Language Exchange Poipet - Day 1

Today was our first day of Language Exchange in Poipet. There are about 25 students that were divided into two teams - the green team led by Carl, Randy, and Karen, and the blue team lead by Scott, Kelly, and Diane.

We started as a big group with introductions. We sang songs, heard Kelly's testimony, and there was some healthy competition (2 students and a teacher from each team had to drink a bottle of water and the first team done won...green won). Then we split into our teams and taught the students common phrases in English, such as "Good Morning. Good Afternoon," etc. After the English, the Cambodians had the opportunity to be the teachers and teach us Khmer. That was challenging.

One activity we engaged in is playing telephone, where a Cambodian whispered a Khmer phrase into the ear of the first person in line. That person had to repeat the phrase to the next person and so on. That was fine until it hit us, the foreigners. We had a hard time repeating the phrases.

After an hour for lunch, we again met as a whole group, singing songs, hearing Randy's testimony, and again engaged in healthy competition (this time 2 students and a teacher had to each 2 french baguettes - blue won). We again split into our teams for teaching both English and Khmer.

On Wednesday, each team must present a show. So we worked on that a little during our teaching time. The students are excited to see us again tomorrow and we are excited to see them as well.

Cambodia Day 1 and 2

Day one was spent catching up on sleep and fighting jet lag.  A visit to Buddhist Temple ruins in Siem Reap helped us to understand the spiritual darkness in which the Khmer people live.  Even now in Poipet we are hearing monks praying over a loud speaker, blessing a new temple.

Saturday morning was spent in orientation for the language exchange camp that starts on Monday.  Saturday afternoon was spent traveling from Siem Reap to Poipet by bus where we are currently writing this blog post.

We have been able to enjoy some home cooked meals by Hin, Pastor Pearum's wife.  The venture in to this new food has treated us well so far and we are enjoying the building of relationships with our brothers and sisters here in Cambodia.

The team continues to grow closer, encouraging each other as we share this new experience together.  Please continue praying for health and stamina!  Please also pray for Scott as he prepares for and then preaches at church on Sunday.

We've Arrived!!

Just wanted everyone who has been praying for us to know that WE MADE IT SAFELY! Thanks for your prayers. We look forward to a trip full of great ministry and growth!

In Transit

We had a delightful experience flying from San Francisco to Singapore, even though the flight was long. All of us were able to sleep a little bit and are currently in transit in Hong Kong. Everyone is doing well. We will update you as often as possible. Thanks for your prayers!

Cambodia here we come!!

We are on our way to Cambodia!  We are so thankful for each one of you who have prayed for us, given financially for our trip and have loved us and supported us along the way.  Keep watching the blog for updates!  We will try to update it as often as we can.

Pray for safe travels over the next 24-30 hours.  It is a long journey to Cambodia!

We look forward to sharing our stories and all that God did on the trip when we return on Monday,
August 6!

Blessings and love from the team!
Kelly, Scott, Randy, Carl, Diane and Karen

Sending out the Cambodia Team!

The Daybreak Cambodia Team is soon set to depart: we leave on July 24 and return on August 6!  This unlikely group of six individuals became a close team as we followed God's leading to join him in His mission to the people of Cambodia!  By sharing our struggles and desires with each other, lifting each other up in prayer, trusting each other, and humbly submitting our own individual desires for the good of the team and mission, we have grown to know each other more intimately as brothers and sisters in Christ!

We are grateful to our Savior for calling us to join Him in His work and for your financial and prayer support.  We know that you have been praying!  Here are some ways that you can continue praying.

• Praise the Lord that financial needs for the trip have been met!
• Please pray for our hosts Bill and Ilana Lobbezoo.  Bill was recently admitted to a hospital with an infection and is on his way to healing.
• Please pray for our current health concerns and for continued health while in a new culture to which our bodies are simply not accustomed.
• Please pray for safety and endurance as we travel.  We have 27 hours of flight time when we leave Washington DC!
• Please pray for opportunities to share the love of Jesus on our way to and from Cambodia.
• Please pray for our family members and coworkers as we leave them for two weeks.  Pray for a comfort and peace that passes all understanding.  Pray that our obedience to join God in His work will itself be a witness to them and provide us with opportunities to share Jesus's love with them too!
•  Please pray that God will continue to prepare the hearts of those that we will be serving.

Thank you for praying!

Written By Carl Hollander on behalf of the Cambodia team