August 2011 VBS Prayer Requests

                                           VBS 2010 video clip


The August VBS will be here soon, and we'd love to have lots of people involved.  Even if you aren't able to join us in person, would you pray for us?  We really need it!  The rains and the roads are major needs, but above all, we want the Lord Jesus glorified in all that we do.

Please remember that Thailand and Cambodia are 12 hours ahead of central time, and 14 hours ahead of pacific time.


- Pray that the Lord of the Heavens and the Earth will control the rain. The crops need the monsoon rains. So we ask for prayer for God’s timing with the rains…. that the farmers get what is needed for a great crop, but that the rains won’t interfere in our travel or for the VBS activities.


- Pray that all that is said and done through this week of VBS will bring honor and glory to the Lord.

 Here is a daily schedule you can be praying over:


August 9th: Team departs from Seattle


August 10th: arrive in Bangkok - please pray for a good night’s sleep …and for quick jet lag recovery


August 11th and 12th: orientation and preparation for VBS in Bangkok; sightseeing. Please pray that our team will get to know one another and be united as a team.


August 13th: leave for Cambodia. Please pray for safe travel…..and that the dirt road will be passable to Sompovloun.


August 14th: Worship with believers at the ministry center. Please pray for a sense of “oneness” as we worship – even though the team won’t understand what is sung or preached.


August 15th-18th: VBS at the ministry center


-please pray for the children that come….that they would be attentive and listen to the Bible lessons, that God’s Spirit will work in their hearts to draw them to Himself if they don’t know Him yet. And if they already have put their faith in the Lord, that they will grow in their faith and trust in Him. Pray that the kids will have fun with the activities.


- please pray for God’s protective Hand over all the ministry center. Pray that everyone who comes to the center will sense that this is a safe place….a place to learn and know about God. Pray that the enemy would not be able to disrupt anything that God has planned for this week of VBS.


- please pray for the team to have the energy and strength to work effectively in the heat, and culture and climate changes. Pray for good sleep each night. Pray that they will love the kids and be able to communicate the love of the Lord to them – even though they don’t speak the same language! Pray for good health for each team member. Pray for safety as we travel on motorcycles every day on slick muddy roads.


- Pray for Sophan and Sopheap as they teach the Bible lesson each day, lead daily memory verses, and lead the singing. Pray that God’s Spirit will speak and teach through them. These are tiring days for Sophan and Sopheap, too, so please pray that they will be encouraged by the team being there, and energized by God working in them and through them…strengthening them. Ezra, their son, is two years old now, so please pray for him as his mom and dad will be busy.


- pray for our national helpers – Pei, Dee, and Ravy. They are the ones that can speak directly to the students. Pray that their words and actions would be pleasing and honoring to the Lord, speaking clearly how to believe and trust Christ as Saviour.


- pray for the English teaching that the team will do in the afternoons. We will be teaching English using a Bible curriculum. Please pray that God – by His Spirit – will touch the hearts of these students. Pray for the teachers to have clarity and teach effectively.


August 18th: final day of VBS at the ministry center. We will hold a closing program and invite the parents to attend. Some of these parents have never been to the church before, so this is an important time for them. Pray that they will feel welcomed and loved, and sense the presence of the Lord. Pray that they will desire to know Him.


August 19th and 20th: VBS in Ou Thmaa. This is the first time to have a VBS here. We will be traveling on motorcycles and motorcycles with side-carts, for 45 mins each direction to get to Ou Thmaa. Please pray we’ll be able to get through on the dirt roads, and for safety in travel. Most of what we will do in Ou Thmaa is very dependent on it not raining. Please pray that God will hold back the rains so that we can get in and out of the area, and also be able to teach the lessons and do the skills development. Please pray all the same for Ou Thmaa as for the VBS at the ministry center. None of the parents are believers yet that we know of, so please pray that God’s Light will shine here in Ou Thmaa and that many will come to know Him as a result of His working through the VBS.


August 21st: travel back to Bangkok. Again, please pray the road will be passable -that we can get to Bangkok that day. In the evening the team will debrief together and pray together.


August 22nd: leave for the US early morning flight. Pray for safety in travel- and for rest. Please also pray for each member’s ability to process their time here. Give praise, thanks and glory to the Lord for all He did and accomplished.






“Father, thank you for the opportunity that you are giving this team to serve you in Cambodia. Prepare us- your team - for acts of love and good deeds. We pray that the team will be the aroma of Christ through all that is done each day. We pray that at every place of ministry where we serve, that Jesus would be seen in us, and the love of Jesus expressed through us. May your name be great in the streets and homes of Sompovloun and Ou Thmaa. Anoint our lips and prepare our hearts that we might be prepared to give the reason for the hope that we have with gentleness and respect. Use this week of serving together to further unify us, your people, and to further your Kingdom. May those we serve see how we love You and one another, and may their hearts be drawn to You. May Jesus be exalted and darkness pushed back in His mighty name.


Father, we pray that the seeds of the Gospel that are sown in Somvpovloun and Ou Thmaa, will be watered by Your Spirit and produce an eternal harvest! Bless each member of the team with the presence of Jesus. May many come to know You, oh Lord. Amen!!!”




Thank you so much for joining our team by committing this work and these people to the Lord in prayer.






Gayle

June 2011

Recently we had a young man from Phnom Penh come for two weeks to teach basic music to several of the youth at the church in Sompovloun.  He arrived in time for worship on Sunday, so he played his guitar for the service and Sophoan led the singing.  Here is a short video clip of the music: