It's Graham's birthday today!
Not only is he turning another 40-something, but, turning 40-something for the third time in Cambodia. Milestones such as birthdays are keen reminders that time has not stood still.
While we serve in Cambodia happily, it is with the knowledge that together, yourselves and ourselves, have each sacrificed time together. Earthly time that cannot be recovered. Our nephews and nieces have grown without aunty and uncle time, and so have yours etc.
However the great I AM, who is the same today, yesterday and forever, is bigger than the thousands of miles between us. If we had not left family, friends and home to serve in Cambodia, then we would not be in the centre of God's Will for us at this time in our lives.
The incredible sense of purpose here, the ministry opportunities and the gifting that God has given each member of our family have all worked together for good, an eternal good.
So thank you all for your sacrifice, your patience and your support. We really value your friendship. We are currently due to go home in June / July, however we are not certain that God has finished with us here just yet? So please pray for our future, that we would clearly hear what God's plan is for us and for the financial where-with-all to undertake His plans, wherever that might be. God usually speaks to me in dreams. I have had many while we have been in Cambodia. Dreams that entertain our role here but also our calling since before we were married to accommodate christian workers on holidays/furlough. Please pray for confirmation in the weeks and months to come.
I wish I could explain just how much we have learned here, about God, ourselves, human society. Being in Cambodia has certainly broadened our horizons, deepened our faith, filled our hearts with compassion and mind with possibilities. I encourage you, if you think that God is calling you to serve overseas for a time, to seek confirmation and trust him to carry you through. It seemed such a big decision back home, but now we are here, we realise that it was easier than we thought. We praise God that we did not just put the idea ignorantly in the too hard basket and miss this life-changing opportunity. How to share God's work in our lives and in Cambodia, with yourselves, our all important support from home, is something that I have yet to master. But please know, that without your support, we could not continue to serve here.
As Gray's birthday meets it's half way mark, it is time to stop reflecting and to instead share lunch with Gray and our year 7 pastoral class (who wanted to have a party for him..awwh this age is still so cute!)
Blessings
Fiona
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Via Facebook to BlogSpot
School reports, Nathan's Birthday, Flooding in Phnom Penh.
I have commented on some of these things on Facebook, so I thought I would move some of those comments across to here and maybe expand somewhat.
I am not naturally the most excited fan of facebook, but it is quick and easy, and people do respond to my comments regularly. Our blog post however.. well it only has 3 people listed as followers, and I can't remember the last time someone posted a comment, so forgive me for being discouraged, even slack.
BUSY LIVING
Facebook OCT 5.
Have to finish mid semester reports, work on Building Hope logo, modify photos for website, few classes to deliver, couple of clubs to run. Almost at the top of the hill! Then relaxation at Elephant Blanc for two nights with family, a pool, a bible and journal, iced coffee and finally wake up to Nathan's 12th birthday on Saturday.
An exciting week unfolding, hope i don't run out of steam too soon.
- Well we made it through the week and had a lovely time at Elephant Blanc. It is only 7km away, but makes you feel like you are a million miles away. It has a shapely pool, wifi, restaurant and pool table. The rooms are $25 a night though an extra $5 each for the kids. Imagine that in Australia!!! But it does bring home to me how important our dream of having a mission guest house is. When you are in ministry full time a break is so necessary..yet so out of financial reach. $35 might not sound like much, but by the time we stayed for two nights, and shared meals, there went most of my monthly wage. Thankfully Graham earns quite a bit more than I do. As for our gift for Nathan. Well he enjoyed a jar of olives and a stick of pepperoni. Two treats that are too expensive to buy in Cambodia...so an excellent surprise for a birthday. He has been rationing these out carefully. We also bought him an alarm clock...he has hit puberty and now understands sleeping in, whereas before he was bright as a button at 6am every morning.
FLOODING
Facebook Oct 12.
We came home to a flooded top floor, for the fourth time in two years. The balcony drain couldn't keep up with the rain. It had also soaked down into our bedroom. Once again the whole family chipped in for an afternoon of mopping
- The flooding is the worst I have seen it. We have been so fortunate that our house is raised slightly. Phnom Penh is so very flat.. I must admit that we took it all of as a bit of a novelty. But the next day it was all to clear that our neighborhood had suffered. We have seen people with flooded houses unable to bail water out because the whole neighborhood is below water. Then I heard from a friend the story of one of her Khmer staff, so I posted this on October 17.
Facebook Oct 17.
Well imagine your neighborhood is flooded. Your own dwelling has water up to the base of the slats on which you and your family all sleep on the same mat. You go to bed with fear for your 18 month old. Concerned that the water will rise during the night. Or that in the darkness your child will climb off the bed into the water.
POVERTY
Facebook OCT 16.
I cradled the most beautiful though tiny and malnourished infant yesterday and her heart still hurts today.
- My class and I have been considering hunger and poverty in our Christian Perspective class. It has really been a profound week in this respect for me, as I consider the hunger and poverty that has been so confronting to us here in Cambodia. I shared some of the discussion with Naomi and Nathan. Which too, was powerful. Then on Friday a friend - who rescues neglected and abandoned children, introduced me to a little 7 month old boy. I cradled this boy, who looked more like a 1 or 2 month old, in my arms for so long. He was so weak that he could not hold up his own head. He was upset, so I gently massaged his head and sang him a song I wrote for Naomi and Nathan at that age. He settled in my arms and my heart was wrenched within me. I wish I could show you a photo, he was indeed the sweetest little baby you could ever see. But privacy policy prevents me...and understandably so.
I have commented on some of these things on Facebook, so I thought I would move some of those comments across to here and maybe expand somewhat.
I am not naturally the most excited fan of facebook, but it is quick and easy, and people do respond to my comments regularly. Our blog post however.. well it only has 3 people listed as followers, and I can't remember the last time someone posted a comment, so forgive me for being discouraged, even slack.
BUSY LIVING
Facebook OCT 5.
Have to finish mid semester reports, work on Building Hope logo, modify photos for website, few classes to deliver, couple of clubs to run. Almost at the top of the hill! Then relaxation at Elephant Blanc for two nights with family, a pool, a bible and journal, iced coffee and finally wake up to Nathan's 12th birthday on Saturday.
An exciting week unfolding, hope i don't run out of steam too soon.
- Well we made it through the week and had a lovely time at Elephant Blanc. It is only 7km away, but makes you feel like you are a million miles away. It has a shapely pool, wifi, restaurant and pool table. The rooms are $25 a night though an extra $5 each for the kids. Imagine that in Australia!!! But it does bring home to me how important our dream of having a mission guest house is. When you are in ministry full time a break is so necessary..yet so out of financial reach. $35 might not sound like much, but by the time we stayed for two nights, and shared meals, there went most of my monthly wage. Thankfully Graham earns quite a bit more than I do. As for our gift for Nathan. Well he enjoyed a jar of olives and a stick of pepperoni. Two treats that are too expensive to buy in Cambodia...so an excellent surprise for a birthday. He has been rationing these out carefully. We also bought him an alarm clock...he has hit puberty and now understands sleeping in, whereas before he was bright as a button at 6am every morning.
FLOODING
Facebook Oct 12.
We came home to a flooded top floor, for the fourth time in two years. The balcony drain couldn't keep up with the rain. It had also soaked down into our bedroom. Once again the whole family chipped in for an afternoon of mopping
- The flooding is the worst I have seen it. We have been so fortunate that our house is raised slightly. Phnom Penh is so very flat.. I must admit that we took it all of as a bit of a novelty. But the next day it was all to clear that our neighborhood had suffered. We have seen people with flooded houses unable to bail water out because the whole neighborhood is below water. Then I heard from a friend the story of one of her Khmer staff, so I posted this on October 17.
Facebook Oct 17.
Well imagine your neighborhood is flooded. Your own dwelling has water up to the base of the slats on which you and your family all sleep on the same mat. You go to bed with fear for your 18 month old. Concerned that the water will rise during the night. Or that in the darkness your child will climb off the bed into the water.
POVERTY
Facebook OCT 16.
I cradled the most beautiful though tiny and malnourished infant yesterday and her heart still hurts today.
- My class and I have been considering hunger and poverty in our Christian Perspective class. It has really been a profound week in this respect for me, as I consider the hunger and poverty that has been so confronting to us here in Cambodia. I shared some of the discussion with Naomi and Nathan. Which too, was powerful. Then on Friday a friend - who rescues neglected and abandoned children, introduced me to a little 7 month old boy. I cradled this boy, who looked more like a 1 or 2 month old, in my arms for so long. He was so weak that he could not hold up his own head. He was upset, so I gently massaged his head and sang him a song I wrote for Naomi and Nathan at that age. He settled in my arms and my heart was wrenched within me. I wish I could show you a photo, he was indeed the sweetest little baby you could ever see. But privacy policy prevents me...and understandably so.
Please pray for the wet, the hungry and the impoverished.
Blessings
Fiona
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