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“We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us!”
Philippians 4:13

Dear CCAM Partners and Friends,

God has once again validated His intention to restore CCAMS through our participation in the Christmas Celebration sponsored by Open Gate Church at Chenla Theater on December 26th! 

Three weeks ago, Pastor Rien invited the CCAMS Junior Dance Team to present “The Blessing Dance” and “The Offering Dance” at the celebration.  Pastor Rien’s trust in us leaders and in our fledgling junior team blessed us with fresh hope that God was on the verge of actually birthing His restored CCAMS ministry!  This opportunity was the first of our Christmas miracles!

The following week was totally consumed with making arrangements for the remnant students, who had been repatriated by the government to their relatives in the countryside back in May, to return to Phnom Penh to prepare for this performance, while staying with other relatives or CCAM ministry partners until the dorm building is ready.  This reunion with the CCAMS Junior Dance Team was our second Christmas miracle!

Then, in the two remaining weeks until the celebration, Kelsey transported the remnant team members to and from the CCAM School every day (three hours total); so that Gioia could teach them for many hours those two dances that they had never performed together before.  Teaching Khmer dance is not Gioia’s regular responsibility, but after 21 years experience working in this ministry as Artistic Director, she knows how each dance should be performed, backed up by our extensive library of performance videos.  All that was accomplished during those few rehearsals was our third Christmas miracle!

The CCAMS remnant staff, assisted by volunteers, spent many hours preparing the costumes for the dancers to wear.  This was not their primary responsibility either, but they joyfully plied their needles way into the night!  At one point, Kelsey drove Noren four hours total to connect with the volunteer who knew how to adjust two special blouses!  All of these beautiful costumes were our fourth Christmas miracle!

The Junior Dance Team members (Naomi, Sreyvorn, Thavina, Sokchea, Soklieng, and John, ages 12-17) worked diligently for many long hours a day to prepare the dances as their Christmas gifts for Jesus on His birthday!  Their amazing performances at the celebration were our fifth Christmas miracle!

Click here to view a collage of the CCAMS dances performed by our Junior Dance Team at the Christmas Celebration sponsored by Open Gate Church at Chenla Theater, December 26, 2016!

Bopha, formerly trained at CCAMS, plans to come every Saturday to teach Khmer dance whenever our school officially opens, but she is not available to come every day, as was necessary for this particular performance.  However, she graciously offered her services at the theater preparing the girl dancers’ make-up, hair, and costumes.  Her professional assistance was our sixth Christmas miracle!

Fifty invitation-tickets were donated so that the restored CCAMS (including returning remnant students, Bopha’s students, Sambat’s students, volunteers, and staff) could enjoy the celebration together at the theater.  This was our seventh Christmas miracle!

After weeks of doing without our largest van, we finally got it fixed!  Therefore, Sarath was able to drive it to pick up all of the countryside students who are enrolled in the CCAM School (but still waiting for the dorm to be prepared), so that they could come to Phnom Penh to attend the celebration.  After the program, Kelsey drove them all back home.  (6 hours total)  Transporting them was our eighth Christmas miracle!

And during all these days of practicing, making costumes, and performing, we also enjoyed eating together, praying and worshiping together, and relaxing and playing together too!  All these activities made it feel like “old times,” which was our ninth Christmas miracle!

Click here to view photos of the preparations for and celebration of our 2016 Christmas.

Later in January, as is our custom, we will celebrate our combined CCAMS family Christmas, when all of us are finally together!  That celebration will become our tenth Christmas miracle!

Thank you all for your continuing prayer, financial, and practical support!  Please keep praying for the last restoration miracle expected:  an outpouring of one-time gifts, as well as regular pledged donations, to help sustain the CCAMS ministry over the long term.

May our miracle-working God also bless you and help you in every circumstance!

The CCAMS Family

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