2 AUGUST 07 - THURSDAY
Cambodia Internship Report 07/30/07
The race is almost done! In less than two weeks I'll be back in South Central Pennsylvania.
Chris, Matt, and I finished the week of "Bible Time" strong. I had a blast! I learned so much from Brother Ruppel, Matt, and Chris. I also learned quite a bit about how much time and effort and practice it takes to put together a Five Day Dramatic Bible Story. It was an exercise in Editing, Writing, and Application. The Winning Team (Team Pepsi) each received their team drink and the over all winners received a free Dairy Queen Meal and Blizzard. (Dairy Queen is only found at the Phnom Penh Airport -- A very special treat to eat at DQ.)
That Friday we began to pack the Ruppel's Home up and move it to the Newly Renovated 2nd Floor of the Church. On Saturday it rained! We all slept. "Bible Time" is Exhausting!
That afternoon we traveled with Stephen Benifield to his work in the Province area past the Airport going east. Along the way, factories and large construction projects rose up from rice fields along the road. Many of the local farmers are not pleased that the factories have opened and ruined the beauty of the land. It reminded me a little of the way some apple farmers feel about their land where I am from.
We bumped along in Brother Benifield's big blue van. When we arrived at the church building, it reminded me very much of the building all three of us (Matt, Chris, and I) had helped build in Bung-lee-ete, with some exceptions. The concrete foundation, spanned out noticeably different in color from the reddish dirt that is so commonly found near by. Large wooden poles the width of a man's hand held up a banana leaf roof. The supporting beams crossed irregularly upward, supporting the roof. Two walls of banana leaf shingles protected the children from any ill fated rain. A painted sign out front clearly displayed a cross and a Bible, clearly defining the building as a church.
Nearby, there was a shallow pond. I caught a fresh water crab there, inspected it, then let it free moments later. The blue van left and returned full of eager children. As they piled out Brother Benifield shouted a couple general orders in Khmer. Da and some helpers corralled the laid back country type children as Brother Benifield went back into the village for a second van load of young-uns.
The Bible Club began after the second van load arrived. "I'm in right, out right, up right, down... " and other songs echoed in Khmer as Brother Benifield lead them in singing. There was a Balloon Blow game, then the "Story of Jesus Crucifixion." Da gave a very expressive presentation of Jesus' crucifixion that kept attention. One boy was escorted out and Brother Benifield spoke to him. Later, we came to learn that the young boy had some knowledge about Jesus but was not to the point yet of understanding all that Jesus had done or why. He just wasn't yet ready to believe.
I have heard it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. One thing I have had impressed upon me over and over again is that faithfulness in sowing, watering, and reaping is all that this asked. Jeremiah saw no harvest except in judgment; he sowed as he was asked. "Paul sowed, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase."
After the club, we were ushered back to Phnom Penh and treated to dinner at the Moo Cafe. All 4 of us ordered the same thing, cashew chicken, with Pineapple Fried Rice. Very good. I took home a small plastic spoon used in serving my Pineapple Smoothie, I am told it is useful in getting the last of the peanut butter out of the jar.
On Sunday we went to church at New Hope Baptist Church, then that afternoon went to the Witch Doctor's family's Bible Club (the whole family is saved except the father -- the Witch Doctor). We watched at they (all 6) ran the Bible Club with 120 Children in attendance. They sang songs, taught a lesson on the Good Shepherd, and had an invitation. There were different classes afterwards. Some taught Bible and some Music. The Bible Club is so large that they have been taking offerings to support another (Wang's) Bible Club out of New Hope. It is a testimony of what God can do with those who were saved by His grace alone through faith.
On Monday, we packed items, loaded the blue truck up, and hopped in the back. We got funny looks as 3 white Ba-rang (Foreigners) rode in the back of a heavily loaded, covered blue truck. One moto dope even began to count very loudly (moi, bee, beuy) trying to fathom why white guys were riding in the back of a truck. We arrived, unloaded, and then returned that night to reload and begin the next morning.
On Tuesday, we began work around 9am. Brother Ruppel hired a crane to lift the items that would not fit down the stairs. Cabinets, tables, refrigerators all went up and over the second story railing, over the decoratively razor-wired concrete walls, and into the bed of the very large crane truck. After loading, we rode the crane truck to the church. More heads turned seeing the same 3 white Ba-rang (Foreigners) now riding in bed of a crane truck, but none had the presence of mind to count us, they just watched in a bewildered silence. We moved all the items into the Ruppel's New Home.
Wednesday, Matt and Chris went up to Siem Reip to visit Angkor Wat. I rested and read the rest of the Book of Exodus. On Thursday, I worked, read, and prepared the Bible lesson. Friday, I attended the Monthly English Service and taught the story of the Parting of the Red Sea to the Little Children during the preaching Service. The food afterwards was very good. Matt and Chris returned from Siem Reap.
Saturday, I read and then went soul winning at 2pm with Wang, and ate Foo with Jum-Rho and his Sisters (the Witch Doctor's children) at his invitation. (It might have been dog, of some type... we're not sure.... It was at a Vietnamese Restaurant.)
Today, we attended a second English Service in the morning. Brother Ruppel was asked to preach to the relatively small church congregation. This was the first time we had ever heard Brother Ruppel preach in English. It was very good, on the faith we ought have -- from Mark 4, the stilling of the storm.
"We three interns in Orient are, will mob the market and buy some thing more, We drank Coffee, Coke, and Pepsi, while moving big furniture more." (No doubt there are those that have better parody lyrics.)
Matt and Chris leave Tuesday for their Homes in Massachusetts and Kansas respectively. On Thursday my Friend Hikari Wakimoso arrives, shortly there after we will travel to Siem Reap, and return on the Saturday night. After this, I anticipate traveling north east up to Kampong Cham to survey for future missions work.
As I too begin to wrap up my stay here in Cambodia, please pray for
Matt and Chris as they travel home, and for Brother Ruppel and his family as they settle into their new home.
Just this past Wednesday, I thought about the things that I would need to prepare for my Survey trip. The first thing I thought of was a cell phone; surely I needed a cell phone to travel where there were few missionaries. Then Nihl Miche, whom I had just been praying with, mentioned that he had an extra phone (for his wife) that he wasn't using at this time, that I might use. God truely does know what we need before we ask and prepares the way for our feet to tread.
Praying in Cambodia,
Kevin Griffin
Recent Event Update, 8/2/07
On the 31st, we saw Chris and Matt off at the Airport. Chris barely made his flight (his passport and ticket had been left at the Ruppel Home). Wang rode back quickly to the Ruppel home, and after we had finished waiting we prayed, and then by God's Grace, Wang apeared with Passport and Ticket in hand.
Later that day, I got sick, very sick, from the buffet food the night before. I just ate something I knew that I shouldn't have. I think that it will be the last time I forget to remember what part of the world I am in. I was sick all that Tuesday, and all day Wednesday. Today I began eating regular again, but I am still a bit weak and under the weather.
Hikari safely arrived today. It is hard to describe the type of joy one feels in seeing a friend from his own circle when I have been so far from home for a seemingly long time. Hikari is a good familiar face.
Please pray as Hikari, Niel Michie, and I, travel up to Siem Reap this Friday through Monday. While up there, I will not only tour the ruins of Angkor Wat and other temples but also stay for a Sunday to participate and observe John Kenderdine's Church (Victory Baptist Church). Eli Shrock has taken the work over as John Kenderdine has resigned and will be training for the Pastorate of FairHaven Baptist Church, home of FairHaven Bible College in Indiana.
We will return that next Monday morning, the 6th of August.
Please continue to pray for the plans of a Survey trip to Kampong Cham, my continued recovery from ill-fated foods, traveling mercies for Matt and Chris, and opportunity to witness among the tourists in Siem Reip.
In better stead by His Grace,
Kevin Griffin
20 JULY 07 - FRIDAY
Cambodia Update 07/20/07
It has been two very exciting weeks.
First, on Thursday, 07/05/07, I awoke early to join up with We-bole on his Moto.
At 7am, we left for Dr. Johnson's house. After gathering our resources, praying, and loading up on our three moto's, we left down Highway 1 towards Prey Veng Province.
After weaving through the dense chaotic Cambodian Traffic, we stopped for a breakfast of soup and rice. We then loaded back up and continued our journey.
I learned that this trip was taken by Dr. Johnson's men once a month to teach the new churches in the remote areas of Prey Veng. The men were passing out tracts and witnessing at every open moment at nearly every place that we slowed our pace. The men used their time very efficiently on the way.
We crossed the Mekong River in a ferry boat called Vishnu. The wind blew strongly while we crossed. On the other side of the river, I saw small horses hitched to wooden two-wheeled wagons. They frequently passed us as we waited by the side of the road for the other moto's to cross the river. Every few minutes one would pass us by. The small horse carriages carted all manner of things, people, wood, wares, bread, and more.
Our moto ride had just begun. The whole ride lasted well over 6 hours on our way to Prey Veng. We crossed all manner of places and fields. The roads varied in quality. Some were the consistency of a rural drive way, completely dirt, with frequent chuck holes, and some were gravely. Some were like the Pennsylvania Truck Route Roads in winter, passable but unpleasant; still others were freshly paved, with lines, and a shoulder.
Our speed varied with the quality of road. We slowed to a crawl on some areas, and on others we went up to 80KMH/ 50MPH (roughly). After riding on the back of the moto for a couple hours, I adopted a riding style similar to that of a race-horse jockey, posting when I could and very gently resting on the seat when I wasn't posting.
We arrived at mid-afternoon in a great expanse of rice fields. A 63-year-old man named Sit-on greeted us at his home. He has been saved a number of years. Being 63, he has lost most of his sight but is still very strong and spry, with a keen ear.
We rested briefly, then went on moto's again, back to the village we had just passed through, to hold a meeting. After the meeting had ended, a number were interested in learning more about Christ and what he had done, We-bole went and spoke to them.
A spider galloped across the dirt street and under one of the helper's feet as he stood on tiptoe in flip-flops. The spider hid under the arch of his left foot. I wasn't able to warn him much about this though, I was so shocked to have seen a spider so keenly navigate and hide beneath a friend's flip-flop while he was on his toes to say anything at all.
His foot began to come down. Then he paused and shook the spider out from beneath his foot. He caught it and brought it close to me, grabbing it by the body. The spider had legs that spread the width of about 4 inches, and also had very visible fangs. He then let it go; and it climbed the wooden supports of the lower level We-bole was teaching under.
The surrounding children also caught another beast of great size (the size of a man's hand with its legs). It made noise when held by the abdomen, all appendages gyrating, with large mandibles powerfully gnashing at the air. It looked more like a giant stink beetle than anything else. But it gripped clothing surely; as it began to sojourn up one of the helpers white shirt sleeves he had some difficulty removing it.
We left the village, and returned to Sit-on's house. The house had two levels; the bottom level was on concrete blocks, much like an open air basement. In this basement they cooked, slept, and played the Cambodian guitar (two strings, pretty neat). The second story walls were made of dried banana leaf shingles. Sliced bamboo flooring (very bouncy) made the floor. The roof was made of more banana leaf shingles (very effective at keeping the rain off).
We ate rice with a variance of sauces. One sauce of particular interest called Bpro-Hoke (fermented fish paste) is very fishy and salty. This is unique to Cambodia (its flavor was so strong that I would recommend an entire bowl of plain rice to dilute a small serving of its pungent flavor).
We had another church service that night under a battery-powered florescent light. They sang in Khmer hymns recorded on one of the Helper's Nokia Cell Phones. That night I slept underneath a mosquito net. The night was cool. Though I had a mat, it was still difficult to sleep on a bamboo floor.
The next morning, it was good to hear the familiar frequent crowing of roosters. I woke at 5 am. We ate breakfast, and prepared to leave. The rain that morning kept us late, though We-bole used the time wisely, teaching Sit-on more and answering his questions concerning something he had heard on the radio.
Muddy roads were bad on my aging flip-flops. At one point, the dirt road had been cut in two by the rain that morning. It was deep enough that a Moto was just able to ford it and stop running. I waded through the water and we continued. At one point my flip-flop broke. I took a picture of it and threw it out into the rice field. Then I put on my bare foot the two white socks I had brought with me. (What a sight I must have been until we stopped at the market to get supplies - and me new shoes - the browning white guy with a flip-flop on one foot and two dirty white socks on the other on the back of a Cambodian Moto.
We taught in another new, budding church, after another long Moto Ride. There we had lunch, and many more people attended the meeting than the last one in the other village. We made our way back to the Mekong, and arrived home around 7pm that next night.
Back at the Ruppels, we scraped and sanded doors, taught English for the last week, and prepared their house to become a home. We finished the week with some paint on the walls, and a good portion of the rooms cleared, and ready for finishing. A worker hired by Brother Ruppel bricked up half of the upstairs room that would become half of the Ruppel's new dining room.
We also prepared for this week's "Bible Time" (general). I continued editing the Joseph story script for focus and wording, making sure I understood the story and would be able to know the facts. Brother Ruppel was very gracious in giving me time out from working upstairs to finish this work. For that I am very thankful.
This week, the Bible Time has gone well. I have learned much about preparing future Bible Times, and the art of presenting stories orally. I am thankful for the great help that all of the parents and missionaries have been. Their help has been essential to the success and help that I hope this Bible Time will be to training Cambodian Leadership in presenting Bible Times of their own.
Brother Ruppel's instruction has been key to any of this work's success. A special thanks to Brother Steve Benefield for lending his game equipment. Many thanks also to New Hope Baptist Church in feeding us each day this week.
Please pray:
For our Continuing "Bible Time" (VBS) (through this Friday)
Concerning Recent Development in Government
Safety for the Missionaries and the Church Members
Concerning Chris & Matt's trip to Siem Reap (later this month)
Concerning a recent enforcement of persecution of Christians, soul winning declared Illegal. (Frequently reported on radio, and TV)
Kevin Griffin
4 JULY 07 - WEDNESDAY
Cambodia Update 07/04/07
At times the days fly by and at other times they move very slow until you realize... time feels like it is moving slowly only because you forgot about the really big project due in a couple of weeks. Every student understands this feeling...
The building in Bung-Lee-Ete Monday before last was completed. It took two work days to complete it. The majority of the work was finished on Monday, the 25th of June. The Congregation of New Hope Baptist Church paid for the building materials, and sent laborers to supervise and build the tin roofed, wood trussed, concrete pillared pavilion.
I helped pack the wood and supplies into the truck on Sunday night. While packing, Chris Stivers was really wrapped up in his work, Ryan, Blake, and Dee-dee wrapped Chris tightly with extra rope that had been used to tie down the 8 meter long trusses to the top of the Truck.
We packed all the tools, and supplies into the truck. The truck met us in Tagio Provence, in the village Bung-lee-ete the next morning.
At first when I noticed the 5 ft 5in Cambodians struggling to drive the nails into the truss wood, I wondered at the difficulty. Pastor Ruppel explained that there are many old growth hard woods used for lumber, such as mango and others, that are much harder than the softer woods commonly used in construction in the US. The nails seemed more mashed into place than driven.
The Ko-mai's gave instructions while we obeyed. At noon I began to realize my mistake in not using sun block. Even though I grew up in Togo, West Africa, and don't burn easily, there is something special about working in filled rice fields. Instead of just the sun bearing down on you, there are reflections of the sun in the water too. Even the Ko-mai's were getting a bit red, even though they are already brown.
We worked until lunch. The ladies worked very hard at making the meal. We ate boiled duck eggs with assorted seasonings in a broth over white rice. (I have greatly enjoyed almost every rice and broth/ sauce dish... maybe I'm just partial to food.) Coffee was also available. (Ta (grandpa) asked for salt in his coffee, too bad no one knew he was kidding.)
We worked until sunset, then set up battery powered lights and continued working with all the bugs. We stopped because we ran out of nails; the building was almost complete. All we needed were more nails and 3 more pieces of tin roofing. Unlike in the US, once it's dark outside most of the markets have closed. Finding nails at 7pm would not have been worth the time or effort it would take to find them.
We packed up and went home. I slept, and my arms and neck crinkled as I would turn my neck and move my arms. No blisters though.
Tuesday, we taught more English, and Guitar. I have noticed that my skill in English has improved since I began teaching it. My guitar skills have also improved greatly; I am now able to read the music for the guitar slowly but surely. Dur-a, a new student in the 1:30-2:30pm tutor slot, has very good pronunciation. He is able to read relatively well, and his vocabulary is such that he can begin to work on idioms, and American culture.
I went to IBC (International Book Center) and picked up a number of helpful English "English" books. (For those that are English nuts: They had Longmans, Revised Fowler's, and a condensed Oxford English dictionary. They also had French and Japanese dictionaries. I purchased a couple of General English tools that might be helpful in teaching English.) I found some English/Khmer Practical Dictionaries for $1.50 each.
For the record... A "moto dope" is not a professional taxi driver... he is more like an innocent bystander, volunteering to help in a crisis but not always the most keenly trained.
There is a governmental liaison group of Independent Fundamental Baptists here, known as Baptists For Cambodia (BFC). We attended a meeting this past Saturday morning.
We finished scraping off the green kitchen paint on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. (We no longer loathe yellow paint quite so much.)
We finished the Building in Bung-lee-ete this past Monday with the help from another missionary intern from Siem Reip. (He left on Tuesday morning).
Pest-busters have begin fumigating the church for termites; brick wall renovations are being laid this week, and painting will soon begin.
I have been studying the Life of Joseph to present it as a live drama during a Missionary VBS. We have just under two weeks to memorize, prepare, and pray before it all starts. The VBS is scheduled From July 16-20; please pray for God's word to move hearts.
Tomorrow... I mean today... at 7am "my time," I'll be traveling to the Toul Svay province to spend the day ministering as best as I am able there with some workers of Dr. Tom Johnson. Please pray for safety in travel, and provision in preaching.
I will return to Phnom Phen on Friday. It is a 6-hour Moto ride there and back.
On Sunday I expect to travel all day with Dr. Johnson to the three churches he is ministering to. Next week, we will begin putting together desks for the new Christian Day School that Pastor Ruppel is beginning at the end of August.
Mrs. Ruppel has come down with Dengue Fever, a mosquito born disease that is much like the flu only with intense headaches and joint pain. Please pray for her quick recovery.
Please pray for me as I begin planning my survey trip details.
May Christ be served,
Kevin Griffin
Genesis 39:20-21 (What does the presence of the Lord make?)... (All the difference!)
23 JUNE 07 - SATURDAY
Cambodia, Week 5 Update:
We are moving forward! The building renovations are slowly progressing. We have finished sanding the walls and replacing the first set of screens. We sanded yellow paint off the walls of the upstairs for hours last week, and this week we sanded the decorative handprints and artfully stamped little people off the walls.
This past Monday and Tuesday, we cut the wood for the building in the Province which we will be putting up this Monday, chiseling out the wood blocks the old fashioned way. We did have some excitement when one of the Power Saws started to smoke from over-use. I poured a bit of water on it and have now counted it among those thing that have passed away. Behold, we bought all new hammers. (The old one had a crumbling head; I think it was more than a manufacturers defect...)
Monday afternoon, we quit teaching a bit early and left to visit the province village and future site of the building. Pastor Ruppel went with us. This was the first time he has been out to this village in quite some time. (He started this work some time ago but has passed it on to the local leadership so that he might continue works in Phnom Pehn.) We had a very full truck. I counted 22 people in all. (It is the covered truck; we used the bed.) The last time I had been to the Bung-lea-ete village, the rains had not filled the rivers. Now, instead of an empty river bed on one side of the dusty dirt road, it was a full duct of water. The landscape had changed from barren to lush in the three weeks I had been gone. Near the site of the Bible Club, a large number of ducks were herded by a farmer through the rice fields (quite a sight to see!). The Bible Club went well. Proe taught on the Call of Samuel.
The evening service also went well. It almost rained. (I am thankful that next week we will be constructing the covered pavillion.) It has not rained on Bible Club days up to this point, as I am told.The Lord honored the prayers of Sekond, and Proe, and others that it would not rain on Mondays in this villiage so they might have church there. (Notice, this request was so that God might have more glory.) The Lord has honored this request. On the trip back we sang Khmer songs and English songs.
On Wednesday, we (Chris, Matt, and I) listened to some English preaching on CD for the evening service.
On Friday, we finished our work and began to leave the Church, but the battery on the Tico (a Geo Metro on Ultra-Slimfast) was dead. Our ride left the lights on. Thankfully, the Lord provided for us in our need. We pushed the Tico next to the Covered Truck and used Jumper Cables (that "just happened" to be in the truck) to start the Tico. God answers prayer.
Please pray for: Missionary Bible Time (July 16-21) (for the local MK's)
The family of Lee Waller (Crown Pioneer)
Success in soul winning (our faithfulness in it)
Progress in learning Khmer (Khoe-mai)
Completion of the Pavillion in Bung-lea-ete
Safety while in transport.
Our Students in English, Piano, and Guitar.
Thank you for your prayers,
May Christ be Glorified,
Kevin Griffin
13 JUNE 07 - WEDNESDAY
Cambodia Week 4 Update:
On Sunday of last week, June 3, I visited for the day with Dr. Tom Johnson and saw three of the churches that he has planted. We took a very long ride, beginning at 5:30am, and ending at 8pm that night.
Dr. Johnson has a vigorous spirit. At every stop, he was actively passing out Khmer Chick Tracks, and very frequently during our travels he gathered us up to pray before our journeys continued. Later that night, I was introduced to his wife, Anna, and their two adopted Cambodian children. The trip brought to mind the stories of the traveling preachers of the 1800's and how their ministry was carried out.
On Wednesday, the other interns arrived. I met them at the airport. My “moto dope” (driver of the Cambodian moto taxi) took me into oncoming traffic on the way to the airport.... The locals didn't seem to mind at all. And because they didn't seem all that concerned, and we were in broad daylight, and he kept to the far left side in the opposite lane, it seemed that I shouldn't be overly alarmed myself. It seemed like the thing to do. Anyway, Matt and Chris arrived safely in Phnom Penh.
We visited the Khmer Rouge Concentration Camp Museum and the Killing Fields on Thursday. On Friday, we visited with the Shull's – another missionary family here in Phnom Penh. Saturday, we went soul winning in the morning and evening. Sunday, June 10, was full of services and soul winning.
On Monday, I continued teaching English and Guitar. Wang and So-pea-ak are my intermediate class. I also teach guitar to So-pea-ak in the afternoons. Wang teaches us one hour of Khmer each Mon, Tues, Thurs, and Fri. The language is phonetic, not tonal. I have learned just enough to ask for the essentials, how much, and the greetings. I hope to learn more. English does not have some of the sounds in Khmer, but French has many that the English lacks. I am finding that my experience in both these languages, and my Voice and Articulation class lessons, are very helpful in learning Khmer and teaching English.
In the past couple of days, our group (Chris, Matt, and I) has bonded well. Our work on renovating the church has begun so that the Ruppels can move in at the end of July. All this week we have scraped and ground the yellow oil based paint off the walls in the upstairs room. Our “free time” has been used for this purpose. It has been hard work. On Monday of this week, I ground the concrete walls with the grinder and became covered in a flakey yellow dust. That night when we took a rickshaw-like moto taxi home, I sat opposite of Chris and Matt so that the wind from the ride wouldn't blow my yellow dust flakes all over them.
Today, Wednesday, was the intern’s day off, to rest. We rested and went soul winning and then to church.
Last night we learned that Lee Waller, a member of the Crown Pioneers Team that Matt and Chris are with, was killed while on tour. The team just finished training the week before Matt and Chris arrived.
Please pray for Lee Waller's family, girlfriend, and the two other Crown Pioneers that were with him. Their team was in Nevada.
Please pray for our two Crown Pioneers, Matt and Chris, as they walk with the Lord and work for the Lord. They both knew Lee. Pray for me as I teach English and Guitar. Pray for our safety, health, faithfulness, and importunity.
The Lord works,
May He receive Glory,
Kevin Griffin
01 JUNE 07 - Friday
Thank you for your prayers; in this first week in Cambodia I have quite a bit to tell. The storms here not only bring large quantities of rain in a short period of time but also are fairly unpredictable.
Two days ago Wang (short a) and I were caught in storm while on visitation. The storm winds were so strong that in the open hallway the rain began to rain sideways 5 or more meters towards us down the hall. I have pictures and video.
The Lord has been gracious in my adjustment to Cambodia. I called my parents, pastor, and others yesterday. It was refreshing to hear from home. Even those of you who have emailed me have been an encouragement in that there is so little that is familiar here. Every bit of home is a comfort. I am sure that I could handle being thrown into a foreign land and have no communication with any that I know but God has not granted me that Grace. Instead He uses y’all to be that encouragement.
I have been teaching English and Guitar most of the time and spending 1 hour a day learning Khmer. My computer crashed this morning... It was bound to happen; it was just a matter of when... Thankfully I didn't loose a large amount of data that I don't already have backed up.
Till next week about this time,
May God be Glorified,
Kevin Griffin
Arrived by His Grace,
Kevin Griffin
25 MAY 07 - Friday
I have just arrived in country. By God's great grace I was able to finish my preparations before I departed on the morning of the 23rd. In San Francisco, I was able to meet up with a friend of mine, Steve Nino, we had dinner, It was good to see him again (we met 3 or 4 years ago as a program called musi-college), he is going to pass on my information to his pastor so that they too can pray for me. I mailed my support letters with the addresses I had available.
I made it through customs, and survived the over night flight to Taipai. . On the final flight from Taipai to Phnom Phen, I was blessed to sit next to a very good friend of Bro. Ruppel. He encouraged me with his openness with his seat-mate in the plane. He helped me very much by bringing me up to speed on a number of issues in the country, recent significant publications in his ministry and Bro. Ruppel's. He also kept a watchful eye over me as I applied for my business visa, and passed through customs. All of my luggage arrived (thank you for your prayers!) Only one item was affected by the pressure change and that spill was of the squirt disinfectant (the bottle wasn't even broken it just leaked out the top instead of exploding when we went to high altitude.)
(as a side note, the stewardesses were very courteous and kind, I am very impressed with Asian culture, if the stewardess conduct is the general norm.) Bro. Ruppel picked me up from the airport. He has internet access in his home. He has already put me to work :-) I look forward to the Grace and Mercy and Glory of God as it is revealed in the next days.