Monday, June 15, 2009

A new command I give you: Love one another

Soah-sa daay!

If your reading this on facebook, I would much rather you type in my blog address www.redeemingcambodia.blogspot.com Its so much cooler. but anyway...

Thank you everyone for your interest in how my trip is going. This past week was very difficult. None of the team members knew each other, and 2 more girls came making a total of 7 in the house. The other 2 girls are from Dallas Theological Seminary. We were all going through ‘culture stress’ and having to deal with 6 other girls who were going through it also. It’s so great though how God can bring so many types of people together and unite them. We are Christ’s body; there are many parts but each one has to work together. It’s been such a growing experience for each of us to have to love one another above ourselves- otherwise we couldn’t function. That is something God has been teaching us.

I had the amazing opportunity of traveling to a remote village on Friday. One of the main rivers called the Tonle Sap, has a small island in it that is only accessible by boat (more like a canoe). On this island is a group of Viatnamese people that do not speak Khmer. We went with a team of about 10 to do a medical clinic. There are staff at Mercy Medical Clinic that reach out specifically to Viatnamese people living in Cambodia, because most of them don’t speak Khmer. We gave all the children a de-wormer and Vitamin A for blindness prevention. We had them all gather around us but the medicine tasted so awful that a lot of kids didn’t want to take it. A lot of the little ones cried- poor things- but the moms would shove it down their throats anyway.

On Saturday helped put on an art show that ‘Daughter of Cambodia’ was hosting. There was paintings, sketches, photos, jewelry, cake, etc. that was all made by the girls working at ‘Daughter of Cambodia’. The same girls who only a short while back were sex workers. I really saw the power of God, seeing how these girls could create something so beautiful as a reflection of who they are.

Today I am working at Mercy Medical Clinic. Yesterday, the other girl on my team working here told me that the clinic was collecting an offering for a girl so that she could stay longer at the clinic. So I found out today that it was the girl who was here last week. She came back yesterday because of an ear infection. I went up to help one of the nurses, Socheate, clean her ear. The infection was so bad that pieces of her ear were falling off. When we were cleaning it she started crying. After we were done, me and the evangelist dude, Samrach, went to pray for her. So I got to read from my bible to her and her dad and Samrach translated. I read to her from John when Jesus says

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust God, trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go there to prepare a place for you, I will come back for you.”

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8 comments:

  1. AnonymousJune 16, 2009 at 3:27 AM

    Hola prima! ;o) It really is interesting to read your experiences. You are just a beautiful person inside and out! ;o) God bless you today and always!!

    p.s. We will be going to Mexico this Thursday and will come back in about a month. So, I will not be in the computer checking my e-mails/face book as often sine we'll be going to a small town called "Genaro Codina" where Andres (my husband)is from. And from what he has told me about it, the town doesn't have the technology we have. But I'll see if they hav a library. They should have one and hopefuly computers to use. ;o) You are in my prayers already and I will keep praying for you!! Love!...Cristina!

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  2. martaJune 16, 2009 at 9:34 AM

    test from marta

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  3. MartaJune 16, 2009 at 9:43 AM

    Hey Bug. Sorry had to try and figure out how to post to this Blog. This new technology is so hard to keep up with. I saw today on the Orlando Sentinel website "Day in Pictures" that you guys are under water over there. Stay dry. MIss you. Love, Mom http://www.orlandosentinel.com/broadband/orl-photosoftheday-pg,0,2835583.photogallery?index=orl-pd-cambodia-rain20090616055820

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  4. MartaJune 17, 2009 at 5:38 PM

    Mom again. check to see if you've posted anything new :o) What is the girl's name with the infection? I've been thinking of her. Reading your experiences certainly makes me appreciate what I've got. Everyone is well. Lita came over for Lunch on Sat. Scott came and put my new bedroom window in. It's so nice! I'll be replacing others one at a time. It's very expensive. It's very especially hot the last few weeks. . I do believe i heard the weatherman say it was going to get or did get to over 100 degrees. But it actualy isn't so bad in the shade w/ a nice breeze. Had a terrible lightning and rain storm last night. The lightning hit a 5,000 sq. ft. house in Oviedo and burned it down!We sat out on the porch for over an hour with candles waiting for the power to come back on. Well gotta run. Praying for the mosquitos to not bit you too much and for all the people you are helping. Love, Mom

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  5. AnonymousJune 18, 2009 at 10:31 AM

    HI,
    Sounds like an amzing learning experience for you. I am glad to see your enjoying it so much. I think its awesome what your doing. Mom informed me yesterday that you are able to comment on here. Yes I am very special! So i'll start checking up on you more. Be safe! Love, Khrista

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  6. MartaJune 21, 2009 at 6:37 PM

    Hey Bug. Mom Again. Wrapping up from the weekend. How are you? EVERYONE says hello and that they are thinking of you and wishing you the best. Visited Uncle victor today and Aunt Dora. Uncle victor looks so good! The medication he is taking for Parkinsons has made such a huge difference! I was so happy to see how well and perky and talkative and good he looked! Lita was there and so was Ismael - that was a surprise! (Sarah, Shamim & Mo's dad in case you don't remember) He looked well too. Gotta run. Miss you! Love and hugs. Mom

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  7. MindyJune 24, 2009 at 1:34 AM

    Jessa... I can tell that your poor Momma misses you so much!! LOL.. I'm so happy that your enjoying yourself!! I think of you often during the day and wonder what in the world you might be doing but tonight as I'm up at 4am less then two weeks from my babies due date with horrible heartburn I remembered you saying something about having a blog so I decided to find it! I can't wait until you come home so that I can see you and you can tell me some amazing stories.. I'll be praying for you and keep safe!! Love, Mindy

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  8. AnonymousJuly 2, 2009 at 6:43 PM

    Wow, you've been gone almost a month already! Really bummed about you not touching base more often, but understand you are limited with your time and access to interenet. Saw Ms. Clevenger yesterday walking w/ hubby. She asked about you. Mindy has been and out of hospital. I believe she was 75% effaced and dilated but her due date is still another 2 weeks away. She is miserable. I'm going to try and run down there and see baby when it's born. I'll take pictures and post them on facebook. love, mom

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Missionary...me?

Right before Jesus ascended into heaven he gave the disciples this command: "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations. baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."(Matthew 28:18-20)

In obedience to Gods command, I will be traveling half way across the world this summer to the dark nation of Cambodia. These people have many physical needs, but above all they need to hear about the good news of the Kingdom of God. That we are steeped in our sin against our creator, who loved us and died because of our sin- so that we can have the opportunity of eternal life by repenting and turning to Jesus as Lord and Savior. This is my hearts desire as I go to Cambodia.

I will be working in a hospital with another nursing student from Cedarville University in Ohio. We will have alternating shifts for 5 weeks. We will also be teaching at a summer day-camp for high school students. Our subject matter will be God's design of the human body, health and nutrition. In all of these settings our mission is simple: to share Jesus Christ with the people of Cambodia. We will be using every and any avenue we can to do this, whether it be nursing, teaching, or hanging out with kids our age. I want to thank each and every one of you who have joined in this cause by supporting me financially and through your prayers. I believe it is God's desire to involve as many people here at home in his sending work. It is not an individual effort. Your support is the method God uses to mobilize his Gospel. I hope that this blog will enable your involvement so you can see what God is doing through your prayers and sacrificial giving. May God use this trip to not only draw the hearts of the Cambodian people to himself, but also to draw our hearts to Him.