God, I’m a grateful mother who You have blessed indeed
Then enlarged my borders and shown me the obvious need
Of those near and far from my own comfortable place of birth
Who live in such apparent lack on their portion of the earth

My needs are all met and I live in the fullness of life
While close by me many others know only trouble and strife
It's because to my father and mother I was born in a land far away
And heard of Your love and grace given freely without need to repay

You keep me safe and secure from all threat of harm and fear
While close to me a mother cries nightly her every tear
While I sleep in peace and comfort another mother lying near by
Is sadly sobbing her heart out with many a deep, long sigh

And now that I live out of the abundance of what I’ve got
I pray I may always give to those around me who have not
Moved with deep compassion for those You’ve revealed to me
I pray for a revelation for those who do not yet see You as I see

Stay close to her Lord, until she hears about Your love and grace
From someone filled with Your compassion who daily runs their race
And joyfully shares the very reality that You are all they’ll ever need
So just like Jabez she can pray, Lord bless me indeed.

Carol Kelly

Sam and Pastor Sara escorted us to 'Happy Village' to introduce us to the people. What a precious bunch of people!

Everyone at 'Happy Village' is awaiting eviction orders, as the property boom continues and new apartments close in around them.

If you feel touched by the plight of these people and would like to make a contribution, please don't hesitate to contact us.



This little guys need was easy to meet - all he wanted was a cuddle. I thought he was never going to let me go!



While I took my time on the bridges, the little kids ran across them with ease!



They didn't have much, but the kids had a Bible.





Pastor obviously enjoys spending time with his flock.



It was all 'happening' at 'Happy Village'.

This is the way we wash our hair...



... this is the way we rinse our hair!





The lady on the right had recently been struck by lightning and is still recovering.



This young boy was not at all well.



One lady was very excited as she delivered the piglets.



This lady is exploited by a company she sews for, so now that I have met her, I will do something about that.



These kids were preparing a meal.



Sam built some of the houses and bridges at 'Happy Village'.



This baby was very cute!

We are excited about the invitation from Pastor Jesse to partner with the Church and work with the vulnerable children's project and primary school team members.



We are looking forward to being on the team. What a privilege!

What a privilege it was to travel to BC with Linda! I had wanted to accompany Linda on one of her trips since I first met her, so I was delighted to receive an invitation.



It was great to have the opportunity to take 'Kellys' in Cambodia' to Vancouver and to meet with Missions Directors, Church Pastors and to share with members of the congregations.

It was also wonderful to meet new friends and to get reacquainted with some 'old ones'. Each of our hosts were most welcoming!























We were blessed to schedule in a day out at Whistler.















There was an eclipse 30 minutes after our flight departed BC.

The following information is from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Travel Advice for Cambodia website.

Exercise Caution

This advice has been reviewed and reissued. It contains new information in the Summary and Civil Unrest/Political Tension (update). The overall level of the advice has not changed.


Summary

We advise you to exercise caution and monitor developments that might affect your safety in Cambodia because of the risk of civil unrest, violent criminal activity and terrorism.

On 29 July 2007, a bomb exploded in front of the Cambodian/Vietnamese Friendship Monument in the Duan Penh district of Phnom Penh – two other devices failed to explode. While no-one has claimed responsibility, further attacks cannot be ruled out.

Pay close attention to your personal security and monitor the media for information about possible new safety or security risks.

You should avoid protests, demonstrations and political gatherings as they may turn violent.

In the past year there have been human cases of avian influenza in Cambodia. See the Health Issues section below for advice to Australians travelling to or resident in Cambodia.

Thank you

It was time to join Mark and Jo for a special breakfast to farewell Charlie and Mary Ann as they prepared to leave Cambodia.



It has been great getting to know Charlie and Mary Ann and their children, and to work with them as they managed the JMM Festival of Fellowship.

Who knows where we will meet again?!

We are all currently enjoying a series on "How to Hear the Voice of God".

Sophia speaks Spanish and since she arrived in Cambodia to serve as a missionary, she hasn't been able to communicate with many, if any, so it was lovely when Kerrie met Sophia and they had a least a little 'Spanish chat'.

The state or condition of being a partner, participation, association, joint interest, fellowship, brotherhood, togetherness and union.

Now that's a definition that sounds great!

We are delighted to have received an invitation to partner with Amy and Kerrie.

After a few discussions relating to the workings of the partnership, the Sewing Income Generation project has the privilege of exporting items to Australia, exclusively for the girls business.









Just prior to this, some of the project's items also went to South Africa. Now that's great and the ladies doing the sewing are excited!

Kay and Helen invited a number of the children from the orphanage out to the airport to say goodbye.



While the girls checked their luggage in, we treated the kids to an ice cream. Thanks, Tony!

The children at the shelter were presented with their new T shirts and marked the occasion with a special day of celebrations which included a special lunch and games.

We are blessed to have great preaching from Pastor Jesse and awesome praise and worship from the team every week and you can guarantee that you will leave a service inspired when Michael Shepherd is preaching.



We look forward to Mike's return to Phnom Penh in December.

We were blessed to be among the group of people invited to a conference room at the Intercontinental, to close Hope Cambodia.

It was explained that among other things, going ahead with the Festival at the Olympic Stadium had become a security risk and there just wasn't enough time before the event to organise the required security.

We gave thanks as we listened to the report of the statistics relating to the various ministries conducted in Cambodia during the 30 Days of Hope. Darlene and Martin finished off the evening with a beautiful rendition of Amazing Grace.



It was great to have the Aussies in town.



The 'Perth Boys' - well at least they were before Nigel headed to Hillsong and Patrick to Phnom Penh.

We came home to take a break before the praise and worship Festival of Fellowship at the Olympic Stadium, while the organisers were down at the stadium setting up for tonights event. Then we received a call to say that the event was cancelled. Thousands were expected.

The government authorities in Cambodia are a breed all of their own. They're unique! Trust me, we know as we have the 'pleasure' of dealing with them on a regular basis.

As you can expect, the antics of the officials over the past few days have really cranked up the interest in Christianity.

It's hard to believe that after finally having all the necessary documenation approved and signed that this would still happen. But that is what happens when bureaucratic goverrnments are allowed to rule!

It was time to say goodbye to the amazing Duinick family...



... as they left Phnom Penh to return home.



Dr. Mitch and Leah have coordinated and led the medical team for the past two weeks.

Only a few medical team members remain in the city with more departures scheduled for the next day or two.

It was such a privilege for us to be invited to Host the medical teams on the weekends during the 30 Days of Hope. So we thank Joyce Meyer Ministries for the awesome honour and privilege.

The program started early in the Compassion for Christ Church and included worship led by Darlene, Nigel on the guitar and Piseth singing in Khmer. What a sound!





Mike Shepherd and Joyce Meyer delivered great messages.



Joyce said that she had not experienced anything like what they had in Cambodia in 30+ years of ministry and that she had never climbed the fence to get into an event before.

It was a night of worship that many will not forget!

The authorities 'pulled the plug' on the generator and left everyone in Chenla Theatre in the dark and without sound. But that didn't stop the concert going ahead.

Martin got down from the stage and stood on a front row chair and played his acoustic guitar and led the crowd in worship. Soon after, Darlene and another guitarist joined him. Somebody handed Darlene a loud haler and the crowd sang one song after another. You couldn't see anything other than camera flashes and mobile phone lights, but you could hear the sweet sounds of a crowd who were not going home without having a night of worship.



Finally, we all left the theatre only to find a large crowd gathered outside, so the two groups combined and the worshipping continued.

Joyce Meyer was not at Chenla but had been told about the crowd that had gathered who were in no hurry to leave. Police had locked the gates and would not let people in or out of the complex grounds.

Soon after, Joyce Meyer arrived at the location and climbed over the fence of the complex and was ushered to the front steps where they called for an Interpreter who quickly joined her and she began preaching to the crowd through a loud haler. After the message the singing recommenced.





We wonder what tomorrow will bring!

We attended the Conference at the Compassion for Christ Church and were 'greeted' by Military Police (MP) the same way as we were 'farewelled' by MPs when we left Chenla Theatre after being advised that we had to vacate the premises half way through yesterdays program.

Delirious led the worship after devotions followed by great messages from Don Clowers and Joyce Meyer. Joyce Meyer mentioned in her message that she felt like the cloud in the wilderness moving from venue to venue, but where she went the people followed.

Just as Joyce Meyer was ready to finish off and leave the podium, Joyce's son, David, came on stage and whispered to her. Then there was great excitement at the announcement that the permission documents had been signed by the remaining bureaucratic stalling government offical signatory and permission granted in writing, to have the Conference at the Olympic Stadium. I guess they thought that because they didn't grant permission that the Conference would be cancelled. But that wasn't going to happen!

We may be two days into the 4 day Conference, having experienced changes of venues, schedules and cancellations, but the people will move to the Stadium when it's ready and the 30 Days of Hope - 'Hope Cambodia' - Saturday and Sunday evening programs will run as scheduled at the Olympic Stadium.