Guess what we did today?... Left for the beach! Much packing was done in preparation for this trip though. We spent hours putting together all the equipment to leave here for 3 teams. The ride to the beach took approximately 5 hours which was long but fun because of the people we were with. As soon as we arrived at the church that the students are staying at we began to train the new people and the experienced puppeteers. I was helping with the advanced students working on arm rods and choreography. The beginners worked at another location because there was not enough room for all of us in the one-room church.  While sitting on the bus, waiting for the bus driver to return to take some of us to the new location, Mr. Dave and Bethany began their training on the bus! The rest of us were inside with a metal roof when all of a sudden it torrentially down poured. HARD! It was so loud that the kids could hardly hear us giving instructions. After only 5 minutes God miraculously flipped the switch and the rain stopped in an instant. It was amazing. We all thanked God for ending the rain. What a great gift. :)

We had the advanced puppeteers come up with their own choreography to different songs after we showed them one that we had just come up with. They still need work but that is what we are here for!  Work must come before play, right?

After training, we all packed on the bus and went to the beach!!! Everyone was so excited! Mr. and Mrs. Drebes said that this will be the best trip/vacation that some of these kids will ever have. The water was so warm and much clearer than New Jersey beaches. WE all had a blast in the water although the current was really strong so all the Americans were heavy duty lifeguards, but we could handle that. I can not tell you how much joy and happiness were on all the students faces. As we were jumping over the waves hand in hand everyone was shouting "Jump Up and Down, HEY!!" (which is one of our songs in the presentations). Our team left after the beach to debrief our trip so far over a delicious dinner.

All of us are not only being blessed by the Khmer youth but are also being challenged in our own faith. We are so thrilled to see them improve and to truly know that this ministry will continue to grow. I am so incredibly thankful to be here again! I love, love, love, the Khmer people and am blessed to see their fire for God! May we have that same passion for Him.

By Amanda Wilson :)

Please pray for God to continue to hold off the rain so that we are able to train and do performances outside. And for not only the students to be changed when they go home but for us to be transformed also.