A Very Cambodian Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from The Olin’s!

This year Christmas means more than it ever has, and we hope that in this season our Savior reminds you of the greatest gift that has ever been given, the gift of Jesus Christ.

This past Sunday, I (Roberta) spent time helping a friend with her ministry that she started here, and in the midst of starting this ministry she adopted two wonderful little boys. The ministry is called Jeevit’s House, “Jeevit” in Khmer means “life”. This house is focused on supporting Children-At-Risk because their families in the village have been severely affected by HIV/AIDS. Many of these children come to Jeevit’s House simply for a meal, weekly, and the home currently sponsors up to 41 children with the intention to grow to be able to sponsor even more kids!

The kids at Jeevit's House hearing the
gospel.

I, Roberta, helped at Jeevit’s House, with their annual Christmas party, and the party ended up being for about 200 kids. Games, Food, Presents(for all!) , and the Gospel message, this was Christmas for the kids. All with the intention to show the children that despite how much they had, that Christmas was about the best gift that has been given to them, the gift of Jesus Christ. As I watched some of the children, my heart couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of grief to think of the poverty, obstacles, and loss that these children will face if they have not already. But the other side of me was overjoyed knowing that the hope of Christ is a hope that is for all, and that little by little everyday these children in Cambodia were coming to know the true meaning of Christmas.

I, John, have been spending a lot of my time studying very hard in the SBS. This is not the only thing that we are currently involved in at the moment. I am also working with some of the staff to help with the IT here for the SBS department. I have also begun to play soccer with a group of staff at the local soccer fields! It is so great to get to play such a great sport with incredible people and get to be in the community with soccer.

Being far away this year during the holiday time has shown us many things, including an appreciation for family and also for the ability to eat a good meal, have health, and also what a blessing it is to not only know Christ, but to serve him. Our time here in Cambodia has reminded us to never ever grow comfortable and take our blessings for granted, because there are so many others who have close to nothing. A statistic is easy to understand in a church pew, but the face of a child whose family is living on less than $2 dollars a day changes it all. We are blessed everyday, and this especially this Christmas.

Thank you to all who support us prayerfully and financially. We would not be here without you and know that your investment in us honors the Lord.

3 John 1:8

“Therefore, we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.”

 All of you, friends and family that give and pray, you are our "fellow workers for the truth" and we are so thankful beyond words this holiday season for all of your support.

To learn more about Jeevit’s House, and all the work our friend, Laura, is doing… http://jeevitshouse.org/ 

Happy Thanksgiving from Cambodia

We are so thankful for all of you who support and stand by us!

We wanted to take a quick email to say thank YOU to all of you who have supported us in our ministry! Whether it was through financial support or encouragement to continue. We thank YOU for giving of yourself to help us work in our ministry! God is doing great things in us and through us. We are so excited for what he is doing through his word in us. Thank YOU again for all of your support. God is using your partnership to spread the gospel, through the Bible, in Cambodia. We pray constantly that God will bless you back much more than you have blessed us. Thank YOU.

Love, John and Roberta

First Month in Cambodia

Us with our SBS staff and students!

Hello friends and family,

We apologize for the delay of the update from Cambodia. Things have been in full swing for us as we approach a full two months of being here! Below is a few excerpts from different aspects of our lives for you all to be informed. We just want to take the time to again thank you for constant love, prayers, and support that you show to us. We are deeply grateful that you all have enabled us to follow the call of God on our lives.

SBS
Week after week we are diving into the Word in a whole new way. In SBS, we will go through the inductive bible study method for every book of the Bible. Three times a week we receive teaching on each book, so that we may better share the gospel and bring the kingdom of God to all the aspects of our lives. A few weeks ago, Johno calculated his time in the book of Acts there was a total of 56 hours of studying! We are blessed to take diving into the word of God to a whole new level. To see the vision of what we are doing go here - uofnbattambang.com/sbs/

Our Ministry
We are so blessed to be able to serve the people in Cambodia, and the amazing YWAM base here that is sharing the gospel and equipping Cambodian missionaries to reach their own people. If you would like an overall look at YWAM Battambang and what exactly you are apart of by partnering with us, check here - uofnbattambang.com

• Johno
  
  is being able to use his computer IT skills to help the base here in Cambodia become more knowledgable in technology and computers. During the week, he is the main person who is in charge of all the technical issues that arise, and also is serving the base and other missionaries here on campus on how to use the resources that God has given us through technology! It may look a bit unconventional, but it is really encouraging to see God use the gifts that he has given Johno in order to enhance the kingdom of God here in Cambodia.

• Roberta
     is living her dream here in Cambodia! She is volunteering at YWAM's local cafe in town called "Cafe Eden". This ministry is located right in the heart of town, and is training at-risk-youth in English, Hospitality, and Restaurant skills. The job is a platform for the underprivileged youth to have a means to support themselves and their family. Roberta with her skills from previous jobs in the states, and also the blessing of her bilingual language is working in equipping and training the youth at the cafe. The profits of the Cafe here in Cambodia alone every months supports 23 Cambodian YWAM missionaries that wouldn't otherwise be able to serve God without it. We see God working incredibly through Cafe Eden. To learn more about where Roberta serves every week, check out the link here. www.cafeedencambodia.com

Things to pray for:

• Increased revelation as we study the word of God
• Safety on the roads here in Cambodia
• Health in all aspects, protection from dehydration, stomach illness , etc
• God would continue to open up doors for relationship with Khmer people
• Increase in Roberta's khmer language & Johno to be able to learn 
• Finances that we may be able to be generous with others and able to make extra purchases for our living conditions/arrangements 

Thank you all so much for your continued support and love. We would not be able to be here without the gracious generosity of you all!

A Panorama of an area near where we live.

After 2 and a half weeks in Cambodia

Dear friends and family,

We've been in Cambodia for a little over two weeks now! Our transition time into a new country has been filled with grace! There was a small hiccup with our visas upon arrival, so we had to take a detour to Thailand for a re-entry but thankful God provided finances and the time for it to go very smooth.Our food adjustment and jet lag has been bearable and we are grateful for God's grace in our lives. Please continue to pray for us in this area that our health would stay strong.

For our Biblical Studies, we had one week of orientation, and have just finished up our first official week of the school of biblical studies. We have completed our first two books, Titus and Philemon, and we just started Ephesians! We will be inductively studying each book of the bible for the next 9 months, serving in local ministries with the YWAM base, and allowing the gospel to transform not only our lives but the lives of local Cambodians as well.

We are so thankful for all of the support and prayer! We would not be able to be here without each and every one of your support. We are eternally grateful

Ephesians 1:16

"I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers"
Love,

John and Roberta

If you are still interested in supporting us, it is very possible and also available online!
Click here for the info

Or

Visit www.gofundme.com

We Are Leaving In 5 Hours!

Dear Friends and Family,

The day has finally come!

It's finally here. After 5 months of prayerful preparations our departure for Cambodia is today. We leave America with expectant hearts of all that's to come and what God has in store for us.

Saying goodbyes to friends and family has been a whirlwind in both Washington and California, if we missed you we are deeply sorry. We tried to fit in as much as we could.

We will be boarding our flight with Singapore Air to Cambodia at 2:20pm(PST) Today. We will have two stops on our way to Siem Reap, Cambodia, our stops will be in Seoul, South Korea and Singapore! We will arrive in Cambodia at 9:50am on Thursday(9/12/2013)or(6:50pm 9/11/13 PST). Pray for us as this is going to be about 29 hours of travel! 

God is good. God is Faithful.

And so now our journey begins! And fully funded! We are extremely excited to say that the original goal of $10,000 was fully met throughout this Summer by the generosity of all those God has called. Thank you all so incredibly much for being apart of this journey.

If you are interested in giving while we are away, click here.

We are so thankful for all those that continually support us on this journey, it hasn't ended... It's just beginning!

Next time you hear from us... We'll be in Cambodia! It might take us a few days to settle in but once settled we should have Internet connection.

Want to know more about what we are doing? Check out YWAM Battambang, Cambodia's Website and the School of Biblical Studies page, as well.

$1,000 and 17 Days Until Cambodia!

Hi friends and family!

This is the most exciting update yet, we're only about $1,000 away!

Last week, Roberta got to share in my home church for the first time, ever! She shared her heart on Cambodia and the link that her roots have there with her being half Cambodian and her mom escaping from the Khmer Rouge. It was a truly touching time for both of us and dawned a new reality, were really going to Cambodia!

We are so eternally grateful for all of the generous love, support, and most importantly prayers. We ask that you continue to pray with us as we are quickly approaching a huge transition, all the way to the south east Asia!

We truly feel Gods hand and working in our lives as we have taken this step of faith, and this is only the beginning! Thank you all from the bottom of our hearts for the generosity to give that allows us to follow Gods amazing call on our lives. 

With deep gratitude,

John and Roberta

PS Visit gofundme.com for a creative way to support us OR visit this page to find out how to in other ways.

WATCH: These videos tell you a lot more about what we are going to be doing.  See also: www.uofnbattambang.com

School of Biblical Studies, the course Roberta and I are taking.

Why, we are going to do this school in Cambodia.

32 Days Until Cambodia

Only $3,100 left to go!

Dear Family and Friends,

We have an exciting update! Roberta and I are only $3,100 away from our goal, from an original $10,000 at the beginning of this summer. Time and time again God has proven himself faithful in our journey and pursuit of him. This season has been refreshing, many new ideas and new directions and we are so excited that you are all apart of it!

We will be leaving for Cambodia on September 10th. We have 32

days to meet our goal of $3,100. At this point, every little bit counts. Please continue to pray for us as we trust God for the last bit of what we need for our trip to Cambodia for the next 9 months. Click here for more info on how to give.

We would not be where we are at without the love and support of all of or supporters, prayerfully and financially. We are eternally grateful and pray abundant blessing for you all in return for your gracious generosity towards us!

In him,

John and Roberta

When God Says GO...to Cambodia

Hello friends and family,

The title of this newsletter is When God says Go. This has been heavy in our hearts lately, as we are in the swirl of transition in answering God's call on our lives for the next step, Cambodia.

We must say thank you first and foremost to God the provider of ALL things , and then to all of you who make what we do possible by your generosity and obedience to God. We officially have purchased our plane tickets, with just $35 to spare! It is now official, we both have 2 one way tickets to Cambodia. We will be leaving September 10th out of San Francisco, after visiting with Roberta's family!

Right now, our main focus is preparing for Cambodia, and the largest part of that is our finances. We currently need about $7,000 more to reach our original goal of $10,000. We had some unexpected expenses come up in regards to our international health/travel insurance, but we trust that God will provide this money by September 1st, and are looking for all the help that we can get. We are so thankful for your gracious gift that make answering this call to Cambodia possible!

Here is a breakdown of what we still need:

• International Health/Travel Insurance : $600
• John: $300
• Roberta: $300
• School Fees : $6,400
• John: $3,200
• Roberta: $3,200
• Total : $7,000

It is challenging for us because these fees are NOT included with our monthly expenses that come from living in Cambodia. Would you please begin to prayerfully consider if/how/when you could give to our need. We are looking for monthly and one time gifts. Click here to find out how!

We are in Lynden and very willing to meet with supporters if we haven’t already yet! Also, we are doing everything we can in regards to making extra money.  

Some of those things include, on a donation basis :

• Photography Sessions
• Babysitting
• Cleaning
• Lawncare

If you are interested in any of these services, please let us know! 

ALL donation basis for money directly to our GO to CAMBODIA fund!

Reminder: All checks are TAX DEDUCTIBLE. Click here to find out how!

We are so thankful for all of you that support us, prayerfully and financially. Please continue to pray with us as we take a leap of faith for what we believe is Gods call on us in this time.

Your friends,

John & Roberta

The Next Step

Roberta and me at Birch Bay! 

 Thank YOU
First and foremost we just want to send a thank you! We officially made our first deadline of $1,000 by Friday, June 7th. This secured our spots for the school in Cambodia and brings us one step closer to this September's big move overseas!

What are we up to?
Currently, we are working to live and saving as much as we can! John is currently employed at Whatcom Lawns and Roberta is nannying for a sweet little boy named Dillon. We are excited about what God has provided for us for this Summer and it helps us save as much as possible for Cambodia. God continues to amaze us with all of provision even in the smallest details of it all.

The Next Step
The next thing we need to do is purchase our plane tickets! At this point, we need at least $1,500 towards our ticket and our goal is to purchase them by the end of June! Currently in this goal, we have about $420! So we are praying that $1,080 would come in by the end of this month! Would you partner with us in prayer as we trust God for the next thing?!

How Can You Help?

There are a couple ways you can help!

• Financially Giving -- click here for how to
• Get your picture taken by me and then donate! It is a great way for you to have awesome Christmas Card pictures or for Grandma. To do this email me at johnperryolin@gmail.com. 
• Tell your friends about what we are doing.

Camping with the our family for father's day!

Doing a photo shoot with my brother and his wife in an amazing flowery field.

Answered Prayer

Answered Prayer
This is a quick update to let you know that God is bringing in the funds!  In the last update we sent, we only had $660.  In the last week we have received more! We are now at $840! We need $1,000 by Friday to begin to pay for the upcoming school. We only have $9,160 more to go! You all have been an answer to prayer in your being obedient to God in your giving.  Thank you for all of your support, prayers, and encouragement! We have such amazing family and friends!

How You Can Give
Check and Receive Tax Deduction
Make the check out to: Faith Reformed Church
Send the Check to:
Faith Reformed Church
300 7th St.
Lynden, WA 98247
(Please include a note or our name on the memo line)

Credit Card via Paypal

Click here to find out more on this.

Spring Beginnings

Praise Report!
First and foremost, before we can begin talking about what's happening next...We want to truly thank and glorify God for all he has already done. Roberta and I came to Washington on a step of faith, and with being here only two weeks God has provided a car for us and a place to live! He has also provided excellent job opportunities for me. We are reminded of the simple blessings of a roof over our heads, and a way to get around. We truly feel that in these next 3 months of stepping out in faith God will meet our every need as we prepare for the big step in going to Cambodia!

What's happening now?
Right now our main goal is to fundraise, fundraise, and fundraise! Roberta and I need a total of $10,000 for the School of Biblical Studies that starts in September. It is here that we will lay the foundation of God's words in our lives and heart, while working in ministries in Cambodia already planted and growing. We are so excited to take this next step overseas, but we are in need of your help.

Here is the cost breakdown:
Tuition & Housing $3,600 x 2 = $7,200
2 Roundtrip Tickets to Cambodia - $2,800

This does NOT include our monthly need for while we are in Cambodia. Currently, our goal is to raise a committed monthly support base of at least $1,200 a month on top of the $10,000. These may seem like big numbers, but we trust that our God is faithful and has provided for us thus far. 

Where is the money going?

Right now, we have a complete separate account that is all going to Cambodia. Your continued monthly support and one time gifts are going to the $10,000 goal that we must meet by September 1st.

Currently, in our account we have $660! We must start somewhere! Only $9,340 more to go! Be prepared with updates on how our goal is coming along. We fully want you involved and to hear about what God is providing for us in many many ways. 

Please be praying for us

Roberta and I will be looking for part time work that will pay for our current living expenses while we are fundraising. I have gotten some part time temporary work that has held us over, but our goal and desire is that all of our monthly support goes directly to Cambodia, and we are working to live right now. If you live in the area and know of any part time work that would help for Roberta, please let us know. We have been actively searching for what God may have for us here.

Photography
This Summer I am using my photography as fundraising tools! If you would like any photography shoots done on a donation basis to our Cambodia fund...PLEASE EMAIL @ johnperryolin@gmail.com! I am open and willing and this is also apart of our fundraising goals for our time here in Washington.

Love,

John and Roberta

MORE Important Information and Exciting Prayer Updates!

Where Do I Send the Checks?
We have changed our financial covering and where to receive a tax deductible receipt. Faith Reformed Church has so graciously taken on the task of handling our tax deductible donations. Roberta and I want to continue to do this for you our partners to say a little bit of a thank YOU. You, our partners, are amazing and we are so blessed to have you on this journey of seeing God expand His Kingdom through out the world and at home.

Make the check out to: Faith Reformed Church (Do NOT put our name on the check)
Send the check AND a NOTE telling the church it is for Roberta and I to:
Faith Reformed Church
300 7th St.
Lynden, WA 98264

Credit card options and more info on Partnering with Roberta and I here.

Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Prayer Updates

For those of you who do not know yet.  Roberta and I have moved back to the West Coast!  We will be spending the next couple months in Washington.  While here in Washington, we will be raising our support and working to raise funds for a School of Biblical Studies in Battambang, Cambodia! That is right! We are going to be in Cambodia for 9 to 12 months, studying the Bible in depth and sharing the love of Jesus with the people there at the same time.

Answered Prayers:

• we have a car! 1985 Honda Accord!
• we have an apartment!
• we have some basic furniture! (still looking for some basics)
• both Roberta and I have needed some good rest and God has been blessing us with good rest these last couple weeks.
• I have been having a great time reconnecting with friends and family

Prayer Requests

• solidify a job for John
• part time job for Roberta
• raise our monthly support to $1,200/month
• raise about $10,000 for our SBS and our trip to Cambodia
• $1,500 per person for round-trip airfare
• $3,600 per person for school fees (covers room and board)
• meetings with supporters, friends, and family

Funeral

As many of you may know, my grandma Olin passed away a week and a half ago.  The funeral and memorial was yesterday (wednesday).  I was able to give the message for the day at the memorial. As hard as it was, I still really enjoyed it and was encouraged by my family and friends. Thank YOU to all of you for your prayers and support. Please continue to pray for my family as they continue to work through this.

We Want to Meet With YOU

Roberta and I want to see and hangout with as many people as possible this summer! So please contact me what ever way you know how.  We are looking forward to seeing most of you.


Thank YOU
Thank YOU for partnering with us prayerfully and financially! You are not just supporting us, you are participating in what God is doing through us. We are very excited to see how God uses us in the months to come. Please stay tuned to our updates as they will continue to come during the through the summer.

Love, 

John and Roberta

What are John and Roberta Up To? On the West Coast

Roberta and I at a SF Giants game.

Back On The West Coast

Roberta and I are back on the west coast! Currently, we are in California visiting her family before moving, for the summer, to the Bellingham, WA area. Since our last newsletter/update, God has provided a car, a job, and possible places to live. We are very excited to get our lives settled in that area for a couple months until we travel to Cambodia. This summer we are planning to meet with our current supporters, raise new financial support, and spend quality time with our family. This summer is going to be a summer of rest and preparing for our time in Cambodia.

If you did not know already, we are going to be moving to Cambodia for a minimum of 9 months to study the Bible through a Bible course in Youth with A Mission there, as well as working with ministries in the area teaching english and the Bible. The course is called the School of Biblical Studies, you can find out more info here: www.uofnbattambang.com. The course is a 9 month course where Roberta and I will study the Bible in depth through the inductive Bible study method. By the end of the school we will have highlighted the Bible entirely and read through it at least 5 times. The ultimate goal of taking this course is for Roberta and I to have a solid Biblical foundation for our ministry, life, and jobs in the future.  We both feel that the American culture is in search of truth and we feel that the best way to show that truth is by knowing it in depth. We want to see the lives of anyone we are in contact with transformed by the Spirit of God through a Biblical foundation in our lives.

We want to meet with YOU.  If you live in the Northwest Washington area please send us an email. We want to see you and hang out with you whether you support us or not. You can email us at: johnroberta.olin@gmail.com.


Prayer Requests and Needs:
How you can pray.

• solidify a job for John
• a part time job for Roberta
• finalize our living space
• praise God for a car!!
• Rest.
• quality time with family and friends
• raise our monthly support to $1,200/month
• raise approximately $10,000 for School of Biblical Studies
• Flights: $1,500 roundtrip per person
• School fees: $3.600 per person (entire course cost)

Thank YOU

Thank YOU for partnering with us prayerfully and financially! You are not just supporting us, you are participating in what God is doing through us. We are very excited to see how God uses us in the months to come.  Please stay tuned to our updates as they will continue to come during the through the summer.

Love,

John and Roberta

We are Back and New IMPORTANT Info

DC and Shanghai Recap

This year as you know we led our team of 18 students to Washington D.C. and Shanghai China!

Our team in Washington, D.C. was very powerful as we spent our time working with YWAM DC who birthed The Washington House of Prayer. We spent time ministering in lower income neighborhoods, worshipping and praying on the streets, not to mention reaching out next door to The Washington DC base at the Methadone clinic. We were even there for President Barack Obama's 2nd Inauguration and then a few days later got to participate in the Annual March for Life, standing up for the rights of the unborn of America. God moved mightily and we were so blessed to be apart of what God is doing in our Great Nation of America.

Shanghai, China welcomed us with open arms upon our arrival! Although it took a while to get there (our plane turned around mid air! 11 hour delay later!). Within the first 3 days of our time in Shanghai we connected with so many different ministries and organizations, you would never guess it was a Communist country! We all broke up into different cell groups, and participated in different ministry everyday! We taught English to Migrant worker children outside of the city, had the opportunity to talk about Jesus in International Schools, Served at least once a week at a Special Needs Orphanage, and not to mention encourage, preach, worship, and pray for those that went to drug rehab programs and had recently accepted Jesus. Our time in Shanghai was so versatile, it was so encouraging to have our perspective shifted from what we see on the news. China is a Nation that is so hungry for God, and we got to be apart of the not so underground revival that is happening there! 

-------------------------------

Big Change is Coming

Things to keep in mind as we transition from NY to WA

What will change for us?

• We will be moving all of our stuff from New York to Washington to work and raise support for our time in Cambodia.
• We will be visiting California for 2 weeks before heading to Washington. We will be spending time with our family and friends there.
• We will be spending about 5 months in Bellingham, WA. Taking time with our family and friends. While there we want to find temporary jobs and fundraising for our next adventure in Cambodia!

What will change for you?

• If you support us financially, we no longer will be able to receive your contribution through YWAM Metro NY after April 1st.
• If you support us financially, we would ask that you send the check to us directly or send it through our paypal account. (see here for more info)
• We ask that if you are supporting us financially already please help us transition smoothly. We will try to contact everyone as soon as possible.
• We will have a tax deductible option available soon. It may take a month or two. Thank YOU for your patience.
• We want to meet with you, if you live in or around Pleasanton, CA or Lynden, WA!! Send us an email at johnroberta.olin@gmail.com or call us at 1(631)873-6371.

What are we going to do in Cambodia?

• We are going to do a School of Biblical Studies in Battambang, Cambodia at YWAM Battambang. It is a 9 month school designed to teach us the Inductive Bible Study Method. 
• Why this school? I feel that we need more biblical knowledge where ever we end up in ministry. This is a great way to prepare Roberta and I for what God has for us in the future.
• Why Cambodia? Last time Roberta and I were in Cambodia we both fell in love with the country. We felt that God opened a door for us to spend more time in Cambodia through this school. 
• Along with the school we will also be working with some local ministries teaching the Bible.