Quick update from Jason

Couple of updates: 

First, Emily had an upset stomach this morning, but seems to be fine now. Praise God! We have some down time right now and she is swimming in the pool. 

Yesterday, we visited Angkor Wat in Siem Reap and we rode elephants! Marcie was the photographer while the kids and I saddled up! 

Tomorrow is the dedication of Haven of Hope. We are honored to present to them $3,000 worth of needs for the orphanage. As a team we were able to save $1,000 by cutting costs once in country, and our team gave $1,200 on the spot! An additional $1000 was contributed by Western Reserve to get this orphanage up and running. Some of the items included: generator; computer; clothes; shoes; motorbike (for staff); sound system for new worship pavilion and miscellaneous needs. I wanted to post this to you so that you might know that if you contributed to this trip financially, your sacrifice not only got this team here, your sacrifice provided physical needs for our children. 

I will speak at the dedication in the morning, and one point that I will be clear on is this: These gifts are not just Western Reserve. These gifts are from you too! Thank you. While on the trip to orphanages this morning, Marcie had a conversation with an orphanage director. He told her that the home directors have been fasting and praying one Saturday per month for several months. Guess what they have been fasting and praying for? A sound system for the worship pavilion and the practical needs (generator; computer etc.) for Haven of Hope. We will use the sound system in the morning, and present every need on their list at the dedication.

Will touch base again...maybe tonight????

We love you...Jason 

Now a word 

Fun, Games and Crickets?

(It's Marcie - Jason's finally letting me blog!)

Today was so much fun!! First we went to the market to haggle some deals for a few souvenirs. What an adventure of sights sounds and especially smells. Wow! You've never smelled anything like this place I'm sure. Emily and I picked out fabric from one booth and then went to another to have Cambodian skirts made. For $4.50 you can have a custom skirt made in a day. I love a good deal! Caleb found an Asian version of hackie sacks called "sey". It's a feather attached to a plastic spring that you try and keep from hitting the ground. 

After the market we went out to the orphanage for some free time with the kids. I will never get tired of a Cambodian welcome. The kids swarm the van jumping and cheering as we pull in. Hugs and kisses for everyone like they haven't seen you in years. We did some crafts and games with the kids today, which they loved! Jennifer played cut the cake, Gwen did thumb wars (a huge favorite), Cindy let the girls do her hair, Emily painted nails, Todd was a human jungle gym, Caleb and Vern played "sey", Judy colored pictures, I did face paints on the kids hands, and Jason was...well... Jason - making silly faces, showing the kids crazy dance moves, etc. Lots of hugs all around all afternoon. It was so great to just hang out with them, getting to know their personalities and seeing them play with their friends. We finally left the kids to eat their dinner and get ready for bed. 

We headed over to the local Grace Brethren missionary's home for dinner. The Kane's opened their home to us for a traditional Cambodian meal. We sat around mats on the floor and ate a wonderful meal of, you guessed it, RICE and stir fried vegetables and grilled red snapper. For dessert we they served dragon fruit, mangostines, bananas from their backyard, fresh pineapple and cookies. Jill had heard we were interested in some of the more unusual foods of Cambodia so she also had prepared some of her favorites ... fried crickets, dried frogs and some sort of beetle (I can't remember the name). So who were the brave ones??? Vern was the first to try a cricket and bravely crunched away. Jennifer and Judy were next. And low and behold BOTH my kids ATE BUGS! Yes, while I video taped and tried to hold down my dinner, I watched both my kids put things in their mouths that most mothers would be horrified to let their kids eat. They did it though, I have to give them a lot of credit! They have been amazing troopers on this adventure!! 

 

That's all for tonight! Tried to upload pics but connection is slow tonight. We'll try and get some pictures up later. Keep praying for us - God has worked already in our hearts and we have been amazed to see first hand how he is breaking the chains of idolatry and evil in this country. More later ...

We met our kids...and saw the Home!!!!

We arrived in Battambang today. After a five hour bus ride, which was an experience in itself, (be sure to ask about the one room bathrooms for men and women), we arrived in Battambang. When we pulled into our hotel there were 20 kids in blue shirts waving at us and running to meet us in the vans.

Our team began screaming in the car...it was unbelievable. We were crying and laughing, hugging like they are kids we have always known and loved. I can honestly say, it was one of the most worshipful events I have ever been a part of. As we hugged the children memories flashed back in my mind of people sacrificing cars and savings accounts. I remembered people weeping as they put down the money to rescue children. I remembered saying that Western Reserve was "being" the church that day, and I am here to tell you that Western Reserve has been used by Jesus to forever change the lives of 20 kids.

Now that I have been in country, I have a new definition of poor. A new view on struggle, and a new appreciation for simple things like medicine and food. I also have a new definition of joy. We talk about and seek it. These kids...they have it. 

After we settled into our hotel rooms ($15.00 per night) we had dinner and headed over to the orphanage...we saw Haven of Hope! Guys, the building is beautiful. God has given them a home beyond their wildest dreams...praise God!

Team:

Everyone is doing great! No one has experienced major illness, and thus far, no one has threatened to take each other's lives...at least to my knowledge. 

Again, thanks for getting us here...and to the church that I love...thanks for making the sacrifice...you continue to amaze me. Blessings to you.

I am heading to bed and the internet is not wanting to work quickly enough to upload my pix for the blog. Will get more out tomorrow.

Jason

Its Sunday!!!!

It is Sunday at 11:00a, which means that it is midnight in Cleveland. We were unable to get connected to the internet until now. I am posting from an internet cafe!!!! Cool! Its like $.25 an hour!

We have visited with kids from 4 orphanages her in Phnom Phenn. This is unbelievable. These kids are full of affection...sincerity...joy...some are all boy...and others are all girl. I see my kids in their eyes and cannot begin to fathom what their eyes have seen and experienced. Met a young girl of 12 years. Her younger brother and sister are in the orphange with her. They have lost both parents, then lost grandparents, and finally their uncle. After their uncle died, the two oldest came to Asia's Hope, but the youngest girl (4 years old), was taken by a random stranger for the preparation of being his slave and eventually to be placed in the "trade". The director of Prek Eng 2 heard of this, tracked her down and rescued her!!! She has been there two months.

Preached today...through an interpretor! What an experience! Emily is like a magnent...and Caleb taught about 10 kids how to play "air" guitar. During worship today, the worship sang Shout To The Lord. They sang it in Khmer and we sang it in English. We wept as kids sang with joy and shouted to the Lord in their language. We worshipped in different language...powerful. was walking and talking to children and caught Marcie and Emily in a circle of 20+ kids singing songs we knew in English and they sang in Khmer.

This is unbeleivable. Thanks for getting us here.

The team is fantastic. We are trying to adjust to the time difference, keep hydrated, and do everything. We are loving being together. Never could have picked a more passionate team than with whom I am serving. we only wish you could all be here. Asia's Hope is the REAL DEAL! They love Jesus and they love the children...They are changing lives. We are blessed to be a part of this team of people.

Going this afternoon to do an outreach at a government run orphanage. It is corrupt and needs the hope of Jesus. Pray for us.

We love you...Thank you for praying...Until the next post.

Jason

Hangin' in LA from 10:00pm to 4:00am

It is now 1:00am and we await our connecting flight from LA to Tai Pei. A few minutes ago we checked in with China Airlines, and while in line we met a couple from Houston, Texas. The couple was going home to visit family in Phnom Phen! Cindy Straka and I welcomed them into the United States and they welcomed us into their country! Cool...

Everyone here is trying to stay up until our 13 hour flight to Tai Pei in order to begin the adjustment to our new time schedule. Pray this flight goes well. Emily was speaking to some ladies on our team and they shared their favorite verses. Here is one:

Hebrews 11:1 What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen.

We have faith! We have seen God build this orphanage. We have seen God move in the hearts of people to sacrifice their resources to rescue children. 

We have seen Him provide financially for this trip...we have seen enough of God throughout to anticipate His presence and movement while in Cambodia! We pray that He will change our hearts and create in us a spirit of fire for His namesake! Work in us Lord Jesus.

Enjoy the first leg of pix of the team traveling...I plan to have team members post through out the week so you can hear first hand of His movement.

Blessings...next entry will be from Phnom Phen!

Work in us Lord Jesus!

Jason

We are off!

Well, the time is here!

We are calmly going about our morning with final details being done. We leave at 2:00p for the airport.

Thank you to all who have sacrificed financially for the Haymaker's and prayed for our journey. 

I will post Saturday once we have arrived, but until then, here are items you can pray for:

- safety - needs no explanation

- calm spirits - there is much anxiety in going to a place we         have never been...

- Energy - As Marcie and I went to bed last evening, we both prayed that we would have enough energy and get enough sleep so that we would not miss one thing. We want God to change our hearts and soften our spirits. We desperately want to see things the way Jesus sees them. Lack of sleep, fear, anxiety...all these can be a hindrance to seeing Jesus in every moment. Pray that we will be ready to receive His grace, mercy and movement throughout our journey.

We love you and cannot wait for you to see the pictures and videos of this trip!

Lord Jesus, protect us, use us...CHANGE us! All for your glory!

Until Saturday,

Jason 

Here Comes Summer!!!!!

It's been two weeks since I last posted...sorry for the delay.

The Haymaker's are doing wonderful! God has provided all that we need for our Cambodia trip! Praise God! There are still loose end expenses that we will incur, but the stated amount that we needed to raise is here! Thank you to all who supported our family! Our lives will never be the same.

Caleb and Emily are finishing up school this week, which means that Marcie and I will have a 3rd grader and a 6th grader...whaaaat? Yes, its true, we cannot believe how fast this journey is going. We love it! 

Allow me to let you in on some exciting Haymaker news...we bought a camper! You heard it right...a camper! Both Emily and Caleb love camping, so Marcie and I decided to harness the next 5-7 summers with our children and invest in what are sure to be fantastic memories. And, if the memories aren't good, at least I will have new illustrations to share with my church!

For all you camping enthusiasts, we purchased a 2007 Flagstaff pop-up highwall camper. It has a large fridge, microwave, oven, air, and a furnace...most importantly, it has a weatherproof roof and beds that are off the ground! Yes!

Parked in our yard will now be a 30 year old boat and a 2 year old camper...is anyone thinking Sanford and Son? At least it will be easy to find our house..."we are the ones with multiple units shoved in the woods".

Beginning a new series this week: Confessions of a Pastor's Heart. Confession simply means to admit something. In this series I am going to "admit" or "confess" to you my prayer for Western Reserve Grace Church. As our church is exploding, there honest fears of what we could become or not become...and I have been praying for and against certain temptations in our future.

Guys, I am pumped about this! I believe that we are at a crossroads in the life of Western Reserve, and we must push forward. May we remember that Western Reserve is not our church...it is His, and we are stewards of this amazing place!

This week, I will be sharing my prayer that He will "make us one". The church has been rendered ineffective because we have equated unity with uniformity...nothing could be further from the truth! Jesus celebrates diversity while focusing on unity of His vision for us!

This is week one! Come. Celebrate. Bring a friend!

Lord Jesus, ignite in us a passion to fulfill YOUR Great Commission to us! Lord, may Western Reserve hunger and thirst for your righteousness...please Jesus make us a "blessable" church.

For the week!

Jason