Cambodia 2010

5.23.10

Sorry for the delay, due to internet problems at the Juniper Tree, this is our last wrap up email.

Weds morning we saw Kristalyn and Jeremy off with prayer and blessings. The rest of the team enjoyed a day of relaxing and time to process. Weds evening we joined a prayer meeting with the Juniper Tree staff and guests and prayed for the country of Thailand. It was a powerful time of prayer and singing. Several missionaries & families from Bangkok were with us (forced from their homes due to protests & riots).

Thursday was a great day of “no-schedule” allowing quiet time on the beach. Part of the team was up early and went fishing with one of the local fisherman. We were blessed with a good catch and the Juniper Tree was excited to have the fresh fish – which was promptly served up with our lunch! Thursday afternoon, we saw Denny and Anne off with prayers to Bangkok to catch early flights. That evening the remaining eight team members had an excellent Thursday evening devotion wrap up and then set ourselves to packing suitcases.

Friday morning up for an early breakfast, goodbye’s with the Juniper Tree staff and then off to Bangkok. No signs of the recent riots, everything in the city seems to be recovering from the recent trouble. There is a tremendous amount of healing and reconciliation the Thai people will need, let’s be praying for them.

Friday – good connections at the airport, lots of travel time….. :)

Thanks for all the prayers, looking forward to sharing stories and experiences with you.

Peace, Blessings,

5.19.10

Our last day in Poipet Cambodia was a party!
We stopped to take a picture at the Safe Haven School and ended up having a "ball" (literally) with the kids who live there! It was like Christmas morning - the smiles on the kids faces, their excitment and joy by having a few plastic balls and badminton sets - wow, it was awesome and tears filled our eyes.
That night the Cambodian Hope Organization gave us a wonderful goodbye party with mango sticky rice, Khmer dancing and all the smoothies we could drink. The next morning the Mayor of Poipet escorted us across the border.
We then headed to Hua Hin in Thailand - all is well there - don't believe everything you see on the t.v. The team is staying at the Juniper Tree, a simple retreat resort run by missionaries right on the beautiful, quiet, gorgeous, peaceful, God-created beach.
Today, Jeremy and I (Kristalyn) returned to Bangkok - there was smoke to the north and the highway to the airport is safe and secure and now "it" is over.
The rest of the team will be enjoying the next few days on the beach, processing what the Lord has shown us. Pray for us all as we go through this process and for continued traveling mercies. It has been an awesome trip!



5.17.10


Yesterday we saw one of the great wonders of the world - Angkor Wat - the majestic ruins of the Khmer empire and they were very majestic.
In the afternoon of the same day we saw one of the great injustices of the world - Tonle Sap - the lake that provides the life source to almost all of Cambodia through irrigation, fishing and tourism - we were some of the those tourists and though we were glad we went and saw the floating fishing villages, we were saddened....not by the condition of which people lived, but by the explotation the "rich, evil" people were invoking upon its own countrymen (see Psalm 73 and 33). Make sure you ask us about it as we all have different takes from this boat trip.
This afternoon we head back to Poipet to debrief and then to Dolphin Bay in Thailand to enjoy the beach. Pray for safe travels and solid stomachs.
Thank you for your prayers,
The Cambodia Team

5.15.10


Cambodia is beautiful and a little ugly at the same time.

The vision team headed to Phnom Pen and didn't know what to expect because we really didn't have a schedule, but every time we turned around or sat down for a meal it was a divine appointment. We met with wonderful people who are battling the evils of trafficking and saw a group of sponsored World Vision children from Mynamar (Burma), Thailand and Cambodia. Some of these kids had been trafficked themselves and seeing their joy and confidence made the whole 9 hour drive worth it!

The planning and construction team have been busy resume refining, grant-writing, and recipe testing - who knew we would be doing these random, awesome, helpful things!
They also rebuilt the green house that had blown down in the wind storm and then put up a volleyball net and posts (that will never fall down) for the kids at Safe Haven to play.

Off to sweat some more and see what the Lord has in store for us.
The Cambodia Team

ps-our stomachs and souls are great!

5.12.10


Wow lots going on here!
Right now there is a Buddhist processional drumming by....
We have seen and done so much, here is a snippet -
*a teacher with 53 students in one classroom!
*twenty students grades 1-4 sitting on a 16 x 24 tarp outside with chickens wandering by and a whiteboard.
*dining on snake fish, white gourd drink and other traditional Cambodian food with the Mayor, the Head of the Police Chief, the Provisional Mayor and other dignataries
*celebrating the success of a first pie crust
*brick making
*being in a AIDS hospice
*touring the city with the Official Planner - a burning dump where people live, but also the future of an airport and water system and hospital
*seeing lives changed by sewing classes
*teaching English and the story of Noah to 50 students
*seeing mass migration of people crossing the border to work
*the poetry in motion of scooters, tuk tuks and massive trucks on the road
*having devotions with the Cambodian staff
*bare feet and smiles
*the Lord working in all of us

Today the teams will split up, one is heading to Phnem Phen with World Vision, the Planning Team will continue to meet with officials, others will be laboring and building and others will be baking and encouraging. Lots going on and so little time to tell about! (plus, the internet is being the internet in a third world country!)
Off for more adventures....



5.9.10


Sometimes when you hear someones life story and you know where they came from you understand them better, but sometimes you don't. How can it be that Chomno (the founder of Cambodian Hope Organization) after being thrown into a slave labor war camp, having seen friends and family tortured and killed, being threatened daily by the Khmer Rouge, almost starving to death and experiencing other atrocities that we didn't even know could be possible. How can he still have a smile on his face and joy in his heart?
That is the question we asked ourselves after we toured the Safe Haven where kids who are trafficked and abandoned have a place to call home, learn and play. That is the question we asked ourselves after we toured the Hope Transformation Center which will provide jobs, a home and hope for women who were prostitutes.
That is the question we asked ourselves after hearing Chomno's story.
And the answer to this is "We are a new creation - the old is gone the new is come" Chomno is a new man in Christ, the past is yesterday and tomorrow is hope.
Wow,
the Cambodia Go Team

ps-it's hot and humid here and fresh pineapple and coffe shakes rule!

5.8.10


Soo'sadai!!

Here we are! We made it safe and sound and who knew a 19 hour trip could fly by with so much laughter and fish porridge! Arriving in Thailand, we met up with the Sapps and headed to Cambodia in an air conditioned mini bus - I don't think any of us will take a/c for granted again! At the border we were met with an incredible and humbling reception. Three members of CHO (Cambodian Hope Organization), the District Police Chief, the City Police Chief, Minister of the Department of Interior, the Lieutenant Governor, two deputies of the mayor, the Communal Chief, the Administrator of the Mayor's Office and a Consule Member were there to meet us and gift us with flowers and a police escort to our hotel. (Don't worry it's safe here, they just wanted to honor us!) Wow! This is a testament to Dan Griswold and his faithful commitment to this community and the city of PoiPet. We are humbled and still processing all the sights, sounds and smiles we are encountering.
Off to tour the CHO Safe Haven,
The Cambodian team

Guatemala April 2010 GO Team

5.1.10
Buenas dias,

Another sunny day greeted us for our last day in the village. The road seems shorter now, we know most of the bad curves and always honk around the corners knowing there might be a chicken bus on the other side.

Team is feeling well and healthy, thanks for your prayers. We started the day at the village with a slide show projected on a sheet from our hotel. Villagers loved to see pictures of themselves. That was followed by our cultural exchange of square dancing to the capable fiddle music of Charli´s talent. We observed many smiles and laughs among our audience. After a few rounds we invited a members of the watchers to join us as we grabbed new partners. It was great fun dancing with young and old and observing their shyness disappear.

Next on the schedule was planting a tree at the corner of the schoolyard in memory of Nicolas Toma, deceased village promoter. We had a small ceremony, scripture, and prayer in honor of Nicolas. The tree was a Jacaranda, a beautiful flowered tree that will be a good way to remember Nicolas and provide shade near the school.

The afternoon was a special time for villagers to show us how they cultivate and plant corn and beans. It was a good demonstration of high mountain agriculture. This was followed by an official going away ceremony of hugs and handshakes around. We prayed, laughed and had a good play with children. A few last visits with families and last walk through the village completed our visit.

Members of this community, Villa Hortencia Uno, are a delight to be with and they really do appreciate you continued prayers as they continue their hard road to sustainability.

We are now ready for breakfast this Saturday morning and anxious to get on the ´road again´to Antigua.

Dios le bendiga, your team in Guatemala (as represented by Dave)

4.30.10
Hola,

What a wonderful day taking our morning trip, one and a half hours up 15 miles of Indiana Jones style road to be welcomed by about 120 children, who were waiting for a morning of play and games, including coloring, bubble blowing, balloon animals which was a real hit with long lines in front of the Meachams who ran out of balloons. Hop scotch, jump rope, frisbee toss, and ring around the rosie were delightful to smiling faces too. We ended the morning with a large pinata filled with candy to celebrate Chuck Meachams birthday. You never saw so many kids scramble for the abundant candy.

Afternoon was a time for soccer and more games. The children are a delight and so appreciative of your attention. The five school teachers helped us organize the activities.

I (Dave) am continuing to construct a map of the village with houses, roads, trails and churches indicated for future teams.

Later this afternoon we stopped in the Agros Village of Los Angeles, to pay our respects to Nicolas Toma family (he was the Agros promoter for VH1 who passed away last mont). We prayed for the family and presented them with a quilt from CH and photographs of Nicolas. We then proceeded to the village entrance to plant a beautiful bougainvillea in memory of Nicolas, with the village leaders present. .

Another wonderful evening with no lightning storm this time. The weather has been sunny with rain only occuring at night. The pilas (sinks) in the village are now filling with good water.

Thank you for your continued prayers, we are all healthy, hasta luego, Dave & Barb
P.S. With all the activites that we do you would think that we would be loosing weight. Not the case. The food at Santa Maria Hotel is fabulous. We are being well cared for !!

4.29.10
Tues. The school children had no school on Tuesday due to a teacher training day, thus our plan to play games with the kids needed to be changed. The best plan developed to walk up the mountain to the major spring source. The walk was absolutely gorgeous with fields, peach trees, and berry bushes along the way. Both spring sources were dry, which explains why there is no water coming through the pipes to the pilas (sinks). The spring flows from May through Jan. One main lower spring runs briskly 12 months but is located below the village. The people are carrying water on the head this week.

We walked a portion of the perimeter of the property of Villa Hortencia which gave the team a good idea of the vastness of the land and the incredible altitude changes. The vista are gorgeous.

In the afternoon, the teams visited families that were on the list of malnourished children taking note of family conditions and praying especially for their health and well being. Some goats have been given to these families as milk supply for the children.

A special visit to La Esperanza allowed us to see our 25 families who appeared healthy and well. They were thrilled to see the team and extended their warm welcoming hands and hugs.

Wed. Today was a road construction day as we worked alongside the men to clear a road that will lead further up the mountain, over the other side to another town. Chuck Meacham loved powering up the mountain side in 4 wheel drive to position the truck. We formed a fireman´s chain work system interspersing villagers with us. Great fun, lots of singing, and amazement as we saw children gladly join in the work. Bob Beilke learned a new child interaction....¨child labor¨¨ as the kids tossed rocks into puddles to help with the road construction. The team is well exercised, eating well, and feeling great.

Our devotional word today was LOVE. The study inspired us to be aware of our demonstration of love at all times. The study of the Fruit of the Spirit has worked well as we see each day unfold into a glorious picture of God´s Plan for us.

Signing off from Nebaj. Tomorrow we will have an all day play day with the kids plus soccer games in the afternoon.

4.27.10
Hola,
The team had a fantastic first day in Villa Hortencia 1. The welcome from the leadership involved a short statement from each leader of good health and well being, anticipation of a good week together, and many thank yous for coming to share the week. The new president Felix Lopez is a well spoken leader who also managed during the presentations to slip out of the room to quiet the school children in the room next door. There are now 5 classrooms for the school which means 2 additional classes are being held in the ¨Community Building¨.

Three teams formed to begin the family prayer walks. My team of Charli, Chuck, Joe, and our family guide Pedro Us Gonzales met 10 families in their homes for rich prayer time. One family asked us to sing praise songs! We saw many very poor families. Several homes had the new Agros stove which directs most of the smoke out the roof. We walked by a very productive and well planted cabbage field of 400 mature cabbages. We saw many new pilas however, there has been no rain since March 5. Many of the springs are dry. At this time there is no water coming through the water system. They asked us to pray for rain....well, on the drive back to our hotel, lightening began and the windshield wipers were going. Praise the Lord. Our three teams prayed with 30 families.

At the Ixil Training Center the Agros staff presented an update on Villa Hortencia 1. Diego Bernal began by thanking Chapel Hill for the wonderful Guatemalan dinner he and Teresa had when visiting CH. There are now 10 goats and 20 sheep owned by families. Several groups of people have attented educational training for care of children and nutrition (45 families have malnutrition for children), financial planning, administration and leadership, small business training. The older school children have been on field trips to higher education centers so that they will be encouraged to continue school.

All in all, we had a fantastic first day. Sights, colors, smiles, greetings, prayer...all to God´s glory Thank you for the many prayers of support. We can feel them.

4.26.10
Buenos dias!
Yesterday we began our day in Chichicastinago, a town that hosts a regional market on Thursdays and Sundays. Sunday is the larger of the two. We began early with singing and devotions. We are studying the fruit of the Spirit. Today we examined Joy. The joy we have as Christian is different than the joy offered by the world. In Christ, we have hope and assurance of our lord´s sustaining power even through adversity. In fact the power of our joy in seen through sorrow and adversity. Our singing is improving, though to be honest we sing just a bit better in English rather than Spanish, but just a bit.

After breakfast we walked the few blocks to the market place that teemed with people. It appeared thre were more sellers than buyers. After fighting our way through the crowds, we visited the main church, Santos Tomas. The front steps were filled with people offering sacrifices and swinging incense burners. Inside the church, there were several platforms for people to burn candles or offer other sacrifices. The churches here have mixed in aspects of their Mayan religion with Catholocism. They offer sacrifices to cleanse them of evil spirits in outside of the church and in the center of the church (the center of worship in Mayan religion is in the center of the building) AND then they approach the alter of Christ.

Some of purchased items, mostly textiles. The team also purchased fruit for our trip to the Ixil, where Villa Hortencia is situated. It is not uncommon to see preschool children carrying large loads of goods and learning the family trade of selling products. Often these children were by themselves at the family booth without an adult or older child with them. In the market, we practiced saying,´No Gracias.`

After lunch we left our hotel through very narrow streets competing with other vehicles to gain lane status. The drive to Nebaj in the Ixil
(i-sheel) region took roughly 2:45 of up-down terrain. Most of the roads were paved though there were a few dirt and quite bumpy sections. The story of the drive includes many tight switch-backed turns with gradients of 15+ degrees elevation gain and loss. While we drove cautiously, this can be said for other drivers on the road that like to pass on tight blind corners. Needless to say we pray before we drive and give thanks when we arrive to our destination.

To date, all of our accommodations have been excellent. The Hotel Santa Maria is no exception. There are three main towns in the Ixil region, Nebaj, Chajul, and Cotzal. These towns form a triangle and this region has been referred to as the Ixil Triangle. However, we learned that this is a term the military used for the coordinates of this area during the long civil war in Guatemala. Therefore, the use of this term reminds the Ixil of that time. We have adopted the more cultually sensitive, Ixil region.

We have settled in at Nabej and will travel to Villa Hortencia tomorrow.
our excitement grows in anticipation of meeting the villagers. For some, it will be our first introduction to Villa Hortencia while 3 of our team were here last year.

We are safe and well. Thank you for your prayers.

4.24.10
The team has safely arrived in Chichicastenengo! The drive was eventful but not deadly, and we had lots of laughs and the landscape was beautiful. Agros presented a history of Guatemala and the Ixil. We learned that the area is no longer called the Ixil Triangle because of negative associations with the war times, but is now called the Ixil Region. Our guide, Nancy, is wonderful and we are looking forward to spending a week with her. Everyone is healthy and we thank you for your prayers!

Holy Land GO Team

5.2.10

Yesterday we went to the Garden Tomb...wow! What a special spiritual time. Our guide was originally from northern England and retired in Wales, and according to Dan, "really made the resurrection come alive for us!" While we were singing in a corner of the garden with communion, a couple from Toronto joined and had communion with us - it was a sweet time. We took our time and walked around the beautiful gardens and enjoyed the meaningful experience.

Then walked around the streets of old Jerusalem again - it was such a great experience each day we spend there. Upon our return to Bethlehem, just after walking through the checkpoint part of our team met a couple of olive wood shop owners, one was a born again Christian from a Bedouin Muslim background, and the other a Palestinian Christian who invited our team to their shop for dinner that night. We went back to their shop at dinnertime and they rolled out... See More large red carpets on the floor for us to sit on, and served us nuts, wine, crackers, and pita shish kabobs. Had a great time with them, talking about reconciliation and hearing about their struggles. God is good!

4.30.10

Shari, Charlotte, Nick and Sheila are on their way home late tonight - we'll miss them. We have all had such a wonderful time together.

Early this morning Dan gave the college devotional at Bethlehem Bible College. It was translated to Arabic. It was interesting and a blessing - he did a great job.

We drove to Jericho on some very treacherous steep and wet (yes, it rained today!) roads and toured the oldest city in the world - 10,000 years old - it was soooo fascinating! On the way to Jericho we stopped about one mile from St. George's Monastery and hiked the rest of the way. It was beautiful, peaceful, and fascinating, as so much on this trip has been. Several of our team members rode donkeys back up the steep hill to the van rather than to hike up.

Saw the cave at Qumran where the dead sea scrolls were found, and the original stone ruins where they were written. It was very interesting.

Then on to the Dead Sea, which is 1385 feet below sea level! Very cool floating and rubbing mud all over ourselves! You could not sink if you tried - just don't get the water in your eyes, right Lance?

We are all pretty exhausted tonight...shared left overs in the guest house at BBC. Tomorrow morning we are going to the Garden Tomb, then spending the rest of the day walking the streets of old Jerusalem again. Stay tuned for more pics to be posted tomorrow.

4.26.10
This is a wonderful GO TEAM! We are having a blast together, and getting a lot of work done in the process!

Saturday night stayed at the Rimonon Hotel in Nazareth; then early Sunday morning several of us walked to the church of the Annunciation, which was built around the site of the old ruins of Nazareth where the angel announced to Mary that she would be giving birth to a son, Jesus.

Then drove to the city of Jenin, where we were delayed and had our passports checked over and over, and almost denied entrance through the checkpoint. We were told if we came back through that checkpoint again, we would be thoroughly searched and it would take hours. Needless to say, we didn't go back that way!

Drove through Jenin (we were told they do not see many Americans there, which was obvious by the expressions on the residents' faces as we drove by them) to the Palestinian Fair Trade Farmers Cooperative called 'Canaan'. Toured the facility and saw where they press the olives and make some of the products. Many of the products will be purchased by our team and sold in HeBrews and Festival of HOPE. We were invited to go back, and to be housed with the farmers!

After our tour we were taken to an ancient church from the 4th century, where there was a cave within the church. This cave was where lepers were quarantined, and turns out, Jesus healed the lepers in this very cave! It was really a holy moment being there, touching the walls, the floor and viewing the hole that was carved into the ceiling of the cave to lower food to the lepers. Unbelievable experience - definitely one of the highlights!

Walked around in Jenin, ate lunch (a huge spread! They just kept bringing the food!), then drove by the Mount of Transfiguration; then through Dothan, where "Joseph's pit" was. Also drove through Armageddon. Stopped by Thomas' house for a Sand and Sound meeting, then on to dinner with them in Natanya. Got back to BBC at 11:00 p.m.....exhausted, GREAT DAY!

By the way, our guide told us the story of the shepherd breaking the leg of the lamb who strays...turns out he was getting at something - we were ALWAYS running late and he had a hard time rounding us up! He also told us that Presbyterians are notoriously late on all of his tours! LOL!

Today, Monday, the Entrepreneurial Team met with folks to talk about some ideas and opportunities. Had a wonderful lunch at the home of our new friends, Shireen and Ibrahim, who Lance and Shari met on their last trip to the West Bank.

This afternoon we met with Sami Awad, founder of the Holy Land Trust. He sat down with us and really put some things into perspective about nonviolent resistance systems by the Palestinians. He feels there is hope in their mission and that amazing things have happened, but much more work to be done, and the word to spread broadly about the truth of what is happening in this part of the world.

4.24.10

Had amazing day yesterday! Left Bethlehem at 8am and drove through part of Jerusalem, through the Jordan Valley to the Sea of Galilee. Picniced with a Messianic Jewish community, witnessed baptisms in the Galilee, and met one of the young people who will be a part of Sound and Sand encounter, along with Evan and Mala, ...the pastor and his wife. It was a sweet time.

Then we drove to the Mount of the Beatitudes....it was breathtaking, and a spiritual moment! Then to the beach where the resurrected Jesus asked Peter "do you love me?" Amazing....

Then to Capernaum! Finished the day at the House of Light, a recovery ministry that originally began reaching out to children, and now has a fantastic prison ministry.

Crashed in a hotel in Nazareth....awaiting more adventures tomorrow! We are all having a great time!

4.23.10

Greetings from Bethlehem Bible College! Just a quick update as it is quite late and we have to be up early in the morning! Our day started with a tour of the new BBC which should be finished in just a couple weeks! 'Beautiful' can barely begin to describe this facility! We then enjoyed a talk with Alex Awad and a lecture from his brother, Bishara. Two godly men who have opened our eyes and hearts to the hopes and prayers of the Palestinian people. We had "tea" with some of the students and another visiting group from Arizona. We all love the fresh bread sold by a vendor at the gate, dipped in yogurt and spices. I forget the exact name, but it sure was delicious! Lunch was again with the students at the college. A traditional Friday meal of lentils and rice with cucumber and tomatoe salad. Soooo yummy! Then off to Christmas Lutheran Church and a special visit with Mitri Raheb. Will fill you in on that later, too much to tell. Turns out they were dedicating the Art/Photography Exhibition from the students there. Quite a treat! Then off to The Tent Resaurant where we had a feast! Seated on couches, under a huge tent, we were entertained by an Assyrien Christian group from Sweden who sang and danced through the evening. Thank goodness for the open air, for the hookah pipes were in full use. It is a common practice here, but most of us are so used to non smoking facilities in the US. Still an incredible experience! Will chat more later. Off to sleep as we are headed out early for Nazareth and the Sea of Gallilee tomorrow. Beach party and baptisms await! God bless!

4.22.10
They made it! They posted this on the Facebook page:
“We have arrived safely! It's 10:40 p.m. - we had a fantastic dinner with all kinds of delicious salads, lamb prepared two different ways, and chicken kabobs - yum! We are excited for adventures that await us tomorrow! More updates to come!”