Skype

Over Christmas we set up our new Skype account so we will be able to talk to family and friends once we move. If you are interested in connecting with us in that way or if you already have a Skype account please add us to your contact list by searching either "Chris and Leanne DeRemer" or "chrisderemer".

New Developments

We found out right around the Thanksgiving holiday that Leanne will have the chance to visit Phnom Penh, Cambodia before we move there. She will be there for about 10 days and will have the opportunity to see the opening of the new school building for Logos International School, get to look at some housing options, and meet with the staff. Unfortunately, Chris is unable to go with his work schedule, but we are thrilled that one of us can. Leanne hopes to bring back a lot of valuable information on what our two years living there will be like, learn more about our specific ministries, as well as some helpful packing information. With the development of this new trip our moving to SE Asia is starting to become more and more real!

Let the process begin

We have been in the decision making and planning stages for the past few months but this week we are starting our journey in fundraising. We are sending out a newsletter to friends and family updating everyone on what our plans are for the next two years, and also giving them the opportunity to financially support the work we will be doing. We are sending these letters to those who live out of state, however, if you are interested in receiving one of those letters please let us know and we will gladly send you one.

As for those in Colorado we are going to have a 5K run/walk fundraising event in the late spring for those who desire to support us financially and live in Colorado. We will send more information on that event as we get into 2010. But you can start training (and saving) now!

You can always contact either of us with any questions you might have on supporting us, or check this blog for more updates.

What will we be doing?

Chris will be teaching high school at Logos International school, and most likely be coaching the soccer team out there (can it get any better?) He also might be involved in an adult education program that would help Cambodian adults learn English.

For more information on Logos check out their website at www.logoscambodia.org.

As for Leanne, SE Asia and Cambodia itself is a large hub for human trafficking and prostitution. Cambodian girls can be trafficked into prostitution as young as the age of 7, and many can’t leave the industry either out of fear, addiction, or because it is the main source of income for many families. Leanne would be starting a ministry at Asian Hope that would provide women with life skills that would help them avoid prostitution. In partnering with other ministries in Phnom Penh, the main goal would to help start a program for the girls at Asian Hope that have been affected by trafficking, while also raising up nationals that would take over the ministry when we leave.

How we got here

As many have known both of us have always loved to travel, and even more been passionate about the idea of missions. We started thinking of moving overseas even before we were married but the timing was never right. In the past few months we found that this might be our time. As we looked and researched more into this process we found several doors opening to move abroad. We were recently offered positions at Asian Hope that meet the ideas we had. We were wanting to serve a 2-year term, leaving late summer of 2010, and in the SE Asia region. Not only were the logistics perfect but we were going to be able to work in the areas we both wanted, it all fell together so perfectly. After some time in prayer, conversations with family and mentors, we both felt a sense of peace that this was the right choice for us.

Thank you to everyone who walked with us in this process!

Why Cambodia?

You might be thinking why Cambodia? Well, here is a little lesson on Cambodia’s modern history.

From 1975-1979, Cambodia was torn apart from its highest governmental levels all the way down to the foundation of the family. The brutal Khmer Rouge, led by Pol Pot, murdered over 30% of Cambodia’s population targeting the aged, educated and professional classes of society. Their goal was an agrarian society that could easily be controlled and their means were genocide and displacement of the population from the cities to the rural provinces. The Khmer Rouge divided children from their parents in order to re-educate a new class in their controlling brutality.In 1979, the Vietnamese army defeated the Khmer Rouge thus sending them into hiding in the jungles near the Thai-Cambodian border. The Vietnamese army occupied Cambodia until 1989 – years of warfare brought fear, instability and more death to the Cambodian people. Democracy was restored in 1993 with a power sharing deal between two major political parties – one led by the Prime Minister and the other led by the royal family. Generally, there has been peace since the 1990’s with the only exception being election related violence. Only now, in 2008, are those responsible for the genocide known as “the killing fields” being brought to trial.

Because of the tragic history over 50% of the population is under the age of 20, and less than 10% of the population is in skilled labor! Some other statistics on why we have a desire to help those living in Cambodia:

• 35% of the population live on less than $0.34 per day
• The average annual income is $300 and 75% of employment is in agriculture
• Literacy is at 74% (ranked 134th out of 179)
• Only 5% of high school teachers have actually obtained a high school diploma

Asian Hope

Asian Hope is a faith-based organization that operates in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. After Cambodia went through a tragic genocide in the 1970's, several missionaries felt called to open an orphanage in Phnom Penh to help the children who had recently become orphaned. After starting the orphanage the staff discovered the public schools were teaching the children that it was appropriate to bribe authorities in order to receive a better grade, thus came Logos International School. Asian Hope then expanded the school to also serve Cambodian children outside of the children’s home by providing quality, affordable or free, Christian education, all with the hopes of helping Cambodia be changed for Christ. The school now has an enrollment of about 600 students grades K-12, and is the 3rd largest school in Cambodia. Asian Hope still has both a girls home (House of Faith) and a boys home (House of Hope) that serves those children that are found on the streets. The organization invests deeply in their children and have the ability to send all of their kids all the way through higher education. These students are given the opportunity to go to college in either the US, India, China, or Thailand where they gain the knowledge and experience to bring skilled labor back to Cambodia. When they finish their schooling the kids come back to Cambodia to transform the country. We love this philosophy of ministry as we feel this is how Christ did His ministry!

For more on Asian Hope please check out the website at http://www.asianhope.org/.

We are moving to Cambodia...

That’s right we have decided to move overseas and live in Phnom Penh, Cambodia for two years and work with a Christian organization called Asian Hope. We decided to set up this blog so our family and friends can track our lives out in Asia. Before we leave the blog will mainly be used to keep people in the loop on our fundraising, preparations, and information about our organization. When we leave in July of 2010, please continue to check up on us to hear about our day to day in Phnom Penh.