Developing fully-devoted followers of Christ in Cambodia

Today, Wed Oct 25, I depart for Cambodia to share with our Cambodian Ministry Partners in Battambang who serve with CASA in partnership with Encompass World Partners. I will serve with Kent Good, Becky Sheffer Good, and Jill Kane. Below is a photo of the CMP (Cambodian Ministry Partners) of CASA.

I will serve with Kent & Becky Good, Faline Jones, and Jill Kane (Grace too).  

 
On this short trip, I will also get to visit our Orphan Homes in Battambang as well. On a later trip, I will visit our Orphan Homes in Thailand too. 

Please pray for me as I go to develop fully devoted followers for Christ in Cambodia. I praise God that Grace Church sends me to develop leaders for Christ. #savedpeopleservepeople

Saved People Serve People--A Wayne county girl takes an adventure to Thailand

Grace Church is the home church of Jess Sweigert. She graduated from NorWayne HS in Creston, OH and attends Grace College in Winona Lake, IN.  

As a Wayne County girl, Jess is getting a shock on her short term missions trip to Thailand with Grace College. Yet her focus remains on Jesus. 

"Pattaya, Thailand.
The location is known as the sex tourism capital of the world. This particular location is "The Walking Street." As we passed by hundreds upon hundreds of young women outside of brothels and bars, I so badly wanted to tell them that they are worth infinitely more than the amount on the sign they were holding. Tonight, I'm clinging to the hope that is found in Jesus Christ as my heart breaks for these women and children and the incredible injustice that is happening in this world (Jess on Facebook post)."

Jess returns home to Wayne County this week. Please pray for her return trip home. Ask God for safety and for time to process the trip when she gets back home. 

Here is an excerpt from her thoughts posted on Facebook:
"Mid-trip update for my friends and prayer warriors back at home: this trip is rocking my world. From the cultural standpoint to the mission work standpoint, I am being challenged and learning so much. It is 1am here so I'm keeping it simple, here are some things I'm learning:

1. Take your shoes off before you enter the house.
2. Thai food is a whole new level of awesomeness in comparison to American food- seriously, who thinks to cut up mangoes and put it in sweet sticky rice?
3. Thai coffee/tea is also a whole new level of awesomeness.
4. Elephants are gentle giants. They are so loved here in Thailand. They are everywhere.
5. I prayed for God to open my eyes and break my heart for this, and He did that and more.
6. The depravity of the human trafficking situation is severely undermined. This injustice runs deeper than a person can fathom until you witness it firsthand.
7. There are a lot of people who are willing to "raise awareness" but few who actually do something about it.
8. The few who are doing something about it are making an impact, one survivor at a time.
9. My heart breaks for this cause unlike any other. Seeing the dark roots of this cause has deepened my desire to help and work with these people.
10. In the midst of the darkness and injustice happening, people are still finding hope in Jesus because His hands are active and working in Pattaya, Thailand. I am so grateful to have seen the good, bad, and ugly up until this point.
11. The reason you are not seeing any face view photos of these children we have been spending time with is because they have already been exploited. While they are now being given excellent care and love by people who love the Lord so much, they should not be exploited any further. It is dangerous for them and unfair that their "pain" that we do not even merely understand is used to get likes on social media.
12. On a lighter note, always keep TP on you. Never flush the toilet.

God is good, all the time. Thank you for the love and prayers."

On Mission: Prague team meets with believers on Sunday

Cindy shares, "We just finished having communion. We were able to get on the internet thanks to one brother here in the church. We had a great time. Here are a few pics from this (Sunday) morning. We will leave soon for the evangelization meeting.  Thanks for praying. God is good."

 

This afternoon George shared about how God sent people to share the Gospel with American Indians. The topic included the how the Moravian Brethren spread the Gospel among the Delaware Indians. Russ and Cindy helped answer more questions from the group of about 40 people. The opportunity to respond to the Gospel was given and there were many questions. 

Thanks for praying. God provided a positive connection for many people. Please keep praying for strength and stamina as the team travels in Prague to encourage the believers and to challenge those who are not yet believers. 

On Mission: Team to Prague arrives safely

The team reports that after a cancelled flight delayed deaprture. Everyone was able to make it to Prague.  

Cindy and George wrote on Facebook on Friday, June 19, "Hi everyone. We are in Prague. Russ Yoder got here on time this morning. Our phones are not working internationally so we are just leaving this message (on Facebook) to let everyone know that everything is going as scheduled." 

Reunions are glorious.  George and Cindy got reacquainted with Marek, one of Cindy's former English students. 
 

George, Cindy, Marek

Dasa was a former student of Cindy's who is a waitress at the Academic Klub at the University.   

Dasa and Cindy

Please pray for the team as they travel and meet people. Russ Yoder speaks German and intends to make conversation on their excursions and contacting of people in Prague. He knows that he can be a servant helper. 


As the team posts pictures and comments on Facebook or sends them to me via email, I will share what God is doing in the Czech Republic. 

Saved People Serve People--Pine Ridge Missions Team

My how things can change.

The Pine Ridge team departed with temps in the 60s, sunny, and nice. They arrived in the midst of a snowstorm--temps in the teens, windchill, and cold. 

Despite the challenges, the team has served well. Pictures chronicle highlights from their trip. 

Please pray for their return trip to Wooster, Ohio.  They start traveling back today. They intend to be home late Sunday night.   

Saved People Serve People--Serving Lakota People

This year Grace Church is sending a team to the Lakota reservation in Pine Ridge, SD. We are partnering with the Oyate Concern ministries to serve the people in Pine Ridge, SD.  

Lapman and Ching Ching Lun will lead the team of nine traveling by van from Wooster, Ohio to Pine Ridge, SD.  The team includes the Lun family: Jonathan, Jeremy, and Abby along with Roger and Jenifer Miller and David Fairhurst and Sarah Miller. 

Together they will travel two days to arrive in Pine Ridge. On Sunday, they will begin preparing for the Sunday Night services where the team will share God's love with children, teens, and adults.  

Each day they will work on service projects to help Oyate Concern with their Christian school and church ministries.  The team will work in pairs to complete some projects for the ministry.  

On Monday evening, the team focuses on teens. Students will gather to play basketball and hang out. Then a message from our team will challenge them to give their life to Christ or to remain strong in the Lord.  

On Tuesday evening, the team will direct their encouragement to the lay leaders in the Oyate Concern ministries.  Everyone will share pizza, testimonies, and prayer time for the challenges facing the Lakota believers.  

On Wednesday, the team will finish up projects and clean up for the start of their journey home.  The team will visit the Black Hills, Custer State Park, and Mount Rushmore on their return trip. 

Please pray for the team:  

• travel safety
• good health
• deeper connections with missionaries and Lakota people
• catalyzing of new friendships, and 
• having a servant's heart

 

Saved People Serve People--Andy and Sara move their boys to Brazil to equip church leaders

"I was born and raised in Grace Church," says Sara Ungerer Royer. "I placed my faith in Jesus (here)! Pastor Bob's sermons laid the foundation for my beliefs in God and His Word."  

Andy, Sara, Miles, Jack, Jude Royer

Andy and Sara Ungerer Royer are moved to Brazil in December 2013. Andy & Sara are moved their boys: Miles, Jack, and Jude to Jacutinga, Brazil (3 hours North of Sao Paulo). Andy equips Brazilian nationals to reach the unreached people groups of Brazil teaching at the Peniel Bible Institute with New Tribes Mission.

Sara shares, "Cross-cultural trips with the youth group (at Grace Church) ignited a desire to be a part of taking the light of Jesus into dark places." She took her first overseas trip to Berlin with Grace Church.

Penial Bible Institute, Juctinga, BRAZIL

Grace Church envisions boys and girls growing up with the DNA of developing everyone into fully devoted followers of Christ. We seek to offer ways for students to reach the world for Christ.

"Over the twenty years growing up in this church, I was able to witness that Jesus Christ and His Word changes lives," reflects Sara. Now the family moves from the USA to Brazil to teach Brazilian nationals to reach the unreached people groups within Brazil.

Grace Church is excited to partner with Andy and Sara Royer and their boys to develop fully devoted followers of Christ in Brazil with New Tribes Mission.

How to support the Royers:

• Pray.  Please pray for the family as they live in Brazil, learn the language, adjust to the new culture, make Brazil their new home, and make new friends. Pick up a prayer card by emailing Pastor Daron dbutler@woostergrace.org to request a prayer card.
• Give.  Grace Church supports the Royers' financially. So, when you give to Grace Church, your offerings will help support the Royer family from our Great Commission budget.  
• Connect.  Please follow what God is doing in and through the Royers by reading their blog, www.anotherdaytolove.blogspot.com. You can see how they are developing everyone into fully devoted followers of Christ. 
• Share.  When you read their blog, please post encouraging comments and share their blog posts, prayer requests, and pictures to share what amazing things God is doing through their ministry.

Links:

What the sending church, Christ's Covenant Church says
What the sending agency, New Tribes Mission says

Sharing life change to the Nations--Cathy Simms goes to Cambodia

Cathy Simms travels to Cambodia with a team from Women of Grace USA (November 11-24).  The team includes women from Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. 

How to Pray for Cathy Simms and the Women of Grace Team:

• Ask God for safety as the team travels 30-plus hours from US to Cambodia
• Pray for everyone one on the team to remain healthy
• Ask God the Holy Spirit for team unity (Ephesians 4:3)
• Pray that the team can encourage Jill Kane & Becky Good 
• Ask God for the power to encourage the Cambodian Ministry Partner wives
• Pray for the team to do whatever it takes from a servant's heart.

The team will serve in English classes providing English-speaking dialogue for the students. They will encourage the Cambodian Ministry Partner wives who serve along with their husbands in developing fully devoted followers of Christ in churches in Northern Cambodia.  

English as Second Langauage Class (ESL)

Cathy shares on her prayer card, "Please pray for our team that we would be willing and able to pour ourselves out in love for those we will minister to, and that Christ will be made known through our interactions there."

Jill Kane & Becky Good

Cambodian Ministry Partner wives

Our passion is to develop every person into a more fully devoted follower of Christ. "We proclaim Him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom,so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ (Colossians 1:28)."  

"Catch a Wave...And your out of your comfort zone"

Missions trips s-t-r-e-t-c-h you.

Every day we have experienced new things: new foods, new schedules, and new activities.

The Dominican Republic is on the island of Hispaniola with Haiti. The country is surrounded by water. I am a Navajo and our traditional lands is surrounded by four sacred mountains on high desert plateaus.  So it is a stretch to engage the water as one who's ancestors engaged the desert.

So when my bro-in-law Jeff asked us to go out-of-our comfort zone and go surfing. Part of me was excited for the new adventure. And the other part of me was a bit uneasy.

However, our family has been on a quest from the first day of 2011. On Jan 1, 2001 we jumped in the iced-over Winona Lake with other "polar bears" to declare that we would go beyond our comfort zones this year.

Rafi & Gustavo of Macao Surf Camp

Our family took another step out-of-our-comfort zones. Each child had fears. But each one overcame them. We praise God for new Christian friends from the Macao Surf Camp--Rafael & Gustavo. They minister to Dominican youth by training them to be surfing instructors. Each youth has dropped out of school in junior high because high school demands extra money to pay for transportation. Please check out their fb page and pray for their upcoming Christian Surf Camp in October. 

My favorite story is Carissa. Her countenance had traces of tears forming in her precious little eyes. But she cautiously listened to the instructors, followed her personal trainer's directions, and after two wipeouts, rode her first wave onto the beach. I was so proud of her. The smile that glowed from the beach out to me was priceless. 

So when you take your missions trip with your family. Take the lead. Experience new things. Then debrief with them to instill confidence in the Lord and to guide them as they experience challenging obstacles.

Saturday, July 23

Who is that on the menu from Apple Creek?

Well it is Sunday night here and a lot has happened this weekend.  We had such a wonderful time with the children at Grace Place: Battambang. They are all doing so well. I had to take a picture at the restaurant where we had breakfast because the Richardsons are on the front cover of the menu at a place coalled "Cold Night" 

After breakfast Saturday morning we headed out with Pkeakdey and her father again to visit three more possible children for the up and coming GROW Cambodia home. 

Two of the girls are 5 year old twins and the other is three. The girls looked like they were 3 years old because they don't get enough food to eat. Their father died in an accident and their mother has some mental illness that comes and goes.  The family eats when neighbors in their village give them some food like a tomato or something.  

GROW Cambodia orphan rescue candidates

We spent quite awhile talking with the mother and her friend whom she was staying with in Battambang while she brought her daughter to the hospital.  We gave the girls some beanie babies the Roselers gave us and the mother some money to buy some food for her daughters and self. She began to cry as I, Pheakdey and her father all handed her some cash. She was overwhelmed by the love we were sharing with her.

We then headed to Grace Place to pile all 40 kids, the staff and us into 2 vans.  Yep, that's a lot of people in a small space, but we did it! The kids had so much fun at the waterpark.  We pretty much had the entire place to ourselves.  For hours we went up stairs and down slides, played Keep a Way and splashed (see more photos below). 

After dropping the kids off, and changing, we met the staff of our home at a BBQ and buffet restaurant as way of thanking them for what they do for these children and to give them a night off..  At first we weren't sure we were going to eat at all because everything was raw (meat and fish).  Then we learned that we cook it at our table on these little grills in the middle of our tables. It was quite an experience. Vannak and another staff member kept bringing us new foods to try. You may not wish to know what all we ate, but it was pretty good, never mind we all felt a little queezy in the stomach and bowels later. Yikes. But better now!

We returned to play with the kids some more of course.  By this time my kids are wanting to stay here and never leave. It is that or hide 40 kids in our suitcases! We Skpyed with Pastor Ivanildo and the older kids who are doing very well in English, spoke with him.  I will say I do not think I will do that again because Nga began crying after speaking with him.  She held onto me for 15 minutes or so crying about how much she missed him and wanted him to come back.  This began a domino effect as about 5 other girls joined in holdiong on to me.  I was able to convince all but Nga to join the others dancing and having fun.  I passed Nga off to Tim and she help on to him most of the rest of the evening crying.

Sokha

Sokret