Back home
The beginning of July was a time of readjustment for us. We enjoyed our return to family and our wonderful church family, but we did take a bit of time to readjust. We enjoyed time with many church members during their annual 4th of July picnic. It was a wonderful time of talking, playing drums, water balloons and watermelons! We also had the opportunity to report to the missions committee about all we learned in Cambodia and what preparations we needed to make before we left. The discussion went so well that we were unable to complete our report, so we plan on meeting with individuals on the committee to answer their questions as well as meet with the entire committee again. Chris had the privilege of reporting briefly to the congregation and did a great job explaining our purposes for the trip and how those purposes were fulfilled. Maggie stole the show, however, with the numerous cute pictures of her with our Khmer friends.
Visiting Central Members
We have had the blessing of doing some catching up with Central members since we’ve been back. We went out to many lunches, including some with the elders and their families which we both sincerely appreciates and thoroughly enjoyed. The elders, deacons, and staff work tremendously hard here and we are so thankful for all the time they have taken out of their busy lives of helping others to spend with us. We also enjoyed visiting the newest member of the Central family: Preston Bruce Grasham. Though he weighed more than Maggie when she was born, we had forgotten that babies could be so light, and we marveled at that little miracle of love as our little miracle walked around the room chattering away.
We also were involved in a few small projects with Central members. Chris spent a whole day with two men from Central building a shed while Casey had a girls party for the upcoming 6th graders. Each event was a special time to get close to people in different times of life then we and share in the joy of each period of life.
Tentmaker
Part of our time here at Central is spent trying to figure out what talents God has given us and how we can use them on the mission field. While at Harding, Chris not only completed his Computer Science degree, but he also provided for our family through his abilities in programming and web design. He loves this field and has been blessed with such skills as to make him a good candidate for the business world. His desire to serve in Cambodia has found him putting aside these skills in order to minister to others. Now, however, he has found a wonderful balance in his ministry, and we are pleased to announce another part of our work: Tentmaker! Chris has now opened a part time business to help support our work and to use his skills as a programmer and web-designer. Please visit tentmaker.allisonmission.com to more information. If you know anyone that needs a website built, please refer them. 100% of the profits go to our ministry.
Maggie’s Birthday!
We can hardly believe it! Maggie’s birthday just snuck right up on us. We had a wonderful party with families from our church and from the community. Maggie’s enjoyed all of the wonderful presents she received and ate more cake
than we thought a little one that size could fit! She growing up, and we are more proud of her than ever. We look forward to training her in the Lord and seeing all that He will do to her and through her!
Costa Rica
Chris left for Costa Rica a week after he was asked to go and encourage our missionary family there and do follow-up from a campaign. Please keep him in your prayers as he is the only Swahili and Khmer speaker (he doesn’t speak Spanish!).
