Team Cambodia, Assemble!!!

Hello, friends! 

This is a few weeks late but I wanted to let you know that our team for Cambodia has been just about finalized!  We are still waiting on one application to come in but right now it looks like we'll have 7 students joining us for the good times.  Here's the team (except for me, who you know):

Steph Schmaltz -­‐ Co-­‐Director
• Been with InterVarsity almost 13 years (9 as staff and 4 as a student at Central College)
• Favorite things about Cambodia: Driving a motorbike and eating mangos with chili and salt-­-­yum!
• Random things about me: Enjoy playing sports, will not touch cotton balls, coffee addict, I now some­times
use British-­English words and phrases

Megan Leong -­‐ Co-­‐Director
• My favorite foods are: Ice Cream, Indian food, coffee and chocolate
• I love to cook and try new foods
• I  am originally from South Dakota, went to school in Minnesota, lived in St. Louis for 4 years, and now live in Columbia, MO.

Julia Mohr -­‐ Central College
• I have swam with dolphins
• I have a little brother (11) and sister (16)
• Cupcakes are my favorite food







Ellen Murphy -­‐ Central College
• I love hiking
• My favorite season is spring
• The only bone I’ve ever broken is my middle finger on my right hand






Megan Flynn -­‐ Central College
• My favorite color is orange
• I enjoy (LOVE) people and traveling
• I am a morning person for the most part, actually I’m an all day person usually


Nathan DePenning -­‐ University of Iowa
• Steak is my favorite food but I also enjoy salads.
• I love all animals and playing with them but Siberian Tigers are my favorite!
• I enjoy watching and playing all types of sports but Denver Broncos is my only favorite team


Colter Snethen -­‐ University of Missouri
• I have written 2 ½ first drafts of novels.
• For the past four years, I have been part of improvisation teams.
• I’m a psychology major, going to grad school to be a counselor and researcher.



Grace Chung -­‐ University of Missouri
• Loves to cook for people and try new things.
• Has backpacked around the Southeast Asia region.
• Has studied abroad in 3 different countries -­ Singapore, South Korea, and Japan





Friends, it has already been tons of fun meeting the team and getting to know them better.  I know that it's going to be a really fun time as we work together in Cambodia.  Will you please pray for us as we prepare for the final push before we head out?  Please pray specifically for us as we do our fundraising for the trip.
(If you'd like to help, you can email me (adamjohnleong@gmail.com) and I would happy to get you more information!)

Have an excellent day! 

~Adam

Spring Break Relived

Hello, friends! 

I know I'm two weeks late but it's better late than never, right?  Since we got back from City Lights things have been a whirlwind around these parts.  My plan is to post more in the next few days about all the great things that have happened since the last time we talked.  We'll start with Spring Break.  =0). 

If you need a recap, you can read about our Spring Break plan here.  To say that it was a transformative experience for both the students and me would be a bit of an understatement.  Here are a few ways that I saw God move:

- The little things matter.  I spent most of my week working with some students at a church in the city called Bridge of Hope.  Their mantra is "what does the community need?"  They have a school room for folk to study for their GED's, a shower for homeless folk, a bike room so kids can fix their rides, and a tool shed so folk can borrow tools as needed.  None of our jobs were particularly hard: we made copies, repaired some ceiling tiles, painted a little, fixed their wifi, sorted some tools, and things like that.  Still, I couldn't get over how much of a blessing Steve and Robin (the pastor and his wife) of the church thought it was.  Things like a straight ceiling and wifi are things we take for granted but they can be a huge blessing to others. 

- Healing is a real thing.  Even just inside the Mizzou group we saw some real healing start to happen.  One student recommitted her life to Jesus and another came to terms with some deep rooted racism that had been in his life from a very young age.  I love that when we take the time to really be in the presence of God, he comes through with all sorts of healing that we didn't even know we needed!  Isn't God grand? 

- I don't have to be in charge.  This year was the first year since my intern year in 2008 that I was at City Lights but not directing the project on some level.  I'll be honest, the first few days were hard.  I was used to being in charge and calling the shots or at least having a heightened sense of responsibility during the project.  Not this year.  This year I was just one of the staff.  After the initial shock of not having the project on my shoulders, it was actually freeing.  I enjoyed getting to go to bed early instead of shutting down the building.  I enjoyed getting up at 6:15 like everyone else instead of 5:30 to set up for the morning.  I enjoyed having time for the Mizzou students instead of trying to take care of everyone.  It was nice. 

There are many more stories that I could share about City Lights but I think I'll leave that to the students.  Just know that it was a great time and thanks to everyone who was praying for us while we were on the project.

Have an excellent day! 

~Adam