January 5, 2016
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“For there will be peace for the seed; the vine will yield its fruit…
I will cause the remnant of this people to inherit all these things…
I will save you that you may become a blessing.
Do not fear; let your hands be strong…
These are the things which you should do:
speak the truth to one another;
judge with truth for peace in your gates.”
Zechariah 8:12-13, 16 paraphrased
Dear CCAM Partners and Friends,
The CCAM School in Cambodia was first opened in 1995 with only a few teenaged students. As our student body grew and encompassed a broader range of ages, we moved to larger facilities many times, until 1999, when we finally filled up a four-story house, and in 2002, added the two-story house next door as well. In those facilities, we accommodated up to 50 students with both full-time live-in staff and part-time staff.
When the global financial crisis occurred in 2008, we lost those spacious facilities and most of our regular financial donations. Since then, we have been living and working in less than adequate facilities, while trusting God to eventually provide better accommodations and restore our previous base of financial support.
During this time, as our students grew up and left, we did not receive as many new students as before, because of cramped facilities and depleted funds. In our present facilities since 2010, we have been maintaining a live-in student body of about 30, with 6 live-in staff and 7 part-time staff.
However, just in the last month, this number has dropped to a remnant of 9 live-in students and 4 live-in staff (plus 1 part-time staff). This sudden change was due to the departure of students who had finished 12th grade, plus married staff Sophun and Reaksmey Ty, who left with their children Isaac and Grace, influencing many of the older students and their siblings to leave too. With heavy hearts, Noren and Gioia expressed their love to all of those planning to leave at a special Farewell. Click here to view a Facebook photo album of this event.
At the Farewell, in addition to special gifts for the Ty family, we gave $7.50 to each CCAMS student and staff to spend at Soriya Mall. This was a Christmas gift, as well as a reward for working hard to help produce the two newest original dances. Click here to view a Facebook photo album of the mall outing.
A similar student exodus to this one occurred in 2005. Back then we had to pretty much start all over again with a small remnant of young children, watching God do miracle after miracle to help us recover and grow! We are expecting God to rescue us again this time too, and empower us to continue spreading His Good News.
A few of the students who just left are contemplating returning, and we are currently contacting those on our waiting list to offer them the opportunity to finally join CCAMS as students or staff. In addition to that, we are expecting God to lead us to other disadvantaged children and youth, just as He has always done in the past.
Of course, we are deeply grieved to lose our children who leave, especially when they leave before completing their education, but we are also motivated by the opportunity to give more individualized attention to the remnant that God calls to stay. This current remnant is just bursting with potential and anxious to grow up and try their wings.
Watching “The War Room” video recently has inspired them to pray more boldly, so we are organizing special prayer meetings to intercede for those who have left and for those God will bring, as well as for more adequate funding and housing.
On New Year’s Day, we celebrated Noren’s birthday by taking everyone to Koh Pich to eat goo-ee-tee-oh and have fun at the amusement park. Even though our hearts were heavy because of the departure of those we love, nevertheless we found comfort in the ever closer relationships developing among one another. Click here to view a Facebook photo album of the Koh Pich outing.
Now we are preparing for our CCAMS Family Christmas Celebration coming up on January 16-17. The students are busy creating beautiful artwork for Jesus, learning special music to honor Him, and practicing Scripture readings that tell the story of His birth. All of us are especially encouraged that Pastor Kevin Kane will be returning once again this year to preach the Christmas sermon!
Called to be a blessing,
The CCAMS Remnant
Click here to view our comprehensive CCAM vision statement.