How To Support the Cobbs

Hello there!

After we sent the newsletter yesterday, we have received many request for more information on how to support us. We also wanted to be up front with our current needs.

Last week we sat down and figured out how much we needed to live here for the next three weeks. We figured out that we are lacking $750, so we began to pray! As of today, God has provided $575 of that. So we only need about $200 for this month! Thank you so much Jesus!! Another need that we have is for one of Meghan's students named Hang. This has been a amazing week for her, as we have been able to enroll her in a 18 mo. course, that will completely prepare her to be a hairstylist. We will be updating soon about how this all took place, but in the meantime, She has no transportation to and from school. Which means she cannot attend unless we provide a bicycle for her. We are looking for someone who would be willing to sponsor her with a one-time gift of $25. Please be praying and spread the word, This school is really a once in a lifetime opportunity for Hang, and it will change her life, and completely prevent her from being trafficked. Please let us know immediately if God has put this need on your heart.

We also sat down to figure out what we will need to transition back to the states. When we get home, we will have somewhere to stay for a couple weeks, and we will probably be looking for an apartment. We will need to pay our monthly bills, get a phone plan, have food and get things that we need to live in the states again! So to be very transparent, we need $1400 for the first month in Fort Worth (April 16-May 15). We know that some of this will come by support, miracles of God, and from Meghans hair business on the side! So you can pray with us for financial support, support us financially, or could even get a haircut/color!

We also would like to ask that you would really pray that God would speak to us about the future. Some of the questions we have been praying about are; do we get an apartment, get jobs, stay in Fort Worth, go somewhere else like KC, What job, and When. It has been very fun to think about our future and what opportunities God will provide. God has been starting to formulate ideas, such as possible working with youth, apartment ministry, and hopefully another big trip!! We are very excited to find out what is next!

So here is info on how to support us!

To support (tax deductible):

Mail-
Make check out to Intentional Gatherings
State on separate piece of paper whether it is a special gift or a monthly commitment. If it is a monthly amount, please submit it by the first of every month.

Intentional Gatherings
Attn: Sam Linville
3701 Grapevine Mills Parkway Apt 2035
Grapevine TX 76051


Online-
www.intentionalgatherings.com --> Donate/Give -->
Designation: Chris and Meghan Cobb --> Donate

Thank you so much for the feedback about what God is doing here! We are blessed that you read these updates and care so much about what God is doing with us! Once again, we love to pray also, so if you have anything we can pray with you about, please email us!

Love!

Meghan and Chris Cobb
thejourneykc@gmail.com
Cobb.meghan@gmail.com
Christopher.t.cobb@gmail.com
Skype: Christopher.t.cobb

The Big Update!!

We have wanted to send a simple but comprehensive update on what God is doing here in Cambodia! I have attempted to write this since mid February but for some reason it just wasn’t working. My guess is, it needed to wait until we really had something to update about! We have been updating on our blog here and there, but realized few people know about the details of what we are doing from day to day.

We have been here since January 15th, which means we have been here for about 11 weeks. We have been doing various classes including: art, English, Hair and Sports, since January 23rd, as a means to build relationships. Most of our students come from our surrounding community and are primarily Vietnamese. As you know, there was a two week break in February due to the Vietnamese New Year. We were able to host a New Year party for all of our friends and enjoyed games, a drama, and a snack feast! The last 4 days of the New Year holiday, the team took a trip to Siem Reap and Angkor Wat.

Since the New Year, things seem to be really moving here in Cambodia. After one month here, we were wondering if we were doing anything right! But, when we came back from Siem Reap, we felt refreshed and began praying together for God to move and to use us if possible. The main focus for us is to just build relationships. We have been visiting homes of our students, eating breakfast with them, teaching them English and just loving on them. It has taken until just about now to see what looks to be fruit!

Everyone in the team has been investing in specific families lives. Chris and I have been really praying for two families. One is a mother named Ha and her son named Phak. Joni introduced us to them and since then, they haven't left our mind or heart. We have visited them three times so far, and things are going really well. Last week as I was praying before we went to Ha and Phak’s house, I felt like all we needed to focus on was getting to know them and to let them know that is all we want. I feel like that was from God for sure. We told them that we wanted to see them more and they said, “of course, come this time next week!” So hopefully we will have a translator to go! Also, Ha might teach me to cook, or invite us to dinner, and Chris plans to jam on the guitar with Phak! So please be praying!

We are also very close to a lady Tuk Tuk driver named Em! Her, her husband, and four kids, live about three houses down from us. Since the first week, the whole team has been great friends with her! We see her every day and say “Suisa dai, soke sabai?” which means Hello, How are you? She is the most joyful woman ever! I always look forward to going outside and seeing her! Just these simple words has quickly made her my closest friend here! Chris and I wanted to be able to talk to her more, and were praying on Monday about how that would happen. So, as He always does, God totally answered! He completely ordained a conversation for me and chris to talk with her. It’s a long story, but I will tell you when I am home! So Bunthorn (our translator) had 20 minutes before he had to leave. We went and got Em and was like, “Bunthorn is here, WE CAN TALK!!.” So, 20 minutes turned into 1 hour and 45 minutes! It was so awesome and SO God! So we officially have a Cambodian momma named Em! That makes my heart happy!

So, we have three weeks left and we actually have a lot coming up. Chris and I met an organization called Open Arms, which trains girls in all things beauty, in a faith based environment. It is an 18 month long program and it looks as though one of my girls, Hang, is going to get to go to this school! Also, we asked Sandra (the owner) how we could support her and the school. After asking that question, it seemed as though this was another ordained meeting! They need help with forming a ciriculum so that they can be accredited. So Chris is working on writing an accounting curriculum and I am working on writing a curriculum for Haircutting. Also, for the next two weeks, Monday through Thursday from 8:30-10:30, I will get to train the trainers in advanced haircutting and techniques! So we are so pumped to have met them! They are just awesome people, and an answer to prayer!

We also wanted to update you on what God has been doing for us financially! As of late December, we were so nervous that we weren’t going to make it to Cambodia. God provided everything! We were able to be fully supported for the first two months of our trip! So, now being the last month in Cambodia and approaching our transition month back to Fort Worth, we are asking God for more financial provision! We are not afraid this time, we believe and know He will always provide!

So, we ask that you would join us for the next 3 weeks. Intercede on behalf of the things above. For the sports day, the bible study on Saturday, the relationships we are building, and for us as we try to teach to the best of our ability! For us to do all that God has for us here, and to enjoy what little time we have left! To speak to us about our future and what he has for us next! For financial provision while in Cambodia, and during the month of our return! Thank you so much for all of your endless support, amazing prayers, and encouragement! We seriously don’t know what we would do without the amazing family in Christ that we are a part of! We thank God for you!

So I hope that answers some questions! More updates coming soon!

Meghan

Surrender and Contentment!

So, its true! We have officially been here 2 months! You know how that goes! I feel like, how did that fly by, and at the same time feel like it’s been an eternity! I look at the calendar and realize, Oh my goodness, I only have 4 more weeks here. At the same time, I see that calendar with great amounts of homesickness and feel as if April 15 is never going to arrive!! Lol! It is such an experience living here. I truly believe a life change, culture change (whether moving to another city, state, or country) always brings about similar struggles and adventures. For example, I cannot believe that God has enabled and equipped us to come half way across the world for 3 months. If you would have told me a year ago that me and my husband would be in Cambodia for 3 months and I would be teaching a hair class. I would have given you a million reasons why none of those things were possible. Just the fact that I am away from home for 3 months is a miracle to me. Much less in a completely different world! So, needless to say I would never trade this experience! I mean, even if God directs us to be the hands and feet of Jesus in Fort Worth, the things we have been exposed to has changed us more than we probably even realize. The funny thing about dreams are, they are never what we expect them to be. I thought I would be in Cambodia, saving the world, and experiencing the most supernatural things on a day to day basis. That I would feel like a hero. That I would feel the most worth ever, because I know I am where I am supposed to be. But the truth is, we are people and we struggle! Lol!

So we are in a land we never thought was possible, and God has made it abundantly clear that this is where we are to be. Yet, I still seem to struggle. I’m sure your saying “Duh.” Ha! But seriously when I dream, or think of the next adventure, I figure it will somehow be a new level of life without the struggles of the world. But the truth is, those struggles will be there. I am in Cambodia, living the “dream.” There is a slight chance that you wish you were here where we are. While we sometimes wish were where you are! Isn’t that funny? But honestly, circumstances have nothing to do with it. It is my attitude, my heart, and my dependency on Jesus that will make me content. So, the theme of my learning experiences lately has been about Being Content. I think there is more freedom to this than we realize. I don’t want to live my whole life thinking “If things we different, then I would be happier” or “If we lived by ourselves, things would be so much better” or “If we had more money, it would be easier” or “If we lived there…Gosh, life would be awesome.” I think this kind of thinking is one I talk to Jesus about a lot!

So, how do we stay content? I’m not quite sure I have any answers. But lately, I have learned that just being absolutely truthful with the Lord about where I am is the start. Yes he already knows where I am. But there is something about saying it, pouring out my heart to him, and trusting him to meet me where I am. I don’t have to sugar coat things and explain myself. For example: Last week I fel into a low spot of homesickness and sadness and felt useless. But…I felt like I shouldn’t feel this way, so I tried to ignore it. I felt like I would be letting people down and God down if I felt that way, when I should be tearing through Cambodia with the utmost confidence and zeal! So I knew it was there but I kept on truckin! Then last Wednesday, it caught up with me. I cried a lot and then poured out my heart to Jesus. I told him everything. “I’m sick of this, I want this, I hate this, I miss this, I don’t understand this”…blah blah blah. And yes, I sounded like a spoiled brat. But that doesn’t change the fact that those were my emotions. And the fact that I didn’t have to sugarcoat them, was awesome. And by doing that, God spoke to me in a way I desperately needed with these verses:

Psalm 51:6-19
Surely you desire truth in the inner parts;
you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.
Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
Hide your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquity.
Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners will turn back to you.
Save me from bloodguilt, O God,
the God who saves me,
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart,
O God, you will not despise.
In your good pleasure make Zion prosper;
build up the walls of Jerusalem.
Then there will be righteous sacrifices,
whole burnt offerings to delight you;
then bulls will be offered on your altar.

The sections that I bolded and underlined are the parts that leaped off the page for me. Through reading these verses. God spoke to me in a way those showed me how to pray, here, in the place I am at. So I guess what I am trying to say is, even though change brings about struggles, which brings about discontentment, through surrendering fully…he frees us. He speaks to us. And speaks purpose into our life. And for me, now I have something to pray, every time I feel homesick or discontent. That God would speak to me and speak wisdom into my soul! That He would be the answer. Not change of circumstance, but Him!  I may just be saying these things to myself, but I figured maybe someone has experienced something similar! So I am very greatful about all that He is teaching. And about the fact that I can pray every day that my sacrifice would be a broken spirit, and a broken and contrite heart! By doing that, I think great things will happen for the Glory of God. So I guess surrender and contentment are the themes lately!

Stay tuned for our update, which will be posted later today!!
With much love,
Meghan