The Barsons Journey to Plant Churches in Kampong Cham, Cambodia

The first of four letters explaining our passion for missions

To some of you this letter may come as a surprise and to others it may make perfect sense. Our desire to serve God and meet the physical and spiritual needs of the poor have led our family to an exciting opportunity and a very new direction. Over the last six months we have received affirmation of God calling us to the mission field in Kampong Cham, Cambodia.

Happy Holidays, Family and Friends,

OUR Call To missions

l from my my journa alized dug out 04 and re I recently odia in 20 ck when I mb trip to Ca arted ba o journey st oman wh at this th e me a w sically, to mak asked God ring, not only phy ffe titioner can ease su . As a Nurse Prac ally the but spiritu ysical suffering all ph h geriatrics I deal wit working in death, although by time, and -surprised ake me un g that this is should m in ened know humanity. I am sadd for ith intention tionship w not Gods into a rela ame ith in him When I c ed that fa er ist I learn ternity aft Jesus Chr spiritual e a this can lead to eath. Assurance of al d anding. the physic ce beyond underst pea naled provides a 04, I jour and in 20 dia as a result of f Thail ambo the Gulf o essed in C Despite s I sat on A ing I witn litical devastation. suffer key s was the about the y of po ering, Jesu and histor ty , God this suff the pover at amidst er this trip realized th temporary life. Aft oor and gave me that, I p eyond this heart towards the ds. to hope b iritual nee e my cal and sp to mov has physi continued een given meet their l life Ive b in Cambodia. g desire to onderfu a stron e for the w ble for Gods work h y gratitud M our churc availa in prayer, currently me to be motivated communicating this ork er join the w ur church o Shortly aft uest for a family to e elders of q nt out a re ampong Cham. Th . se this work K suited for pening in hap be best l and I to found Bil

Amy

Amy and Im know each et and started to ge t to other in C ambodia We starte in 2004. d da home and ting after we return ed got marrie d a year la From the ter. start we sh ared a stro to value w ng hat God v alues: peo desire Although ple. Iw people p as never naturally a erson, it was throu relationsh gh c ips that I saw Gods lose and desire acceptanc to e peace that have all people kno w the exists whe n we are re with our c conciled reator. I h ave since strong desi had a re for all p eople to h opportun ave an ity to kno w what Je done for th sus has em and b e able to m choice to a receive it for themse ke the lves. Leavin of Americ g family and friend an s and the comforts pales in co culture will definite ly be a sac mparison r to being a God. Wh ble to imp ifice but it ile teachin act eternit g the Bible God work y for in Haiti la ed st summe wanted to through my weakn r, esses and use me in affirmed th his work o Shortly aft at utside the er United Sta he in Cambo this experience our tes. dia to join church op ened a po a the past e siti ight years. family who we hav e prayed fo on We were th chosen to r over ril join this fa mily in th led to find that we were e field!

Bill

We share these common convictions, which motivate us to serve God in Kampong Cham:

The Gospel is available to all people

For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life John 3:16

greatest 2 Jesus was theall time and his 3 God uses his followers to missionary of inform people of his work: final words to his followers were to baptize all nations and teach them about him
Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved. How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? Romans 10:13-14

All authority has been given to me in Heaven and on Earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Matthew 28:18-20

Getting Ready
Once we were chosen by our churchs board of elders we underwent a rugged week-long missionary assessment with World Team, our missionary organization. We passed the assessment and after talking with several current missionaries on the field in Cambodia, we were invited to join the field in Kampong Cham! We have lots to do to prepare ourselves for the field including reading several books, taking an online Bible course through World Team, and participating in six weeks of intercultural training. Our formal language study will begin once we arrive in Cambodia, but we have already begun to learn conversational Khmer.

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Why are you receiving this letter?

We have chosen to send these letters to you because you have impacted our lives in some way and we deeply desire for you to be a part of this journey with us. We invite you to share our experiences and stay connected with the Barson family as we plan, move, and land in our new destination in 2013. Because there is too much information to share with you in just one letter, we will be sending out three more letters in the next few months to tell you specifically why we are going to Cambodia and what we will be doing there. We will also inform you about World Team, our sending agency and how you can partner with us on this journey. As we mentioned earlier, your involvement with us as we go through this process is important to us! Please feel free to email or call us if you prefer not to wait for the subsequent letters. We would be excited to talk to you personally about our experiences in Cambodia and our plans over the next several months. Thankfully the awesomeness of modern technology will allow us to stay in touch with you by mail, phone, email, Facebook, and Skype even after we reach Cambodia.

Bill and Amy Barson

CONTACT: Bill

614-477-2417

bill.barson@worldteam.org

Amy

614-353-1721

amy.barson@worldteam.org