Jenny & I have returned to Canada. After a marathon itinerary, we arrived in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island on Monday, the 15th. The reasons we returned are extremely personal, but we stand to our convictions and are convinced that the Cambodian Mission Outreach is not the ministry whom we want to partner with long term.
We really sense a desire to re-connect with our home Church and be a part of their life for more than our standard 2-3 weeks. I have been a part of Faithworks Center since Oct/01, and they have helped shape my Spiritual walk since Day 1. I really want Jenny to have the opportunity to be a part of our Church, and to get to know those whom I have 'grown up' with. We would love to have an active role in bettering our church and imparting into/recieving from those whom are so close to our hearts.
I believe that God really has something amazing in store for Jenny & I. We want to take this year and position ourselves into a place where we might even be able to recieve that which He desires for us. Many churches are crying out to God for reveival but if God ever blessed them with such a thing, they would be in no way able to sustain it. There needs to be vessels that are empty enough for God to be able to fill. Saying that, we would like to be able to do some correspondance which would lead to us obtaining masters degrees where we could enter into a role of full-time paid ministerial positions, such as chaplaincy at a prison or hospital, etc. This type of ministry is very near to the heart of Jenny & I, and it is what makes us who we are.
So, now that we have returned and are committing ourselves to a year or so in North America, we begin the foreign process of 'life'!! This includes finding a job, getting an apartment, getting cell phones hooked up, dealing with snow(?!), and all the other things that don't really have equivalents on the mission field. It should be a very trying season, but it is one we enter with joy, knowing that the results will far outweigh all the frustrations that Western living will bring.
I am also very excited to have started reading a book that was recently written by our great influence and friend George Woodward. He was the Dean of Students at the Bible College we attended, and he has served us in a variety of ways post-Bible school that we are ever indebted to him and his wife for. The book is called 'Raising Up And Mentoring The Next Generation: The Heart Of A Godly Father', and it is about just that, making sure the next generation is equipped and left with all that God has given to us.
We ask for prayer that we would be able to find jobs that would not hinder us from also doing extensive ministry while we are here on PEI, and we also ask prayer to find a nice simple apartment. Since we got married, Jenny & I have never had a place to call our own, and the thought of it actually excites us quite a bit. And finally, pray that we would postion ourselves into a place where we would be able to recieve the things God has in store for us.

Jenny & I so enjoy those times where we get out of our compound and take the 25 minute car ride to Central Market (Phsar Thom Thmei) and Sorya Shopping Center. We frequently visit these places, and have built relationships with tuk tuk drivers, store staff, gracery store clerks, and food court servers. The English we share with them is sparse, but they all know why we come. Whether we are buying a couple of DVD's, ordering our "same same" at the food court, or accepting a ride to the "waterpark" for "$3", we are enjoying these people whom God has put us in contact with.
On our venture today Jenny and Geoffrey (a new missionary at CMO) decided to partake of the local Cambodian delicacy of fried silkworm. We have often seen enormous plates filled to overflowing with silkworms, cockroaches, tarantulas, and God knows what else, but have never especially felt the desire to partake. Today was different though. I did not eat, I figure that "the two are one" so Jenny's bravery should be credited to my account as well :). Jenny actually didn't think it was so bad.  Maybe she has found a replacement for the 'dom loan tien' (deep fried sweet potatoes) we enjoy so much.
The highlight of my day was buying a black leather trenchcoat for $55. What a find.
There is much floating around our minds these days. Things are always interesting; sometimes moreso.

Tonight was the first official Bible Study I have done since being back in Cambodia. I have taught the Bible to some of my teacher/students, but tonight I was invited to teach 10 or so unbelievers. The weight of His presence was heavy, and conviction was evident on their faces. It was a poweful time, more powerful than I have ever had here in Phnom Penh.
Very early into the study, one of the students asked me, "So, how can we know God?" From there I spent a solid hour digging into foundational Christian truths, dealing mainly with why Jesus needed to come, what happened at and following the cross, where is Jesus now, why He's taking so long to return, and how easy God has made it for us to know Him. As I've already said, the weight of God in the classroom was evident, and the intense look on the students faces captured the moment well.
It is times like these that remind us of why we are here. Jenny & I have felt pretty lonely in our service to God here as "English teachers", but we have been given the green light to be teaching and discipling more. We couldn't be happier in that. It is a humbling realization that God uses those such as us, to advance His purposes. He could do it all Himself, but that would not bring glory to His name. He uses the weak, and the stupid, to glorify Himself. God has made His Gospel vulnerable by entrusting it to a Body who seems far less interested in reaching the lost than He.
The students are coming back for another study on Wednesday. I told them to take the next couple days to brood upon what I taught, and to take note of any questions they might have and bring them to the class. I will spend the next couple days praying for God to invade their lives through dreams, or supernatural encounters, or meetings with Christians who simply love to a degree they have never witnessed before.
It may be happening slowly, but the 10/40 Window is getting smaller everyday.

The day we retruned from Siem Reap (Dec23) I have not felt good. I developed a rash, fever, achy body, etc that took about 5 days to heal up. Immediately after, my eyes got incredibly sore accompanied by a bigtime headache. I went to a doctor and he told me that I had an infection and put me on 7 days worth of antibiotics. After a couple of days I started to feel better and went back to work. Too soon, I guess. My symptoms have returned and I am out of action again. Hopefully my remaining two days of antibiotics will kill this thing off so I can start being productive again.

We have made our decision that we'll return to North America in May. That gives us 5 months more here in Cambodia. We both would like to return to school and work towards a Masters degree. Florida Christian University supposedly accepts credits from Celebration Bible College, so we are gonna see about maybe doing some schooling in Orlando, or at least some correspondance, God willing. Whenever we decide to settle down, and if that happens to be in North America, we would like to be able to pursue employment within the ministry rather than secularly. Chaplaincy would be pretty sweet. A Masters, and ordination, would be required.

Cambodia remains hot. The fruit remains slow, and the ministry crawls forward, seeking to accomodate the increasing demands of New Hope English School. Our job in our time that remains is to pour into the NHES teaches, so that they can shoulder the English school after Jenny & I are gone.

It will be nice to see our home church again, and to spend some time in the company of like-minded people striving for more of the manifestation of God in our lives. Our time in Cambodia has been a realization of how much the presence of God should mean to us. "Obedience is better than sacrifice" has not been just a verse of scripture for us, but a practical life lesson.

If there was ever a year when it did NOT feel like Christmas, this was it. I started feeling sick on the evening of the 23rd, (the day we got back from Siem Reap) and developed a rash, headache, sore throat, achy body, fever, chills, etc which have continued on through today. Today I feel a wee bit better, but feel as if a complete recovery is still a couple of days away.
The fact is, I miss Christmas in the West, with it's snow, and decorated houses with lights and such. I loved just cruising around in the evening feasting on the atmosphere. There is NONE of that here in Cambodia. But, that is the very reason why we are here. It is quite the sacrifice.

Lately, God has stirred up more schooling in our spirits. For years now, I have wanted a Masters degree, but have never even thought of actually doing it. Now we are seriously playing with the idea of more school in 2011. It would be nice to return from the foreign field some day (whenever that may be) and instead of working at WalMart, or wherever, we could get a job as a chaplain at a prison, or hospital, etc. We want to sort of safeguard our futures towards the ministry.

We are also in a season of desperate hunger for the presence and manifestation of Holy Spirit. O come Holy Ghost, and feed us.

Here is the work I've been slaving away at the last month or so. If you want a copy, you can download it above. I can print our full booklet copies for $1US/each here in Phnom Penh!! I may stash some away for when we return to PEI.

The infernal spirits treated Joseph as their enemy. One night the servant of God was standing before the alter of St. Francis, in the Basilica at Assisi, when he heard the door opened violently and saw a man enter, who advanced so noisily that his feet seemed cased in iron. The saint regarded him closely and saw that, as he approached, the lamps went out, one by one, till finally all were extinguished and the intruder stood at his side in utter darkness. Thereupon the devil, for he it was, furiously attacked Joseph, threw him on the floor, and attempted to strangle him. Joseph, however, invoked St.Francis, and saw him come forth from his tomb and relight with a small candle all the lamps, at the gleam of which the fiend suddenly vanished. By reason of this occurence Joseph gave St. Francis the name "Lamplighter of the Church."

We have been in Cambodia just a month and a half. Times have been good. We are receiving a modest salary from CMO for our work here, so that has taken the pressure of potential sponsors, and our minimum is covered. The focus of our work is training English teachers for the ministry here, English teaching, and helping preach at New Life in Christ Church. In 6 weeks, I have gotten to preach 4 times, and Jenny once. My latest preach (just this morning, entitled 'Honor' can be viewed -HERE-.
We are also teaching English to the children here. I rotate between the Grade 1 and 4 classes weekly. The kids are even more endearing than we remember, and Jenny & I see many of them as "our kids".
We have been learning so much about humility, submission, honor, etc. My whole view of ministry is changing, and I see the future as much more intimidating, but also much more important now. All selfishness must leave, if the body of Christ is to get well, and perform it's duties.
Christmas is nearing and nostalgia is setting in. I do miss PEI this time of year. To celebrate the spirit of this season, Jenny & I will be heading to Siem Reap to spend our holidays amidst 1000 yr old Hindu/Buddhist temples. Not quite the same as snow covered fields and houses decorated with lights, but it will have to do.
I like to imagine how worth it it will be when we are settled in to our heavenly home for eternity. Cozy.