Dear CCAM Partners and Friends,

As Isaiah 40:31 promises, those who “wait for the Lord” will mount up with wings as eagles. Waiting for the Lord doesn’t mean waiting until we see all contingencies covered before launching out. It means putting our hope and trust totally in God’s wisdom and resources, rather than making and following our own plan and then just asking God to bless it. It means seeking first His guidance and waiting until He reveals His plan before launching out. It means staying constantly attuned to His guidance along the way, and waiting for further directions at every crossroad before proceeding. During His earthly ministry, Jesus was our example in this, as He constantly watched what the Father was doing and then aligned Himself with that (John 5:19). The following trip report shows how God orchestrated amazing results in answer to our trusting prayers, as we waited for Him to provide funds, resources and volunteer hosts, drivers, and helpers just in time.

[View photos that illustrate the following trip report in Gioia’s Trip to America 2015 on Facebook.]

DEPARTING CAMBODIA (arriving Nashville U.S.A.): July 17-18

Preparations for my departure included preparing our students, especially the younger ones, for my temporary absence. Pheakdey had already experienced a meltdown when Kelsey’s mother DeeAnn left Cambodia after teaching his preschool class for one month! So we arranged some one-on-one time for Pheakdey with me ahead of time, talking about my leaving and my returning and giving him photos of himself with me and with DeeAnn to keep in his own photo album. Before coming to CCAM, many of our children were neglected, abused, and abandoned. Our home has become a place of refuge for them, providing the only love, peace, and stability that they have ever known.

Other preparations included enlisting and prepping substitute teachers for taking over my classes and creating a PowerPoint presentation entitled “CCAM Highlights” (both a short and a long version). The PowerPoint shared an overview of our ministry vision and history, stories of selected students and staff, the fruit of our academic and creative arts programs, and specific emergency prayer requests for increased finances, adequate housing, and other needs. Even in the midst of such prolonged difficulties, we have already persevered a long time, waiting for the Lord to solve these problems. Now He was propelling me on this journey to enlist others to pray for us and help us.

The presentation closes with God’s exhortation to us from Revelation 3:8, “I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name.” This also encouraged many of the people who viewed my presentation to persevere in their own difficult situations, continuing to faithfully exercise whatever little power, little faith, or little resources they possessed, as they waited for God to rescue them!

Two checked bags were necessary for packing:

• projection equipment, including a netbook mini-computer, a mini-projector, and a MHL to HDMI cable for displaying the presentation on TV from a Galaxy phone, and
• items for a display table, including table covers, photos, scans of artwork, sets of art postcards and note cards, copies of children’s books, CD-DVD albums, brochures, ministry cards, newsletter sign-up sheet, and folding tote with wheels, and
• Khmer/English Scripture Banners as gifts for Khmer congregations, and
• my own personal items to last for six weeks.

On departure day, all of the CCAM girls (plus the two youngest boys) accompanied me to the airport to say goodbye. The CCAM boys would come to meet me on my return in six weeks.

OAK RIDGE, TENNESSEE: July 18-20

My hosts and airport taxi, Gary Love and his father Maurice Love, transported me from Nashville Airport to Oak Ridge. We reminisced along the way about the time Gary spent at CCAM in Cambodia in January 2014, when he came with Pastor Kevin Kane’s mission team. During my visit, we enjoyed each other’s company, as they took me out for delicious meals at various restaurants.

At West Village Christian Church on Sunday, I was warmly welcomed by everyone, symbolized by a special cake with “Welcome Gioia” written on it! Then Gary introduced me to the church members who had gathered to view my presentation and to investigate our student’s creative offerings on the display table. After the presentation, many of them made special donations to CCAM or provided me with gifts for travel needs.

I especially recall meeting Pastor Lloyd Johnson and his wife Susan, and Bobbie McCloud, who donated her knitting projects to CCAM, and members of the Prayer Group/Sunday School Class called BYKOTA, or “Be Ye Kind One To Another.” These prayer warriors promised to pray for CCAM. And both the BYKOTA Class and the Willing Workers Circle gave financial donations.

God had also prepared a special surprise that day! Riley Poe, who was touched by my presentation, sensed that the Lord was leading her to volunteer as a future CCAM intern! We are now discussing and planning possibilities for the summer of 2016!

On Monday, Gary and Maurice drove me back to Nashville Airport to meet DeeAnn Wilson, CCAM Board Member and Kelsey’s mom, arriving from Denver, Colorado. There we also met up with Pastor Scott Barber of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Florence, Alabama, who had driven up from Florence to get the two of us and transport us back there.

Part Three, coming soon, will continue the story of how God faithfully manifested His provisions at just the right time!

Still Soaring on Eagle’s Wings,
Gioia

Soaring on Eagle's Wings - Part Three →