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.

Merry Christmas and : Reminder

May God always be the center of your celebration of this very

Merry Christmas! 

From John and Roberta

Help Us Get to C : Reminder
You can support us in our adventure to C

We will be spending about 5 weeks in C getting to know the culture and fanning the flames of our Father's Love!

Click here (or below "donate here") for information on how you can do this in monetary donations or email us (johnroberta.olin@gmail.com) and find out more on how you can talk to the Father for us!

Thank YOU so much!

Your Friends,
John and Roberta