A wonderful new read for the new year

A wonderful new book as we begin the new year. I just finished reading Flunking Sainthood by Jana Reiss. it is a funny, realistic, encouraging, and challenging exploration of following spiritual disciplines in our lives. Of course, it also adds that she is a Cincinnati writer! Just think, a few years ago I would have not understood the Skyline references… anyway, the book is her journey over a year of trying several of the classic spiritual disciplines and several intentional practices in her discipleship journey – saying the Jesus prayer, fasting, lectio divina, sabbath, and several others.

What was very meaningful for me is that it is not a triumphalist book – she makes no bones about having trouble following the disciplines in daily life and trying to understand how we can practice these disciplines day-to-day. I have read plenty of books on spiritual disciplines and often go away feeling like I am nowhere close to being able to do them. Reiss strikes a solid balance between challenging us to try these practices and also her own experiences of trying to do them.

There are several that I read that I have been challenged to work into my own life going forward into this new year. I strongly encourage you to pick it up and prayerfully ask what God might be calling you to attempt in the coming year.

Flying home

Matthew 25 contains three central parables/teachings of Jesus. The first speaks of the need to always be ready for when you are called upon (the parable of the bridesmaids). The second, the parable of the talents, drives home the point that we are to use and grow what God gives us for when we are called upon. The third focuses specifically upon tangible aspects of what we are called to do.

Yesterday (Sunday afternoon in Cambodia, early morning Sunday at home), we read and discussed the second of the teachings in this passage. Here is what it says from Matthew 25:14-30 (Message translation)

The Story About Investment
“It’s (the kingdom of God) also like a man going off on an extended trip. He called his servants together and delegated responsibilities. To one he gave five thousand dollars, to another two thousand, to a third one thousand, depending on their abilities. Then he left. Right off, the first servant went to work and doubled his master’s investment. The second did the same. But the man with the single thousand dug a hole and carefully buried his master’s money.

“After a long absence, the master of those three servants came back and settled up with them. The one given five thousand dollars showed him how he had doubled his investment. His master commended him: ‘Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.’ “The servant with the two thousand showed how he also had doubled his master’s investment. His master commended him: ‘Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.’ “The servant given one thousand said, ‘Master, I know you have high standards and hate careless ways, that you demand the best and make no allowances for error. I was afraid I might disappoint you, so I found a good hiding place and secured your money. Here it is, safe and sound down to the last cent.’

“The master was furious. ‘That’s a terrible way to live! It’s criminal to live cautiously like that! If you knew I was after the best, why did you do less than the least? The least you could have done would have been to invest the sum with the bankers, where at least I would have gotten a little interest. “‘Take the thousand and give it to the one who risked the most. And get rid of this “play-it-safe” who won’t go out on a limb. Throw him out into utter darkness.’

This is clearly a very challenging passage especially the ending with the way that the Master receives the third servant’s actions. As our group discussed it, however, we kept coming back to the idea that we are not called in any way to be idle in what we have been given by God and instead to be actively working out those blessings. I many ways this passage served as a closing bookend to our journey here as we began the week with words in worship about Elijah’s need to be living with the assumption that God is going to work and God is going to provide, rather than sitting idly by.

That seemed to be a common challenge for us all in returning from Cambodia – living out the ways that God desires to use us. We are all deeply thankful for the opportunity to be a part, if even in a small way, of these ministries in Cambodia, and we prayerfully look ahead to how God will continue to use us as partners in ministry.

Back in Phnom Penh

We have returned to Phnom Penh after our debriefing time in Kep (pronounced Keip). What a beautiful place to renew and recharge before returning home. We have all been significantly changed through our time here in this amazing country. We are so thankful to have been able to be here.

Last night, Marjie shared the end of Luke 1 with us all where Zechariah prophecies about the coming Messiah…

“By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

Bringing light. I can speak for myself that this time has helped bring light into areas of my life as well as seeing the ways that God is shining light into the world here in Cambodia. The call and challenge is to continue that experiencing and sharing as we return home in the coming days. Thank you all for your prayers for the trip.

Grace & Peace,
Ed

Kep

We have headed down from Phnom Penh to the coastal town of Kep for the last few days of our trip. We will be doing some debriefing and discussion about our experience here but there will also be a good bit of r & r. Kep is absolutely gorgeous and we have only seen the smallest bit of it so far. Of course, that was around late afternoon and sunset so that’s a pretty good time.

Tomorrow morning, several of us are going to start off the day on a hike through the jungle where we will hopefully see some wildlife along the way. Camera batteries are charging up now. We are then going to spend some time going over some reflection questions about the trip before taking some time to journal, think, pray, etc. but these next few days are very important in the transition to coming back home at the end of the week. What has God shown us? How has God been moving within and through? What are we taking back with us that will change how we live back home?

The drive down here was beautiful as we got to see some very different parts of the country – much more of the rural side of Cambodia compared to the more urban sides we have experienced thus far. God definitely created a very beautiful place here.

Last full day in Phnom Penh

I feel like a repeating record a bit when I say that yesterday was a blessed day but OT truly was. The morning was spent around the clinic where one group went on a prayer walk around the nearby areas and visiting with the local vendors around the Wat (temple). The other group went on home visits with Tim and several staff members of MMC. We played games with the kids, did Bible sharing times, and Tim and one of MMC’s staff did medical checks. I was part of the group that did home visits and was deeply moved by the times we shared with them. It was so evident that Christ was moving and present.

This is just a quick update today as we are packing up and heading to Kep for the next few days and Presslars and Peairs are leaving for Indonesia tomorrow morning. So our group shrinks by a few and we are on the last few days of the trip. More to come.

An inspiring day in so many ways

Yesterday was a truly inspiring day in so many ways for all of us. We were encouraged, blessed, challenged, convicted, and enriched in many different ways. It was a full day but one that left us at the end of the day feeling that we have been a part of something wonderfully Spirit-driven.

The day began with Wendy and Pam staying at the clinic to continue their work with the nurses there. They also had the opportunity to be a part of some of the patient care as well. They were richly blessed by their time there yesterday.

The rest of the group went to the White Lotus ministry whose mission is described in their ministry’s name.

The lotus flower grows in murky water on a single stalk, straight toward the sun. Even from this environment, it blossoms into a beautiful white flower. We believe this ministry allows girls and women to grow from dark situations to standing straight and tall, looking to the Son.

Sherrie and Debbie, the directors of the ministry, were such an encouragement as they shared of their calling to be a part of God’s working to set women free from the modern day sexual slavery so many find themselves stuck within. Their ministry to many women is truly bearing fruit and allowing women here to bloom into the women God created them to be instead of what they were forced to become.

One of their brochures had the following poem…

I will change your name…you shall no longer be called..wounded, outcast, lonely, or afraid…I will change your name…your new name shall be…confidence, joyfulness, overcoming one…faithfulness, friend of God, one who seeks my face… – DJ Butler

The challenge for me in our time at White Lotus is in how I / we are also partnering in ways that free women from this horror of our age, whether it’s here in Phnom Penh and SE Asia or in eastern Europe, in Africa, or in America. God has created all in God’s image and part of our call is to be helping all discover this beauty within to give hope.

Eva got to stay at White Lotus and help them work through ideas of some of the crafts and products that the women create in order to help support their ministry.

We returned to the clinic in the afternoon to help teach ESL lessons with the Khmer staff of the clinic. As we partnered up, it was so wonderful to hear the beautiful noise that filled the small room where we were meeting. 12 groups of people speaking Khmer, English, laughing, acting out the words, and so forth. I told Marjie that I wonder if it was something like what Pentecost must have been like – all these different languages being spoken, yet being understood by one another and God directing and hearing it all. Several of our team shared that this was one of the most blessed times they have had so far.

We closed our day with dinner at Tim and Marjie’s home. They hosted our team and many staff members of the clinic. The meal we has was incredible. It was a traditional Cambodian meal that was just amazing. But even more amazing was what took place as we moved from the meal to sharing together. We spent time after dinner singing together. The praise songs we sang were in Khmer and in English and many were both. Again, a reminder of the God who created us all in God’s beautiful image and we see that image in one another. The night ended with several hours of the universal game of UNO. It was so much fun learning one another’s words for the numbers and colors as well as the variations we all have on the game. The laughter, smiles, joy, and blessing was truly wonderful.

In all of what we shared yesterday, I am reminded of something Sherri said at White Lotus when she was asked about the breadth of the task around them. She simply said that God “just says ‘start’”. So true. I find myself so often thinking that everything has to be laid out and set out with a clear, definite destination. Yet God just says start. I am reminded of the calling to Abram and Sarai. God told them to go to a land that God would show them. God didn’t tell them at that point what it was or where it was or how they would get there. God simply said go. And they went.

Our first clinic visit

Yesterday was a very fun and inspiring day! We spent the day at Mercy Medical Center and got to see the whole center at work. It was truly inspiring to see the ways that God has orchestrated this center and all the people who God has brought together from all over the world to make it happen. We spent most of the morning yesterday hearing more about the history of MMC and the steps that have come together to bring them to where they are now. After a wonderful lunch the small restaurant at the back of the clinic, we got to work in the afternoon. Pam and Wendy spent time with the nursing staff teaching about preparing sterile fields and other similar lessons while the rest of us worked on several different projects.

One group started with sorting through the 334 pounds of supplies for the clinic and toys/gifts for the children of Phnom Penh. Another group started on painting the beds that will be a part of the soon to be completed inpatient area. Eva did some photoshop work as well for Marjie. The sorting and painting groups finished up together and eventually completed sanding and painting 6 of the 8 beds and one IV pole.

We closed our evening with devotions and processing the first several days we have had here in Cambodia. I am so thankful to be able to share this time and for the team that God has brought together here. I continue to pray for how God will use us not only here but even more so as we return next week as we discern how we are a part of God’s continuing work of justice and reconciliation throughout the world.

We closed last night with a variation of this prayer.

Oh Merciful, Beneficent God, help us to be neighbors to each other so that in unity we can begin to build bridges. Give to your children your Spirit as we battle wickedness and racism, always remembering that we are called, not to walk on the other side, but to speak out against injustices wherever they be found. Amen

Worship and Cambodia’s recent history

Good morning all! Sues dei!

Yesterday was a day of contrasts. We began the day with worship at a Cambodian church which was a rich blessing. The message was shared by the director of a ministry in Phnom Penh to children in the many slums of the city. He spoke of their one-to-one program to help children get to school, stop collecting rubbish in the streets to make living for their families, and helping them come to church. Using the story of Elijah at the river and the miracle with the widow of Zarephath, he deeply spoke to us all of how we are to live in expectation of God’s working instead of being surprised when it accidentally happens. So true so true. One comment he noted that continues to ring in my heart is that we should never get used to suffering in the world. There was much more to his message, but it was a deeply powerful and Spirit inspired message for us all.

Following lunch (which was at a wonderful restaurant that was funded through microdevelopment loans and provides employment for people seeking job training), we spent the afternoons with the recent dark chapter in Cambodia’s history. Seeing firsthand the evils we humans inflict on one another is just hard to take in. Its no wonder that Calvin spoke so strongly of our utter brokeness and depravity without God The stupa that is pictured in the shots below actually has 18 levels inside with the different levels filled with the skulls, bones, and clothes of the victims of the regime. The site was also so heavily used for mass burials that they continue to find clothes and bone fragments that come up from the ground when it rains. I actually saw some pieces of clothing recently unearthed as I walked.

We then went to the Touel Slang prison which used to be a high school before the Khmer Rouge came to power. It was converted during the regime to a torture and interrogation center before the people were trucked off to the killing fields. The face of men, women, and children – all meticulously documented by the regime were just utterly heartbreaking. To imagine that just 30 or so years ago in these two places where we walked yesterday…words do not do it justice.

We start our work with Mercy Medical in earnest this morning as we get an orientation to the clinic this morning and then spend the afternoon there working – some painting beds, some (possibly including me) helping with their computers, and our nurses doing some work with the nursing staff.

Overall, the team is doing well – nothing beyond what one might expect with a radical time, culture, and climate change. Thank you for your prayers and we look forward to what God continues to show us and speak to us through our time.

Today and some pictures

Good morning all! Of course it’s about 7p back home…

Anyway, we will be heading to worship at a local Cambodian church this morning where the director of a ministry to children in the Phnom Penh slums will be preaching and some of the children will be doing a skit as well. We will have lunch with him following and then will be going to learn more of the dark chapter in Cambodia’s history as we go to visit a former Khmer Rouge prison and then possibly the killing fields as well. Going to be an emotional day.

Here are pictures from the last few days – Cambodia pics 1

On the bus ride here yesterday, Marjie shared something that was very meaningful to me. It was a simple statement but has stuck with me. Hopelessness is not in God’s vocabulary. That is such a beautifully true statement especially how we consider the ways in which we are partners in making that true in the world, whether it’s here in Cambodia or back home in Wyoming or somewheres in between. Amen.

This picture captures that idea for me – we s a stunning rainbow on the drive down here yesterday and this is one of my many pictures of it.

Heading to Phnom Penh

Yesterday was jet lag recovery day for two of us and seeing the temples for all of us through the day. We spent most of the day at the temple complex here in Siem Reap and were just in awe of the beauty and the craftsmanship of the temples. In particular, I was struck by one of Marjie’s comments reflecting upon our human pride in craftsmanship. We build these awesome places whether here in Cambodia or cathedrals in Europe or countless other things, yet is is God, the creator, who has the final word. This was particularly clear in the temples where the trees have grown through and over the temples. It created an awesome beauty but also a powerful picture of the power of God’s creation. 

Last night we spent the evening having dinner and then watching a cultural Cambodian dance following our meal. The beauty in the dance was stunning. 

After a good night’s sleep, we are getting ready to head to the silk market this morning and then driving to Phnom Penh.