-court lunch and did some shopping [I didnt buy anything] then came back home quickly - saw P Josh off, and then Vansy and I had to leave for the CCCC HQ here - where I met and spoke with an admin dude in regards to our ministries... everything turned out really great and I just felt the love and grace of God all over my life and even over my mistakes in ministry. God is truly good to me. then we came back, and left as a team to go eat dinner and do some quick shopping, was fun - food was good.. it was kinda like street food, so I didnt know what to expect, but it tasted all good - so hopefully God will keep us healthy! [it was cheap too!! =D ] then we came back home.. debrief was good I think - but its quite obvious the enemy is trying very hard to destroy everything we stand for and believe in.

God give me wisdom and strength to carry out the task you have placed before me. God I get my identity from you, and not from these team members. Help me to serve them well, and in turn, honour your cause in this country. Jesus I need you more than ever. Please dont t urn your favour away from me.

Tomorrow we go down to the bush for 3 days - God - its ALL FOR YOU!!! HERE WE COME!!!

Thursday 23/12/2010 - Day THREE - Arrival in province, first field day

Praise Jesus! What an amazing day! hmmmm God was teaching me so many things today.. woke up, had my quiet time and I felt like God was saying "Surrender.... surrender it all to me, and then watch me as I change the world through you and your availability" and I suddenly felt like singing "I surrender all~ I surrender all" it was really awesome. then we had an epic breakfast, crazy scrambled egg [and bread rolls] then we got on the van and went to the CCCC HQ and there we were briefed by Sakal [how amazing this man is] and we left for the 2+ hour drive into the villages.. kampong cham ..? not sure how to spell or pronounce. so we got here, checked into the hotel, put our stuff down, and realised that we have like 5 hours to spare.. so we wanted to go swimming in the hotel, so we went out to the markets and bought some shorts we could wear to swim, and God had other plans.. we got back to find out that the pool was out of service ... so we just had a glory sesh - and man, how glorious it was! so nuts. we just prayed, adoration and intercession.. and there was a time where I felt led to just.. repent publicly in front of my team for just.. not being the best I can be. and they forgave me, and it was really awesome. then we just spent some time in affirming one another, and then we went into a village to show the Jesus film, and we did our everything skit. shared the simple Gospel with alot of the children there, then we gave out some candy [!!] then people gathered to watch the Jesus film.. man it was so amazing, so many miracles [every prayer that is answered is a miracle no?] so many prayers answered.. thank you JESUS! You are so committed to this team and what we're trying to do here. God, I need your mercies new every day. please show me grace upon grace. I need you so much. give me strength and wisdom to serve your precious children here. God I want to keep the main thing the MAIN THING. I love you so much. give me divine wisdom in how to cater to my team better - in regards to where they're at spiritually.

and.. the team's doing good =) I think everyone's doing really well =)

im off to sleep [which I need more of]! haha good night

Friday 24/12/2010 - Day FOUR - Follow up day, Jesus film at night

Today was a very intense day. so we woke up, had breakfast.. I had my quiet time on Acts 5. man it is an awesome chapter. anyways.. morning was follow up [at the same village as last night's Jesus film] it was so epic. We split into two teams and we went around giving out the "mini mags" telling them about the Gospel and the Jesus film, asking them, talking with them, kinda like CON.. anyways.. one of the ladies we hung out with - she's a very old lady. had chronic back pain and neck pain for ages, and minji and lisa prayed for her and she got healed!! YEEAAAAAAAA so nuts!!!! and in the other team, some random lady received Christ into her life for the first time!! =D

then we drove into another village and visited a home church.. and an old lady who pastor's it. we got to encourage her and pray for her and bless her. it was such a joyful time. Jesus you are so good!

then we had lunch, then we went to another village to show the Jesus film , and man this place was nuts

nuts because the enemy attacked hard.

I mean. we did our "everything" skit and that was really awesome I think, alot of people were touched [I pray] and later on in the night, one thing led to another and I found myself arguing with Jiwon full force. man it was so demonic.. the ENEMY IS ATTACKING US!! tomorrow is our 12 hour day

Jesus please give me good rest and keep me passionate! this is all for you!

Saturday 25/12/2010 - Day FIVE - 2 salvations & 6 healings

24 hours on, it is full clear to me why the enemy was attacking us so franticly last night. Today's Christmas day and its been one of the most intense days of my life. just sheer awesomeness, sheer joy. I woke up and my faith was just stirred so much during my quiet time with Jesus... all of our faiths were stirred and we all knew Jesus was going to do something extra crazy today [after all, its His birthday!] so we hit up like 1 hour of "follow up" where we led 2 ladies to Christ, and about 4 people got healed.. I mean today's one of those days where everything is so intensely awesome that I can't even process it and at the end of the day, everythings just a big blur. so throughout the day, God healed different people of Epilepsy, malaria, blindness, joint pains, etc etc it was just an awesome day. throughout the day my team and I were falling more in love with Cambodia, the people here, our local hosts, and our team and God. it was just so awesome. so beautiful. I felt like God was wrecking me in the natural and the supernatural. the scenery here is just magical sometimes.. like.. almost enchanting. the view is so beautiful.. the horizon, all the trees, all the farms, just amazing landscape. the sky is ridiculously pretty, all the animals, and at night - the stars. oh my gosh - the stars are just nuts. throughout the day we went from house church to house church, just praying for them, encouraging them, and blessing their ministries. It was just a wonderful day [12 hours of ministry] we leave Kampong Cham tomorrow. back for the city.. [im kinda looking for it] - not because I hate this place, but im really looking forward to campus ministry, and working with Daniel Pak.

Jesus im just so glad to be here with You.

I love everything about You

I love what you're doing within my life, and in my team as well.

God, please.. MORE!!

We want to KNOW YOU!!!!

Sunday 26/12/2010 - Day SIX - Last day in the villages

Today was amazing. we left the province, and came back to P P... so in the morning, we went to a X-mas service thing, where there were heaps of people, we got to sing two songs and do our "everything" skit.. it was quite awesome.. had lunch then left for P P.. got back here - then we went to the CCCC HQ and kinda debriefed with Sakal.. he just told us thanks, etc etc.. he gave us a gift.. and then we came back home, tried to get some rest, then we went out for dinner - had some nardy KFC, ate HEAPS of chicken.. got full, then we went to the supermarket and got some ICE CREAM!! yeeeee so today marks the end of the village ministries. and tmr we start with Daniel Pak in the college campus ministries... should be exciting and fun. Jesus we surrender all.

Do all that you wish to do in us and through us!! God, glorify Yourself!!!

Monday 27/12/2010 - Day SEVEN - First day at GCC ministries

So today was our first day at GCC - Grace Christian College [I think..?] throughout the day we were teaching Cambodian students English, Korean, Photoshop, and guitar. It was super fun! we totally loved it. it was kind of a chill day.. until 5:30pm, then like.. it was a sudden rush of 150 students all at once [everyone comes for English lessons] it was epic. hahahha so good. yeah.. Team morale is still good I think - I need to step it up. am I praying hard enough? am I praying enough? am I encouraging enough? am I serving enough? am I desperate enough? [half the team's getting sick, and my prayers are going to get answered] God help us!

the enemy is attacking, but God has some epic things in store for us!

So pumped for rest of outreach. Jesus we want more of You!!

Tuesday 28/12/2010 - Day EIGHT - 2nd day at GCC + Dinner at NK rest.

Today was an intense day - more attacks, but you know what it is? its not attacks, maybe its me and my lack of wisdom, lack of leadership. my team members are physically burning out - and im still pumping them into ministry.. wow. God help me. We need rest, we all need rest - even me! But I need to step it up in every area, keep enjoying Jesus, and find a way to get my team some rest. Because Jesus is going to do what He's going to do anyways.. we desperately need rest.. sigh. I wish someone told me about this stuff - I wish someone told me about leading an outreach, and what I have to look out for.. I thought I had all the corners covered but obviously not *sigh* Man, I really need God's grace to cover me for just tomorrow - which will be another intense day, then we all need to get some rest on Friday. Sisters are randomly breaking down - and its a clear sign that they need rest. Am I actually up for it?

Today was a crazy day too. woke up - had my quiet time, went to GCC, and had classes all day - it was intense at 5:30 when like 200 kids showed up [again], then after GCC, we were all so buggered and tired [then we went to a North Korean restaurant] it was nuts. the whole experience was just surreal. I didnt know what to think [without getting in sin] I didnt want to judge [wait.. did I?] all the waitress looked the same. same cute ridiculously coloured dresses, perfect make up, almost robotic service. food was epic, but the whole ambience was weird. I ate dog =) and neng-myun.. I had a good chat with one of the waitresses, it was epic. we held like a solid conversation, and it was such a special/unique experience talking with someone [MY AGE!!] from NK.. man. God bless her.

sigh.. im leading a bible study tomorrow

this team needs rest.

I need God to help me become an efficient and faithful leader.

am I actually looking after my team members?

am I serving them?

not enough.. like actually.. sigh. its on.

Wednesday 29/12/2010 - Day NINE - GCC + bible study at night

Today was another epic day. seriously its quite weird sometimes, because I just feel like celebrating Jesus 24/7.. but yeah definitely the spiritual attacks are real, the enemy is real, but so is God's grace over this team. so real. today I feel like God was just reminding me of the importance of rest. if my team doesnt get enough rest, its my sin, wow.

so I spoke with Lalit and David, and asked them if we could have Friday off [as a team] and at first they were being weird about it, but I kept pushing for it, so yeah.. hopefully it should all be good. day was normal.. same ministries.. some people are getting attacked [but I dont know to what degree..] at 5:30 we had a bible study sesh.. where we led them in a song, Lisa shared her testimony, and I led a bible study.. haha it was so funny because I full prepared a bible study to give to people like.. my age.. with my english skills and my knowledge of the bible. hahahaha I didnt expect to be teaching a bunch of 14 year olds.. so I had to full change it up on the spot and talk about just Jesus really.. I hope God planted seeds.. Peter was sick, so I told him to stay home today.. I really hope he gets better asap, but if not, he'll stay home again tmr..

Jesus help me, we're halfway through outreach and I need more of your grace and mercy.

Jesus you are so good, you are so worth this.

I love you Lord.

Thursday 30/12/2010 - Day TEN - GCC

Today was awesome in a different way. I was so lazy and lethargic at GCC, and I was just lazing around - had a nap, etc etc.. and then in our 2 hour nap we all went to the markets.. which.. im not sure if it was a good idea or not.. we were just haggling and bargaining ourselves hardcore.. sigh. I didnt even buy anything anyway! sigh. then we went back to GCC and had like.. 3 more classes? then after dinner we came home and for debrief, I brought a rebuke [kinda] but more like what I felt like God was telling me. about how we're not giving this GCC ministry our 100%... so I just told the guys how I’m feeling.. and hopefully God will really fix us up.. Jesus help us!

tomorrow is our first official Sabbath.. our "day off" I really hope we spend it wisely. I know so many of us need to process ourselves.. catch up on journalling, and just hang out with Jesus. we get to sleep in. YAY!!!

We're like half way through outreach.. God please give us the strength and desire to continue

Friday 31/12/2010 - Day ELEVEN - Day off / NYE

Today was an awesome day. NYE.. our first day off.. finally we get a day off.. I think I full failed as a leader.. by not planning any day off's for our outreach schedule.. =( and so I guess like half the team getting sick is my fault.. well not my fault necessarily, but my responsibility..

anyways today we enjoyed a long-awaited day off.. we slept in [glorious] and woke up to a breakfast of ramyun and bibimbap.. epic. man I love our girls.. seriously.. then we hung out at home until like 1pm.. then we went out to the shops and walked around a bit, ate a burger and some pizza [it was okay] then we walked around a bit more.. then we went to the sports field and tried to play some bball.. and we got ourselves an indoor epic court, but we got kicked out of the place by some dude, then we spent ages trying to look for Dan, then we ended up playing some bball outside with some locals and it was really fun! we won most of them [but we lost the most important game - the last one] haha. so then we all went to this massage parlour, and paid $10 each for a one hour massage, it was glorious. then after that we went to this crazy burger place.. where we all got a huge burger each.. then we came home, and just hung out until new years.. and now its like 1.21am, and its 2011!! wow. its so nuts, because one year ago exactly, I was at a missionary house party in Africa.. wow. So much has happened in this year..

sometime, I really must find the time to think back on 2010 and worship Jesus for ALL that He's done in me and through me in 2010.. wow Jesus

Jesus - YAY!!! =D

Saturday 1/1/2011 - Day TWELVE - NYD - GCC NYD Party

Today was another epic day.. I think yesterday's relax day was so needed.. so today we went to GCC real late - at like 2:30pm.. for their NYD party.. alot of music and dancing, some games.. some face painting action, it was really fun to chill with the kids - even though the language barrier is a bit annoying =S

we did our everything skit - which was quite intense, because I threw Jane too hard and she smashed her head on the ground.. sigh.. then we hung out a bit more, danced a bit more then left for a cafe, had some coffee and came home.. It's Vansy's 24th birthday today! we got him a cake and just celebrated a bit when he came home.. tmr is Sunday - im preaching on community.. hmm I really wish God would take my measly prep and make it something way beyond me.. Encounter lives Jesus!!

for Your Kingdom's sake.

Sunday 2/1/2011 - Day THIRTEEN

Just two days of ministry left.. Today was... woke up late, ate some noodles, then headed off to GCC, I preached.. on community.. but everyone fell asleep, but its not even about me, so oh wells, I hope some people got the message.. then we made like 300 sandwiches and headed to the villages, one hour drive. we went there, gave out some food, played some games with the kids, sang a song, and that was about it.. came back home.. I realised something today.

If this outreach is a "Fail" outreach, it is my fault. What did I intend for these guys? what did I want them to learn on this outreach? we have two days left of ministry.. then what? What will we see God do in these next two days?

I realised, that my intensity dropped, and hence, the team intensity dropped as well..

damn.

Monday 3/1/2011 - Day FOURTEEN

Today, woke up late [we all did] missed out on the intended glory sesh.. *sigh* what a fail.. anyways, went out with Vansy on his moped to buy some breakfast for the team, came back home, ate some brekkie, left for GCC - GCC was awesome.. because I just felt like.. releasing myself to just preach the good news as much as I can.. so in the morning I had two guitar classes [I realised teaching guitar always stretches my patience and character] haha! then had lunch, then went to the markets [the rest of the team bought stuff] but I had no money, so I just watched. haha. then came back to GCC, there wasnt much of an afternoon class, then at 5:30pm, the usual rush came in, and before we started our english class, I just spoke to them why we're here, and what we want to see happen, I told them about Jesus and everything.. and so the english class went on, and there was this time where people could ask us anything and we would just help them, so people were asking us what "riddles" were.. and what "trouble" meant.. and funny enough, the next word they asked was "Lucifer" so I used that opportunity to glorify Jesus and just tell them who Lucifer is.. and who Satan is.. and the difference between Jesus and Lucifer.. wow. it was such a great opportunity.. you know what I realised? no matter the language barrier, preaching the gospel breaks all boundaries, because the Holy Spirit will speak to them no matter what, and I think them seeing me speak about Jesus so passionately, made them want to listen to me.. hopefully they heard that Jesus loves them alot. Then we went to an intense buffet dinner, and then we got home.. Vansy just treated by teeth [scaling..] hahha and now im going to sleep.

tomorrow is our last day at GCC! then we leave for debrief!! =)

Jesus, what is it that you want to do tomorrow?

Tuesday 4/1/2011 - Day FIFTEEN - Last day of Ministry.

Today was a crazy day, in so many ways. wow God like.. put me at ease with so many things.. today.. was just nardy.. in terms of ministry, it was just epic, because we were closing things off, saying goodbye to the students, etc etc last day of lessons, and at 5:30pm we had like a farewell party thing, [more than 100 kids showed up!!!!!!!!!!] possibly even 150+!!!! we got to share with them our hearts on why we're here, and do what we do, we said Jesus so much that they probably got the point.. Jiwon shared a brief testimony and shared the Gospel [man I love Jiwon] and it was just like a party. lots of song and dance,

lots of tears - because the students were sad to see us leave.. so many of them got us gifts and things, and you know what? I might actually just come back in a years time =) alot of kids were crying as we were saying our goodbye's.. and I think that gives us a clear indicator of how much they fell in love with us and what we had to bring to them... [Jesus]

in terms of food. wow. WOW.

today was like.. in terms of food, the most craziest day of my life... here we go.. woke up, left Vansy's place for a restaurant where we ate Quai-ttiao [dont know how to spell it] its like. noodle soup. pretty ordinary right? yeah. I had no idea what to expect for the rest of the day.. then for lunch we were eating at GCC, and man.. I was examining the meat, and when I looked at it closely, I realised it was too small to be a baby chicken.. and as soon as I asked "WHAT IS THIS?" Sara - the girl who works there, just broke out laughing.. little did I know, it was frog. waaa aowww.. it tasted like chicken, but too much bone and too little meat in my opinion.. would I do it again? maybe.

then in the arvo sometime, we went out to the streets and we ate cricket [grass hopper things] this huge beetle thing [we called it "cockroach" hahah] and another smaller version of cricket.. oh, and snake.. I tried all of this.. and.. it was like.. myul-chi.. or like a prawn thing. it was so oily.. hahaha the snake was nice too.. dont know if i'd try any of this stuff again though.. =S im just glad I didnt get sick from it. hahaha then for dinner, we had like.. embryo food.. like duck eggs, but the foetus was.. almost formed if you get what I mean.. it was just dirty man.. turned me off food. kinda like hard egg yoke, but.. half yoke, half formed animal.. it just turned me off [but I ended up eating three] because I guess.. peer pressure? hahahaha peter ate one, so I had to. hahahahaha and for lunch, we played scissors paper rock, and I lost, so I hate to eat 2 chillis [these were the most intense chillis of my life] and man, it sucked.. it hurt =( hahahahaha so im lying here in a motel room, peter and James sleeping on the other bed.. tomorrow morning we leave for an epic 5 hour drive to sihannouksville.. for a 2 day debrief =) hopefully we get to just rest, reflect, respond, worship, affirm, adore the Lord together, and eat good food =)

God, please grant me the wisdom I need to help debrief and process my team's thoughts..

This aint over until we're at home in Sydney.. God please give me divine insight..

but yeah.. wow! ministries are over!!! going back home in 4 days! =) so excited!!

I miss marie =(

Wednesday 5/1/2011 - Day SIXTEEN - Debrief day 1

So today was first day of debrief.. we woke up super early, had some breakfast, then drove down to Sihanouksville. checked into the hotel here, everyone got a massage [not me] checked out the town with Vansy for a bit.. we checked out the beach, and had lunch... some fish nibbling foot massage thing - which was really intense. [and funny]

by the way, everything's in weird order, im too tired to think.. hmm I wonder if these guys are actually debriefing themselves.. God give me the strength to go on.. 2 more days!

Thursday 6/1/2011 - Day SEVENTEEN - Debrief day 2

Today was awesome. woke up, left for a boat tour of the islands and snorkelling. - this was obviously amazing.. just snorkelling in bright blue water, amazing sun, amazing private beaches, amazing islands.. arggghh just glory. good time hanging out with the team.. saw three islands off the coast of SHV... had lunch on an island.. then after a few hours came back to SHV, and went on the water park- this was super fun. haha jumping off big inflatable things.. awesome. had a dinner at some restaurant - food was rubbish and service was non-existent.. hmmmmm

anyways, everything about today was fun, and I loved it.

loving the team.

tomorrow is last day of debrief, hopefully we can just hang out as a team and share revelations.

Sunday 9/1/2011 - Outreach is over - on the plane to Sydney

I didnt journal on the last day of debrief [because simply I was too tired] hmmm lets see what I can recall from the last day of debrief until now...

well we woke up, had breakfast, and it hit me hard. This team is seriously lacking in self-discipline. Is it self-discipline? I mean, I was simply asking the team to just "come with" but it seems like no-one was taking me seriously? why not? am I a joke? I feel as though, .... well to be honest I didnt know how to feel at the time, just alot of frustration and anger, I felt the team needed a rebuke, but then again, what to choose? bring the flame? or bring the grace? do we actually need a rebuke? is it ever right to deliver a rebuke? sigh.

it was probably emotionally the most intense day of outreach for me. I felt like the team just disregarded me and my authority - not that I was intentionally looking for it, but seeing the church - and God has put me in this position [I didnt volunteer for this] and I thought my team was mature enough to just simply submit..? submission to spiritual authority... This was one of the main lessons I learnt as a new believer.. but did they just not know..? I was so frustrated I didnt know what to do, so I just did what I knew to do.. get on my face.. so I was just praying and asking God to comfort me, and to speak to me in regards to.. what to do..

the whole thing was pathetic.. the last day of outreach and we affirmed one person.

sigh. But at the same time, I figured there was no point of doing affirmations when their lifestyles arent affirming one another.. you know..?

anyways. I was just open to the team and I told them straight up what was going through my head..

They weren’t too responsive I guess.. And we just ended up.. talking about our outreaches individually and what we were learning about the character of God..

So we came back to Phnom Penh, and checked in to the motel... and at the motel, we were hanging out and finally decided to do the affirmations, and we did a few, and it was like 4am.. we were all too zombied, so I just went to sleep [not to mention - we all had a few red bulls each - farrout. bad idea]

I still got the runs from it =(

so anyways, all that has passed now, and I am on the plane back to Sydney.. it is 2:28am Cambodian time, and 6:28am Sydney time.. most my team's probably sleeping right now..

I'm quite physically exhausted, and just emotionally drained.. But looking back on outreach, and what God did IN me personally and what God taught me about His character... was just nuts.

God - You taught me so much!

I'm really hoping that You taught my team so much too...

I definitely feel as though I know You better - after this outreach.

I have more of Your heart of compassion for this world You created..

I love the great commission more, and Jesus I need you more.

Help me to surrender all.

all day, every day.

Sydney, here I come =)

Team - I seriously love you and I believe God has a special calling on each of your lives. Lets keep running after Him! the Man, the God, the standard, the truth, the prize, the method, the strategy, and the utmost JOY.