Our Week In Review

Unfortunately we have been unable to login to the blog until now, and that is why the team has not been posting.  Thank you for praying for us.  We have had a great week!

-Travel here was good.  No surprises, made our connections, layovers were short.  There were even empty seats on the leg from Houston to Moscow.  Room to stretch out!

-Sunday was fun!  We celebrated Christmas in the village with our brothers and sisters.  There was dancing, singing, and drama (like a play, not like a diva).  I preached a short message on connecting the good news of the Christmas story with Jesus healing the blind man in Mark 10.  He asked for mercy and Jesus made him see, and then he followed Jesus down the road.

Isn't that what being a Christ follower looks like?  We ask for mercy, Jesus saves us - I once was blind but now I see, and then we follow Jesus down the road.  Don't be jealous that the mission team gets to celebrate Christmas twice!

-Our Ministry Projects went really well in the village.  We had a week full of great children's ministry and home visits.  We were able to share Christ with many who do not believe, and even many that had never heard.  We were able to visit 6 or more churches that are a part of the network of village churches.  We prayed with them, sang with them, and even enjoyed spontaneous teaching on prayer, suffering, and other pertinent subjects.  The children's work was a big hit too.  Crafts, lessons, music, games, and more crafts!

-Today was full of cultural experiences.  We started our day riding a charter boat on the Mekong to a place called Silk Island.  We saw silk products made from start to finish - worm to scarf!  After that we went to S21 - the genocide museum.  I've been more than 5 times I'm sure, and every time it effects me in new ways.  Today I met a survivor and purchased and autographed copy of his book.

-Tomorrow, we go serve our partners at Mercy Medical Clinic.  We asked how we could serve them, and the clearly answered - PRAYER.  I'm expecting a really special day for our team.

Some reflection on what the Lord has taught me this week:
-Blessings come in lots of shapes and sizes, and are often the opposite of what the world and we expect - even lower back pain.  Sometimes God doesn't answer our prayer for very specific reasons.  Maybe it is to make us compassionate?  Maybe it is to remind us He is in control?  Maybe it is to help us remember how important it is to go?
-It is a huge blessing to be able to go - to go, love, serve - and share Christ to men, women, and children in a totally different culture. 

We have seen so many old friends, made so many new friends; we have loved, and been loved on.  Like the blind man - we have seen God!

Thanks again for your prayers - Randy

Lord's Supper

View from the back of the Pastor's Conference--set up outside under some tarps between the orphanage dorms

Greg and Randy have been leading a conference for pastors from all over Cambodia this week.  Today was the last day and one of the special parts of the morning was the Lord's Supper.  What a taste of how heaven will be to take part in this time of remembrance with believers in another part of the world!  How amazing it is to celebrate ONE Savior with dozens of pastors and believers who speak another language and live in another culture!  It is such an incredible feeling of unity as a Church.   - Michelle

A woman's Khmer Bible

Time in Lveasar

Wowzers!  Our time in Lveasar has already come to an end!  Each morning this week, we have loaded up onto a big bus and headed out for an hour-and-a-half-long ride to the community of Lveasar.  On the way there we stop twice…once to drop off the nurses who served with Mercy Medical, and once to buy water.

Once we are dropped off by the bus on the side of the street, we walk the block down to the ferry and ride the ferry across the Mekong River (nice and breezy!).  Once we hit the ferry landing on the other side we walk (or ride on the back of a moto) about a mile to the Hope for Cambodia Orphanage.  And THEN…the fun happens.  All the teams (orphanage, pastor's conference, home visits) scatter about and go about their work!!  After putting in a full morning, we all walk across the road to a shaded pavilion kind of area to eat a leisurely lunch and visit.  And then it's back to work for the afternoon until we catch our return ferry across the Mekong to our bus.

When we arrive back at the hotel, we have a few minutes before heading out to dinner so that we can be back in time for our debriefing meeting…then it's pretty much bedtime (hence this being the first blog post all week!!).

So that's kind of a "day-in-the-life" picture of our time in Lveasar…more details to come!

Michelle

Cambodia. One word. One trip. One God. This trip has been one of the best experiences in my life. I love the people, the kiddos, and the BPF team. This morning woke up, exhausted, went to breakfast and make sure I am ready by 7 to get on the bus. Its about an hour ride to a village then we cross a ferry to get to L'vea Sor. When you step off the ferry, the little kiddos are waiting there for you as you step off the boat to run up, hold your hand, and show you a wonderful smile. I help with the lesson team and today had to be the best day yet. We talked about Samual talking to people the one true king that is better then any human king and I think the kids really understood the story;however the story wrapped up when the kids and one of our translater, Lucky sang this prayer: Pray For Cambodia Never have I feel regreted of my decision to work for God easy,hard,happy,and sad, I will still try to do it. My life is full of tears of joy. I try to pray to God as what he promised us that he'll always be with us and take us to the victory. I'm gonna go all around Cambodia and work from all my heart and my life forever, I will try even if I face many hard times there is a long way, I know, but I know and believe that God is there for me. That had to be one of the greatest moments of the trip as I hear childeren sing and praise the same God as I do. This week,trip,and experience has been one of the greatest and it has help me find a spark for God that I have lost in the last couple of weeks. God works in great ways and I couldn't dream of a better Christmas trip then the one where I see God work through people and myself. God has blessed our church with the opperunity to work with amazing people. I wish you could see how great this trip is and how it helps find who you are in Gods plan. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Cambodia! Love, Allison Jenkins

Some great things happening

The children of Lveasor have had a great week. Awesome crafts, coloring, making butterflies with clothes pins, bracelets, beaded necklaces with all the activities pointing to Jesus Christ the King. In the afternoon they have short ESL classes THEN playtime or it may be known wear out the adults and teens. Our BPF teens are stellar whether working with children or going on home visits. Yesterday one of our teens, Kelli Meyer, ask a woman if she wanted Christ. That woman along with 2 others stepped over line of faith. These days of home visits have so reignited all who have gone. The pastors conference winds down today. Ronnie and our interpreter Sovaty are having throat problems and Sovaty doesn't get rest from constant interpretation. Pray for healing and rest for these guys.

For I Know the Plans for you

How amazing that 2013 began as awesome as 2012 ended!  Boo hoo I stayed back at hotel so I could cough here. BUT GOD had plan b in store for me.  My housekeeper struck up a conversation.  She shared her heart that been through much pain in  ENGLISH that just doesn't happen here.  She shared her hopes as well, we talked children and then it turned to church. I ask her if she had heard of JESUS. She replied I'm a Christian that just doesn't happen everyday here either. After work she goes to school to improve her English.  I told her I had something that would help her-I gave her my Bible.  She was so excited. We talked about forgiving others who hurt us because God forgives.  Who would of thought plan b would be one of my best New Year's Day ever.  Jeremiah 29:11-"for I know the plans for you....". Lynn Walker

Yikes I mentioned Kenya but we are in CAMBODIA !!!!!:

Dear Friends I ended my year with a deep desire and longing come true.  On my past visits to Kenya we were not able to do home  visits and my heart was sad about this.  On January 31, 2012 God  blessed a small group of us to go to another village and pray with families-blessing for their homes, prayer requests they gave us and we ask them to pray for us.  Reminded me of James 5:16-prayers of righteous are powerful and effective.  This joyful destitute community is known in the province as the "Christian village".  They know the power of prayer they know God's provision for food only from the land around them.  And if you want to hear the whole story please ask any of us.  So I ended 2012 with the words of Proverbs 13:19-"A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul,..". 

Also please pray for of us who are in need of healing-Ronnie sore throat, Lynn-coughing, chest congestion,  Mary Ann-knee injury before trip is very painful.  

We love all of you our family and friends.  Lynn walker

There's No Place Like Home...But Cambodia is Close

Randy --

To be honest I was not 100% eager to come on this trip.  It was hard to leave my family the day after Christmas.  You combine my desire to be home with my family for Christmas with some of the tensions I've been feeling about our partnerships here, and the result was less than my normal enthusiasm and passion. That was a weird feeling!  The tensions I'm talking about are a normal part of cross-cultural ministry. If you didn't know this - missions isn't all flowers and smiley faces!  It can be hard.  I'm confident in our strategy, but at times you ask questions - are we doing the right thing? - will we ever truly understand each other? - do I have the answers to our problems?  You add all that up together and I found myself in somewhat of a funk.

We landed in Phnom Penh and the funk began clearing.  The sights, the smells, the faces of a people I love served instantly as a reminder of why I am so passionate about this to begin with.

And today the funk went away! We stepped off of the ferry on to the soil of Lveasor, and walked on to the property of Hope for Cambodia Orphanage and Lveasor Bible Baptist Church, where literally hundreds of familiar faces were waiting to greet us, to worship alongside us, and to do incredible ministry in (messy) partnership.

I spent face time talking with my friend that I love and respect - a man that I admire deeply.
I saw the children that we love and adore - and reflected on the difference that is being made in their lives because of this partnership.
I shared a special moment with one of the orphans that is transitioning from teenager to adult.

Cambodia may not be home, but it is close.  I'm so grateful to be here!  And I am so grateful to our big God to be serving and leading a church that is so committed to this - even though it is hard sometimes.  Brazos Pointe - God has been good to us, I pray that he will continue to inspire our hearts toward even greater things.  I believe our best days are ahead - in Cambodia and in Southern Brazoria County.  It's good to be here - but I'm just as excited about being back home with you after a few more days - and pressing in to all that God has for us in 2013!

Pray for our 2012-2013 Cambodia Team

Allison Jenkins
Avery Massengale
Christopher McCrary
Clayton Knight
Coral Betancourt
Cory Whitehead
Courtney Jones
Annie Massengale
Greg Pickering
Haleigh Culverhouse
Shea Massengale
Jeanne Manry
Randy Dane
Katherine Knight
Kathy Pickering
Kelli Meyer
Lynn Walker
Mary Ann McDaniel
Ronnie Whitehead
Sarah Quinn
Sheila Pierce
Travis Knight

We will be leaving for Cambodia early in the morning on December 27 and returning to Houston on January 5.  Our team will be training pastors, working with children from Hope for Cambodia Orphanage and the village of Lveasor, and prayer walking and sharing our faith.

Pray that God does big things in us and through us! 

Making Our Way Home

Well, we're on 4 hour layover in Seoul, Korea, and our group is spread out and passed out all over the airport. Sleep is drastically sought after. In about another hour, we load up on the LONG leg of the flight and head to Dallas, where we will have another 3 1/2 hour layover. That one may be the worst, since we will know we are but a short 1 hour flight from home.

The week was exciting, productive, encouraging and draining. We saw wonderful things and experienced amazing opportunities from God. But for now, the bodies are tired and aching and longing for American soil.

Bush Intercontinental is where we want to be. We hope to see familiar faces there.


Ronnie Whitehead
Smalll Groups Pastor

Adventure at Siem Reap

Well, today started off with a bang!

Tyne ate a tarantula! Actually, she was the FIRST to eat a tarantula. Cory Whitehead, Johnathan Sublet and others followed soon after. Lynn Walker even did a children's documentary on it.

We had a very long van ride from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap today. We were already tired from the week in the village of Leveasar, so today was a tough travel day of some 5-6 hours. But I must say, the team has been phenomenal!! No fights, no complaining, no attitudes. They have been the best!


After we arrived at Siem Reap, we took a side trip to the floating boat village. As you can see, we saw some strange things while we were there.

At sunset, we left and finally headed to our hotel. It was good to get out of the vans and get some good food. Now its bedtime and am I ready!!

Tomorrow we visit the temples. Please continue to pray for our safety and for our health. God has been so faithful. We will see you soon. Thank you for your prayers!!


Ronnie Whitehead
Small Groups Pastor

Tuesday in Leveasar

Today was day 2 in Leveasar. It seems as though everything is going well with the Bible School for the kids. The workers get tired quickly because of the intense heat and humidity, but they are pushing on, like the troopers that they are.

The Pastors Conference is going well. Today Greg and I went into hyper-drive. We knew we had to pick up the pace if we were to finish our material. We are giving the pastors and church leaders an overview of each book of the New Testament so that they will have a better understanding of the Scriptures when they go back to their churches to teach. They appear to really be enjoying the study.

Something cool happened yesterday. During one of the breaks, a young pastor called me over to a table where he was visiting with several women attendees. He said that 3 of the older women wanted "what you have", as he pointed to my face. (that was scary) What he meant was, they wanted eye glasses like I had so that they could read their Bibles. I was worried at first, because I wasn't sure how I could help them. I told them that I would ask some questions and do what I could, but I wasn't sure that I could help. After talking with Tamara Stein and Kathy Pickering, they came up with the idea of buying them each a magnifying glass. Great idea! Well, today when I arrived, I went straight to the ladies and handed them each a magnifying glass that Kathy had purchased for them and showed them how to use it to read their Bibles. They were THRILLED!! It was one of the best things that could have happened for them, you would have thought. They were very grateful and immediately went to show everyone else what God had provided for them.

Tomorrow is our last day at the orphanage. It will be an extremely sad day for everyone. I'm sure that tears will be shed by the children when they walk us to the ferry, and more tears will be shed by the team as the ferry pulls away from the bank. The goodbyes are as painful as the hellos are exciting.

Once again, thank you for your continued prayers. God has been so very faithful in taking care of our team. Please continue to pray. We are excited to come home and tell you about our adventures, but they will come at the great cost of leaving the ones we have grown to love here.

The people of Brazos Pointe Fellowship are, and always will be, the greatest people in the world.

Ronnie Whitehead
Small Groups Pastor

Cambodia - a world away

Canbodia is a beautiful country! The appearance of chaos in Phnom Penh creates some anxiety in me ( I can't imagine driving here!), but as we leave the city every day to go to Lveasar, the crowds thin and I can see the beautiful countryside. The walk to the ferry and the ride across the river is very peaceful. By the time I walk down the road to the orphanage, all the anxiety is gone. The children at the gate waiting for us is an amazing feeling, but a little sad because I know we only have a few days. They want so much to be loved on and played with, and their smiles light up the day. I will make the most of each day here, and I pray that somehow I am making a difference.

-Paula Jones

Sunday at Leveasar

Today was our first day at the village of Leveasar and the Hope For Cambodia Orphanage. And an amazing day it was. After the long trek to the village, we were greeted by the most incredible smiles that you can imagine. The children of the orphanage are so awesome. They love and love and love and love some more.

I suppose the highlight of the day was seeing our precious little Mean, the young lady that we sponsor. This is the first time that she has met Teresa and Cory. The reunion was so sweet. She cried, Teresa cried, and Cory and I were smiling from ear to ear. I am so blessed to have part of my family with me this time. As I said, the children of the orphanage are so glad to see everyone. They laugh and play until our team is worn out. It is so much fun to experience.

Having church with the village was special also. Hearing the Cambodian people sing and pray was awesome. It wasn't a complete vacation, because Greg still preached. haha .. kidding.

After our time at the village was over, we headed to visit The Killing Fields. It is the site of the mass graves where Pol Pot exterminated thousands upon thousands of his own people. Please read about this terrible tragedy in the history of this nation. It was a very dark time. The experience of walking through was extremely sobering.

Tomorrow the Bible School and the Pastors Conferences begin. While most of our team teaches and plays with the kids, Greg and I will be leading a Pastors Conference there at Leveasar while Ron Brock and Johnathan Sublet leave to lead a Pastors Conference 4 hours away. Please be praying for all of these events, as we try to follow God's lead in being His hands and feet in ministry.

We thank you for your prayers. While we have seen tragedy all around us, God has been faithful in keeping our team healthy and safe. May God bless you, Brazos Pointe, as you meet in worship today.


Ronnie Whitehead

Cambodia 2012

BPF is sending a team of more than 30 to Cambodia! When we are asleep tonight they will be gathering and heading to the airport to catch an early morning flight. More than 25 hours later they will be arriving in Phnom Penh - ready to love, serve, and carry the name of Christ. The team members will be serving at the Hope for Cambodia Orphanage and leading a conference for pastors.

You will be able to follow their journey here. Check back often.

Please pray for the team, our friends in Cambodia, and for a lot of success in their mission!

Welcome to the TRIBE!

THANKS for joining our TRIBE!

This blog is the place where you can get:

• Information about future trips
• Updates on our partnership
• Prayer requests...and...
• Follow mission teams on the ground

As a part of the tribe you will get text messages, facebook updates, and emails - but all of those will direct you back to this site. This is where you will get the info that keeps you connected!

Go ahead and look through previous posts to get an idea of all the great experiences BPF teams have had in the past.

Thanks again for joining - I hope you will consider GOING, or going again!

CAMBODIA PARTY!

Cambodia Party

Friday, January 21 - 7:oo to 8:oopm

BPF All Stars Room

Childcare Provided

Come celebrate with our team as we share stories and pictures from our recent mission trip to Cambodia. God did a lot of great things, it was a blast to be a part of it, and we can't wait to share.

Departure time :(

The bus pulled away from the hotel about 20 minutes ago... It's soooo weird to see all of our friends/team pull away and leave us in Cambodia. Tamara and Lauren are on the bus - but they will be coming back to the hotel tonight.
In the morning, Greg will be heading to another province (about 4 hours away) to do another pastor's conference. I get to hang out with Tamara and Lauren - I am very excited about "living their life" for a couple of days. Tomorrow we will head out to the village and visit our sweet kids. Not sure what the other days will hold...there's so much to do and see here - I am sure we'll have fun.
Please pray for safe travels for the rest of the team as they head back home.
It's been a great week and a half!
-Kathy P.

Thursday, Jan 6th - Exciting night...

Another note from Jen C. facebook:

Went to deliver Chantha a bible at the restaurant her mom washes dishes at.....we lived above this restaurant this summer. All the staff came out & were totally excited to see us standing at their back door ;)
I asked Chantha's mom where she was...she pointed behind the building and said she was at English class in the "white building"......so she grabbed our arms and headed us over to the "white building". For those of you that have read about Somaly Mam...you know the building I am talking about. It is a huge, old, dirty white building that houses drug addicts, prostitutes and sex slaves.....and we were heading in.
To be honest.....I had seen this building all summer from my kitchen window. It became a symbol of sadness & hopelessness for me. A scary place....and here we went....omg.
Chantha's mom was walking at a "mall walker" pace...we head into the building....some really drunk guys playing pool, little children in the dark saying "hello!!!", lots of people sleeping in corners.....
We head to the back to a tiny alley....water is dripping from the roof & I stepped in something nasty & slippery.......we head back to a little room with desk set up and students bent over paper taking a English exam. Chantha wasn't there yet so while we were waiting everyone greeted us so
sweetly....next door to the classroom they have a makeshift medical clinic on a tiny room. People who live in the white building come down for medicine and treatment. We hung out and chit chatted with the people in charge....so sweet & so much hope.....
I heard flip flops coming really quickly down the alley.....Chantha :) she couldn't believe I had come to her class.....I told her "I promised I would bring you your bible!!'"...her friends came up & said "Jennifer! We know your name well! Chantha speaks of you all the time :)"...at that moment....I felt like...this is why I am here. In this slum. With these people. Hugging them. Smiling & becoming friends. His hands & feet.....we are free to change the world.....
Gave Chantha her bible and she said "I will read it every night" :)
Looks like we have a opportunity to serve and work teaching English in the "white building"....how awesome would that be?! I pray God will open that door...
Tomorrow we come home......Chantha will hang out with me all day......can't wait to be back......what a great day.
Jen C.
.

Tuesday, Jan 4th - Today is in my top 10 of favorite days...ever

The post below is from Jen C's facebook - thought I'd share it on the blog.
-Kathy P.

Oh my gosh......the past 2 days we have been doing a "career series" for the older orphans in the orphanage. Today we brought 13 - 15 year olds back to the city today.
It is their first time EVER to come to the city.....i have never seen children so excited..... When we pulled up to the hotel, they could not even believe that they were actually getting to stay in a real hotel. We then walked to the mall to eat dinner at a pizza place...seriously....you would think they had been transported to the future. Riding on the escalator was a huge but scary experience....holding their hands was crucial. They for sure had a death grip on me! Sweaty palms does not even describe it. The pride, happiness, and excitement..I can't even describe. :)
Pizza was awesome...one of the boys has a birthday in January (he does not know the day, just the month)...so we did a birthday cake and the entire restaurant was filled with the birthday song. His face was priceless...a birthday cake?! Everyone singing?! Candles?! So beautiful....in that moment he felt so special and loved....before he blew out his candles, he put his hands together in prayer & closed his eyes to say a quick prayer :) wish I could hear what that prayer was.....
Tonight has been a beautiful experience. Cannot wait for tomorrow....taking them on tours of trade schools, university, & showing them how to dream for a future.....
Thank you God for this REAL life.....their faces are more than I can describe. I love this.....don't want to leave. This is true life....what God has planned for me. Cambodia is where I need to be.
Jen