We were recently privileged to take part in Shalom Church’s annual youth camp in a small coastal town in the Koh Kong Province (4-hour bus ride). The theme of the camp was Why Love?, focusing on God’s love for us, and our love for others. We left Phnom Penh on Tuesday morning, and returned on Friday night (Aug 24th-27th). There were approximately 75 youth, a number of them Non-Christian. Nate taught four sessions (in Khmer) while Ava and I participated by attending the meetings, but mostly…by making friends! She was definitely the star of the show, especially as some of the locals had probably never seen a white baby before. While it was stretching for us (the interesting food, Ava’s schedule being thrown off, language limitations [for me], etc.), we had a wonderful time with everyone, and we’re so glad that we could go! Achoon chraun, Shalom Church, for this opportunity. Thank you to those abroad who prayed for the Lord’s blessing during this time–please keep these young people before the Throne. Thank you also for your continued support, making such ministry possible. We are so very grateful!
Here are some visual images from the trip:
Click the pictures to enlarge.
Ava reading…upside down and backwards…very talented.
Mother-daughter reading time
No shoes for the games
Rith and Nate
Making friends with Mettah, Pastor Sopheak’s daughter
She would run away and then run back, Ava laughing hysterically
Ava’s cage/bed. What would we do without the Peapod?
Goofy girl. She kept doing this to make me laugh
Catching a glimpse of the white baby
Ava enjoyed the bus ride
Playing games en route
A palm tree farm – beautiful!
Hangin’ with Daddy
Ava loves balls
Ava loves balls
Khmer Games – hitting the water bottle with a ball
Taking a break
Taking a break
Nap time in palm tree land
More nap time – the bus drivers tied their hammocks to the engines
More nap time – the bus drivers tied their hammocks to the engines
Excited that Ava is sleeping
Excited that Ava is sleeping
Look closely…
Look closely…
a small forest
a small forest
Still sleeping…
Still sleeping…
Walking to the mini water fall
Walking to the mini water fall
Tokay gecko that was hiding in our meeting place
Tokay gecko that was hiding in our meeting place
Nate teaching in Khmer
Daren was kind enough to take Ava for a while
Daren was kind enough to take Ava for a while
She and I met some locals, who were very thoughtful, brushing off this platform so that she could crawl
Ava finally strectching her legs (during low tide)
Ava finally strectching her legs (during low tide)
Thanks, Christine, for this great family picture!
Thanks, Christine, for this great family picture!
Ava sleeping during the session…naughty girl
Ava sleeping during the session…naughty girl
The second session, closer to the water
The second session, closer to the water
Our meeting place – a large grass hut
Our meeting place – a large grass hut
Ava loves dogs…she squeals in delight
The only “clean” place for Ava to play – on the bus
Chumno listening to the session
Ava and her three little friends
Convenient laundry lines in our bathroom
Happy baby
Meeting the locals
Waving goodbye
Food!
The restaurant where we ate all of our meals
Our local friendly seller. She asked us to send the pic.
Thanks for sharing. Beautiful pictures and it’s fun to see how Ava is growing. You all seem very happy. PTL!
The pictures are great. I am so happy everything went well. Hopefully hear from you soon. We will be praying for you.
Thanks for sharing the great pictures. Praise God for His promise that His word never returns void!
So glad you had a such a neat opportunity, may God bless your work. It is wonderful to see you all thriving…