J.P. was very thankful to be invited to join Preach Lutheran Church’s Easter service. He was delighted to hear all the special music performed by children, youth, and the women’s group. And what a joy to give the sermon, focusing on the joy and hope of Jesus’ resurrection!
Just another Saturday night! This week we had a special Holy Week lesson, looking at the one Scripture reference we have for what happened on Holy Saturday: Matthew 27:62-66. Why did the Pharisees guard the tomb of Jesus? Do we ever act as if we’d prefer Jesus to stay in the tomb? Fortunately, he doesn’t!
Hot season is here and in full effect. It is energy sapping but the Holy Spirit is energy filling! Please pray for the people of Cambodia during the next two hottest months of the year.
This year, as I (Aimee) reflected on the events of Holy Week, I thought about Saturday. Much attention is paid to Maundy Thursday- the institution of Holy Communion and washing of the disciples feet, of Good Friday- Jesus torture and death on the cross, but what about Saturday? His followers must have been so confused, right? They had high hopes that this was the promised one who would come to save them… then He was gone. They didn’t know that Easter was coming and that through His death He would conquer death and the grave.
How often are we in the midst of circumstances where we wonder- where is God in the midst of this?
Perhaps first enduring the season of shock and sorrow made the news of the resurrection all the more powerful- a reminder in the future that God is faithful and merciful!
Last week I was fortunate to visit Hanoi for four days and spend 16 hour days with friends, members of our former Bible study group, and Play! cafe staff. It was a reminder of the season that we walked through after leaving Hanoi, which felt like a few years of ‘Saturday’. And yet, because of Easter, we don’t live as those with no hope. Because He has conquered death, we can live as transformed people. Easter people!
It was so sweet to be able to sit together, encourage, and pray with these friends. Some of them are Christians, and have been baptized. Some have not yet come to faith, but shared the desire to have hope. I believe it is the Holy Spirit working in them!
Please continue to pray that God will create faith in these dear friends so they might also live with HOPE.
I didn’t have a chance to take many pictures of the Good Friday service, but here’s one when the room was quite dark. Pastor Songim and the musicians did a great job!
I saw this moto driver as I was on my own moto on my way to preach the Good Friday service at Christ Lutheran Church in Phnom Penh. Christians are a small minority in Cambodia, so it’s rare to see a shirt like this. But how wonderful to see it on Good Friday. The cross makes the way. The cross is the miracle. The cross is the promise fulfilled. The cross breaks the darkness.
Aimee will be co-facilitating a training of trainers workshop for Community Health Evangelism (CHE) in Cambodia from June 4-7. This short video describes why CHE is so important–have a look! Aimee has been working in areas of CHE for some time now, including using CHE methodology in her work with CWEF, and also among other LCMS workers in Asia. She wants to introduce the methodology to more people and organizations in Cambodia. She has confirmed participation of some leaders in the Cambodia Lutheran Church, another missionary on the LCMS Asia team, as well as participants from diverse nationalities.
This week J.P. is sitting in on a seminar hosted by the Cambodia Lutheran Church. Dr. Harold Ristau of the Lutheran Church–Canada is teaching on the differences among different denominations. It’s a great chance to see church leaders from all over the country while learning from Scripture together. Please pray for the seminar, which runs through Friday.