Griffith Gleanings January 2016
Email myrtle@live.com.au if you want to receive these emails.
Isaiah 43:19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.
GRIFFITH GLEANINGS
In January we returned from our first visit to Siem Reap (where our team is based), as well as the nation’s capital Phnom Penh. Through the initiative of Scott Windus a relationship has been established in Siem Reap with Tennis Cambodia. Although we don’t see ourselves having tennis couching skills, below we are pictured sharing with some of the team (Cate Rogers and Som) with the school principal of a 6000 children primary school.
We were well looked after by Global Interaction team member Cate Rogers who introduced us to many places to “eat rice”. We explored some tourist attractions and caught many glimpses into the life of resourceful Khmer people, such as this lady below sewing handbags out of used cement bags.
JANUARY 2015
The People and the Need
We introduced some information about Cambodia in the November edition. Here are some more things we thought you might be interested in. There are more than 15 million Khmer people, 10 million under 25 years old, who mostly live in rural regions with many working as subsistence farmers. While several years of war and genocide left the nation broken and economically stagnant, an emerging and youthful generation is engaging with the modern world and constructing a different future.
Today the Khmer people hold to a culturally Buddhist worldview influenced by animistic and ancestral beliefs. Only 1% of the population profess to follow Jesus and those who do live with a constant tension of following the traditional values and norms of their culture while being influenced by a rising Western culture.
The cross-cultural team we will be a part of live in the North West region of Cambodia among communities struggling with poor health, low literacy rates and high unemployment. We are committed to seeing faith communities emerge and develop. We are focused on building relationships and identifying the needs and opportunities for ministry in this region. Our team is committed to working in partnership with local people to see holistic transformation that only Jesus can bring to a community.
Rob: We enjoyed small opportunities to escape from tourists and see the country side and Khmer people, both in rural areas and cities. While visiting a Khmer church community celebrating Christmas I was looking for confirmation that this location was truly where God was placing us, I was reminded of Matthew 7:9-11 where Jesus explained how God the Father gives good gifts…beyond what human fathers give their children. This reminded me of how much God loves and has blessed me in the past and the goodness of His future plans as well. We grew in a peaceful confirmation of God transplanting us.
We welcome you to partner with us in God’s mission in Cambodia. Your prayers are invaluable. Thank you to those who have already made financial donations, or submitted a pledge of a regular amount. Your support of us and what God is doing amongst the Khmer in Cambodia is a wonderful blessing. For those choosing to make financial contributions, you can contact us or go online to the Global Interaction web page: the URL link is www.globalinteraction.org.au/RobDeb
Deb: We found the privilege of being in Cambodia for a visit helped keep the focus as we engaged with different aspects of Khmer culture. On one occasion during Christmas celebrations after the church service we were welcomed into playing musical chairs with other adult Khmer women and men and required to perform some form of an “Apsara” dance (traditional classical dance) completely foreign to us so we mimicked as best we could to the delight of the Khmer families gathered. This activity with the laughter that ensued had a way of tearing down barriers between us with some level of connection being forged. I was confronted by the lack of vitality due to climatic changes of heat and humidity, and this is only the dry period. The markets were overall my favourite place to absorb culture; although the collective smells, sights and random sections of unrefrigerated meat throughout the market caught me out at times dry-retching. However the delights of the displays of selections in spices, legumes, rice, vegetables, fruit and families working together in close quarters makes this a vibrant place to be. I look forward to returning to live in December this year to listen to the Khmer people discuss their personal beliefs, hopes, fears and dreams. So as we work on language learning and culture; deeper relationships can evolve to share the living hope of Jesus.
Prayer Requests
Connecting with churches, home groups and individuals throughout SA.
Preparation to live in Cambodia by Dec 2016.
Family transitions in the year ahead.
Praise Points The enlightening visit to Cambodia.
Rebekah & friends finding shared home; Nathan finished his apprenticeship; Miriam has interview for work; Jeremy entering 2nd year of working at a Murray River Christian camp site.
http://www.globalinteraction.org.au/be-involved/events/sa-nt/global-inspire-(1)
STOP PRESS…RSVP and please come to the ‘Global Inspire’ event & our commission. When: Saturday 30th of January, 2-4:30pm At Glen Osmond Baptist Church, 1 Fisher Street, Myrtle Bank, Adelaide. RSVP: By 5pm Thursday 28th January 2016 to sa@globalinteraction.org.au