September Guatemala Trip Update #1 - September 23, 2019

What an incredible first two days it has been! Our small team of six went forth on this trip to Guatemala with this verse in our hearts: “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin.” Zechariah 4:10. The first part of our trip has indeed been focused on “beginnings,” and God truly has allowed us to see how He is at work in these moments.

Our flight arrived into Guatemala City on Saturday around noon and Glenn Stewart picked our team up from the airport. Glenn and his wonderful wife Judy have committed their lives to missionary work, primarily in Central America, including Bolivia for many years and now Guatemala for the last thirteen years. Glenn was our driver for Saturday and Sunday and showed our team the heart of a servant and an incredible love for others in ministry. He drove our team from the airport to Solola, a Mayan town overlooking the breathtakingly beautiful Lake Atitlan. Here, nestled above the lake, is Eagle’s Nest orphanage, a children’s home that our ministry was visiting for the first time. Although traffic delayed our team’s arrival at the orphanage and our time was short, we spent an amazing time with the kids through playing baseball, sharing in mandolin music, making crafts, and holding and goofing around with the youngest kids and babies. There are 35 children at the orphanage, ranging in age from 6 months to high school. While we were there a 2-year old little girl was brought to the orphanage by a policeman and was very upset while they processed her entry. We do not know her situation but pray that God will have his hand on that little girl’s future. As always, leaving the children was so hard and our prayer is that we will be back and will have a part in each of their lives.

After spending the night at a hotel by the lake, we breakfasted with Denise, a missionary to Eagle’s Nest who directed our team while we were there. Denise has an amazing faith and testimony that was inspiring to us all. Our team then drove back to Guatemala City where we met up with Greg Miller, the orphanage director of Zacapa, and were led on a tour of SETECA, a Bible college, by our gracious hosts Irv and Janet Wenger. SETECA has about 1,200 students enrolled. Janet heads up the music department but she and Irv are planning to retire and move back to Pennsylvania next year after 40 years of faithful service and teaching in Guatemala. SETECA is a special place and has great opportunities for music missionaries for our ministry and possibly for our orphan children to attend there when they graduate from school. Finally, we went to dinner with Janet and Irv, Bob and Anne Henriques, another amazing missionary couple who teach at the seminary and travel to spread the Good News, and Greg Miller. Tracy Arntzen met Bob on a plane about four years ago and God brought us all together in this moment through that connection. As with our initial visit to Eagle’s Nest, we do not know where this latest “beginning” will lead us, but we do know that God rejoices in beginnings and does more than we can ask or imagine when we are faithful and follow his leading.

On to see our kids in Zacapa tomorrow!

-Adam Reiley

August Cambodia Trip Update #5 - August 22

As we return to from Cambodia, back to our lives and I reflect on my time there, the word Suffering comes to mind. It’s easy to think that the people of Cambodia, or any third world country for that matter, are suffering because of unclean drinking water, or food sanitation, or any other commonality of a 3rd world country. It is hard to cope with, but it’s just normal for the people there. The fact is, their suffering is much like everyone of us. Their stories will impact you, not because they are so different, but because they are more alike than you could imagine. When they break down in tears, it’s not about dirty water, but it’s because their parents force them to pray to the temple when they do not believe in it, it’s because their family abandoned them when they were a baby, it’s because a daughter lost a mother in a moto accident. It’s because they were molested as kids, or beaten, or it’s because a father went to prison. I have learned that while their living conditions are in stark contrast to mine, our suffering is not so different. We suffer not for punishment, but so that we can tell our story. So that we can become the human being we were destined to be, and when that other lost soul, who has a story just like you, sees your light, they will know that Gods grace will cover them as well. 

Don’t be afraid to tell your story. No matter how bad you think it is. No matter the shame or regret you may feel for your actions. You have a story for a reason, someone else needs to hear that exact story, because they went through the same thing.

Much love and thanks to everyone who supported and prayed for my wife and I on this trip, we are forever grateful!

Darren Zelgewicz
Genesis Elevator Company

August Cambodia Trip Update #4 - August 18

“Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray.” 1 John 3:7.

What an amazing trip and journey with Saving Susan, and the people of Sanctuary Church, to Cambodia. I have shared my life with people I barely knew from Sanctuary. I have shared my soul with all of them on this trip and I feel as if I have made many new friends. I have also grown to love the orphans of Cambodia even more. I have grown closer to my 6 parent partner children on this trip. I have also grown to love these girls as I have always loved my own 2 biological children, Heather and Kristi. These girls from Bileg in Kampong Thom have captured my heart as a Father. I love these girls as if they were my own blood. I remember the laboring as a father many years ago, as I prayed and thought how I hoped my girls would be as adults. It took many prayers and tears to see my girls grow up to be well balanced Jesus-loving women of God. This is the love I have for the young girls of Bileg. I love Mei-Mei, Srey Leak, Srey Near, Mercy and Savonne. I will make sure , with all that is in me, that they grow to love and follow Jesus as my own girls have done. Their papa loves them and I will pray and lead them as I have led my own. These beautiful girls are my family. I love you girls with all my heart. DAD!!!

David Delk

August Cambodia Trip Update #3 - August 14

Immeasurably more. That’s a term that is used a lot around Saving Susan Ministry. One that I didn’t really understand until today.

Day #5 of the trip was the last day we spent at Bileg Solid Rock. We woke up early this morning and watched our kids graduate! We had 3 girls graduate from high school: Srey Leak, Mei - Mei, and Sreypov. Srey Leak and Mei - Mei’s Papa David was blessed to be able to give the commencement speech, while I (Kristi) and Carly Beber got the chance to sing in the ceremony! Sreypov’s Momma Doreen was able to be there as well.

After graduation we spent as much time with the kids as possible. We went to “The Dam” to cool off and the kids loved it. We did too, because it is hot, hot, hot here! After that we took the kids to the “Spicy Noodle” and had dinner. The spice level for the noodles goes from 0-7, 7 being the hottest. Most of us Americans got a 0, with a couple brave 1’s & 2’s, but our resident Cambodian-American, Samuel hung with the natives and got a 7! After dinner we headed back to Bileg to give the kids all a special Saving Susan Ministry t-shirt with their name on the back and said our good-byes. This is always the worst part. The time wasn’t long enough and the tears were evidence of the love.

Here’s why I say I now understand what God means when he tells us in Ephesians 3:20 “Now to him to is able to give immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine.” As we we’re saying our goodbyes, Mei - Mei tells me that growing up with only brothers, she always wanted a sister. Boys don’t know about girl stuff or how to help her, but now she is grateful she has sister to talk to. I’ve spent 3 days with this girl and I already feel as close to her as I do my biological sister back home. This is what God has created us for. To care for the widows and the orphans, and to bring them into our families. He gives us something more than we can imagine when we least expect it. A relationship I’d never fathom and one that I will cherish until we’re together in eternity. Good-byes are tough, but they’re not forever.

That’s all for now, but there is much more to come.
Kristi Laughlin
SSM Ministry Coordinator

August Cambodia Trip Update #2 - August 13

We are happy to report that days number three and four have been very productive for the August Sanctuary/Saving Susan Ministry team!  Monday morning we left Phnom Penh and headed for Kampong Thom Province, where Bileg Orphanage and Solid Rock Christian School are located.  Upon arrival we had a joyous reunion with the 18 orphans who are “Parent Partnered” by Saving Susan Ministry—some of whom met their parent partners in person for the very first time.  The team got a tour of the entire complex, which includes the orphanage and school, as well as Solid Rock Baptist Church and Solid Rock hospital.  Dr. Felipe Castro has developed all four institutions over the course of a quarter-century…as the result of a vision God gave him in 1993, and the ongoing provision for it.  Dr. Jack Baskin befriended Dr. Castro and much of the work Western Hills Baptist Church has done in Cambodia stemmed from their shared belief in bringing the truth of Christ to this 95% Buddhist country.

Tuesday we participated in a baseball camp which included a total of 40 budding players of all ages (with several Bileg orphans in the mix!).  Cambodian government officials have executed a plan to bring the sport of baseball to the country.  Christian organizations like Saving Susan Ministry are partnering in the effort, with the express understanding that baseball can be used as a forum to share the gospel.  The baseball clinic today was opened and closed in prayer, and at the end of several exciting innings a gospel presentation and invitation to accept Christ was conducted by David Delk of Sanctuary Church.

In the afternoon we enjoyed fellowship and fun with the orphans of Bileg, building important relationships in the  process.  The day was capped off by a delicious meal prepared by team member Chris Gatti with the help of Bileg staffers.  Chris prepared dinner for over 60 people, using giant woks heated over burning wood. 

Wednesday we will participate in graduation ceremonies in the morning at Solid Rock Christian School, including three Saving Susan Ministry-supported seniors who will headed to college in the fall.  David Delk will deliver the keynote address at the ceremony, encouraging all the graduates to continue as ambassadors of Christ in all they do from tomorrow forward. 

Please continue to keep our team in your prayers, specifically that what we are doing will be a powerful witness for our Lord Jesus and that we can be obedient to the command to spread His word at every turn.

-Stu Gordon