At the beginning of the trip I thought it was about sharing Jesus through music but it was so much more.  He used all my past to give hope to the girls off the street and to love as he loved.  I felt his covering and protection all the way to and from Cambodia.  It was the most exciting revelation knowing that I was in the palm of his hand.  What an awesome God. 

Last year at this time if you would told me I was going to minister in Cambodia I would of even had more anxiety than what I already had.  It amazes me how God was able to take all my victories over past pain and hurt for this trip alone… and maybe even more to come.

Thank you for your support and encouragement.  Love, Daphne

“I am in Tiawan on free internet.
Yesterday we were in Angkor Wat….I climbed to the top of the temple with Will
and Ray…they are much younger than me but they wanted to see me sweat!!  I did
it, another brave feat to add to my history book.  It was awesome…as usual it
rained and the narrow steps were steep but i was determined to do it. 
 
The KFC Band and dancers went with us…I just love them all so much. 
(Kampachea for Christ)  the band opened for us and they have become very dear to
me.  All of them are less than half my age and asked if they could call me
Mommy.  Of course I said yes. 
 
The ride was 5 hours long and they traveled with us….I had 2 girls laying on
top of me (sweat and all in the heat) and another guy hanging over the back of
the seat to hold my hands.   They kept telling me they loved me and I told them 
I loved them too.
 
We had a final dinner to thank our drivers, Dara, Rothana, Sucoy, Sopol, Sokleng
and the KFC Band.  They asked me to share and I  told them about the last Sunday 
I sang ‘We Speak to the Nations’ and the scripture that was up on the screen.   It
was just a few days before I was to sing that once again I was complaining to
the Lord about not having any children.  When Psalms 2:8 came up the Lord spoke
to my heart again that he would give me the nations has my heritage, my legacy. 
Not quite sure what it all meant at the time ( and still working it out in my
heart) I felt his strong presence before beginning to sing the song.  I shared
the story and told them that I felt God gave them to me to love.  I cried as
usual.
 
I had to say goodbye all day to different team members leaving and was one of
the last to leave the hotel for the airport. It was very lonely being there but
the hotel attendants would comfort me each time someone else would leave and I
was left crying in the lobby.
 
I finally headed out by myself and the the clerks came out to say goodbye…when 
I arrived at the airport the whole band came running… screaming
Daphne, Mommy, we love you.  I burst into tears and they surrounded me as each
one gave me little gifts and kept saying they loved me…how could I resist. 
Then in front of everyone they encircled me and began to pray very loudly…I
had more kisses than and new born baby.  One of the girls, Chontol who is 16
asked me if i would be her real Mom. I said yes.  They sang me a love song accapella
and watched me through the glass with nose and hands pressed against the
window.  After receiving my tickets I had to pass the window and they all
pressed their hands for me to  touch them.  We cried and I went upstairs.  When
my flight was ready to go I went to the window upstairs and they were standing
there staring waiting for me to say farewell.  I looked horrible when I stepped
on the plan and the tears flowing down my chin and my shirt was soaked.  No one
on the plane said a word to me.  The attendents came and said, “You are loved by
so many people here,”  I said yes they are my children and it is hard to leave
them. 
 
Now in Taiwan and still can’t shake their smiles and eyes.  Pray for me the rest
of the journey.  It is 21 hours before returning home and I have to much to
think about. 
 
I asked God at the beginning of the trip to help me love as he loves…I wasn’t
expecting to be so much in love with the Cambodian people as I am.  It was hard
leaving.
 
 
Much love,
 
Can’t wait to see you, not sure I can talk to anyone at this time without
bursting into tears. ”  

May God bless Daphne’s long journey home and fill her heart with His peace, hope, and love.  Job well done Daphne.  Glory to God.
 

Hello Bloggies.  No word from Daphne— I am sure she’s wanting to connect with us, just can’t get to the internet.  She’s due back in Phnom Penh on Monday so hopefully we’ll get a word then.  They’ve been doing intense traveling to many regions.  They’ve had a grueling schedule of rice distribution, medical outreach and concert events.  The town pictured above is Kampot…the team was due to dedicate a Church there on the 29th.  A church is a mighty big deal in a country that is 95% Buddhist.    It always gives me great pause when I realize how much I take my religious freedom for granted because I live in America.  We are so blessed.   I pray that this new church will be a mighty light in the midst of darkness. 

Today, the team should be in Siem Reap, a much larger city.  The weather forecast is 90 degrees and 100% humidity…that can’t be good for outdoor concerts or good hair.  It may make summer in South Florida seem cool and breezy.  I pray they find some air conditioning between outreaches.  Wish I had more details for you…hopefully soon.  In the meantime, thank you for continued prayers.  May God grant His blessing to the missionaries and to you. 

 No word from the Far East in several days.  According to the travel plans, the team should be returning from Kratie (pronounced Kra-CHAY) pictured above.  It is a small town, 4 blocks long and 3 blocks wide, with several surrounding villages.  They were due to distribute rice, provide medical care and perform a concert before heading out to Steung Treng and then back to Phnom Penh.  I imagine the travel is difficult and quite hot.  You can post prayers under the comments tab above.  I’m sure Daphne will read them and take great comfort in hearing from all of you.   Thank you for all your support.  May God grant blessings to the team and all those they are reaching for Him. 

“After finishing my last email to you I went out on a bamboo train ride with the Continental Singers.  We ended up at a train station out in the  middle of nowhere and loaded up on a flat bed made of bamboo on the rail way.  I felt like I was in a western movie!   The train/flat bed took us into the country side of Battambang and everything was great until it started to pour buckets of rain.  The man that was running the the cart thought nothing of it so we went a little farther. (about 5 miles)  After seeing lightning flash across the sky I closed my umbrella…for sure!   We were soaked and the rain poured so hard we couldn’t keep out eyes open and it would sting our arms and faces.   The girls began screaming as if the world was coming to an end….a lot laughing.  If that wasn’t bad enough we had to pick up the flat bed of bamboo to turn around…so now our back sides were soaked.  as we slowly entered the village on our return to the station all the children came running out and laughed bent over…what a sight.   I had fun.”

So thankful that God sees to it that humor and lightheartedness can be a part of a challenging journey. 

During their time with Kampuchea for Christ in Battambang the team visited with girls rescued from the streets (as pictured above)

“…headed out to the Industrial Trade School for girls that KFC sponsors for girls taken off the street.  The girls were very shy and at the end of the meal I went to help clean up, but the girls kept saying “no sister, no”.  I found out later for them to serve us was great honor and this was all they could give us to show how much they loved us.  Humbled and humiliated at the same time.  It was hard for me because I like to take care of others…as some of you already know!! ”

The concerts and rice distribution have gone well and many more are on the horizon.  The next two excerpts are highlights of the events.

” We did another rice distribution and the people stood in silence as their national anthem played, we were in awe at the silence.  We all sang a few songs together and the people begain to smile.  The children were hard to photo because they were afraid of the camera. The weather is suffocating hot and very humid.  Their hair stayed straight and beautiful, mine, well let’s just say Larry of the Three Stooges had better hair days!  That night we had a concert in that region and as usual it poured rain during the set up so the  concert was delayed by 2 hours.  The people waited because they wanted to see the white people.  Several girls would come up from behind and start stroking my arms and say “white”‘ and point to their arms and say “brown”.  They think it is better to be white, I got an interpretter to help me tell them how beautiful they were and that we loved them very much.  The music was awesome that night after we started…I ate several flies but kept on singing.”

On the 20th they traveled to Kampong Thom from Phnom Penh and had one of the best experiences yet.

“We left at 6am to travel for 3 hours to Kampong Thom for a rice distribution.  Most of us were tired and didn’t want to go out again that quick, but we would’ve missed the best day yet.  The distribution went well.   Raymond (who is a beautiful worshipleader and two time grammy winner from South Africa) and I sang Amazing Grace accapella.  The whole time while we sang they laughed and giggled – they have never heard our style of music.   I guess it was okay.   We went to Pastor Sinoeun’s home (pronounced See noon) who is the Pastor for that region to have coconut juice and fruit.   As we drove there Pastor Siton told us his story.  He was the deputy for Pol Pot’s regime, his wife was Pol Pot’s nurse.  After the war ceased they became refugees and lived near the Thai border.  He found out he had a bad heart and was very ill, poor and without a home for his family.  His sister had received Christ and shared the gospel with him.  he accepted Christ and grew in the Word and wisdom of God.  God began to open doors for them financially and they moved to Kampong Thom and gradually made enough income to purchase there land and build a home.  Pastor Siton was praying for a long time for God to reveal what pastor was to take the chief of staff position of Evangelism for KFC.  So he put out a fleece to the Lord.  A group of 300 pastors gathered together to pray.  Siton told the Lord the night before that he would read from Acts and when someone would ask a question about the passage for understanding, whoever answered it would be the needed chief.  Well, you guessed it, it was Pastor Sineoun.  When he was chosen there was a big uproar in KFC.  Many quit and Pastor Sitons car was burned to the ground by those against his election.  Part of his house was burned and he received death threats because of his choice.  He didn’t waver.  Pastor Sinoeun came to release him but he would not budge.  At this time Pastor Sinoeun has a thriving minister to the Khmer Rouge/Pol Pot refugees from the war who live outside the city in the jungle.  He is a modern day Paul the Apostle.  He would not be accepted in town but he travels on a moped into the jungle to share the gospel.  He shared his testimony but nothing about his position with the Khmer Rouge, he began telling us his testimony with his salvation.  His eyes glowed with Jesus, if anyone knew about the mercy of God it was him. We asked how we could pray for him and all he wanted was God’s wisdom on reaching his people.  We all cried together and thanked God for changing this life to be a great witness for Christ. ”

May God bless all those who work tirelessly as witnesses for His great love.  More to come soon!  Thank you for your continued prayers. 

June 14  The team went to Kampuchea for Christ/ KFC (not to be confused with the Colonel)  The ministry is run by Pastor Siton who lost his brother under Pol Pot’s regime.  They went to see the Killing Fields and Daphne writes,

“…then we went to one of the killing fields.  Our guide was one of the first ones to uncover the graves.  You should see this place.  Every time it rains more bones, teeth and clothing are exposed.  I hated to walk on them even though they were on the path ways.  You could see clothes all over the place.  They try to gather it up when it surfaces. We then went to the school for the intelligence’ that Pol Pot turned into a prison.  Reason being is that he was not accepted there as a teen.  He used young people 13- 14 to do his dirty deeds.  I hated that place.  We could still see the blood spattered on the ceiling from the tortured.  It reminded me of the holocaust meseum.  It was a very sober day and I may have another chance to go there with the next team that will arrive on 21st.  I just felt ill after that and no one wanted to speak the rest of the eveing.  The team that we are with here in Cambodia told us their own stories of torture and escape and it was just unbelievable.”

Just impossible to imagine the suffering.  If you’re interested in more about the atrocities of the Khmer Rouge, please visit their web site… www.killingfieldsmuseum.com 

 Daphne goes on to describe their evening..doesn’t sound appetizing.

“…we went to a Cambodia’s most famous singing celebrity restaurant who is Muslim,.  Pastor Siton has been ministering to him for a while and he loves him, so he talked him into entertain us that evening. I have a picture of the chicken and claws that were for dinner that night…yuck! This gentlemen’s restaurant is dedicated to all the famous singers who Pol Pot killed in 1975…their picutres are hanging through out the restaurant.  His father was the most famous and was killed first so he keeps it as a memorial for him.”

They had their first concert Friday, and it sounds like Daphne may return with some groupies, “…they do a local (Japanese style…you know what i mean, crazy) music program here and by the grace of God the station allowed us to do the full 90 minutes because of giving rice.  I felt so stupid singing Shout to the Lord and having young people scream and wanting to shake my hand.  At one point they almost pulled me into the crowd.  The Continental singers are made up of 18-21 year olds.  They love me and always try to pull me into their dance routines.  They are full of energy on stage and the crowd loves them. The team loves the song The Rock that I sing.”We love it too Daphne… May God continue to bless them with a wonderful reception and many open invitations to share the love of Christ.  Thank you all for your prayers

So excited to get two messages from Daphne….until I listened.  Strain as I might, I could not understand most of what she was earnestly sharing. (Reminded me of that new cellphone commercial.) She sounded excited and exhuberant….mentions the Mekong River,  the horror of the Khmer Rouge (must’ve been to the Killing Fields Museum–see post below) just couldn’t make out much in between.   All I can accurately report is that her tone was upbeat and the email report from the field coordinator suggests all is going well.  The team traveled on Thursday to Kampong Chhang(photo above)–approximately 100km from Phnom Penh.  The province population is 417,693.  They are bringing rice and medical care to the villages and they were scheduled to perform a televised concert on Saturday night.  Monday they will depart for Battambang where they will minister until Wednesday’s return to Phnom Penh.  Hopefully we will get word ( a clear connection please) of their experiences and God’s mighty hand in their travels.   The challenges of mission travel are big—- the graces of God much bigger.  Thank you for your continued prayers.

“Just pray for a tough hide and a tender heart”  Ruth Bell Graham 1920-2007

We ask your prayers for the continued protection and provision of the team.  We pray that God would prepare their voices and hearts for Friday evening…and give them many opportunities to share the love and message of Christ.   

P.s.  Looked up Theravada Buddhism..read all about it for twenty minutes and still cannot grasp the general idea.  Something about valuing reason above “blind” faith.  I would hate to see where my life would be if I depended on my own reasoning(or anyone else’s.)  Perhaps Jail?  Thank God for so-called blind faith.  Believe on Bloggies.