hello everyone -
we have all made it home safely to NC with our luggage, except one bag that was lost between Germany and Canada. we have had such an amazing summer and all of us have great stories to tell each of you. thank you so much for all of your prayers and support throughout this whole process!
it couldn't have been possible without you. our lives and students in Malaysia's lives have been changed forever.
in and through Him,
CCP Malaysia team
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Friday, July 15, 2011
Karaoke/Brandon's Birthday!
The video explains it all...
This is Brandon's Birthday and we went wild! We had so much fun! This is just a little taste of what we experienced and how awesome it was! We really could not capture how great it was on camera, but this is an attempt. Enjoy!
Malaysia National vs. Arsenal Soccer Game
On Wednesday Night, July 13th, the team went to the Malaysia National vs. Arsenal soccer game. It was incredible! It was such a wonderful experience to see all the different people there. Most of us had never been to a game like that before and the soccer was incredible. Most of the boys were pulling for Arsenal, but most of the girls and some boys held strong to Malaysia. Arsenal ended up winning 4-0, but Malaysia definitely held their own! It made us all scream "Malaysia Boleh" (Which means "Malaysia Can")! We got to go to the game with some of our friends we have met here which made it even better. We took three different trains to get there, we definitely needed help from them. It was also nice because they knew a lot about the teams and could explain more to us. We had a a really great time! Enjoy the videos, the first one is what we saw when we first entered the area. The second is when we first entered the stadium.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
2 weeks left!
Friends and Family-
It has been a while since we last updated and we have had a lot happen! last weekend we took a "vision trip" to the island of Penang, a 6-hour luxury bus ride through tropical Malaysia.
While in Penang, we kicked off our weekend by eating at a local Thai restaurant. From there some students who live and study on the island showed us around different college campuses. We got to meet and hang out with locals there, bargain for souvenirs at the famous night market, Batu Ferringhi, spent a day on the beach (after we hiked for an hour through the jungle!) ate some amazing food, watched a basketball tournament that some students we met were playing in, some of the girls got pedicures, and topped it off with a mixed-culture church where the sermon was shared in both English and Mandarin Chinese.
We know there is a huge opportunity in Penang, as we are praying about launching a two-year team to the island fall 2013. Each of the members of our team got to pray whether or not this could be the place God is calling them to after graduation! It was a special opportunity to pray and and dream while we enjoyed all the island offered. It was also a huge blessing to see the existing work God is already doing in Penang.
As we near the end of our time here, we are getting excited but also feeling a sense of urgency as we realize how much we've been able to do while here, but know that there is still much left to do! It's been exciting at the Connexion house to watch people from all over the world, literally (from some countries we've never heard of), come together and share in discussions and build friendships. Some of the guys have made deep friendships and are now hosting a discipleship group for some African guys who seek growth in their faith.
We ask that you join with us in prayer for these next two weeks, especially concerning the health of the team, we have had some battle and conquer sickness and some who are currently sick. We are praying for protection for the rest of the team to stay healthy and for healing for those who are sick. Also please pray boldness and perseverance for us on campus as our time here is running out quickly.
thanks, we love you!
CCP team
It has been a while since we last updated and we have had a lot happen! last weekend we took a "vision trip" to the island of Penang, a 6-hour luxury bus ride through tropical Malaysia.
While in Penang, we kicked off our weekend by eating at a local Thai restaurant. From there some students who live and study on the island showed us around different college campuses. We got to meet and hang out with locals there, bargain for souvenirs at the famous night market, Batu Ferringhi, spent a day on the beach (after we hiked for an hour through the jungle!) ate some amazing food, watched a basketball tournament that some students we met were playing in, some of the girls got pedicures, and topped it off with a mixed-culture church where the sermon was shared in both English and Mandarin Chinese.
"fish spa"
We know there is a huge opportunity in Penang, as we are praying about launching a two-year team to the island fall 2013. Each of the members of our team got to pray whether or not this could be the place God is calling them to after graduation! It was a special opportunity to pray and and dream while we enjoyed all the island offered. It was also a huge blessing to see the existing work God is already doing in Penang.
As we near the end of our time here, we are getting excited but also feeling a sense of urgency as we realize how much we've been able to do while here, but know that there is still much left to do! It's been exciting at the Connexion house to watch people from all over the world, literally (from some countries we've never heard of), come together and share in discussions and build friendships. Some of the guys have made deep friendships and are now hosting a discipleship group for some African guys who seek growth in their faith.
We ask that you join with us in prayer for these next two weeks, especially concerning the health of the team, we have had some battle and conquer sickness and some who are currently sick. We are praying for protection for the rest of the team to stay healthy and for healing for those who are sick. Also please pray boldness and perseverance for us on campus as our time here is running out quickly.
thanks, we love you!
CCP team
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Downtown Kuala Lumpur
The team finally visited downtown KL, we took a ride up to the top of the skyneedle, ate Thai food, and took the monorail home.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Saturday, June 4, 2011
We're Here!!!
Parents, Friends and Supports,
The CCP team is safe and sound in KL!!!! The flights were great...but long. Everyone's bags made it! The apartments are nice, some of the guys are already asleep (Will and David)!
We were greeted at the apartment by some of our Malaysian friends from the Summer Orlando Project. They brought us a sample of Durian (stinky fruit)! Not my favorite....
Pray for a good nights rest. Tomorrow we will go to church then have some orientation. We'll update again soon!
-Erik
Friday, June 3, 2011
CCP Team Update
Latest Update as of Friday June 3rd:
The CCP team has arrived safely to Frankfurt, Germany!! We took a wonderful tour of the city... We had some delicious brautwurst, saw the main town square and ourdoor markets of downtown Frankfurt, and ended the tour with a double scoop of gelato.
We're about to board our 11 hour flight to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and end our 24 hour trip half-way around the world.
Thank you for your prayers as we travel.
-Katie McKee
The CCP team has arrived safely to Frankfurt, Germany!! We took a wonderful tour of the city... We had some delicious brautwurst, saw the main town square and ourdoor markets of downtown Frankfurt, and ended the tour with a double scoop of gelato.
We're about to board our 11 hour flight to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and end our 24 hour trip half-way around the world.
Thank you for your prayers as we travel.
-Katie McKee
Monday, May 9, 2011
how's home?
hey team, i know about half of us are at home and the other few are finishing up school and whatnot, but i just wanted to drop a line and say hello to everyone out there and see how we're all doing?
i have been home now for a few days already and it has gotten hard quick!
just wanted to encourage everyone with some Word and what Jesus was teaching me:
30 The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told him all they had done and taught.
31 Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat.
32 So they left by boat for a quiet place, where they could be alone. 33 But many people recognized them and saw them leaving, and people from many towns ran ahead along the shore and got there ahead of them.
34 Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.
35 Late in the afternoon his disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late.
36 Send the crowds away so they can go to the nearby farms and villages and buy something to eat.”
37 But Jesus said, “You feed them.”
“With what?” they asked. “We’d have to work for months to earn enough money to buy food for all these people!”
38 “How much bread do you have?” he asked. “Go and find out.”
They came back and reported, “We have five loaves of bread and two fish.”
39 Then Jesus told the disciples to have the people sit down in groups on the green grass.
40 So they sat down in groups of fifty or a hundred.
41 Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he kept giving the bread to the disciples so they could distribute it to the people. He also divided the fish for everyone to share.
42 They all ate as much as they wanted,
43 and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftover bread and fish.
44 A total of 5,000 men and their families were fed from those loaves!
mark 6:30-44
i was looking at this story for today on that list Erik gave out and it was originally John 6 but decided to read all of the same stories of Jesus feeding the 5000 and i liked this one a lot. this comes right after Jesus has sent the disciples out to minister and perform miracles and healing acts and then his best friend John the baptist has been murdered. so the i'm thinking the disciples have been super busy and are tired and frustrated and they come to Jesus and he tells them they must rest. but, because of what Jesus has been doing, giving signs and such, people are following him like the paparazzi, then the disciples get pissed because they are probably tired of being around people. anyways, what i like best about this, was in the John version (6:4) it says "the time of the passover is at hand" and so thinking through that and the disciples being hungry, what does Jesus do? HE feeds them, he tells the disciples to rest and eat. why does it say that the passover was at hand? because this event is symbolic of the Ultimate passover and the whole reason Jesus was living on this earth, to give His body as the bread to eat and "be satisfied" by.
this blew my mind, Jesus wanted the disciples to rest by eating food He gives, by being satisfied by Him and Him alone. i know school has been crazy (or still is) and then transitioning to home for the summer can be hectic and stressful too, but Jesus wants us to "come away and rest for a while" by resting in the food He provides; rest in His work, eat of His body.
i know i'm struggling to do that, but ask that you guys fight with me, let's all fight to eat of Jesus while we're at home and not our own agenda. and let's fight to pray for each other and Malaysia! we're only weeks away!
love you all,
rach
i have been home now for a few days already and it has gotten hard quick!
just wanted to encourage everyone with some Word and what Jesus was teaching me:
30 The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told him all they had done and taught.
31 Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat.
32 So they left by boat for a quiet place, where they could be alone. 33 But many people recognized them and saw them leaving, and people from many towns ran ahead along the shore and got there ahead of them.
34 Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.
35 Late in the afternoon his disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late.
36 Send the crowds away so they can go to the nearby farms and villages and buy something to eat.”
37 But Jesus said, “You feed them.”
“With what?” they asked. “We’d have to work for months to earn enough money to buy food for all these people!”
38 “How much bread do you have?” he asked. “Go and find out.”
They came back and reported, “We have five loaves of bread and two fish.”
39 Then Jesus told the disciples to have the people sit down in groups on the green grass.
40 So they sat down in groups of fifty or a hundred.
41 Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he kept giving the bread to the disciples so they could distribute it to the people. He also divided the fish for everyone to share.
42 They all ate as much as they wanted,
43 and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftover bread and fish.
44 A total of 5,000 men and their families were fed from those loaves!
mark 6:30-44
i was looking at this story for today on that list Erik gave out and it was originally John 6 but decided to read all of the same stories of Jesus feeding the 5000 and i liked this one a lot. this comes right after Jesus has sent the disciples out to minister and perform miracles and healing acts and then his best friend John the baptist has been murdered. so the i'm thinking the disciples have been super busy and are tired and frustrated and they come to Jesus and he tells them they must rest. but, because of what Jesus has been doing, giving signs and such, people are following him like the paparazzi, then the disciples get pissed because they are probably tired of being around people. anyways, what i like best about this, was in the John version (6:4) it says "the time of the passover is at hand" and so thinking through that and the disciples being hungry, what does Jesus do? HE feeds them, he tells the disciples to rest and eat. why does it say that the passover was at hand? because this event is symbolic of the Ultimate passover and the whole reason Jesus was living on this earth, to give His body as the bread to eat and "be satisfied" by.
this blew my mind, Jesus wanted the disciples to rest by eating food He gives, by being satisfied by Him and Him alone. i know school has been crazy (or still is) and then transitioning to home for the summer can be hectic and stressful too, but Jesus wants us to "come away and rest for a while" by resting in the food He provides; rest in His work, eat of His body.
i know i'm struggling to do that, but ask that you guys fight with me, let's all fight to eat of Jesus while we're at home and not our own agenda. and let's fight to pray for each other and Malaysia! we're only weeks away!
love you all,
rach
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
SendRDU- Pray for Malaysia
http://equip.summitrdu.com/equip/wednesday-world-prayer-malaysia.html Malaysia was the highlighted nation to pray for in the Summit's Wednesday prayer guide. It really helped focus my heart and attention on the people of Malaysia. Hope you enjoy. Love you guys.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Is it worth it?
Paul starts by making the point that if anyone should be able to boast in their own reputation and accomplishments it would be him: 1) Circumcised on the 8th day 2) Of the people of Israel, tribe of Benjamin 3) A Hebrew of Hebrews 4) A Pharisee 5) Persecutor of the Church 6) Blameless under the law. By Jewish standards Paul is pretty much the man. Then Paul changes direction. He says, "But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ..." When I read this I pictured Paul drawing out a sort of pros and cons list for himself. He's saying these are all the things that I have earned based off of my own merit. These are the things that I'm entitled to. That resonated with me so I made a list for myself. What are the things that I'm "sacrificing" by going to Malaysia this summer:
- Possible internships that could bolster my resume
- A job and saving up money
- Spending time with friends and family
- Summer school
- Phil. 4:10 I might know God and the power of his resurrection
- Matt. 6:20 Treasures in heaven
- Matt. 19:29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life
- 2 Corin. 4:17 This light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison
- 1 Peter 5:10 The God of grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
-Drew
Monday, March 14, 2011
open my eyes
hey team!
this past weekend someone led me to this scripture and i couldn't help but think of my time raising support and all our struggles:
When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked. “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, LORD, so that he may see.” Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
2 Kings 6:14-17
and then Elisha, a prophet, said: Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them. this seemed unbelievable to the servant. he saw the horses, the chariots, and the great army surrounding them. he could not see anyone who was with himself and Elisha.
this reminds me of support raising. i look at others' achievements and get jealous, i feel like i'm just asking people for money and sympathy, i feel like no one wants to support me, i get lazy and just kind of quit for some days etc etc, and its all because i look to my enemy and the large amount of money i have to raise instead of God and his promises.
but what's cool is that Elisha gave his servant a reason to not fear. this was not empty hope or wishful thinking; it was a real reason for confidence, even if the servant could not see it.
so then Elisha prayed LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see. Elisha did not pray that God would change anything in the situation. his only request was that his servant could actually see the reality of the situation. yet, Elisha also did not try to persuade the servant of the reality of those who are with us. the servant could not have this explained to him nor could he be persuaded into it. He had to see it.
what gets me is that Elisha didn't pray that the situation would change but that his servant could see and believe God!!!
Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. God answered Elisha’s prayer. When a person is blind to spiritual reality, only God can open their eyes.
And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. so his eyes were opened, the servant saw the reality that he could not see before. he saw that there really were more with him and Elisha than those assembled against them!!
i just thought this was a cool passage, people fighting for God's kingdom and it looks hopeless (like raising support after a month and getting nowhere) and God reminds us that He is for us, He's not against us and HIS ARMY is greater than the enemy's!!!
i'm praying this for all of us. i'm praying God would open our eyes and give us clarity on this situation and that God would give us eyes to see that He sent his one and only Son into this world for us, the only display of character God has - love, compassion, delight, and rejoicing over our hearts being satisfied by HIM ALONE.
love you all
__rach
Sunday, March 13, 2011
I need perspective.....
Will, this blog thing was a great idea...kudos. I'm gonna need you to get better real soon bro. We're gonna be in the weight room everyday rehabbing that knee. Just b/c you blew your ACL doesn't mean we have to be done with GTL!!!!! In all seriousness....I am praying for you and I know you're bummed, but God has you where you are for a reason and we can trust that reason is good. Love you man.
So here's the deal; I'm feeling pretty discouraged at this point. I feel like I didn't get the most out of my SB as far as raising support goes. I met with the minister of my home church hoping to secure a date to address the congregation about CCP and she said that it probably wasn't the best idea because everyone was real tight on money due to the economy and what not. It's just frustrating because the Summit emphasizes giving out of a response to the Gospel, not b/c you feel like you can afford it. I'm mostly disappointed in the fact that this was an opportunity for me to present the Gospel to a church that is not rooted in the bible and operates out of a very watered down version of the Gospel. So long story short, I'm fighting to believe that God wants to provide for me. I need some help.
Leah and Brooks, how did your talks go??? I prayed for you guys.
"Surely there can be no greater joy than that of saving souls" ---Lottie Moon
So here's the deal; I'm feeling pretty discouraged at this point. I feel like I didn't get the most out of my SB as far as raising support goes. I met with the minister of my home church hoping to secure a date to address the congregation about CCP and she said that it probably wasn't the best idea because everyone was real tight on money due to the economy and what not. It's just frustrating because the Summit emphasizes giving out of a response to the Gospel, not b/c you feel like you can afford it. I'm mostly disappointed in the fact that this was an opportunity for me to present the Gospel to a church that is not rooted in the bible and operates out of a very watered down version of the Gospel. So long story short, I'm fighting to believe that God wants to provide for me. I need some help.
Leah and Brooks, how did your talks go??? I prayed for you guys.
"Surely there can be no greater joy than that of saving souls" ---Lottie Moon
Saturday, March 12, 2011
WE ARE GOIN TO MALAYSIA!
Yo what up CCP Team! I hope all of you have found this blog and are as pumped as I am to start using it. I really have no idea what I'm doing, but if you have an questions, call me and we can try to figure it out together.
Just a short update on me: besides my ACL surgery, my spring break has been really restful and encouraging. The trip down to North Myrtle to kick it off was great, and I had some time to make support calls while I was there. It has been really encouraging and I have seen God work in awesome ways in the hearts of people I have sent letters to! Due to my surgery, I had to cancel some of my face-to-face appointments, but I know God is faithful in that and he is bigger than me not being able to meet with some people. Please be praying for my perspective as I go through this time of healing! I'm praying for all of you and I hope your breaks have been great!
-Will
Just a short update on me: besides my ACL surgery, my spring break has been really restful and encouraging. The trip down to North Myrtle to kick it off was great, and I had some time to make support calls while I was there. It has been really encouraging and I have seen God work in awesome ways in the hearts of people I have sent letters to! Due to my surgery, I had to cancel some of my face-to-face appointments, but I know God is faithful in that and he is bigger than me not being able to meet with some people. Please be praying for my perspective as I go through this time of healing! I'm praying for all of you and I hope your breaks have been great!
-Will
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