Sue Sudai :)

Hi Everyone!

Sue Sudai! (that's hello in Khmer, minus the correct spelling!)

I've been in Cambodia for a few days now, and it is simply incredible! I am so thankful to be here and meet all these wonderful people. Thank you so much for supporting me financially as well as with your prayers!
These past few days, we've started the VBS program at Logos International School, and it has been going great! The first two days, it didn't look like the crafts were going to work out, but they finally came together today :) It's a joy working with the kids! Also, today was our first day doing outreach to the community kids who can't afford to go to Logos, and it was great! At first, it was a bit awkward because of the language barrier, and they had some walls up because we're foreigners, but as we smiled and played with them, and went swimming together, you could see the walls come down bit by bit, and by the end of the afternoon, we were laughing together (I was their prime target for splashing haha). It's been awesome meeting people who are working here, their lives a living testimony. It's been so encouraging, and at the same time, challenging. Although I'm teaching here, I am learning so much!

On a side note, as soon as we stepped out of the airport, I saw a tuk-tuk, and I immediately loved it and wished I could ride it. I was so glad to find out that our mode of transportation for the majority of the trip is with a tuk-tuk! :D It's a motorcycle that pulls a wagon-type seating thing (hard to describe!). It's so much fun, provides a much-needed breeze, and you get up close and personal with the traffic (everyone rides on a "moto" -motorcycle). When I get back, I'll definately post up some pictures, as well as some videos of the chaos of navigating the streets :)

On Monday and Tuesday, we basically got a crash course in Khmer language and culture. I have to admit, as much as I know a few languages, this one was so challenging! I was probably one of the worst ones on my team! The guys picked it up very quickly. However, on the second day, it was better. I've had a great time practicing on the tuk-tuk drivers and the community kids. :) Hopefully by the end of our time here, I'll be able to string a sentence or carry a conversation. haha!

Please keep me and my team on your minds, and please lift us up with these things:
>the kids we are in contact with every day at VBS
>our outreach in the afternoons with the community kids
>the workers who are already here
>for us to pick up the language quickly
>for strength for each day

I hope to update you all next week or the week after! It's pretty much go-go-go on these trips! Hope you're all doing well :)

-Anna

``I`m Leaving on a Jet Plane..``

Hi Everyone!

Tomorrow, me and my team will be boarding a plane! We`ll be flying for about 16 hours, stopping in Taiwan for 4 hours, and then boarding another plane for Cambodia, which should be another 4 and a half hours..

I am still in awe of the fact that God has chosen me to go on this trip. As much as I am unworthy or not capable, God still chooses to use me. Honestly, it`s incredible knowing that what will happen will not be done by my strength, but by His. It`s all about Him and I pray that on this trip, God`s glory may be magnified and His name known. I know God will do great things. I know that there will be circumstances where, when we should be tired or something will seem impossible to get done, God will give us strength and make the impossible, possible. I know I can pray with expectation for God to do these great things, because I know what a great God I serve.

I ask that you please pray for me and my team. Thank you so much for supporting us, making this trip possible! Please pray that me and my team have safe travels, for health, for God to be glorified, and for God to do great things. Please pray for the people we will come across. Pray that they may come to know the awesome God we serve and that they can experience His great love for them. Please pray for protection from spiritual opposition.

Looking at the tentative schedule, I am more and more excited to go. :)  I will try my best to keep you all updated.

God bless!!

love always,

Anna

Special Trip

Hi Everyone!

So when I learned that I was going to go to Cambodia, we were given a book to read. The book is called, "The Tears of My Soul," and it is truly an inspiring book. It is a true story of Sokreaska Himm, and what he went through as a child in Cambodia.
Here's a link that tells a bit of his story:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YO_kd5T7Ga0

What's so amazing, is that my team and I have the immense priviledge of visiting Pastor Himm and his church! We'll get to do a service there, singing songs, giving our testimonies, and Mark will be giving a small message. I am so incrediblely excited to meet him!

Getting Ready!

Hi Everyone!

My team and I have had a bunch of meetings, going over what we'll be doing in Cambodia, what to expect, the roles we can assume, etc. It's been really great getting together with the team. They really are a great group of people and I'm super-excited to be serving alongside them!

Today is officially a month before I leave to Cambodia!

I can't believe how quickly time has passed! I'm getting together my lesson plans for our time at Logos. The first week for VBS, I'll be teaching and leading the Crafts. As for the rest of the weeks, I'll be teaching and leading the Bible lessons, alongside my teammate Jeffrey. That's for the mornings. In the afternoons, we'll have the opportunity to reach out to the community kids (who can't afford to go to the school) and play sports, swim, and teach them ESL. I can't wait to meet the kids!!On the weekends, we hope to visit the ministries that the school is involved with. :)

As the time to go is approaching quickly, I ask that you please keep us in your prayers. It can be hard figuring out all the details of the lesson plans, so please pray for wisdom in what would be best for the kids!
I'm very excited for what God will do there. I know He has an amazing plan for each of those kids.
Please pray that we're flexible and willing to do whatever it is God needs us to do!
Please pray for the kids, that they'll come with open hearts, curiosity, and a willingness to deal with us strange foreigners! :) Please pray that they'll get to know and experience the incredible love of Christ. :)
Please pray that God gets all the glory and honour and praise!
Please pray that I get all the funds I need, so I can go to Cambodia.
I would just like thank you all for supporting me with prayers and financially! It's really appreciated!!

 ^" At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”  He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. " Matthew 18:1-2

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Titles

As you know, the location of where I'm going has changed. We're now going to Southeast Asia, but I will keep my blog's URL as www.annawestasia.blogspot.com.
Sorry for any confusion!!

About Cambodia

I've been researching Cambodia, to get a feel for this country and the people I will soon meet.
I am blown away by the rich history this country has. It's really hard to summarize! I think it's safe to say there have been a lot of take-overs and wars in this country.
It's located in Southeast Asia, bordering Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam.
It's tropical there. We'll be going during their rainy, monsoon season (May to November).
90% of the people that make up this country are Khmer, 5% are Vietnamese, 1% are Chinese, and 4% are "other."
96.4% of the people are Buddhist, 2.1% are Muslim, and 1.3% are "other."
Cambodia is a multiparty democracy under a constitutional monarchy.
31% of the population is below the poverty line.
There are a total of 17 airports, with only 6 that have paved runways.
That's a bunch of random facts I've gathered about this country. I know these facts can't describe the lives these people live, but it makes me really excited to meet these people! :)
We'll be guests of the Logos International School, who teach kids from Kindergarten to Grade 8.  We will be running a VBS camp the first week we're there. For the rest of the weeks, we'll be teaching ESL, and running a bunch of activities. Can't wait!!  

CHANGE OF PLANS

A few days ago, I got an email. My team was to have an "urgent" meeting for this Sunday (April 10).
At the meeting, our team leaders let us  know that, due to a building demolition, we would not be able to go to West Asia.
This news was a complete shocker! However, they told us of some other plans:
There is an opportunity to go to Cambodia!
In Cambodia, we would be running a VBS camp for the first week, and then teach ESL for the remaining weeks.
Although plans have changed, we know God is in control, and leading the way to Cambodia. How everything worked out with the dates, as well as the place, and what we would be doing there, is a testament of God's hand in all this.
God is so amazing, and I'm so glad for this opportunity this summer. =]
The trip is still set for June 16-July 11. I'll keep you all updated!
God bless!

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." -Proverbs 3: 5-6