- Teaching English to four levels of beginners, four levels of intermediates and an advanced class.
- Teaching at Kompong Som Bible School.
- Visiting, giving medical services, sharing and establishing relationships with a new Village each week. These people have many needs, they are the poor and oppressed, living in minimal accommodations and unhealthy conditions.
- Weekly Bible Studies.
- Weekly Fellowship/Worship Services.
- Attending various local churches.
- Pastors Conferences.
GREETINGS FROM SOUTHEAST ASIA!
Johm rib sua - saks abei? (Hi - how are you doing?) We say that a lot!
Please visit our team blog for more photos and weekly journal entries about our outreach in Cambodia: crossroadsincambodia.wordpress.com.
We are excited to be leading this Crossroads DTS Outreach team to a new area of Cambodia - Kom pong Som Province on the Southwest coast - also known as Sihanoukville.
Our team of 15 (4 men, 7 women and 4 children) left Kona on June 29 and will return August 22. We are a diverse team: coming from Canada, New Zealand, Korea, China and USA; ranging in age from 18 months to 74 years old!
Our ministry schedule is packed with lots of opportunities to reach out and build relationships with the Khmer people. Some activities include:
*Visits four times per week to surrounding villages and poor neighborhoods where we bring medical supplies, food, water, songs, dramas, children's games and crafts, Bible stories and words of hope through our own testimonies of Jesus' love.
*Teaching a mini DTS to students at a local Bible School for 2 hours each week day.
*Teaching English classes for our host Samaritan Love Mission (SLM) - 9 levels of classes for 2 hours each week day. Really building some strong relationships there and speaking encouragement and hope into their future.
*Visits to local hospitals to bring food and encouragement to patients
*In charge of Saturday Bible study for young adults.
*In charge of Sunday afternoon Youth Fellowship Service at SLM
*Prayer walking the city
*Praying with local pastors and hosting pastors' fellowship times
*Daily team time to worship and pray as a team and deepen relationship with each other.
Please pray for us and our team as we daily face the challenges of third world living and unending poverty.
* That we would know Jesus' heart and love for His precious Khmer people
* That we would hear Jesus' voice guiding us how to meet needs here
* That God would send more people and resources to help Khmer people rise out of poverty, abuse, and hopelessness.
* For safety, health and protection for our team - safe trip home in August
* That our work would not be prevented by the monsoon rainy season
* For willingness to lay down our own comfort in order to reach the needy
PRAY FOR CAMBODIA
POPULATION: 14 million - 24 Provinces and 14,402 villages - CAPITAL CITY: Phnom Penh AVERAGE AGE: 22 yrs!
Situated in Southeast Asia, Cambodia suffered through communist genocide and civil war from early 1970 to 1975, with the repercussions still felt until 1998. As a result, Cambodia is one of the poorest countries in the world. However, the Cambodian people are opening their hearts to the good news of Jesus' hope and love for them. Yes, we are at times overwhelmed by the poverty and lack of opportunities for the people here, but we are encouraged everyday by the stories of people we meet. We have run into three men from Germany, New Zealand and Switzerland who each told us of how God spoke to them and called them to come to Cambodia. They each gave up all they owned to pour their lives and resources into helping Cambodians (children, women at risk,etc.) The Cambodian (Khmer) people, in general, are extremely gracious and lovely people. Towards foreigners, they are both welcoming and curious. It is obvious to us that God is moving here and it is our great privilege and joy to be even a small part of it.
Please drop us a note and update us on what's happening in your life. It cheers our day to know you remember us even though we are removed from your lives for a season.
Our love and blessings to you all,
Darrel and Jan Lowder
Our team has recorded our journey here with lots of photos on our team blog at crossroadsincambodia.wordpress.com.
Also check out our Facebook entries at "Darrel Lowder on Facebook"
I Thessalonians 5:16-18
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances :-)
