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Dear CCAM Partners and Friends,

For the past month, DeeAnn Wilson, the treasurer for the CCAM executive board (and Kelsey’s mom), has been onsite here in Phnom Penh volunteering at our school. As I write this, she is flying back toward her home in Loveland, Colorado. Please pray for her safe travels.

The week before DeeAnn arrived, a short-term team visited CCAMS from Central Christian Church in St. Petersburg, Florida, bringing with them a professional quality scanner purchased by their church to facilitate our children’s book production project! We have prayed over two years for this scanner. Praise God for this HUGE answer to prayer! When DeeAnn got here, she jumped right in to assist Kelsey in preparing new children’s storybooks for publication!

The St Petersburg team also brought much needed supplies and accompanied the whole CCAMS family to the beach for three days and two nights, all expenses paid by their church! We left home for Kep Beach Tuesday morning, and were dipping our toes in the ocean by late afternoon! Wednesday morning we headed to the beach early for a special baptismal ceremony. Pastor David Bin baptized 8 CCAMS students and Kelsey, because she decided to be re-baptized as an adult. The rest of the day was spent splashing in the waves and building in the sand. For meals, we delighted in eating delicacies from the sea! In the evenings, we joined together to study the Bible and worship the Lord. We visited the beach one last time on Thursday morning before heading back to Phnom Penh. It was refreshing to be outdoors playing in the sun, and was encouraging to get to know our new friends from Florida! Click here to view the Baptisms at Kep Beach photo album.

DeeAnn quickly adjusted to life at CCAM! She began teaching preschool class, a few special English classes, and a teacher training course for our student teachers, continuing to teach these classes throughout the remainder of her time here. Click here to view the Preschool Market Unit photo album!

Gioia and Kelsey were in the midst of preparing for Gioia’s trips to Thailand (July 4-10) and America (July 17-Aug 31). Those preparations included the in-house printing of draft copies of our four newest CCAM children’s books! (More about these books to come soon!) DeeAnn was a tremendous help getting brochures, business cards, art cards, and the table display ready to go! Please continue to pray that final preparations for Gioia’s upcoming trip to America will come together on time!

While Gioia was in Thailand, Kelsey and her mom took CCAMS staff members Sophun and Reaksmey Ty out to eat with their two children, Isaac and Grace. They also took Noren (CCAM co-director) and Tikhia (CCAMS teacher) out for dinner, and made popcorn for the students to enjoy during their Saturday night movie!

The CCAMS family also took a trip to the zoo, using donations given to DeeAnn specifically for a special outing! We had fun singing during the bus ride, and were fascinated watching the unique animals that God had created as we walked around. We enjoyed delicious chicken and vegetable stir fry for lunch, and were thankful for the “cool” breeze that accompanied the overcast day! Click here to view the Trip to the Zoo photo album.

The day after Gioia returned from Thailand we celebrated Grace’s second birthday. During the special birthday program, the younger children sang a few songs and the junior dance team performed “The Harvest Dance.” Everyone enjoyed a delicious dinner followed by cake and ice cream!

On Sunday, after the morning worship, we held a special farewell service for DeeAnn. The preschoolers sang more songs, and Dina and Kelsey played two flute duets. The students presented her with artwork they had created especially for her. She had told them that she loves rabbits, so she received many rabbit pictures! Later that day, Kelsey and her mom were finally able to take Gioia out to lunch!

The blessings showered upon CCAM through DeeAnn’s gift of time and energy, and the financial and in-kind donations she helped collect, are too many to count! Our thanksgivings flow out to God, to DeeAnn, and to Trinity Lutheran Church!

Gioia’s report about the GCoMM event in Thailand will be published separately!

Soooooo Grateful,
The CCAMS Family