It's been an interesting couple of weeks. First, dad wanted to take me to a "hidden beach." It is about an hour and a half ride on motorcycle up a cow path, a literal cow path, until you come to a small dirt road. The road was muddy, so dad asked me to get off and walk while he tried to ride through the mud. He makes it about 10 yards and the motorcycle sinks into two feet of mud. He starts pushing, but the motorcycle will not budge. After several minutes, some Khmer guys come buy and dad talks them into helping push us out of the mud (it cost $5 to get the help).
It was starting to get dark, but dad still wanted to see the "hidden beach," so we went around the mud by getting on another cow path. It took us over two hours to get to the beach from the time we left the house. When we get there, it was not much of a beach, there were goats, pigs and cows running around everywhere and it was almost dark, so we could only stay five minutes to swim. At least we know the way now. The brochure was not exactly honest in what it said and what it showed about the beach. It was not the paradise shown in the pictures, but it was an adventure to get to.
We start headin' back, guess what we see, a huge paved road on our right. The brochure took us through the cow field, but there was a road that ran right out to the beach that we could have taken. Usually up for the "road less traveled", we decided it would be a good time to take the quick way home and we decided on the paved road. We were hungry from our adventure, so we stopped at a restaurant on the way home and had a good meal. We had a great time and I enjoyed the "dad time." Never ones to miss an adventure, it started raining on our way home, so we had a 45 minute ride home in the dark soaking wet.
Another "Burke Boy Adventure" in the books!
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Benjamin - Mar. 2010
We are finally all moved in. It has been quite an easy transition for me into our home here, but there has been some hard things about getting settled in. Leaving my family, friends, and other special things, like pets, in America has been the hardest. Two big things happened after we arrived, that made me feel sad and lonely for my family in America. One was, it was the first time in years that they had an actual white Christmas and I really missed being there for that. I LOVE snow! Then my great Grandma Frances, who was so special to me, died and we couldn’t be there. But I am happy that Grandma is with Jesus and lived such a good and long life… she was 96 when she died. Those things were really hard but I know God was here with us, and there with the rest of our family in America. And He gave me peace in my sadness.
So, God has encouraged me through it all and He had plans to help me with all these things and the transition back before I even knew I would need it. He sent me a good friend back with us. His family came to help us get the Elephant English School started. His name is Eric Jurgielewicz. He’s been so great to have around! I love his whole family and the rest of the team too! Elizabeth LeMarr has been like a sister to me growing up and she is here, and I love seeing her. Also, being back with Srey Roth and the Heritage House kids is like finally being home again. They really are my family too.
And finally after much pleading, Dad gave in and let me bring home a little dog that one of the store owners near the market kept trying to give me. He has been another awesome blessing. He is really little. He weighs about 8 pounds and is quiet and playful and so good. His name is Hobbes and I am so thankful to have him.
There are still days when I pray and ask Jesus to help me transition into another new house, but I love being back in Cambodia, and I am so thankful for all the ways God has blessed me and encouraged me during my transition back.
So, God has encouraged me through it all and He had plans to help me with all these things and the transition back before I even knew I would need it. He sent me a good friend back with us. His family came to help us get the Elephant English School started. His name is Eric Jurgielewicz. He’s been so great to have around! I love his whole family and the rest of the team too! Elizabeth LeMarr has been like a sister to me growing up and she is here, and I love seeing her. Also, being back with Srey Roth and the Heritage House kids is like finally being home again. They really are my family too.
And finally after much pleading, Dad gave in and let me bring home a little dog that one of the store owners near the market kept trying to give me. He has been another awesome blessing. He is really little. He weighs about 8 pounds and is quiet and playful and so good. His name is Hobbes and I am so thankful to have him.
There are still days when I pray and ask Jesus to help me transition into another new house, but I love being back in Cambodia, and I am so thankful for all the ways God has blessed me and encouraged me during my transition back.
Sterling - March 2010
Over the past five months I have been trying to get used to being back in Cambodia, but I have realized I was missing something that has made all the difference in helping me get settled back into life here. I am here because God sent me here. I’m not just here because my parents are. I'm here because God has His reasons for having me in Cambodia.
I feel God has been encouraging me that some of the main reasons He has had me here since I was five is to live, grow, and walk with the Heritage House kids. Since I have been back from the states this time, I feel called to continue to encourage them in their walk with God. But again, God has even bigger reasons. Sometimes I’m the one that needs encouragement.
I have been trying to encourage my Cambodian brothers to follow Christ wherever He takes them, but they keep encouraging me. It has made me think a lot about what missions really is. I think about how we send all these teams into countries and think they are really going to help the church there because the church ”really needs it.”
Sometimes it does need the help that they think it does. God said go and make disciples in these nations, but sometimes we’re the ones that need to learn. Sometimes missionaries really just need to go back to their own church and pray and see what God needs them to do there. There’s always lost people around you in your own city or town. I used to always think of a mission field as it having to be in a different country, but I just now learned that a mission field is where God calls you to minister where ever that may be.
Now I am understanding more clearly what God is doing with my life here. God has called my family to S.E. Asia. He has called me here to minister, and to be ministered to. This is where He has chosen to place me and I have to be faithful to follow Him and help others follow Him right here. It’s been a great experience living in S.E Asia for the past 8 years, and I just hope through all of it that God will get the glory only He deserves.
I feel God has been encouraging me that some of the main reasons He has had me here since I was five is to live, grow, and walk with the Heritage House kids. Since I have been back from the states this time, I feel called to continue to encourage them in their walk with God. But again, God has even bigger reasons. Sometimes I’m the one that needs encouragement.
I have been trying to encourage my Cambodian brothers to follow Christ wherever He takes them, but they keep encouraging me. It has made me think a lot about what missions really is. I think about how we send all these teams into countries and think they are really going to help the church there because the church ”really needs it.”
Sometimes it does need the help that they think it does. God said go and make disciples in these nations, but sometimes we’re the ones that need to learn. Sometimes missionaries really just need to go back to their own church and pray and see what God needs them to do there. There’s always lost people around you in your own city or town. I used to always think of a mission field as it having to be in a different country, but I just now learned that a mission field is where God calls you to minister where ever that may be.
Now I am understanding more clearly what God is doing with my life here. God has called my family to S.E. Asia. He has called me here to minister, and to be ministered to. This is where He has chosen to place me and I have to be faithful to follow Him and help others follow Him right here. It’s been a great experience living in S.E Asia for the past 8 years, and I just hope through all of it that God will get the glory only He deserves.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Benjamin - Nov. 2009
Wow, I chipped my tooth my first two weeks back in Cambodia. I fell walking up the steps at the guest house we were staying in. The only good thing about it, is that now, both of my front teeth match. People, I was mad, and I mean MAD! I started crying I was so mad. Plus, on top of that, I really hurt my shin when I fell. I was having a bad day.
To add to my bodily injuries that I was enduring, we were also house hunting. That day we saw at least five houses and it was not fun. Actually, it was an awful day. We saw one house that surpassed the others, but it was double our price range.
Luckily, the days are getting better each day now. This past week, I got a bike. It rides good, but it is used. The brakes were a little off, but we got them fixed. I like my bike a whole lot. I ride aroud the house where we are staying everyday over and over.
I am really happy to be back in Cambodia. It is Thanksgiving and I am really thankful to be living here. There are a few things here that are scary, sad, and sometimes makes me mad, but the Lord is moving in the lives of the kids at Heritage House and through Hosanna Cambodia. I am excited to see all that God does here in the next year.
Benjamin Burke Signing Off Here
To add to my bodily injuries that I was enduring, we were also house hunting. That day we saw at least five houses and it was not fun. Actually, it was an awful day. We saw one house that surpassed the others, but it was double our price range.
Luckily, the days are getting better each day now. This past week, I got a bike. It rides good, but it is used. The brakes were a little off, but we got them fixed. I like my bike a whole lot. I ride aroud the house where we are staying everyday over and over.
I am really happy to be back in Cambodia. It is Thanksgiving and I am really thankful to be living here. There are a few things here that are scary, sad, and sometimes makes me mad, but the Lord is moving in the lives of the kids at Heritage House and through Hosanna Cambodia. I am excited to see all that God does here in the next year.
Benjamin Burke Signing Off Here
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Sterling - November 2009
Since I have been back in Cambodia, life has been almost normal around us. With everyone minding their own business. That is what has caught my attention. The everyday life that the Khmer live.
We will be driving around I see people laying in their shacks everywhere. They look like they are starving to death. The people are so poor. Every house that you pass you see monks everywhere with old men and women, young boys and girls coming out to give their offerings to them. You see idols and demonic statues on and in every house. Cambodia has the oldest active temple in the world (Angkor Wat), and you will see pictures of it in some missionaries houses and many of the Khmer Christians homes as well. Don't they know what they are allowing into their homes?
All of this is what I missed the first time that I lived in Cambodia. I always thought that life in Cambodia was just like that. Everyone worshipping idols. Cambodia is not just like this though. This is what happens when you allow demonic leaders in power over a country for centuries. The door has been opened and needs to be closed.
To overcome the strongholds in this nation, it will take people who love God and want to serve Him no matter what happens. That is what I am seeing in the Heritage House kids. It has been really cool to see people from my generation stand up and lead worship in the Church and to see them starting cell groups in the salt fields. To see my generation not waiting for the older generation to do it for them, but to step out and do it on their own.
I am glad to be back in Cambodia. I pray that God uses us in this nation to let people know Jesus.
Godspeed
Sterling Burke
We will be driving around I see people laying in their shacks everywhere. They look like they are starving to death. The people are so poor. Every house that you pass you see monks everywhere with old men and women, young boys and girls coming out to give their offerings to them. You see idols and demonic statues on and in every house. Cambodia has the oldest active temple in the world (Angkor Wat), and you will see pictures of it in some missionaries houses and many of the Khmer Christians homes as well. Don't they know what they are allowing into their homes?
All of this is what I missed the first time that I lived in Cambodia. I always thought that life in Cambodia was just like that. Everyone worshipping idols. Cambodia is not just like this though. This is what happens when you allow demonic leaders in power over a country for centuries. The door has been opened and needs to be closed.
To overcome the strongholds in this nation, it will take people who love God and want to serve Him no matter what happens. That is what I am seeing in the Heritage House kids. It has been really cool to see people from my generation stand up and lead worship in the Church and to see them starting cell groups in the salt fields. To see my generation not waiting for the older generation to do it for them, but to step out and do it on their own.
I am glad to be back in Cambodia. I pray that God uses us in this nation to let people know Jesus.
Godspeed
Sterling Burke
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