June-July: Winding Down Year Two

                The month of June began with a call from HPC’s director that Emily was in the hospital with a serious problem: an infection in her uterus. Having just given birth a few weeks before to her second baby, Emily’s health, already under assault due to low immunity, was in jeopardy. The doctors informed us that she needed surgery or she would die. Emily displayed her understanding of things when she said, “I’m too scared of surgery.”

                We are grateful to be able to say that Emily did go through with surgery. As far as we know, she’s okay. But her immunity levels continue to be at a dangerous level, and we fear that her luck is just going to run out one of these days. Most recently, Emily took off to the province with a boyfriend, and since that time we haven’t heard back from her. Continue to lift her up.

                June continued with a lot of busyness at HPC. A few teams made their way to Phnom Penh, and several interns arrived. Melissa continued to make every effort to serve the needs of the staff she worked with at the girls’ center, all the while trying to begin making plans for our visit to America. During our final days in Cambodia she spend a great deal of time encouraging individual staff and giving advice and insight to the summer interns.

                Ryan spent the rest of June finishing up his classes, grading student quizzes and exams (though his final exams were not finished until two days before we came home!). As the semester winded down, Ryan’s time spent with students in Word study ramped up. He regularly met with students three times a week, one of those times being with Melissa at our home. The questions students have been asking have been incredible.

                Ryan finished out his time with them with these two “homework” questions:

                “Who are you watching?” In other words, who are the people in your life that you are seeking to imitate? Who are the ones influencing you? How are you seeking to learn from them?

                Second: “Who is watching you?” Who are the ones that watch your life, see your actions, and pay attention to your words? How is your life an influence on theirs? What are they learning from you?
                These two questions are essential to discipleship, and they are questions we always seek to ask ourselves. As Melissa encourages and teaches her staff, she is always seeking the wisdom of others, and seeking to reflect on her own actions. Ryan does the same as he leads students in times of study and intercession.

                The month of June ended with a few final transitions. Team members returned to America, some of them for good. Another teammate was married. Classes ended, visiting teams returned home, and all the busyness of life in our city began to cool down.

                Now we are in the States again, for a six-week visit, complete with three weddings, various trips, and long-anticipated meetings with family and friends. The work continues in our city, and though we are grateful for a time away to be with everyone in our American home, we await our return to our Cambodian home with great expectation.

                In all things, may our Father be honored above all.

-Ryan and Melissa