tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-134952652011-12-28T13:37:18.558+07:00For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. (Psalm 139:13-16)Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.comBlogger1211100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-55328054018939042852011-12-28T13:30:00.000+07:002011-12-28T13:30:08.196+07:00

I love this time between Christmas and New Year. Its a a time of intentional decompression ---a time to be still, to sit and cultivate more of a ''Mary heart'' --- here in Cambodia, it is important to be intentional to take time out, to find a place of rest and solitude. Some people go down to the beach, others stay closer to the city. But solitude is not determined by location, it is cultivated

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-66415761360508305492011-08-14T21:54:00.000+07:002011-08-14T21:54:04.428+07:00

I first heard about Graham Cooke from one of my mentors and this particular message spoke to my heart! Living Your Destiny By Graham Cooke May, 2010 All of the tests you presently face are there to develop you into the person you need to be to live your destiny. Everything you are going through has been aligned by God to forge you into the person He has called you to be. Your destiny is

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-50584700886015550592011-07-15T11:13:00.004+07:002011-07-15T11:14:23.335+07:00

These past few days I am becoming more aware of what is going on in my internals. Certain emotions are starting to surface as the time draws closer to my departure in a few weeks. When you are busy cleaning up, you just are in 'doing' mode, as things need to get done and given my tendency to be a 'task oriented' person, this is exactly what I am doing. Emotions tend to take a back seat. But this

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-11865178818639256202011-07-07T01:39:00.000+07:002011-07-07T01:39:49.516+07:00

Eleven years ago I began a journey to Cambodia. Little did I know that initial visit in the 2000, would be the beginning of a quest that would lead to God’s call on my life. Tim Keller, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York said ‘an adventure is a “ there and back again”. It is an exciting thing that you choose --- you go and you have your adventures, you have all your thrills and it

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-75220049132444531152011-05-23T23:26:00.005+07:002011-05-23T23:28:00.398+07:00

Wow its been a long time since I have blogged. I think the desire has always been there but sadly there has been no time. Poor excuse but some how I suspect in the days and months ahead, I will be doing a lot more reflection and so I'm hoping to revive this blog a bit :-).  This week is the final countdown. After working for over 23 years in the corporate world, I am hanging up my corporate

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-57760152088431376262011-02-18T23:21:00.000+07:002011-02-18T23:21:09.842+07:00

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Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-75295278965178149922010-12-24T23:17:00.000+07:002010-12-24T23:17:22.148+07:00

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Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-58401284792995055352010-05-31T04:04:00.003+07:002010-05-31T04:06:22.915+07:00

Over the past 10 years as I have had the opportunity to go to Cambodia each year, God has been shaping and forming His call upon my life. In 2008, I along with 5 others had the privilege to run a vacation bible school in Svay Pak---a community renown among the world as ground zero for child sex trafficking. Little did I realize then the impact this dusty town would have on my life and the seeds

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-50822395023526988362009-12-27T03:59:00.010+07:002009-12-27T04:17:32.740+07:00

Wow its been such a long time since I written on this blog. There has been so much going on inwardly and outwardly that some times it just takes time to process. To share prematurely is to release the treasure before the time is right. So recently I have been pondering what it means to say 'yes' to God. This thought has entered my mind through an Advent meditation I read on Mary. The author

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-37739932434965088242009-08-29T01:45:00.019+07:002009-08-29T02:41:45.296+07:00

Today is a new day and after yesterday's emotional rollercoast experience I am not at all deterred but all the more thankful to God. Many of you have been praying and following the story about SN for the last few weeks, praying for her safety and protection. Just to recap, yesterday we thought she was really safe...but as I did a double check on the facts it turned out that she was not

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-58800462075257182242009-08-22T00:32:00.005+07:002009-08-22T00:59:35.577+07:00

Dear Family & Friends It’s been just over a couple weeks since we’ve been back from Cambodia but my heart and emotions still seem to be in Asia. This is a normal aspect of the re-entry process that we are called to embrace. In many ways, it is the most difficult part of any mission experience because it is a time to be still, to listen and to wait on the Lord for another chapter to enfold.

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-15115611975865900902009-07-09T20:45:00.005+07:002009-07-09T20:58:42.333+07:00

It is interesting that my blog site is called 'Child of God'. The other day I received an update from IAST (Initiative Against Sex Trafficking) formed by the Salvation Army. For any one who wants to learn more about this issue and get updates from all over the world, I would highly recommend signing up to recieve their emails.Child of God is a song that was written by Steve Siler, founder of

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-49778554757352317592009-06-24T08:08:00.011+07:002009-06-24T08:30:13.296+07:00

DEAR FAMILY & FRIENDS <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />In the fall of 2006, as I was reflecting on what it meant to invest in the lives of young girls who were caught in the web of child prostitution, I was reminded that evil seeks to destroy their future by stealing their hope. Yet it is in these very environments, that God calls us to face the darkness

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-18307364786463468402009-05-11T00:36:00.016+07:002009-05-11T01:17:04.385+07:00

Today's chapter in my one year bible reading plan is taken from John 6:22-42. The day before the crowd had witnessed a miracle---Jesus feeding 5000 with 5 loaves and fishes and this new day, they are hungry for Him, searching for Him first in Tiberias but He was gone. So they jumped into their boats and off they went to Capernaum. In finding Him, Jesus says 'I tell you the truth, you want to be

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-60718517898164543232009-04-11T07:43:00.010+07:002009-04-11T08:11:58.922+07:00

"Do we believe in the sanctity of all human life, or do we believe in the sanctity of some human life?" I read this quote recently from a movie trailer on the Terry Schiavo Story that is soon to be released. Now this is not a commentary on euthanasia but I love the quote because it goes to the heart of how we see and value human beings. The dictionary describes ‘sanctity’ as the quality of

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-47975657511583303372009-03-23T00:01:00.015+07:002009-03-23T01:02:25.338+07:00

I've just finished listening to a sermon from my pastor and in it he was asking us 'what makes you cry?' Recently it seemed that CNN noted that Starbucks was now going to be selling instant coffee and one of their Ireporters commented that this news about Starbucks made them so angry they wanted to cry.' How sad it is, that something like this would make us cry? It's so easy for us as a society

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-40829180343225603182009-03-06T21:15:00.006+07:002009-03-06T21:21:30.549+07:00

'No, the answer is not to say to oneself,'I am the beloved.' The answer is to claim our belovedness.There are anything between six and twenty-six ways of saying,'I claim my belovedness.'For instance,there are all sorts of inner disciplines.Some questions leading to an inner discipline are:'Do I keep choosing joy over sadness?''Do I keep choosing to speak a word of forgiveness instead of a word of

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-37224201018144488972009-02-06T09:15:00.021+07:002009-02-06T09:57:36.560+07:00

It's been a while since I last wrote on my blog. But tonight I am prompted to do so after I read a prayer request below from one of our Ratanak reps who has been in Cambodia over the last couple of months. Here is her prayer request below:We were at Rahab House, a converted brothel in Svay Pak. We went to visit the Bible/worship program they have there for the community children 2 afternoons a

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-55231477348312463972008-12-04T09:48:00.027+07:002008-12-13T11:27:36.664+07:00

Last night as I sit at my computer I was in shock and disbelief at what I read. My eyes filled with tears but not tears of sadness but tears of joy knowing what a great God we serve. He indeed is the God of the Impossible who can find a needle in a haystack. He is a God who hears the prayers of a man, my fellow ministry partner and the founder of the Ratanak Foundation Brian McConaghy who for

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-757325834712322172008-11-22T03:27:00.006+07:002008-11-22T03:49:46.366+07:00

Child Sex Slaves--- 3 words that do not belong in the same sentence and yet this unthinkable and horrible travesty not only exists but it is thriving and growing. Today, there are over 1 million children who enter the sex trade each year. In Cambodia, girls may be sold into sex slavery as young as five! The "old" girls are 11-13 years old! Torture and violence are a girl’s daily companions. She

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-31010459366878313252008-11-15T23:35:00.005+07:002008-11-15T23:57:41.985+07:00

These past few weeks there has been so much going on in my mind. When I think of all the planning and logistics of the upcoming conference in January, when I think of my spiritual daughters in Cambodia and the pain and trauma they are dealing with, when I think of a good friend who was ministering to these little ones and now she herself is going through physical suffering that has resulted in

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-32505193293372046602008-10-17T09:17:00.003+07:002008-10-17T09:22:13.745+07:00

In 2003 Dateline NBC went undercover with International Justice Mission (IJM) and did a raid on a brothel in Svay Pak. Today that brothel has ben converted to a community outreach centre called Rahab house. The place where our team did our VBS this past July. Four of the girls who were rescued from that raid back in 2003 are featured in an update on that documentary called 'Children For Sale.'

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-29394518361932706632008-08-25T22:40:00.027+07:002008-08-26T02:05:30.473+07:00

A typical scene outside Rahab House after the daily VBSIt has been a few weeks since we have returned from our trip to Cambodia and on behalf of the team thank you for all your prayer support and the many ways you have encouraged us. When I reflect upon our experiences and think of all the prayers that were offered up on our behalf the words from 1 Thessalonians 5:24 come to mind: The One who

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-48159170340283135892008-08-05T21:06:00.000+07:002008-08-05T21:07:16.137+07:00

It’s been just over 2 days since we arrived back ‘home’ but I’m reminded of a comment one of my missionary friends said to me many years ago. “We can leave a place physically but we have not left it emotionally.” I am here in Canada but my heart is not here. I am not ready to talk to anyone except those who have been on the trip. It is normal to feel this way---to want to re-live the ups and

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-53982985635150702352008-07-13T06:28:00.004+07:002008-07-13T06:30:55.171+07:00

I've been up since 3am this morning ---I would like to think its the jeg lag but given that we went to sleep at 7pm, I think I have had way more sleep than my body is used to :-). it's almost 6am here and my roommate is asleep so i'm typing this from the bathroom! :-) That's probably TMI (Too much info) for some of you but alas, this is the fun of being flexible on a missions trip...you do the

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-9164515290976945682008-07-11T00:37:00.002+07:002008-07-11T00:38:00.254+07:00

We leave late this evening at 11:35pm enroute to Hong Kong before we touch down in Phnom Penh on Sat morning. I'm running on a bit of adrenalin at the moment having averaged around 5 hours a sleep for the past few nights. Last night I was down to 4 hours but am not too worried. The way I see it is that I'm preparing myself for the time change. God has been so gracious each night in sustaining me

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-65099643063336220282008-06-28T00:41:00.007+07:002008-06-28T00:52:57.324+07:00

I read this definition from a recent devotion by Ravi Zacharias. The definition comes from the famed archbishop William Temple: “Worship is the submission of all of our nature to God. It is the quickening of the conscience by his holiness; the nourishment of mind with his truth; the purifying of imagination by his beauty; the opening of the heart to his love; the surrender of will to his purpose-

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-23910488325182314752008-06-26T02:17:00.007+07:002008-06-26T21:13:28.525+07:00

Eight years have passed since my first visit to Cambodia in 2000 and as I prepare for my 7th trip from July 10th to August 2nd, God has brought to mind the same verse He gave me on that initial trip. Philippians 3:10 says “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death. Over the years, as I had the

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-71092581141296871542008-06-05T02:36:00.006+07:002008-11-15T14:17:10.923+07:00

A few weeks ago I had the wonderful privilege and pleasure to go on a brief holiday to Honolulu, Hawaii. It was a nice break from the hustle and bustle of Toronto life and an opportunity to enjoy the beauty of God’s creation. Hawaii indeed at least the parts I saw felt like heaven on earth. One of the places we visited is the Lyon Arboretum. I had never even heard of the word ‘arboretum’ before

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-64118175286325593712008-05-30T21:08:00.008+07:002008-05-30T21:27:26.183+07:00

Psalm 103:6 says: The LORD works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.Since the beginning of May many of us both in Canada and the U.S as well as friends in Cambodia have been praying that justice and truth would prevail. As I think of the verse from Psalm 103:6, I praise God and thank Him that He will work justice for all the oppressed. That He is mighty to save and deliver and twart

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-80806948957534623232008-04-29T00:38:00.003+07:002008-04-29T01:05:38.331+07:00

Proverbs 18:24 says: A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Two years ago when God gave me the opportunity to share at my home church about the issue of child sex slavery and our response as followers of Jesus Christ, there in the audience was a husband of two young girls. Subsequent to that sharing, he contacted me and sent me a hand

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-29308217098682338182008-04-15T23:41:00.003+07:002008-04-15T23:45:36.324+07:00

These past few weeks I wished I had more hours in a day but then again I remember that God only needed 24 hours so why do I think I need more! There has been so much happening and in all of these wonderful activities it is so easy to focus on the ministry and not on the relationship. Henry Blackaby once said that we need to keep examining the quality of our love relationship with Jesus. I value

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-19249807750801751952008-04-10T23:10:00.004+07:002008-04-10T23:20:05.967+07:00

This morning I have woken with a bitter sweet taste in my mouth. I had to journey these thoughts to process my own feelings and what is going on within my spirit. This journey to Slay the Giant and end child sex slavery takes me through various paths with many unexpected twists and turns and yet I know that it is He who is charting the course and equipping me and teaching me as I go along with

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-79359532842492117432008-03-15T06:21:00.004+07:002008-03-15T06:35:36.250+07:00

Today I received this wonderful quote from Dr. Phyllis Kilbourn in her Easter Newsletter:“There will never be an act of love so pure or triumph so celebrated as the humility of the cross and the miracle of the empty tomb.”Father as we are in this season of Lent and Easter is approaching may your act of love on the cross, once again be captured in our hearts that we too would reflect Your love in

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-70660182070665620562008-02-09T23:22:00.000+07:002008-02-09T23:26:32.377+07:00

Sovereign God,Your cause, not my own, engages my heart,and I appeal to you with greatest freedomto set up your kingdom in every place where Satan reigns;Glorify yourself and I shall rejoice,for to bring honor to your name is my sole desire.I adore you that you are Godand long that others should know it, feel it and rejoice in it.O that all people might love and praise you;that you might have all

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-7207463199895337722008-02-09T23:15:00.000+07:002008-02-09T23:22:03.664+07:00

Missionfest 2008 – Making A Difference, please see: http://www.missionfest.org/FRIDAY MARCH 7, 2008 MISSIONFEST MASTER SEMINARS ON JUSTICEJustice for Children at Risk - Speaker: Faith Goodman Friday March 7, 2:30pm in P. Berton Room This is a panel discussion on justice issues concerning children. Moderator: Lorna Dueck, Listen Up TVRev. John Niles, Senior Minister, St. Andrews United Church,

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-29199034924984139762008-02-05T10:31:00.000+07:002008-02-09T23:15:40.865+07:00

I can't believe how time has flown and its been such a while since I last wrote on my blog. Today is one of those days when I can barely contain myself as I see God is once again on the move and He has been so gracious to reveal glimpses of fruit that He has planted in peoples lives who either attended the Slaying The Giant Conference last September 2007 or the Seek Justice conference in 2006.One

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-61149031381242199742007-12-26T01:44:00.000+07:002007-12-26T01:47:03.804+07:00

Happy Birthday Jesus! Thank you that you are the gift that keeps on giving. There is no one else or no other gift that we can ever find true satisfaction in. Oh Father will this truth be borne and engraved deep within my soul, my heart and my mind. On this Blessed Day, I am reminded that without you, I do not have life—You are the air I breathe, the wind beneath my wings, the light in my darkness

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-84238063313094749782007-11-16T23:12:00.000+07:002007-11-16T23:14:28.334+07:00

Jesus is the Hungry-to be fedJesus is the Thirsty-to be satiatedJesus is the Naked-to be clothedJesus is the Homeless-to be taken inJesus is the Lonely-to be lovedJesus is the Unwanted-to to wantedJesus is the Leper-to wash his woundsJesus is the Beggar-to give him a smileJesus is the Drunkard-to listen to himJesus is the Mental-to protect himJesus is the Little One-to embrace himJesus is the

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-71038698597349636142007-11-08T00:14:00.000+07:002007-11-08T00:17:01.481+07:00

Testimony of Sharon Cohn, International Justice Mission (IJM)Before the House Foreign Affairs CommitteeThursday, October 18, 2007 Thank you, Chairman Lantos and Representative Ros-Lehtinen for holding this important hearing on slavery and trafficking, and for inviting me to testify. My name is Sharon Cohn, and I serve as the Senior Vice President of Justice Operations at the

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-89944660292580883702007-10-29T03:39:00.000+07:002008-11-15T14:17:11.937+07:00

One of my friends took us to visit a Vietnamese village located along the Tonle Sap river. The conditions they live in are deplorable as they are stateless with no legal rights. On our recent trip, I had the opportunity to visit one of the nearby villages that is close to Phnom Penh. In seeing first hand the living environments of so many who are poor, I am truly amazed at the resilience of the

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-33791596031000835002007-10-29T03:19:00.000+07:002008-11-15T14:17:12.249+07:00

Okay those of you who know me, know that I am a meat lover so on my recent trip to Cambodia in August, my travelling companion took some interesting shots. Just thought I'd share a couple of protein based photos for fun. Hope you enjoy them. The first photo is pretty self explanatory and the second photo, well these are pigs (in disguise) going to the market!

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-85714168908290470682007-10-27T02:29:00.000+07:002007-10-27T02:36:38.252+07:00

Today I had lunch with an ex-colleague of mind. He and I typically try and meet every Friday to discuss the bible and how it applies to our lives. God has given me the privilege of sewing into his life when he used to work here and over the past year there has been a quite a transformation as the Holy Spirit has gotten hold of him. He and his wife and kids first visited my church earlier this

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-31107566085373679022007-10-09T08:10:00.000+07:002007-10-09T08:05:29.145+07:00

God never ceases to surprise me in how He can transform peoples heart. A couple years ago I met a younger sister in Christ who is 5 years my junior. Some times you meet people and there is that kind of bond or connection that you know something significant is going to come off this friendship but you have no idea what it will be. Such was the encounter I had after having an unexpected dinner with

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-15162560252820706562007-10-08T10:25:00.000+07:002007-10-08T10:52:12.590+07:00

It's been over a month since I've had a chance to update my blog. So much has happened in these past few weeks that I have not had enough time to process and to reflect. Have you ever had those times in your life when you feel like you have just been 'Martha' --- so busy doing, doing and doing and you know you need to be 'Mary' but the endless to do list and certain situations require that you

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-83855648572485393392007-09-06T21:26:00.000+07:002007-09-07T02:46:33.552+07:00

Have you ever woke with a new song in your heart? I don't mean the you wake up with a tune in your head although that happen to me a few weeks ago. Rather, you wake up with a deep desire to just praise and worship the Lord. This morning was one of those rare moments and I mean rare as I don't typically wake up before my 5am morning alarm but there I was at 4:20am in the morning wide eyed and felt

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-65318062793325298052007-09-06T09:28:00.000+07:002007-09-06T09:40:51.884+07:00

It's been 2 days since I've been back home and God has amazingly given me a fresh level of energy. I arrived back at 10pm on Monday evening and went to sleep at around 1:30am. Yesterday morning I awoke at around 9am and spent the initial morning unpacking and doing my laundry before meeting a friend for lunch. The Lord has been faithful in answering prayers as I have not suffered any jet lag at

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-78238135198066966732007-09-03T11:10:00.000+07:002007-09-03T11:20:40.255+07:00

I am sitting at the airport typing one last message from Cambodia. It is morning here and I have tried to stay awake as much as I could all night. It was a rather busy time as one of my young friends from TLC texted message me while we were in Kep and asked wanted to see us one more time before we left. So we went over to visit for a brief stay. Saying goodbye to them I just told each of them

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-22520787492179940372007-09-03T02:14:00.001+07:002007-09-03T02:59:36.253+07:00

On Friday morning we left for Kep a small seaside resort that is not quite on the main tourist list as yet. Kep is located in the south of Cambodia on the Gulf of Thailand. It is about 3 hours drive from Phnom Penh and as we headed into the rural areas it is an opportunity to see the plush green rice paddy fields intermingled with little villages and markets that dot the route to Kep. What I

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-88098160112927575972007-08-30T22:48:00.001+07:002007-08-30T22:57:41.027+07:00

Today has been a busy day starting with a 7am breakfast with Marie Ens at Rescue. We had breakfast at Hagar's Catering which is a ministry founded by YWAM many years ago. Hagar's catering hires women who were once in the sex trade and gives them 6 months training in their catering school. The restaurant provides western food and the Director Frank Wood who knows Marie came over to chat with us

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-57308534760080903362007-08-29T21:28:00.000+07:002007-08-29T21:44:17.250+07:00

This morning we headed out on a two hour drive to visit Kampong Chnnang as Pastor Sok & Savy Em who used to oversee the Toronto Cambodian Alliance church are now serving the Lord full time here in Cambodia. Our group went to prayer walk in their community and also it was great to go on a follow up visit to see the completion of the Tahas Bible Institute that Pastor Sok and others have established

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-56842395915699035252007-08-29T17:35:00.001+07:002007-08-29T17:41:14.110+07:00

Many of you may recall that the NewSong centre is named after two girls. One is Nhu and the other Sung who is still missing. Nhu is now in a centre that is run by another Christian organization and she has the opportunity to go to school, learn English and also teach other girls at that centre beautician skills. We were not sure if we would see Nhu on this trip as our schedule has been quite busy

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-68098517599182808522007-08-29T16:46:00.000+07:002007-08-29T17:34:37.376+07:00

Tuesday was a long day so no time to blog. Our friend Kim who is an international worker here with the C&MA came to pick us up. She was sent out by our church and is now serving here ministering to the Vietnamese community as part of New Hope Ministries. She picked us up at 8am and off we went to her home. Every month Kim has a bible study for the Vietnamese kids who used to attend New Hope

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-26706240256013795582007-08-27T21:56:00.000+07:002007-08-27T22:01:21.028+07:00

Last year when I was visiting Cambodia, three of my travel partners gave me a silver ring with a pearl in the center as a thank you gift. Knowing my heart for girls who are sexually exploited they shared that whenever I would wear the ring, may it remind me of how God views each of these young girls---as precious treasures in His sight. So this year before I left home, another friend gave me a

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-6168577146484189582007-08-27T10:19:00.000+07:002007-08-27T10:37:13.763+07:00

Sunday night we invited our young friends from TLC along with their caregivers for dinner at a restaurant called Heng Ly on the riverfront crossing over on the Japanese bridge to the other side of the Mekong river. We arrived at their home at around 5:30pm and were greeted with the usual hugs. Hanging around them, we feel like one big happy family like the Brady bunch. They were all dressed in

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-86127099163380969822007-08-27T08:41:00.001+07:002007-08-27T09:07:48.488+07:00

This past Saturday we went to visit Place of Rescue AIDS Centre & Orphanage. Coming back to Rescue every year is always a wonderful reminder of the hope we have in Christ. Marie Ens at 73 years old continues to inspire me to live a life fully for Christ and epitomizes what Eugene Peterson once said 'a long obedience in the same direction.'Rescus's ministry has expanded over the years. It

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-19699766881665822942007-08-25T07:59:00.000+07:002007-08-25T08:19:23.087+07:00

Friday afternoon we dropped by to visit our young friends at Newsong. The last visit here we forgot to buy some of the wonderful pearl necklaces and key chains they made. The girls get a $1.00 for each item they make and they save it as part of their monthly allowance. It teaches them the value of earning and saving as Cambodia has received so much donor money that inherent in the culture here is

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-86130946179918605302007-08-25T07:14:00.000+07:002007-08-25T07:56:29.890+07:00

Today we spent some time with Trevor who runs Yejj. Trevor is an entrepreneur whom God has used here to set up some amazing opportunities for young people. Ratanak recently funded a new program that Yejj started called the Yejj Hospitality Training Centre. It provides training in hygiene, cookery, housekeeping and English skills, to up to 180 students per year, so that they have access to

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-40479128432057253502007-08-24T07:26:00.001+07:002007-08-24T08:04:38.463+07:00

Thursday was a fairly quiet day as it was one really spent praying with different people that are living here. I had the privilege of meeting an 'old friend' who returned to Cambodia a few years ago. He exudes such humility and yet God has placed him in a role that carries significant influence. He is a man after God's own heart seeking to bring transformation at leadership levels and

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-74448130327103939802007-08-23T07:34:00.001+07:002007-08-23T07:59:54.942+07:00

After the visit at Newsong, our partner Don takes us to Svay Pak. It is the modern day Sodom and Gomorrah that is about a 25 minute car ride from the city and is notorious for its brothels. A few years ago, IJM (International Justice Mission) did a raid here. The government has been under pressure to close Svay Pak down but the reality is the illicit sex trade for under age minors is still

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-37493569160235079512007-08-23T07:16:00.000+07:002007-08-23T07:33:22.334+07:00

Tuesday afternoon we went to the Newsong centre and had lunch with the girls. There are 34 girls there now, almost at full capacity and up from the 16 that were first there when I visited last year. One of the girls I met last year, Sopheak (not her real name) comes over to greet me and we sit together on this long table and eat our lunch---my favorite dish called Lok Lak---a stewed meat with

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-84137546584441745682007-08-22T08:58:00.000+07:002007-08-22T09:39:37.506+07:00

Last night I went to TLC on my own and spent a couple hours with the my young friends and their caregivers. I took some nail polish as for the girls as they are at the age where external beauty takes on a greater focus. I suppose they are no different than any other teenagers I know. A few of them were wearing the T-Shirts we gave them from Canada with matching headbands and pearl bracelets.I

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-16886380574570684372007-08-22T08:41:00.000+07:002007-08-22T08:57:45.887+07:00

Tuesday morning we spent with Helen who oversees Chab Dai one of the partners that Ratanak funds. Helen and her family have lived in Cambodia for 8 years and has been involved in training and equipping churches and villages to become more aware of child sex trafficking. She is a woman who has a wealth of knowledge through her various experiences here and was responsible for establishing Chab Dai,

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-90307025164791475142007-08-21T06:19:00.000+07:002007-08-21T07:00:09.098+07:00

It's Tuesday morning here but I can't sleep. I've been up since 5am this morning as my mind has wondered to the events of the night before. My friends Cathy, Shannon and I first went to the Newsong centre to chat with Don, one of our partners. We will be spending most of the Wed afternoon at Newsong and also will visit Svay Pak --the brothel area that was 'apparently shut down'. More on that on

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-86484217533030360842007-08-20T09:24:00.000+07:002007-08-20T09:57:55.591+07:00

It's Monday morning here and the last two days have been quite relaxing. I think the Lord is teaching me to slow down and just be still before Him. It's so easy to come here and pick up with the activity oriented mindset that we have in North America to maximize every moment here by being 'busy'with meetings etc but its been nice just to rest and slow down. Yesterday we went to New Jerusalem

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-22650268389496846352007-08-19T08:01:00.001+07:002007-08-19T08:25:46.060+07:00

Crossing over the dateline and losing 1 day can be tiring at best but I am thankful to all who have been praying. I took a different flying route using Cathay Pacific and we went over Anchorage to Hong Kong before touching down in Phnom Penh. The flight over was fairly quick and thankfully I had a good sleep on the plane despite the fact the seats seem smaller in size and the leg room much

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-5494548038141625982007-08-16T20:22:00.000+07:002007-08-16T20:49:20.304+07:00

Tonight I leave for Cambodia with a friend for just over a 2 1/2 week stay. This morning I got a surprise email that a good friend from Singapore will join us for the latter part of the trip. I'm excited that she can come as she has and her husband are such prayer warriors and their home has often been a place of refuge and refreshment for me after my time in Cambodia. I am grateful to God as He

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-82696490395802667402007-08-13T08:38:00.001+07:002007-08-13T08:43:09.926+07:00

This year marks my 6th trip to Cambodia on what will continue to be an annual journey until the Lord says ‘no’ or until He says ‘go permanently.’ Last year, some of you may recall, I traveled with a team of 7 others to visit various projects that the Ratanak Foundation supports. This year, I am excited to have a young friend from church, Shannon Fitzsimmons who will be accompanying me as the

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-58327023532916626892007-07-30T07:41:00.001+07:002007-07-30T08:06:03.402+07:00

On Saturday September 29, 2007, The Ratanak Foundation is sponsoring a conference called Slaying The Giant: Ending Child Sexual Exploitation. We invite all those who are living in the GTA and Ontario area to come and learn about this issue and how we can advocate and take action on behalf of those who have no voice! Below is an except from our brochure.Over 200 years ago William Wilberforce was

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-24755487208494439232007-06-30T21:32:00.000+07:002007-06-30T22:21:31.308+07:00

Over the years the Lord has used many different books to speak to my heart besides His most precious word --The Bible. Recently, our pastor and the staff members of my church in various discussions would often mention a book called Emotionally Healthy Spirituality written by Peter Scazzero. Of course I'm always on the look out for good books to read and so whenever my pastor mentions books, I

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-11886466506855701162007-06-20T00:25:00.000+07:002007-06-20T00:28:10.169+07:00

A dear intercessor friend at church sent me this earlier today which I couldn't resist posting. "For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord." Romans 8:38,39 You Raise Me UpWords and

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-63727691732749140092007-06-12T08:31:00.000+07:002007-06-12T08:35:42.216+07:00

It never ceases to amaze me how God has a way of orchestrating our lives to meet with people who inspire us to higher heights on our Christian journey. One such person is Reaksa Himm. It was about 2 or 3 years ago when one of my friends mentioned to a lady at my church about my interest in Cambodia. This precious lady Marg gave me a book to read called ‘Tears of My Soul’ written by a young

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-17140721892999060552007-06-09T02:12:00.000+07:002007-06-09T02:14:11.579+07:00

by Jon Walker“Stand your ground, putting on the sturdy belt of truth and the body armor of God's righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News, so that you will be fully prepared. In every battle you will need faith as your shield to stop the fiery arrows aimed at you by Satan. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-58089609654418907112007-06-09T02:07:00.000+07:002007-06-09T02:09:43.829+07:00

Isaiah 41:8 - 10 "But you, O Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, you descendants of Abraham my friend, I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, 'You are my servant'; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-91905011101364840732007-05-31T03:01:00.000+07:002007-05-31T08:26:18.789+07:00

In Matthew 18:5, Jesus says "And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. It was in January 2003 when I first laid eyes on my little friend. She was just 3 months old, small in stature despite being born full term. At the time of her birth she barely weighed 4 lbs. Her premature development was not related to being born in some 3rd world country but rather to the

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-1175875485562516472007-04-06T23:03:00.000+07:002007-04-06T23:15:52.703+07:00

Who will be the modern day William Wilberforces in our generation that will speak up for the modern day slavery of child sex slaves? This is a question I ask myself. God let us not sit silent and by our silence perpetuate the evil that is done to children who You have created in your image. I attach a recent true story of a young girl whose life eptimozes the struggle and suffering of so many in

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-1175562886953549072007-04-03T08:06:00.000+07:002007-04-03T08:14:46.973+07:00

These are just some of my notes from the key note Speaker: Dr. Phyllis KilbournChildren At Risk – March 9 2007 (Anaheim, California)How should compassion shape our ministry? Compassion is a matter of the heart and not of the intellect. Unless the church begins to have moral outrage at the atrocities being done to children, unless the church begins to get angry enough to respond, nothing will

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-1175561291268823622007-04-03T07:42:00.000+07:002007-04-03T08:05:40.133+07:00

Boy time has flown. I can't believe the last time I blogged was on Christmas day. We are now in April and I wish I had more time to keep this blog up to date but it just seems that there are more pressing things to do. At any rate, today is Monday --- my sabbath day where I intentionally do not have any thing planned in the evening so that I can do whatever I feel like. It seems a perfect

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-1167070758836599082006-12-26T00:59:00.000+07:002006-12-26T01:19:18.863+07:00

Happy Birthday Jesus! This Christmas morning I awoke with the desire to list the names of Jesus as a I reminder of who He is to me and to the world!He is our Advocate (1 John 2:1)He is the Almighty (Revelation 1:8) – the all powerful, ruler of allHe is the Alpha and Omega (Revelation 1:8,17, 2:8, 21:6, 22:13)He is the Anointed One (John 1:41 & 4:25)He is the Author and Finisher of our Faith(

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-1165724172583147922006-12-10T11:02:00.000+07:002006-12-10T11:16:12.596+07:00

Today I attended the funeral of one who holds a special place in my heart. Her funeral was truly a celebration of her life. I had opportunity to share a brief memoir of what I remembered of my beloved Auntie Thora who died at 89 years old this past Tuesday December 5th. Having not had the opportunity to experience the blessings of grandparents since they all died either before I was born or a few

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-1164900676802561942006-11-30T22:30:00.000+07:002006-11-30T22:31:16.820+07:00

Living in a fantasyWhile all the worlds in miseryThe East became a place of strifeBut here we lead an easy life.Ah! The agony and suffering,The wars, the famines – everythingDisease and bloodshed – all are rifeIn the Asian, African, ordinary life.And parents lose their sense of driveWhen their children die before age five.Many look to the ugly knifeTo end their miserable, hopeless life.When a

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-1160680348192906842006-10-13T02:03:00.000+07:002006-10-13T02:12:28.210+07:00

This past weekend I had the privilege of sharing at 3 services at my home church about how our lives can intersect with the lives of those who are oppressed and what we can do to respond to breaking the chains of oppression. My main desire was that people would see God’s heart through what I shared and that it would be His words that would touch people. I was completely overwhelmed by the

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-1160435295170584662006-10-10T06:03:00.000+07:002006-10-10T06:08:15.176+07:00

Today I received an article from one of my favorite authors, John Piper. I thought I would repost it here on my blog as a reminder to myself about comparing to others. I hope you enjoy it.John 21:18-22After his resurrection from the dead, Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved him. He answered yes three times. Then Jesus told Peter how he would die—apparently by crucifixion. Peter wondered

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-1160434579012749172006-10-10T05:52:00.000+07:002006-10-10T05:56:19.026+07:00

Today is the Thanksgiving holiday in Canada. It is nice to get this extra day just to rest but this morning as I awoke and lay in bed I began to think of all the things I was thankful to God for. So often in our busy lives we do not take the time to stop and reflect on God’s goodness to us. I wonder if we did this on a more regular basis whether our hearts would be filled with more gratitude and

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-1159816501362266602006-10-03T02:07:00.000+07:002006-10-03T02:15:01.376+07:00

Last Friday Sept, 29th I went with a bunch of friends to see Anne Graham Lotz, Billy Graham’s daughter speak at The Just Give Me Jesus revival event that was being held here in Toronto. It was an evening event and it was an opportunity for all the women to bring their friends and associates to hear the gospel the first night. The arena was practically full with over 19,000 women and a scattering

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-1159386015993378652006-09-28T02:25:00.000+07:002006-09-28T02:53:10.606+07:00

As we were on our way back to Phnom Penh after 6 hours driving back from Siem Reap and Kampong Cham, the beauty of God's creation enfolded before our eyes. Here are a few of the sights as the sun was setting.

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-1159374824214799322006-09-27T23:26:00.000+07:002006-09-27T23:33:51.766+07:00

Dear Family & FriendsAs I reflect on my 5th trip to Cambodia, I realized how easy it is to become discouraged and weighed down by all the challenges in this nation. Feeling hopeless and overwhelmed is a constant temptation if one is not intentional about keeping their focus on Christ. Yet, my time in Cambodia was once again an opportunity to step into the River of God and to see Him give life and

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-1158950685260537282006-09-23T01:27:00.000+07:002006-09-23T01:44:45.333+07:00

As part of my 1 month silent retreat from my trip to Cambodia I've been spending the time reading, reflecting and researching. Despite the physical and mental fatigue from these annual trips, I love this 'down time' that I have to be quiet and sit still before the One who knows my thoughts even before I speak them out. This month of 'silence' has often been one in which I encounter more insights

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-1157201792324295962006-09-02T19:43:00.000+07:002006-09-02T19:56:32.326+07:00

Today we decided to change our plans a bit and stopped into Kampong Cham to meet Diane Moss who works at Sunrise an AIDs hospice. The hospice is the home of 6 female AIDS patients who are cared for by 4 caregivers. What is encouraging is the 120 volunteers that the hospice has from 19 different Khmer churches in Kampong Cham. Truly it is refreshing to see the body of Christ be united this way. We

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-1157103699764557522006-09-01T16:15:00.000+07:002006-09-01T16:41:40.336+07:00

We returned today after spending 2 nights in Poipet. The journey there took us 5 hours by road and when I mean 'road' I do not mean 'paved road' but rather a red clay path that was filled with many pot holes. It was probably the most bumpiest ride I have ever had in my life but I'm glad that we went there. We had a wonderful time with Khmer missionaries...an amazing husband and wife team who have

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-1156850037537165242006-08-29T18:11:00.000+07:002006-08-29T18:13:57.550+07:00

We arrived in Siem Reap on Sunday and yesterday (Monday) we went to visit some of the temples at Angkar Wat for the whole day. It was quite an impressive array of man's ingenuity to build all these temples and the intricacy in which the carvings of many legends and folklore associated with Hinduism and BUddhism. Yet after a few stories I found myself tuning out not from physical fatigue but

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-1156556666697517872006-08-26T08:30:00.000+07:002006-08-26T08:44:26.733+07:00

On Friday morning our team got invited to meet the folks of CCAM - Cambodian Christian Arts Ministry. It was started by two women---one Khmer and the other an American...they are now both in their late 60s who met in the U.S. Their vision began in the early 1980s to use Khmer traditional arts (music, drama, dance, visual arts and literature) as vehicles for evangelism, church training and worship

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-1156502123525071702006-08-25T17:08:00.000+07:002006-08-25T17:35:23.540+07:00

As I sit there today at this internet cafe I am mindful of the fact that this is one of the things on my 'daily'to do list. While it is less a priority, I know I need to update the journal otherwise it is easy to forget what I see and hear as we move from one meeting to the next. Over the past few days as I have sat and listened to many of God's laborers in Cambodia one of the common threads that

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-1156417179283762122006-08-24T17:55:00.000+07:002006-08-24T17:59:39.296+07:00

Today half of us went to visit Pastor Sok & Savy Em in Kampong Chnang. The ride was beautiful as we see all the green hue of the rice paddies. The colors are so vibrant and the road is less crowded as we leave Phnom Penh to these more rural areas. Sok and Savy are setting up a bible training center for pastors in the Kampong Chnang area. Pastor Sok and Savy used to be the pastors at the Toronto

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-1156416328753011682006-08-24T17:44:00.000+07:002006-08-24T17:45:28.756+07:00

After spending the morning at Place of Rescue and then visiting Nhu we headed to a restaurant near the waterfront for dinner. It was such a day filled with much joy and hope but that didn't lasted long when we were jolted back to the realities of the darkness that pervades this place. After having a wonderful dinner with good fellowship we were leaving the restaurant and as I passed by one of the

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-1156416220502704182006-08-24T17:42:00.000+07:002006-08-24T17:43:40.516+07:00

There are a few times in my life when I have the opportunity to meet someone I have read about--someone whom the Lord has used to awaken a sleeping vision that He had placed in my heart some 15 years ago. Many of you have heard of the NewSong project named after two Vietnamese girls Nhu and Sung. On Tuesday afternoon I had the opportunty to meet and see Nhu. She works in a salon here Phnom Penh.

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-1156331807358317532006-08-23T18:12:00.000+07:002006-08-23T18:16:47.380+07:00

Monday Aug 21/06 We planned on visiting both Tuol Sleng and the Killing Fields today but only made it to Tuol Sleng as the Killing Fields have been flooded due to the large amount of rain that has fallen here in recent times. This is the 3rd time to visit this infamous S21 --- this former school known for its torture and brutality of many khmer. For some reason during this visitI had the

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-1156066032360481602006-08-20T16:09:00.000+07:002006-08-20T16:46:56.576+07:00

Well, we arrived yesterday August 19th after taking a 25 hour flight that saw us fly from Toronto to Vancouver to Seoul before landing in Singapore for a 9 hour layover before flying out to Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Our 15 pieces of luggage arrived safely as well and we quickly settled into the OMF Team centre. For some reason the flight seemed shorter this time as it went by quickly. Each time I

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-1155232473730750532006-08-11T00:41:00.000+07:002006-08-11T01:35:45.530+07:00

Dear Family & FriendsIt is that time of year when I once again head east on my 5th trip to Cambodia in what is becoming an annual pilgrimage as the Lord continues to open doors and opportunities for me to be connected with those who labour for Him in the ‘frontlines’ of that nation. I will be in Cambodia from August 17th till September 9th with a brief stopover in Singapore. What started out as a

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495265.post-1152113881984881162006-07-05T22:34:00.000+07:002006-07-05T22:50:10.213+07:00

It’s been just over two weeks when I had the privilege of coordinating a conference on Seeking Justice after 4 months of preparation. What an awesome time it was to encounter the Lord in way that I had never experienced before and to see Him answer prayers beyond our expectations. I remember sharing with a friend recently that it felt like my ‘wedding day’...strange analogy really since I have no

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236650157845482020noreply@blogger.com2