Thankfulness and Generosity

Christmas Morning in Battambang with our Staff that were here

Christmas Morning in Battambang with our Staff that were here

Hey Friends,

We just returned before Christmas from Perth, Australia where Garth taught in a DTS at one of the largest YWAM bases in the world. This was the 1st time that Caroline was able to go with him on his teaching travels and so it was great for us to share this time and minister together. Especially after Garth has been doing quite a bit of travels and teaching in different nations in the last few months going to Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar and now Australia.

As the end of 2009 is rapidly approaching we have been reflecting on our year and thankfulness is the thing that continues to come to mind. Most people because we are so busy don’t take enough time to reflect and think about thankfulness. Thankfulness is an essential aspect in life. So many times we are so focused on what we want instead of being thankful for what we have, and so we think IF I just had this then then I would be satisfied. This is always the great lie because once we get it… a few days, weeks or months go by and we have a sense of needing something else.

We see this lie attacking the nation of Cambodia as the nation has started to develop. In the last 3 years many people’s income level has increased and they are able to afford more things and yet instead of a focus on thankfulness often the focus is on what we don’t have. AsĀ  consumerism has now consumed the world let us not fall into the lie that the media bombards us with daily, but let us respond with Thankful hearts for what we do have! So we want to challenge you to sit down and think about why you are thankful… here are a few of our top reasons to get your gears turning… What the Gustafson’s are thankful for:

  • JESUS – as the cheesy saying goes – He is the reason for the season and we are Thankful for the sacrificial love of a humble God the reaches out to us as sinful humans to give us hope, thankfulness and life change
  • May 9th, 2009 – we got married in Yakima, WA at our parent’s home
  • Getting back into Cambodia in July to continue on with the call of God on our lives
  • Seeing the 1st EVER School of Biblical Studies in Cambodia started in September
  • For ALL of our friends and family that are so supportive in MANY ways, spiritually, financially and emotionally that allow us to continue serving Jesus in Cambodia

Here is a video that we have enjoyed to make us all think a bit more about the Christmas season and how we can respond in Generosity and Thankfulness

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjVRB6tPy_U[/youtube]

2010 Is a Comin’

As we walk into 2010 we have an extreme sense of excitement but also a realization of what God has called us to here in Cambodia. It is most of the time very rewarding and fun but it also comes at a high cost of pain and sacrifice. We feel that God is calling us into a new season of greater sacrifice and community as a ministry here. We are so excited for ALL the upcoming trainings that will take place in the next 9 months: 6 more months of SBS, DTS Feb 2010, TESOL Feb 2010 (Teaching English as a Second Language), Titus Project July 2010(Equipping SBS graduates to teach and preach) and DTS Equip Sept 2010 (Equipping DTS leaders to train and lead school). We will also be hosting our Regional DTS Workshop for ALL DTS Staff in Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and other Asian nations. For more information you can check out our ministry at www.uofnbattambang.com

As we enter into this new season you can pray for the following:

  • A deeper walking out in community and sacrificial living as a ministry
  • For ALL of the upcoming schools that God would call all of the right students, staff and speakers to bring the best possible equipping into these trainings
  • Continued financial provision specifically for our staff and ministries
  • For our 1st year of marriage to continue to be as amazing as these first 7 months
  • For deeper intimacy with Jesus as we continue to serve and follow Him with ALL of our lives

We look forward to hearing back from you about what you are thankful for. One thing that we are thankful for is ALL the wonderful young Cambodians that are on staff with us. They are trusting God for finances to serve Him and so you can be a part of meeting that need and being Generous if you want by looking at the attached document to the orginal email that you recieved.

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