A Day to Celebrate

Yesterday morning was a morning full of joy, celebration, and thankfulness to the Lord.  As we have mentioned the new building we have been renovating in Prek Pneu is all finished and we were able to open it up to the Khmer house church that Asian Hope helps support.  We offered to help host an opening day of the church now being able to use the new building.  We worked with the Pastor on having the normal service but then also having a time of fellowship and sharing of a meal with one another afterwards.  The church was thrilled to celebrate with us.

They decorated the building with balloons, set up all the chairs and desks so it felt like a true church building, and the woman from the church made a delicious Khmer curry with bread.  The service was wonderful.  Both the younger and older children performed a song and dance, the young adults (and core members of he church) prepared a skit (which was a funny memory I will never forget), the older women shared testimonies, and the pastor gave his usual sermon.  This special service gathered over 25 children and probably 30 adults, numbers this church normally doesn't see.

Afterwards we sat around and ate curry, Khmer fruit, and drank soda.  Chris literally had a full chicken foot in his bowl that he generously gave to one of the men he has become friends with, as I passed out some home baked chocolate chip cookies so they could try "a dessert from the foreign land."  Some loved it, some hated it. 

We love that we can call these people friends, we love that they now can have church in a building that allows for skits, songs, and growth in numbers, we love that God is generously giving to our ministry so we can see His name be glorified.

Yesterday was a wonderful day, and we will rejoice and be glad in it!

Pictured below: all the shoes outside the door, time of worship, Leanne talking to the church, woman doing the final preparations for lunch, Khmer fruit, children eating in the kitchen.