We do hope you're all well and enjoying life! It has been a while since we last blogged - so hopefully this will fill you in on our last few months. As we're heading towards the end of another year - it is amazing how time flies by so quickly...So, here's some of the highlights of Sept - Oct.
- We provided training for Samaritan's Purse staff and for members of New Life Fellowship Phnom Penh Thmey, Ps. Sophea's church which was lots of fun and interesting as usual! We taught on understanding personality types using the DISC model for both - and had great response from all the people attending the training.
- We had Peter McHugh and Hugh Marquis in town early September which was really nice. It is so good to connect with Pete when he's in town and to catch up on life at church in Melbourne and what God has been doing in general in Australie and in our world here in Cambodia. Pete was the guest speaker at a three separate leadership seminar days we held that week including one where he shed light on understanding the role of Boards and Governance in the Church. All great stuff and well received by those attending. Hugh helped with further development of plans for an IT services vocational training centre (we're hoping to see this developed further in 2009)
- We continued with the monthly programs of: Sustainability Forum (started a series looking at limitations to financial flow), and Life skills training for NLF dorm members covering Communication with others, Intimacy with God & Communication with God topics.
- We had a week away in Kep over the Water Festival week which was fantastic and nice rest for us both.
- Progressed the development of an equity partnership business model template in particular starting to plan for a tuktuk/van hire business to help sustain New Life Fellowship dorms (anticipate start up in Jan '09)
Well - that's enough text for any sane individual ! - so, we've included some pics below for you to enjoy.
Be blessed - we look forward to updating you again in the early new year 2009! As usual - we'd love to hear from you - so please drop us a line sometime!
Lots of love - Mark & Jo
Peter teaching in the seminar on understanding Boards and Governance in the Church.
Pete with Sophy Mong our resident interpreter for the week!
Hugh, Rathana, Pete and Virak - blokes in a manly embrace!
Mark teaching in the Sept Sustainability Forum
Group discussion during Oct Sustainability Forum
Small group discussion during Oct Sustainability Forum
Same as above
Same as above
Flooding of the road to Ps. Sophea's church in PP Thmey area - we had to reschedule the training there several weeks running simply because access to the church was limited from the flooding (it was deep enough in parts for some of the locals to put in small fishing nets apparently!!)
Introduction game to week 1 of personality types training at New Life Fellowship Phnom Penh Thmey church (Ps. Sophea): Jo explaining the rules of the "fruit salad" game - lots of fun all round!
Same as above - the khmer people no matter what age just love interaction and active games - they can't get enough of it!
As above
The "free for all" part of the game where every one has to scramble to find another seat to sit in - it was hilarious!!
Jo introducing the opening game for week 2 of training in understanding personality types at Ps. Sophea's church. This one involved each person in the group linking their hands together randomly and then having to "untangle" the quickest.
Still in a tangle...it was quite interesting to watch..one group got it while the other totally bombed out and had to start all over again!
This group in a pickle half way through their attempt to "untangle" - check out the young guy in the middle of the group - he's squatting on the floor - very funny indeed!
Mark speaking on personality types at Ps. Sophea's church (PP Thmey district)
Group activity using the DISC model of understanding personality types
Group discussion on each personality represented
Same as above
Part of the DISC card activity - where each person had to explain their three cards (each with a distinct DISC adjective listed) that best described them
Mark teaching in the Sept Life Skills training at NLF Phnom Penh
Sept Life skills training - an activity in trust building - very funny to watch. But they did actually get the point of the activity in the end!
Sept Life sklls training - Part of the guys activity in trust building
Mark with the aid of visual prop No. 1 - a piece of KFC, no that got everyone's attention! Part of teaching on meditating on God's word -- of all things to use KFC for!!
Jo leading the Oct Life skills training - this was an exercise on encouragement where each person was aksed to write a positive message, scripture verse or compliment about every other person in the group. It was lots of fun and you could see the delight when each person got their piece of paper returned to them with all the personal words of encouragement directed at them. We never knew Cambodians blushed until that day - it was really pleasing to see the outcome! Interestingly, most had never done anything like this before.
Pic from a day trip to some waterfalls near Kampot
Beautiful sunset riverside view in Kampot
View from the crab market in Kep ...ahh the serenity..So nice indeed!
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