Beginnings

Hopping onto an airplane to travel 12,000 kilometers isn't a choice that one makes lightly. However, when God says go, it's time to trust and obey and set out on an adventure...

It all started on the 10th of March 2013, when Blaine Sylvester showed some slides of Cambodian orphan children and orphan grannies at our church. Place of Rescue is an orphanage in Cambodia, started by Marie Ens. In three different locations throughout the country their team (of mostly locals) looks after nearly 500 orphan kids and 25 orphan grannies. As Blaine explained the work that the organization does, I sat there looking at the innocent faces of the children and thought, "hmm, maybe this is where God wants me to go this summer... No, that's crazy, I'll just put that thought out of my head." Little did I know that Mum was sitting next to me thinking the same thing. She nudged me, "did you see the eyes on that orphan granny?" she whispered. "I wonder if we can help." Later that afternoon, as we walked on the pathway to the north of Three Hills, we discussed the idea further. It seemed crazy, but then again, a lot of the adventures we have start with a crazy idea.

Over the next few weeks we continued to pray and began discussing with Blaine how we may be able to help out. We told friends and relatives what we were planning and everyone was excited. One by one things just began "falling into place". Sometimes slowly and sometimes more quickly. On May 5th, Marie Ens came and spoke at our church. She shared many stories of how God has rescued and provided for the orphans, and what some of their continuing needs are. We met with her after the service and discussed more of our plans. How can we use our unique set of skills to help out? The primary need is for English teaching, so that will be our main role. Our combined musical skills will also be put to use.

Our tickets are booked, we've had the vaccinations (ouch!), now we are praying and packing and preparing and trusting God to do the rest.

Of course there is a whole lot more to this story, but to try and explain every amazing detail of how this whole adventure came about would take far too long. Over the next few weeks we may tell some more background stories of how God has been directing this and how He has provided, but for now, an overview is sufficient. It's a bit like looking at a spider's web, where each one of the tiny strands connects, until a beautiful web is formed. Sometimes it's hard to track how each strand is connected, but things become clearer as time passes. It's exciting to see how God has been pulling all the strands of this adventure together, involving people from across the prairies, across the country and around the world. As we head off on this adventure we acknowledge that it is God who has called us to do this and He will be faithful to enable us to do it. To Him be the honor and glory!

Nutshell version:
Who? Chris (aka: Mum) and Hannah (Me)
What? Short-term missions trip - teaching English and music.
When? June 12th to August 15th
Where? Place of Rescue in Cambodia
How? Only by the grace of God.
Why? It is what we have been called to do.

For more information about Place of Rescue, visit their website: www.placeofrescue.com