Hi all,

I want to thank each and every one of you for your prayers and support during the time I was in Cambodia.

We arrived home on Monday night, and we’re all back doing our normal lives. I started work again today, even in the fog of an 11 hour jet lag. I think I managed ok…

If you have any questions or are curious at all about my trip please feel free to shoot me an email and I’ll do my best to give you a timely response.

It’s kind of strange to be back in Canada. Everything feels very familiar and normal. Cambodia feels like it was some kind of dream. I don’t know if that’s a normal feeling one gets when returning to the society they’ve known from birth, but it’s been my experience thus far. I haven’t really had the time to process and consider the things I’ve learned from the trip. I saw a lot of things that you’d never see here in North America. My eyes were opened to global needs. I was able to observe a brand new culture, and see how people live on the other side of the world. I was able to help start a brand new ministry, one that I hope and pray will continue to thrive for years to come.

Overall, I would say that the trip to Cambodia was a very valuable experience. I learned about humanity, I learned about myself. It’s good to be home. I look forward to seeing some of you around!

Peace,

Andrew

Back from the beach and heading home in the morning. It’s hard to believe…

Headed to the beach today! Should be splendid!

Today was our last full day of summer school. It’s hard to believe I’m so close to coming home. I’m excited, but I’m going to miss this place

By this time next week I will be back in Canada, at home, in my bed. Weird.

Hi all,

It’s hard to believe that 10 days from now I’ll be back home in Canada. it feels like we just got here the other day.

At the school, things have been going well. I’ve been teaching a science lesson for classes ranging from kindergarten to grade 5. So far the lessons and experiments have been going well. It’s very easy to keep the kids’ attention. Today I showed them a fireproof balloon (ask me about it when I get back and I might explain it to you).

Tomorrow we’re going to be visiting an orphanage just outside of the city. I’m excited to see a new ministry that is being pursued here in Cambodia.

Well that’s about all I have for now!

Peace,

Andrew

Hi all,

I guess I haven’t really updated any of you since I got here. Sorry about that. Just so you know, everyone and everything we brought arrived safely on Saturday. We’ve had an incredible week running a VBS program at a school in the city. We had 56 kids for 3 hours every morning. I lead the large group and song times.

On two afternoons last week we opened up the school grounds for the neighbourhood children to come in and enjoy. We were able to have these kids come in and go swimming in the school’s pool. Swimming in clean water is something these kids would not normally be able to do. The first afternoon 30 kids came. The second afternoon we had almost 60 kids come out and play with us! Seeing the smiles on their faces was priceless. One of the teachers at the school decided to start an outreach program targeting these kids. He’s going to continue even after we’ve left with singing, ESL, and of course swimming. Please keep sato in your thoughts as he spearheads this program.

This past weekend, me and the team made the 6 hour trip to Siem Reap (a big tourist town in Cambodia). We spent Saturday visiting Angkor Wat and other ancient Buddhist and Hindu temples. I walked away from that day stunned by the beauty and labour intensive work that had been wasted on lifeless idols. It’s truly amazing just how lost the Cambodian people are.

On Sunday we visited Sokreaksa Himm at the community centre he built (google his name if you don’t know who he is). Mark gave the sermon and we all returned later in the afternoon to play some hockey! Don’t worry, I’m sure there are tons of pictures. We played for about an hour, Cambodia vs. Canada. Unfortunately we lost. Mark and I were the only ones on our team who had played hockey before. I promise you we still put up a valiant fight. Please keep Reaksa in your thoughts as he continues to work in the rural communities around Siem Reap.

We’re all excited about another week of school and afternoon activities with the neighbourhood kids. It’s hard to believe we’re almost halfway already!

Peace,

Andrew

I’m sorry, I lied. Tumblr, I’m too tired to update you on all I did today in Cambodia. Maybe tomorrow morning. Right now it’s time to sleep off the jet lag!

We made it to Cambodia yesterday afternoon. Everyone is safe, so is everything we brought. So far, Cambodia is fascinating. I’ll give a more significant update tonight.

Peace,

Andrew

As I write this, I’m sitting in a plane flying just off the coast of Japan. The strange thing is that while all of you at home are already halfway through your day, it’s pitch black outside. This whole time-change-disappearing-day thing is kind of mind boggling. We’ve been flying for nearly ten hours now. I think I’ve had maybe two hours of decent sleep. I should really be sleeping right now since in Cambodia it’s currently the middle of the night. I guess when I do eventually get around to posting this, you’ll know I’ve arrived safely to at least Taipei. It’s kind of funny… I’m pretty sure that me and my team are the only white people on this whole flight. It’s great when the stewardesses go by and ramble something off in… Well I don’t know what language. It honestly happens all too often. Guess I’ll catch you all when we get there! I’ll do my best to keep in touch. Peace, Andrew