Here we are...last night.  What an incredible time of sharing with the Awesome, Amazing GraceWorks Cambodia Team!  Tim led a great time of worship to start us off and then we opened our hearts.  What a blessing this team has been to me!  Seeing the growth and bonding has been great. No drama...a blessing!  The leaders...gifts from God!  As I look to home tomorrow, I pray that I will keep this passion alive.  I pray that I keep sharing about this experience to share Christ with the people back home.  I pray that I look for opportunities everyday to push me to the edge of where I need to be..."Where I am weak and He is made strong." 2 Cor. 12:9b  "This is how God works.  He puts people in positions where they are desperate for his power, and then he shows his provisions in ways that display his greatness."  David Platt, RADICAL  That is where I want to be....

Debdeb

PS:  This is for Trevor...Bull, Llama, bull, llama, curious llama, dead llama...DEAD BEES!  :)

What a great trip. I was just asked to blog by the lovely Deb Bahr our wonderful leader. To be honest I'm not sure what to write here but all I know is that God likes to bring people around the world in order to use them to edify someone who lives within the same city and goes to the same church. So cool. I'm so happy to be with these people and make so many jokes as we joyfully serve Jesus and learn so much that we can't wait to get back and scream it to the world that our Savior is the one and only Jesus Christ. Prepare to be rocked Grace Baptist and Santa Clarita as these people come back with passion. I myself am moving to Chicago very soon and am slightly bummed to move simply because of the relationships I've made on this trip and the way I know they are going to continue in our Lord. So excited to see what goes down. Well I guess that's it. See you soon Mom and Dad if you're reading this! I miss you.

 

Raber Sutton

p.s. I'm sweating so much just sitting here typing. Br00tal.

Hello family and friends!  Well here we are back at the RDI Base again!  Students are all doing well and resting now.  We have had a very busy week in so many ways!!!  Manual labor, playing with children non-stop, and incredible relationships with the Khmer staff and each other!  God is doing amazing things in these students lives and hearts...pray for them as they prepare to re-enter American Culture.  Pray that their hearts will forever be changed and their focus defined. Pray that they will find every opportunity to share this trip with the people that touch their lives.  They have been an amazing team to work with!  So very proud of them!!!  There will be some new blogs tomorrow.  We just got finished with some amazing team times....off to bed now.  We will be working here on the base tomorrow morning, lunch and then off to the Russian Market.  Love and miss you all!

 Debdeb

I long to dwell under your blanket of comfort, to be completely covered and immersed with your imminent glory. To rest my weary head upon your broad shoulder.  I am so insignificant, yet you intricately think about me every single day every single moment.  Why me? My rock and my redeemer?  I continually and consistently spit in the very face of your Son and my Savior Christ Jesus when I choose to partake in this world has to offer which is death.  Yet , you long for me to ask for forgiveness because you eagerly desire to forgive my transgressions.  I am unworthy of salvation, of your love and of your forgiveness.  Yet you regard me as a part of a chosen generation, a royal priesthood and a holy nation. 

-Holy Spirit

In the midst of chaos, I will stand my ground.

I will fight till my last breath of earthly life exits my dying body.

I will strive to be a soldier of the army of the immortal, as a warrior of the kingdom of heaven.

To strive to fight the good faith whatever it takes.

I wlll continue and I will not stumble upon the traps set by Satan.

I wlll overcome all demonic oppresion by the power of my Savior Christ Jesus.

-Holy Spirit

God is doing some radd stuff in peoples lives over here.

-Stephen Sean Ryken

So the other night we all went to a fantastic, super  nice restaurant for dinner. Me and Deb ordered the cashew chicken for dinner. It was absolutely delicious until we both tried a dried red pepper at the same time. After eating it we immediately looked at each other in shock. After finishing our meal i started to feel really nauseous so i went to the bathroom. I couldn't stop burping and soon Deb came in to check on me and ended up accompanying me in a painful burping sesh. In between belches we would look at each  other and begin to laugh hysterically. Even though we both felt awful the whole night we were able to keep each other company in the midst of our embarrassing pain. It was a bonding time for sure as the B.G.'s (burping girls) headed back to our room where we are bunk buddies... As He has done countless times this trip, God worked through our uncomfortable situations to accomplish His will. It is such an amazing experience to be in this beautiful place and see God's hand at work through us! 

Love, Marissa F.

We are doing well and will post more later today.  Went to two churches, a russion market and a gathering.  Kids tired but doing well.  God is moving in the students hearts, all great attitudes.  So proud of them!  Great group of kids!  Love you all!

Deb

Today, like every day, i woke up and devoured Ming's amazing food in a matter of seconds... yes i am a beast and this food is epic. My goal today was the same as every day.. to finish my duties so i could be running, playing, laughing, and loving the kids of this village without wasting a single second. i love them so much more than i ever thought was possible, and i wish i could show them somehow... if i could stay here,, if i could bring them home.. anything i could do i would. So, i did whatever God allowed me, and eventually, every move i made was watched by twenty to thirty pairs of little cambodian eyes. Today was special because there was one little girl, about two or three years old, who kept completely stoic face no matter what i did. Eventually i had to give up because she literally would not smile, laugh tlk, ork budge her adorable little face. After playing for about an hour, i told the kids i'd be back and my team headed down the dirt road to pray over the people in the village. if only i could explain to you in this short amount of time how entranced i am by this culture. the people are exceiting, hospitable, loving, and so happy! As we prayed for each house and person we saw, i felt five miniature fingers wrap around my pinky. It was my little stoic baby :] she walked with me through the whole village and eventually she was babbling away and smiling and laughing, and has never left my side since. Even now, as i journal, she is sitting in my lap and i can barely breathe because the same 20 faces are watdching every word i write... they just dont know its all about them!!

i love you guys so much and cnt wait to see you!.. i have so many more exciting stories for you

love, britt

We have spent a week in Cambodia so far and i has been an amazing experience.  We visited the prison Toul Sleng and this time we had a chance to ask one of the 7 survivors questions about what he went through at the camp.  It really breaks your heart for the need that you see in the country.  One thing that gave me hope was that while working on the water tank we met a teacher at the school that is a christian.  It is proof that God is really working through different ministries in Cambodia.

Hello everyone!!! WOW. A lot has happened this week! First of all I have to say that I am totally healthy and have been since the plane ride so don't worry. No barfing ;) And second, I love and miss you all soo much! Aaaand lastly, HAPPY 14th BIRTHDAY RY-RY!!! Sorry I had to miss is twice in two years. Ok so, the thing I have learned this week is that I am totally lost without my bible. The story behind this is; the first day we got here we went to the mall in town, went to Tul Slang A.K.A. S21, then came back to base and had to rush and pack our things to go to a school where we would build two tanks. It was a craazy day! But anyways, in this whole process of running around everywhere and having to pack everything in a hurry I forgot to pack my bible to bring with me to the school. I had NO idea how much I would miss it. There were several times when i wished I could have opened up my bible and read something. I realized through this that when I am at home and I do have my bible I have SO many chances to pick up my bible and read it and SO many times when that is exactly what I need to do and I just don't. Through the experience of not having my bible for four days I have learned that it is such a huge change when I read my bible and get in the word to when I don't read my bible. For those four days I felt distanced and lost. I was reminded that God is amazing and I can't function without him.The last thing I want to share is today after we were done with the tank a group of girls took me by the hand and started decorating my hair with these beautiful flowers. They were treating me like a princess and even brought me food! The only thing I could think while they were doing this is how hungry they must be, yet they give me the food they have. It truly brought me to tears how genuine and loving these kids were even though I had just met them and I asked myself, "Is this how i am with God?". I realized that I am not this way with God and this is something I need to change. I need to give him ALL I have even if it means i will be hungry for a few minutes. I am SO glad i got the opportunity to go on this trip and I thank God with all my heart. Once again, I love and miss you all and I will see you all soon!                                <3, Tylie Roy

Dad-I miss you a ton. RJ reminds me of you a lot, which helps, but not enough:( I want to give you a HUGE hug right now. Mom-I'm use to seeing you everyday, and your absence makes it obvious of how much I need you around me. I love you. Ryan, Aidan, and Alyssia I'm around a bunch of other kids all day everyday, and they're awesome, but not one of them is like you guys:/ Ryan-I need to hang out with you. Alyssia-I miss what a sweet heart you are. You're posted up in your room most of the time being all creative, but when I see you it still feels you're 4 years old with a tiara and pink dress on. Man you're precious to me. AIDAN!-We've grown closer and closer this year. You better make me laugh hard when I get home. We're hanging out when I get home. You can bet your life on that. I love you all and can't wait to tell you about how God's working on this trip.

 

Love,

Ethan Espinosa

Today my team and i went to this school where we have been working on building a water tank to provide clean water for the schools and residents. There were several of us on the site so not all of us needed to be working so a few of us went to play with the kids. Now before i tell you my amazingly beautiful experience ill have to give you a brief explanation of what these kids have been like. Everyday they have been interacting with us and showing us the kind of love most of us don't see in a lifetime from anyone outside our family. They smile at us and love on us so much and even help us with some of the work! Most of them have nothing but in spirit they have much more than any of us could ever hope to have. They have the love of Jesus Christ in their hearts and they don't even know who He is. How can that be?? I have learned so much from them so far. Anyhow, today we played a little bit of tag and duck duck goose with them which they absolutely love! They have even learned to actually say the words!! Eventually I got up and they followed me and kept trying to tell me something. I got Zack, on of the translators, to help me figure out what they were saying. They wanted me to follow them somewhere so i did. They brought me to where some flowers were and about twenty or so kids started picking all these amazingly gorgeous flowers and putting them all in my hair and giving me these massive boquets of flowers! I was seriously in heaven on earth. I was overwhelmed with the love of these beautiful children as they showered me in their gifts from their heart. I then realized that i will most likely not experience anything that amazing until i get to heaven! Later on they also did the same thing to Tylie, Amara, and Naomie and we all just had an amazing time with them all. I feel so incredibly blessed to be here with these kids. We began to walk around with them all holding onto our hands, shirts, pants, and basically anything they could grab onto, and I just began to pray intensely for them that God would bring them salvation and free them from their poverty and their ways consumed by the worship of Budda. Before we were about to leave the sight Tylie, Naomi, and I just started crying. We did not want to leave the kids and although we will be returning to that site in a few days, once we leave Cambodia there is no telling if we will see them ever again or if they will even live to see another year of life. I pray that God will use me for the rest of this week to show these kids the love of Jesus Christ, for without Him i would not even be here loving on these kids. I miss my loved ones back home so so much but I know my purpose here is to serve these people in any way I can and i only have a short time left to do what God has for me to do here. I miss you Nanny and can't wait to see you and joke with you again. Tina and James thank you so much for your daily prayer. Mom and Dad, thank you for always being so encouraging and supporting and i hope i am and have been making you proud. Brennan, I love you and pray for you everyday and you are on my mind all the time. And to all my friends, thank you also for your prayer and loving support. I am so excited to see you and share with you all the ways God has worked in my life. Until i return, God bless and keep you all safe.

 Love Alway,

Emily Brache (Emmy)

Well lets see, Cambodia's amazing :). No sickness and first week is absolutely rockin!! Hi mom! Anyway lets get to the good stuff and the reason we're all alive: What God does :). This week God's been teaching me personally that he IS salvation, he is here. Just further rockin in my life that Jesus is the calling: to live like him. Absolutely to live a radical faith expressing himself through love! Absolutely amazing. But here's the deal, this is what God showed me today and I wrote it down in my journal :) Check it out :)

"July 23, 2010. 4:30 PM. RDI Base.

 'But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, That you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.' 1 Peter 2:9.

Never in the Bible does God or his apostles call our Christ-filled lives a walk in the park. On the contrary, The Bible calls our lives a constant war zone, an all out fight against Satan and the weapons he uses against us. When it truly comes down to it, our lives are meant for one thing: to fight to glorify God. We do this by absolutely living out 100% what the gospel says. Our calling in Galatians 5:6 is to live lives of faith expressing itself through love. Salvation is here, are we ready?

Now as I sit here at the pinnacle of the RDI camp, I ask myself if I am truly being a warrior of faith and love under Christ's banner? Are we as a chosen people proclaiming a radical message of love, hope, and grace to the ends of the Earth through service and love? One Hope, One Love: Jesus Christ. Will you take His calling?

Back Down or Step Up, Salvation is Here."

so basically this trip has been extremely different than last year.. we have been at a school since sunday night.. and i have to say it has been such an amazing struggle!!!!! its crazy... i have so much stuff to say...first i love everyone this group is beyond phemoninal!!! we have all bonded so so much!!! everyone is getting so close and it is a true blessing from God.. the kids at the school had so so much energy!!! they were precious!! and it has been hot... thats probably the biggest understatement of the year.. but the past few days have been amazing!! waking up in the school is always interesting.. right at this very moment i am listening to Justin Bieber and i can not begin to tell you how much it makes my heart happy... anyway, not really missing the states the only thing i really miss is my mom and dad (btw i texted you guys on Sua's phone) it has been so incredible to see everyone again!!! like date, sua, dine, da, ect. they are so amazing! and make you feel so comfortable!! i have been growing alot here... God has definitely been telling me this is what i need to be doing for the rest of my life!!! maybe not in cambodia but i definitely need to be out in the world sharing God's beautiful word every second i have.. its crazy cause when you walk by any temple or anything you begin to feel the evil and the worries of the world and just so sacred.. and in Psalm 91:11(i think its this verse) it states He has placed angels around us to protect us, which make me feel so much better.. and He does want us out there in the world and He equips us to be out in the world.. i have so much on my mind and im all over the place... but i know in my heart it is God's plan for me to be a missionary.. dang... well i have to say God is not done working yet... and we have only experienced the first week, i'm so ready for God to completely break us down and mold us to be more like Him, God is truly amazing... and i am whole heartily in love with HIM!   MOM AND DAD: i miss you guys!! i love you guys so much!! i havent lost anything!! my camera is accounted for!! i cant wait to see you guys!!! love you!    AlYsSa HaEuSsLeR

Hello from RDI Base in Cambodia!  We have definitely hit the ground running here!  We arrived here after traveling 30 hours and were taken to our remote school where we have been working the entire time.  We have been working on three tanks in various stages of construction.  The village children have been amazing at the schools.  We have been on prayer walks, arsenic testing teams and teaching about hygiene in the schools.  We have returned from the village for the weekend and are looking forward to a fun weekend.  We will be having as many students as possible blogging over the next few days.  We will get pictures up as we can...thanks for your patience!  Thanks for your prayers!  The students and staff are all doing great...no one sick...and that is amazing!  Great attitudes and servants hearts...God is good...ok...enough from me-let the blogging begin!

Debdeb

Well, after many hours of travel, we are finally here!  Made all our flights and rested well on the plane.  Just got finished visiting the Genocide Museum. The kids were moved and journaled their thoughts and feelings.  Very, very powerful couple of hours for all!!!  We are getting repacked and heading out to a remote school to work and teach.  We will not be able to blog again until maybe Friday.  Pray for our endurance as the students will need it as we will get right to work.  Pray for a well rested night as we will be sleeping at the school on cots.  We will building a well this week as well as teaching hygiene in the school to the students.  We are all well and love you all!!!  PS:  the weather is hot and humid...surprise?  WE are not:)  

 Thanks for all your prayers and we will blog again as soon as we can:)

Please pray for our team of 29 students and staff as we prepare our hearts to go to Cambodia and serve.  Also pray for the Cambodia people that we come into contact with that they will see Christ in us.  Thanks!