Dear friends!
We’re back with yet another update this month, and we’re excited to pen down some highlights of our journey through YWAM Discipleship Training School in Chiang Mai. It’s been our toughest month thus far..
Besides all the classes (which were all very awesome!), we went through a challenging time with the community. Over the past 2 weeks, 2 of our classmates left the school. We were very close to the first lady who left, and we struggled to move on from it. We were all so confused as we tried to figure out what happened, all while trying to focus in class and complete our own duties.
Emotionally, everyone was trying to process our feelings about the sudden loss. Communal living drew us close to each other, and we saw each other like family. It felt like we lost siblings. Through this tough period, we came together to support each other. The show had to go on, despite our grief, we still went ahead with the lessons. Finally, after a full morning of debrief and processing as a community, we saw restoration of trust and vulnerability. It helped us to bounce back, and gain focus on our journey ahead.
On another note, we got to celebrate Sheryl’s birthday here! It’s the first time in 4 years that we get to celebrate together, due to work commitments. Sheryl felt so loved by the community, and she got gorgeous flowers from the awesome husband!
Our dear friend, Ben, came over to visit us over the 3rd weekend, and Jason’s parents also visited on the 4th weekend!
In a week’s time, we would be all heading off for our outreach phase in Cambodia. We would no longer be heading to East Asia for our outreach as our hosts are unable to take us in especially during this difficult time of persecution. We would take the train from Chiang Mai to Bangkok on 8th December afternoon, and fly from Bangkok to Siem Reap. We are both looking forward to this 6 weeks of outreach in Cambodia! YWAM Siem Reap would be our hosts, and we would be serving alongside them. Please pray for us!
As we were praying for our outreach, Jason was led to the passage in John 4, where Jesus met the Samaritan woman. Jesus planted a seed in the woman’s heart through His prophetic act of love. As a result, the woman went back to her town to proclaim Jesus and His deeds, and many were curious and came to Jesus.
John 4:35-38
Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.”
Indeed, many others have labored before us in Siem Reap, so please pray with us that:
- We will be alert and attentive to the harvest of the fields
- We will be culturally and spiritually sensitive to people that we minister
- We will have faith to reap when God opens the opportunity
Our God is a punny God; He also likes to have a play on words. God is sending us to Siem REAP to sow and REAP. May He go forth before us, and continue to dwell amongst us, that we can be vessels of God’s love to the people of Cambodia. Thank you for praying alongside us!