I intend to add additional information regarding the Mission Trip to this blog throughout this year.
For those of you who might be reading this and do not know me, I have a full time engineering business. When I returned from the Mission Trip my daughter was married the following week. Then right after that came the Christmas and New Years Holidays. As a result of being away from work for many days I have been focusing on my engineering business in January and February. I have not done anything with this blog during these two months. However, I want to add as much information as I can from the trip to Glorify the Name of Jesus and document what happened during the trip. So, I just want to inform those who are interested that I plan to add information to this blog regarding the events that occurred during the mission trip. I hope it is an encouragement to you and lifts up the name of Jesus!
Friday, February 11, 2011
Monday, December 20, 2010
I will be working on posting more photos and videos
This is just to let you know that I will continue to work on posting photos and videos of the clinics. I will try to post photos and videos for each day of the mission trip. It will take several weeks for me to reach my goal on this, so just check back from time to time on the page marked "Photos and Videos" for new material.
I hope this is a blessing to you and encourages you in your faith in Jesus Christ!
I hope this is a blessing to you and encourages you in your faith in Jesus Christ!
Monday, December 13, 2010
Future Posts
Message to those who are viewing this blog
Now that the 2010 Cambodia Medical Mission trip has concluded I will be focusing my work on this blog towards posting photos and videos of events that occurred each day. I want to make an record of what happened. I will post them chronologically, going back and filling in days that were missed. Right now I am posting photos/videos of Sunday, Nov. 28. So, if you are interested, you can check back from time to time to see the new photos/videos/commentary that I will be adding. I hope this is a blessing to you.
Regarding Video Testimonies
I also want to add one comment about video testimonies of healings and salvations that occurred on the mission trip. I think this should be understood by all, but just in case...the purpose of these video testimonies is to make much of Jesus Christ. It is not about the man, the person who is sharing the testimony, it is about Jesus who is the One doing all the work. We on the team are simply given the privilege to be used by Jesus to carry out His work. I can vouch for each testimony that the event you are hearing described really did occur, no matter how miraculous it may seem to you. These things are true, it is not embellished or magnified in anyway. If anyone has any questions about these testimonies feel free to send me an email at kurt@kdwa.us. I would be very happy to respond to your comments or questions.
Now that the 2010 Cambodia Medical Mission trip has concluded I will be focusing my work on this blog towards posting photos and videos of events that occurred each day. I want to make an record of what happened. I will post them chronologically, going back and filling in days that were missed. Right now I am posting photos/videos of Sunday, Nov. 28. So, if you are interested, you can check back from time to time to see the new photos/videos/commentary that I will be adding. I hope this is a blessing to you.
Regarding Video Testimonies
I also want to add one comment about video testimonies of healings and salvations that occurred on the mission trip. I think this should be understood by all, but just in case...the purpose of these video testimonies is to make much of Jesus Christ. It is not about the man, the person who is sharing the testimony, it is about Jesus who is the One doing all the work. We on the team are simply given the privilege to be used by Jesus to carry out His work. I can vouch for each testimony that the event you are hearing described really did occur, no matter how miraculous it may seem to you. These things are true, it is not embellished or magnified in anyway. If anyone has any questions about these testimonies feel free to send me an email at kurt@kdwa.us. I would be very happy to respond to your comments or questions.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Journey Back Home Part II
It was about 80 degrees when I left Cambodia Friday night when I left the Phnom Penh airport. It is hard for me to believe that Friday night I was in Phnom Penh. The Medical Mission trip to Cambodia of 2010 went by so fast! I knew it would. It was a wonderful experience and I praise God that He called me to be part of that Team. In two weeks I made friendships that will last a lifetime. Sam, Ron, Rick, Cyndy, John, Regina, Glenn, Evelyn, George, Nelson, Setan, the translators, the drivers the drama team...you are in my heart forever!
I want to share one main thought that is in my heart right now and it is directed primarily to those of you reading this blog who are born again by Jesus living in America. You have read some of the miraculous events that I posted on this web site, and I will be posting more in the days ahead. You may have thrilled with me at the marvelous things that Jesus did during the two weeks of Medical Mission and Evangelism in Cambodia. Now I ask you a question, what is happening in your world where you live? As you live your day to day life in America, walking with the living Lord Jesus Christ, do you expect Him to do the miraculous in your life? Do you expect your co-worker to be saved? Do you pray for your co-worker to be saved, do you share Christ with him or her? Do you expect Jesus to heal you of your infirmities? Do you pray and ask for healing? It's one thing to read on a blog about a person (me) seeing and/or being involved in miraculous healing by Jesus and people getting saved while he is on a mission trip in a third world country. But what about you where you live and go to church? Is this type of thing happening in your life? I hope so. Get excited about Jesus! He is alive, active, living and moving in the lives of human beings all around the globe, and in your community! Recognize this and make sure your life is connected to this living and reigning Lord Jesus Christ!
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Journey Back Home Part I
I am on the journey back home today. It is Friday, Dec. 10, 2010 at 9:30 AM. I am riding in one of the vans in the front seat. The driver is Sophal. In the bench seat behind me is George Sooley one of the Team members. We have several translators in the van also. Watt, Lucky, Nairy, So Pie and Chan Nam. So that's eight persons and as much luggage, backpacks and computer bags that we can stuff in any available space. I have my backpack under my legs, I am typing on my laptop which is on top of my computer bag on my lap. Right beside me my arm is resting on two duffel bags. You get the idea. We are off to Phnom Penh. Nearly all of us will be leaving tonight at midnight. We have a six hour drive ahead of us.
I was just able to Skype my daughter Hannah while riding in the van, and wish her Happy Birthday. I was able to sing her Happy Birthday on her 16th Birthday which was pretty important to me. Thank you Lord for this wireless internet card that Watt loaned me. I turned the microphone towards the back of the van and had the five translators sing Happy Birthday to Hannah in the Khmer language! I thought that was pretty cool! :)
Sophal the driver
George Sooley and Watt
Lucky (in front - he was sleepy! :) ) and Chan Nam
Nairy (left) and So Pie
And....me!
The only component that remains for this mission trip is to travel to Phnom Penh, rest there until around 10:30 PM and then go to the airport to catch the midnight flight to Seoul, South Korea. That is about a 5 hour flight. I have a 4 hour layover in Seoul, then fly to Atlanta. That flight over the pacific ocean is 15 hours long. That is a long flight for me! I hope I can sleep some on that flight! Then I fly to Asheville, NC and arrive around 1:30 PM on Saturday. According to my biological clock it will be 1:30 AM Sunday morning. So I will lose 12 hours when I arrive in Asheville. I will probably nap a little and then try to stay awake until my normal bed time.
Some thoughts about this mission trip
So here I am now on the tail end of Mission Cambodia 2010! I can hardly believe it. Honestly, to me right now it is like I arrived yesterday. Many on the Team expressed the same thoughts. It has been a truly blessed experience to be on this Mission Trip! We serve an awesome God. I think one of the main thoughts that I have, and have been shared by many on the Team, is that we are privledged to be asked by God to serve Him here. We all believe God has appointed us to be on this Team. He assembled it. He called us to serve. We responded with a yes. And God did the work through us. This is way we should serve God 24/7 anywhere, everywhere. God is the almighty, awesome God of the universe and He is the one who does the work in the life of a human soul. God, in His perfect plan, has ordained it so that He chooses to use Human Beings to carry out His work. He uses us to do His work. We are His hands, his feet, and we should be ready to serve.
At the airport
Well, we made it to Phnom Penh uneventfully. Everyone had a good trip. John Clark got sick upon arrival, but he is now sitting with us at the airport and seems to be fine. We prayed a lot for him. We said our goodbyes to the drama team before we left Siem Reap. We said our goodbyes to the translators upon arrival at Phnom Penh. It was a sad site to me to see the backs of those young people walking away from us into the crowded streets of Phnom Penh. I wanted to run after them. Then we spent a few hours near the TransformAsia office. We prayed one more time for John Clark and prayed for Setan Lee and his family. Then headed off the airport. We made it through customs OK and then said our goodbyes to Glenn and Evelyn Cobb who are taking a different flight then me and the other Team members. We are now seated at the gate ready to board the 5 hour flight to Seoul, South Korea. On that flight with me will be George Sooley, Sam Hopper, Ron Cole and John and Regina Clark. We will be boarding soon. We debriefed a little bit at the airport and all felt the Mission Trip really went well. We felt the presence of the Holy Spirit with us and saw God work in mighty ways.
I was just able to Skype my daughter Hannah while riding in the van, and wish her Happy Birthday. I was able to sing her Happy Birthday on her 16th Birthday which was pretty important to me. Thank you Lord for this wireless internet card that Watt loaned me. I turned the microphone towards the back of the van and had the five translators sing Happy Birthday to Hannah in the Khmer language! I thought that was pretty cool! :)
I just took pictures of those in the van with me. One of the translators (Lucky) was sleepy when I took the pictures.
The only component that remains for this mission trip is to travel to Phnom Penh, rest there until around 10:30 PM and then go to the airport to catch the midnight flight to Seoul, South Korea. That is about a 5 hour flight. I have a 4 hour layover in Seoul, then fly to Atlanta. That flight over the pacific ocean is 15 hours long. That is a long flight for me! I hope I can sleep some on that flight! Then I fly to Asheville, NC and arrive around 1:30 PM on Saturday. According to my biological clock it will be 1:30 AM Sunday morning. So I will lose 12 hours when I arrive in Asheville. I will probably nap a little and then try to stay awake until my normal bed time.
Some thoughts about this mission trip
So here I am now on the tail end of Mission Cambodia 2010! I can hardly believe it. Honestly, to me right now it is like I arrived yesterday. Many on the Team expressed the same thoughts. It has been a truly blessed experience to be on this Mission Trip! We serve an awesome God. I think one of the main thoughts that I have, and have been shared by many on the Team, is that we are privledged to be asked by God to serve Him here. We all believe God has appointed us to be on this Team. He assembled it. He called us to serve. We responded with a yes. And God did the work through us. This is way we should serve God 24/7 anywhere, everywhere. God is the almighty, awesome God of the universe and He is the one who does the work in the life of a human soul. God, in His perfect plan, has ordained it so that He chooses to use Human Beings to carry out His work. He uses us to do His work. We are His hands, his feet, and we should be ready to serve.
At the airport
Well, we made it to Phnom Penh uneventfully. Everyone had a good trip. John Clark got sick upon arrival, but he is now sitting with us at the airport and seems to be fine. We prayed a lot for him. We said our goodbyes to the drama team before we left Siem Reap. We said our goodbyes to the translators upon arrival at Phnom Penh. It was a sad site to me to see the backs of those young people walking away from us into the crowded streets of Phnom Penh. I wanted to run after them. Then we spent a few hours near the TransformAsia office. We prayed one more time for John Clark and prayed for Setan Lee and his family. Then headed off the airport. We made it through customs OK and then said our goodbyes to Glenn and Evelyn Cobb who are taking a different flight then me and the other Team members. We are now seated at the gate ready to board the 5 hour flight to Seoul, South Korea. On that flight with me will be George Sooley, Sam Hopper, Ron Cole and John and Regina Clark. We will be boarding soon. We debriefed a little bit at the airport and all felt the Mission Trip really went well. We felt the presence of the Holy Spirit with us and saw God work in mighty ways.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
David Center Orphanage - Sanitation
John Clark and I finished our survey of the David Center Orphanage sanitation problem. About $2,000 would solve an immediate problem. If anyone wishes to give a unique Christmas present, consider contributing to improving the sanitation conditions at the David Center Orphanage helping 51 children and the staff.
Problem & Solution
The current bathroom facility discharges toilet waste to holding tanks which are pumped out; a 'pump and haul' waste disposal system. The holding tanks are currently undersized. This can be remidied quickly. A local concrete pipe manufacturer makes (approximately) 36" diameter tongue and groove pipe in 3 foot joints which can be stacked together to make a holding tank. Two joints can make a nice size tank which can be easily doubled by setting two of these side by side connecting them with a pipe. The local manufacturer also knows individuals in the village that have the capability to excavate the pit for these tanks, set them and do the pipework. All the other materials that can make this system work are locally available also. I estimate that $2,000 would cover the labor and materials including some contingency to completely replace the current holding tanks. The new system that will provide larger capacity and a better enclosure reducing the potential for vector attraction. This would provide immediate relief to the residents at the center. So, if those of you reading this feel led by the Lord to help out you can simply contact me at kurt@kdwa.us and I can put you in contact with the appropriate individual. This would be a great blessing to the children and staff at the center! A very nice Christmas present! :)
I will write more on the David Center and try to post photos as I make my trek around Siem Reap looking for high bandwidth internet.
God Bless!
Problem & Solution
The current bathroom facility discharges toilet waste to holding tanks which are pumped out; a 'pump and haul' waste disposal system. The holding tanks are currently undersized. This can be remidied quickly. A local concrete pipe manufacturer makes (approximately) 36" diameter tongue and groove pipe in 3 foot joints which can be stacked together to make a holding tank. Two joints can make a nice size tank which can be easily doubled by setting two of these side by side connecting them with a pipe. The local manufacturer also knows individuals in the village that have the capability to excavate the pit for these tanks, set them and do the pipework. All the other materials that can make this system work are locally available also. I estimate that $2,000 would cover the labor and materials including some contingency to completely replace the current holding tanks. The new system that will provide larger capacity and a better enclosure reducing the potential for vector attraction. This would provide immediate relief to the residents at the center. So, if those of you reading this feel led by the Lord to help out you can simply contact me at kurt@kdwa.us and I can put you in contact with the appropriate individual. This would be a great blessing to the children and staff at the center! A very nice Christmas present! :)
I will write more on the David Center and try to post photos as I make my trek around Siem Reap looking for high bandwidth internet.
God Bless!
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Watt's Mom
One of the translators that I have become close friends with is "Watt." That's his American nickname (like 100 watt lightbulb). His real name is Sereiwath. They pronounce the th like a t, so the last part of his name 'wath' he pronounces as "watt", so that's how he got his nickname.
His mother accepted Jesus as her personal Saviour Sunday morning! Praise God!
The Story
Watt was very concerned for his mother, father and sister. His mother was opened to the Gospel, but was afraid of the Buddhist god. She was also afraid of her ancestors, I think I understood Watt to say that she was afraid if she accepted Jesus, that her ancestors (who were Buddhists) would come haunt her. Watt's sister accepted Jesus, but according to Watt, has become confused and waffles back and forth between Buddhism and being a follower of Jesus. Watt's family lives in Battambang. We have been staying in Battambang for several nights, so Watt has been going home and talking to his mother. Sunday after church Watt invited several members of the Team and some of his friends who are translators to go to his house and talk to his family. He wanted us to share the Gospel with them, answer quetsions that they might have with the hope that they might accept Jesus as their personal Savior. We arrived at the Watts home and I was stunned. I have not be exposed to this kind of home in Cambodia yet. It is on the 'other side of the fence' regarding the poor people we have been helping. Watt's father is the District Chief of Battambang, a very high ranking official. Battambang's population is over 100,000, so he is like the mayor of a city of that size. But I think more powerful, more important, than a mayor that we are used to in the USA. Their home is stunningly beautiful. Many wealthy people in the USA would love to have a home like Watt's. I will try to upload a picture of their home after I post this text, but it probably won't go through. At any rate, we entered the home and met his mother, father and sister. We exchanged some greetings and preliminary talk. They are very loving, caring people, I instantly felt drawn to them. During the course of the conversation Watt's mother informed us all that early in Sunday morning she prayed to accept Jesus as her personal Saviour! What great news. She said the night before Watt had talked to her for about 3 hours. She thought about what he said to her, she thought about the Gospel and her heart was opened up to Jesus to receive Him as her personal savior. Praise the Lord. We talked about a lot of things related to the Gospel and during the conversation Watt's dad received a telephone call and he had to leave to attend a meeting. He expressed his apologies and left. After he left Watt's mother took us on a tour of them home. Absolutley beautiful, teakwood everywhere. Their home is 3 stories high, we went to the very top which is open for viewing. You can see all across Battambang from the top of their house. We could see the hotel we were staying at. Up there, on the top of the roof we had wonderful fellowship. Watt's mother has pain in her joints (probably arthritis) and we prayed for healing for her joint pain. Then we went downstairs to the front of the room she dedicated to the Buddha god. Where the idols where. She was afraid that ghosts related to Buddha would haunt her. We circled around her there, held hands, and prayed that Jesus would surround their home and protect them from Satan's attacks. Then we finally went downstairs to their lining room and prayed for a blessing on their whole family and that Watt's father would come to know Jesus and his sister would be strengthened in the Lord.
Also, during the course of all of this one of the translators who is Buddhist, Nary, (her nickname is Nary, her real name is Cham Nan) informed the group that she accepted Jesus as her personal Saviour during the church service Sunday morning! What an awesome Day! Praise God!
A note concerning future blog posts
There are others out there who are reading this blog - some members of the Team have asked for the web site address for this blog and are interested in news and information about the trip. There is so much to tell. And I am so very limited with the slow internet speed. I wish I could upload videos of testimonies and photos. I intend to complete this blog with videos and photos (God willing) when I return to the USA and can get on true high bandwidth. So if you want to check back to see photos and videos of some of these events hopefully it will be there for you.
His mother accepted Jesus as her personal Saviour Sunday morning! Praise God!
The Story
Watt was very concerned for his mother, father and sister. His mother was opened to the Gospel, but was afraid of the Buddhist god. She was also afraid of her ancestors, I think I understood Watt to say that she was afraid if she accepted Jesus, that her ancestors (who were Buddhists) would come haunt her. Watt's sister accepted Jesus, but according to Watt, has become confused and waffles back and forth between Buddhism and being a follower of Jesus. Watt's family lives in Battambang. We have been staying in Battambang for several nights, so Watt has been going home and talking to his mother. Sunday after church Watt invited several members of the Team and some of his friends who are translators to go to his house and talk to his family. He wanted us to share the Gospel with them, answer quetsions that they might have with the hope that they might accept Jesus as their personal Savior. We arrived at the Watts home and I was stunned. I have not be exposed to this kind of home in Cambodia yet. It is on the 'other side of the fence' regarding the poor people we have been helping. Watt's father is the District Chief of Battambang, a very high ranking official. Battambang's population is over 100,000, so he is like the mayor of a city of that size. But I think more powerful, more important, than a mayor that we are used to in the USA. Their home is stunningly beautiful. Many wealthy people in the USA would love to have a home like Watt's. I will try to upload a picture of their home after I post this text, but it probably won't go through. At any rate, we entered the home and met his mother, father and sister. We exchanged some greetings and preliminary talk. They are very loving, caring people, I instantly felt drawn to them. During the course of the conversation Watt's mother informed us all that early in Sunday morning she prayed to accept Jesus as her personal Saviour! What great news. She said the night before Watt had talked to her for about 3 hours. She thought about what he said to her, she thought about the Gospel and her heart was opened up to Jesus to receive Him as her personal savior. Praise the Lord. We talked about a lot of things related to the Gospel and during the conversation Watt's dad received a telephone call and he had to leave to attend a meeting. He expressed his apologies and left. After he left Watt's mother took us on a tour of them home. Absolutley beautiful, teakwood everywhere. Their home is 3 stories high, we went to the very top which is open for viewing. You can see all across Battambang from the top of their house. We could see the hotel we were staying at. Up there, on the top of the roof we had wonderful fellowship. Watt's mother has pain in her joints (probably arthritis) and we prayed for healing for her joint pain. Then we went downstairs to the front of the room she dedicated to the Buddha god. Where the idols where. She was afraid that ghosts related to Buddha would haunt her. We circled around her there, held hands, and prayed that Jesus would surround their home and protect them from Satan's attacks. Then we finally went downstairs to their lining room and prayed for a blessing on their whole family and that Watt's father would come to know Jesus and his sister would be strengthened in the Lord.
Also, during the course of all of this one of the translators who is Buddhist, Nary, (her nickname is Nary, her real name is Cham Nan) informed the group that she accepted Jesus as her personal Saviour during the church service Sunday morning! What an awesome Day! Praise God!
A note concerning future blog posts
There are others out there who are reading this blog - some members of the Team have asked for the web site address for this blog and are interested in news and information about the trip. There is so much to tell. And I am so very limited with the slow internet speed. I wish I could upload videos of testimonies and photos. I intend to complete this blog with videos and photos (God willing) when I return to the USA and can get on true high bandwidth. So if you want to check back to see photos and videos of some of these events hopefully it will be there for you.
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