March Update

There’s been a lot going on in the last few weeks, so we thought we’d give you a quick look at some of the highlights and news about what is going on at IHSI!

Team Outreach

This month we hosted our second team of 2015, this time from Boulder Street Church in Colorado! It was a blessing having old and new friends on the ground with us as they took part in church programs, children's and youth ministry, helped in Sak Saum, did prayer ministry, spruced up our sanctuary with some fresh paint, and got to know our staff and community! Team outreaches are a great introductions to missions work while learning about the IHSI model of ministry. If your church or group is interested in doing an outreach with IHSI, click here to learn more! 

Baptisms

This past week we celebrated an important milestone in the lives of 15 new believers, water baptism. We brought them out to a local pool, worshiped together, shared testimonies, and baptized each one as a public confirmation of their faith and new life in God. Since we had a visiting team already with us, we of course invited them along to help at this joyous occasion!

Please join us in praying for the new believers who were baptized, that they would feel encouraged and strengthened as they continue in their journey with God.

Sokchea

Our staff brought Sokchea (a young girl with cerebral palsy from our community) along with us to the water baptisms so that she could experience a swimming pool for the first time! Sokchea has always enjoyed showers and water play, and we were hoping that she would find the pool a stimulating and enjoyable experience. She loved it! Dealing with so many limitations and challenges that she faces, it’s a joy to find ways that bless her and help her have some fun.

Upper Room Project

Sak Saum

Last week we released our newest Sak Saum products for spring/summer 2015. This beautiful range of products from handbags and wallets to jewelry and apparel is sure to have something for everyone! Each purchase goes directly into Sak Saum program participants and community job creation, so help us spread the word by sharing this link with all your friends!

- IHSI

What Have We Been Up To?

Every so often we share some of our highlights and issues that are close to our heart through this blog. Stories and little tidbits of our days here are our way of trying to keep you informed and encouraged about what God is doing in Cambodia. But the reality is, there is so much going on that we simply can't fit into blog posts!

So here is a round-up of 2014: an overview of the many endeavours that our awesome team has sown time, effort, and much love into. From long projects with big goals to small steps forward in seemingly small, sometimes unglamorous areas of ministry, we are blessed to see God's faithfulness to our team, our local community, and Cambodia!

Click here to download our 2014 report. And if you'd like to join our mailing list so that you can receive this and other updates, please fill out the form below!

October Roundup

This month has flown by like a whirlwind, with so much going on in many different areas of ministry!

India Trip

IHSI founders/directors Eric and Ginny recently went for a weeklong trip to Bangalore, India. They were able to spend time with Gopi and Marites Kumar, who will be joining our team of staff early next year! They also got to meet with several Christian organizations, glean helpful ideas from them, and experience some of the culture of the region while they were there.

India has been on Ginny’s heart for many years, and we feel that it is a place where the IHSI/Sak Saum model of ministry could be replicated in the future. This is one of several other countries in the region that IHSI envisions ministering to in the future, in addition to the work that has already been planted and thriving in Cambodia. As God reveals more we look forward to what He has in store for IHSI/Sak Saum in India!

New Staff

We recently welcomed our newest Khmer staff member to the IHSI team! Meet Kiri, a young man who has been a part of the GCCS youth group and soccer team for some time now. We’ve known him since before he was a Christian, and have seen much good fruit in his life as he has grown up over the past couple of years. Kiri has a sister in the Sak Saum program and his half-sister is Aly, our youth pastor/children’s program director.

We’re excited to have Kiri join our ministry family, and he is doing a great job as he shadows other staff and gives general assistance at our Center. We look forward to great things as he learns to use his time and talents to bless his nation!

Teaching Safety

This month we did a fun but informative class for the men and women of Sak Saum. What was the topic? One of extreme relevance here in Cambodia: moto driving safety! Everyone who attended enjoyed seeing the “do’s and don’ts” of driving taught by Eric, with plenty of on-the-spot demonstrations to drive each point home. We love sharing practical life skills with our community!

Visitors

Last week we hosted two visitors from Mission Community Church in Arizona. MCC has been very instrumental in our latest expansions and we are thankful to have them as ministry partners and friends. It was great to meet Sheli and Audrey, have them see the ministry, and learn from them during the time they were here.

Staff Training

This is the third year that our staff have attended the Global Leadership Summit, a great opportunity for them to hear renowned Christian men and women teach on a variety of leadership-related topics, all translated into the Khmer language! This year several Sak Saum leaders were able to attend in addition to IHSI core staff. Everyone felt blessed by what they learned and is excited to apply and share with others!

International Ministry

The Hansons are now in the US for 6 weeks and will be visiting 5 states: speaking, meeting with board members, and raising awareness. Please keep their travels, health, and meetings in your prayers!

May Update

A few months ago we brought your attention to the situation of Sokchea, a beautiful young girl with what appears to be cerebral palsy. Since our last post, we were able to find a wheel chair for her to grow into! She had been getting used to it little by little and it's been very helpful for allowing her to experience more at our church services. This is an answered prayer!

 We also have continued to see many small steps forward with Sokchea's strength and motions. She can sit with support longer than ever before, and continues to show a strong desire to exercise, often lifting her arms and legs to practice movements even when we are not there.

A recent team visit was great for Sokchea because a team member who is experienced in caring for the disabled was able to give us a lot of pointers on how to help her more. Another friend on the team also helped connect us with a PT who had great advice as well. We are so thankful that God who knows Sokchea's needs is putting people in our path to help. Please keep her in your prayers!

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Recently we had the opportunity to celebrate the life of an amazing and special woman: Yay Phait, a 100 year-old member of the church and an inspiration to many. She has seen so much history, lived through deprivation and abuse, and knows firsthand God’s faithfulness. Yay is not at all shy about telling anyone she crosses paths with about Who her trust is in!

For Yay’s 100th birthday, we wanted to gather together so that we could honor her and express what a blessing she is to the church and community. Volunteers, visiting team members, and staff from every part of IHSI ministry pitched in to barbecue two whole pigs, make side dishes and tea, set up chairs and tables, and serve food. Yay Phait was seated at the place of honor with her children, grandchildren, and friends.

Yay Phait blew out her birthday cake candles for the very first time in one hundred years, surrounded by so many who love her! She also received some beautiful portraits as a gift from the Hansons. Then we had a time of testimonies where people young and old shared about how Yay has inspired and encouraged them.

It was a privilege to celebrate Yay Phait’s centennial birthday and see in a small way how her life and character have rippled out to influence so many. Join us in praying that Yay has many more years of health, provision, and joy ahead of her!

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We hosted a church team from Illinois for an outreach this month, our second team from Rockford First! This all-women team was a great mix of individuals from all seasons of life, and they did a great job making friends with Sak Saum, local kids and youth, and the children in our programs. During their outreach, they taught English classes, did church/Sak Saum visitations to the sick and elderly, taught our staff new songs and games for ministry, shared in church and with our staff, did art projects with Father’s House and neighborhood children, helped with Yay Phait’s birthday, attending a Sak Saum anti-trafficking seminar, and more!

Below are some photos from their outreach. And if you or your church group is interested in learning more about doing outreaches with IHSI, please click here!