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A Letter From Seiha

*Seiha, Director of Phnom Penh Operations*

It’s been 5 years since I left my wonderful job and stepped out of my comfort zone to serve the Lord by working at CGI. I was excited that I could be a part of changing lives as I have always been passionate about helping women who have been trafficked or treated unfairly. Every day I pray for God’s wisdom, love, and guidance to help me do this job as I know I can’t do it alone. But because of CGI, these women have been brought out of the darkness and into the light. Seeing their transformation is what gives me the strength to continue with this work.

A student recently wrote me, “I grew up in a broken family. My mom was sad and sick until she passed away. Since I was born, I never received love from my father. I hated him! When I first came to CGI, I did not think the teachers could love me because they are not my family. If my dad couldn’t love me, how could the teachers? But I have seen all the teachers truly love me and teach me from their heart. They never gave up on me, even though there were many times I couldn’t remember the lessons.

I can now read and write Khmer and sew beautiful clothes! Most importantly I learned about Jesus who loves me. I learned a verse in the Bible that says, ‘Love your parents’ and I began to pray and ask God to forgive me and help me forgive my dad. Someday I hope I can see my dad again and show him I love him because Jesus loves me first. I am thankful for the teachers at CGI who taught me a skill and about Jesus!”

I’m so grateful for all the supporters who give generously so we can share the love of God with these women. Each day I witness so many lives changing through the work we do here; and that only happens because of you.

Thank you from Cambodia,

Seiha

Sopheak’s Before & After Story

Sopheak Lim is a quiet 19-year-old on the outside. But after a few minutes of listening to her speak, you sense the strong determination she has in her heart to serve God and create a brighter future.

After losing her father to tuberculosis when she was five, she also lost her mother and step-father to HIV four years later. She spent several years being shuffled between other family members in Thailand and Cambodia, and eventually wound up living with her uncle and aunt in Battambang, Cambodia in 2016.

Sopheak is a member of CGI’s current culinary class at the Green Mango Café and Bakery in Battambang. As part of the Culinary Training Center (CTC), Sopheak and seven other girls are learning to cook and bake, as well as how to run a restaurant. Sopheak’s favorite part of the program so far is learning to be a barista. She enjoys making coffee, espresso and especially smoothies. She really enjoys making (and drinking) avocado smoothies.

But more importantly than using the right ingredients in a smoothie, Sopheak and the students are learning about Jesus and His love.

Sopheak had a little knowledge of Jesus before joining the CTC program. But since joining more than a year ago, she has seen first-hand the power of His love. Lim’s younger sister, Vichaka, was part of the CTC program two years ago, and when Vichaka became ill, she needed hospital care. CGI helped take care of her medical needs.

“I really didn’t know much about God and how He works in the world,” explained Sopheak. “But I saw how CGI loved Vichaka and helped take care of her, and I realized this is how loving people live in the world.”

When Sopheak is asked about her favorite Bible story, she quickly points to Mark 2:1-5. With many people crowding around the house where Jesus was preaching, four men lowered a paralyzed man through the roof, so he could be healed by Jesus. Sopheak said she sees herself in the story as the man on the mat, but after he has been healed.

“I now know that I’m a daughter of God,” she explained. “I’ve been healed by Jesus, so I’m better than before.”

Sopheak and her fellow CTC students graduated May 24, 2019 and Sopheak dreams of one day partnering with her sister to open a western-style restaurant in Battambang.

“I want to thank CGI and everyone who has supported us and has helped teach us to cook, and about Jesus’ love,” Sopheak said. “Thanks for making this possible.”

And once she opens her restaurant, be sure to stop in for a smoothie. They will certainly be on the menu!

Help more young women, like Sopheak, have the opportunity to study at the Culinary Training Center.

CLICK HERE TO DONATE!

Written By: Charlie McAtee

Charlie McAtee is a member of CGI’s Board of Directors. He is a professional communications and public relations expert and is the owner of Charlie McAtee Communications. He lives in New Palestine, Ind. with his wife (Dawn) of nearly 20 years, their two youngest children (Andrew and Audrey), and their dog (Dixie) and cat (Freedom).

Paying It Forward

The Culinary Training Center (CTC) is an 18-month training program that teaches kitchen and restaurant management skills to at-risk girls.

Located in Battambang, Cambodia, the CTC is complemented by a CGI-operated restaurant: The Green Mango Cafe and Bakery. In addition to a culinary education, students gain service experience in the restaurant and receive job placement assistance as they prepare to graduate.

Learning a valuable skill, like being a chef, empowers girls out of poverty and allows them to start creating a hope-filled future. It is a life-changing program that impacts not only the student, but their families and the communities in which they live, as people see first-hand the transformation that happens over the course of the program.

Recently, some of the graduates as well as CTC staff received a request to help train girls from another organization to make lattes, espressos, and other delicious coffee drinks. This was a huge honor for the staff and graduates of the CTC and an incredible opportunity to pass along not only their skill but also to empower others who come from backgrounds similar to their own.

At CGI we are so incredibly proud of these young women for “paying it forward” and helping other girls, much like them, find pathways out of poverty. We have seen many instances of the lives of our students being transformed by Christ through the CTC program and it is a tremendous blessing to see such work being duplicated! Praise God for this blessing, and we pray there are many more opportunities and moments like this to celebrate together.

Your monthly gifts to CGI are critical to the continuation of such programs. Thank you so very much for being part of the work being done in Cambodia!

Do you want to build a legacy of impact? When you donate, you provide vocational training opportunities, life skills classes and moments to share the Gospel.

CLICK HERE TO DONATE TODAY!

Dare to Dream

When Jesus started His ministry here on earth, He said, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor” (Luke 4:18). As followers of Jesus, I believe we are called to continue this work. By God’s grace, CGI has been able to continue to proclaim Good News over the past year.

We saw 16 young women, who in the past faced the horrors of human trafficking and absolute poverty, experience the love of God and graduate from our Culinary Training Center and Imprint Project. They and their families now have hope for a brighter and healthier future.
We saw our byTavi team grow to 40 seamstresses, equipping and empowering more women with dignity and the ability to provide for their families and protect their children. They also studied God’s Word together every week.
We saw 14 students in our cgiKids program advance to their next elementary grade level, helping to ensure they stay in school and receive a valuable education.
In the midst of all our work, Jesus was proclaimed and made known in Cambodia!

Our year-end appeal typically focuses on current programs and the funding needed to sustain them. This year is no different. We still have those needs, and your gift will continue to help us maintain excellence in what God has already called us to do.

But, what if God is calling us to do more?

What if we could expand our Culinary Training Center to also include hotel, hospitality and tourism training?
What if we could double the number of students in our Culinary Training Center and Imprint Project?
What if we could empower more women and protect more children by expanding our byTavi workshop?
What if we could help more villages, schools, students and families through the cgiKids program, allowing us to have a greater impact in the name of Jesus?

This year we want to designate 10% of your year-end gift to a ‘dream fund.’ These resources will be set aside for the next steps that we believe God will reveal to us. As we discern His plans to expand the work of CGI, we want to be a people that can say YES without hesitation! Will you dare to dream and pray about the possibilities that God has in store for CGI, the Cambodian people and you? We desire for you to experience the joy of generosity and watch God make an eternal impact with your resources in partnership with CGI!

Year-end gifts can be made here or mailed to CGI at 3830 E. Southport Rd. Suite A2, Indianapolis, IN 46237. CGI appreciates your continued prayers and support.

May God Bless You!

Sincerely,

Nathan Cecil

Executive Director

CGI Day of Prayer 2015

Please join us as we go before the Lord to seek His guidance in all that CGI does in the U.S. and Cambodia. Below you will find a list of suggested prayers– feel free to use this as a guide for your prayer time. Thank you for going before the Lord on behalf of CGI!

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (Philippians 4:6)

Prayer Requests – CGI USA Team

Pray that as an organization, CGI would not be overcome by evil, but rather would overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:12)
Pray against the evil one and the spiritual forces the come against CGI as an organization and against the individuals who work at CGI, volunteer at CGI, donate to CGI, or support the ministry in some other way. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Eph 6:12).
Pray for the mission and vision of CGI – that we would humble ourselves and seek the leading of the Lord in all we do. Pray that we would continue to be effective in empowering those in need, protecting the vulnerable, and most importantly sharing the Good News of Jesus with all those we serve and come in contact with.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (Galatians 6:9)

Praise God for the generous donors who, through their stewardship of resources entrusted to them by God, give to the work of CGI and partner with us in God’s work around the world.
Pray for those who serve as faithful volunteers with CGI. Without them we would be lost! They help with many things including byTavi events, fundraising events, processing byTavi products, cleaning our office space, and hosting byTavi trunk shows just to name a few.
Pray for CGI’s board of directors who voluntarily serve and help lead the mission and vision of CGI. There are 9 board members: Jeffrey, Matt, Jeremy, Paul, Joyce, Jeff, Lynette, Sonja and Carmen.
Pray for the U.S. staff of CGI that we would be wise, discerning and diligent in the work we do on behalf of those we serve. Staff members include: Nathan, Whitney, Kristen, Hali, Lindsey, Nicole, Carrie, Andraea, and Jaime.
Pray for the U.S. missionaries who are faithfully serving in Cambodia with CGI, sharing the love of Jesus. These include Alan, Katy (children Jonah & Elim), Ryana, and Alison.
Pray for Ryana who is currently in the U.S. mourning the sudden and unexpected loss of her grandmother Beverly. Beverly was an amazing Godly woman who supported Ryana in all she did and had actually been to Cambodia twice and developed relationships with CGI students and staff while serving there with Ryana.
Pray for the ministries that CGI partners with, many of whom work to rescue young women from human trafficking and help them begin to heal. These ministries include Rapha House, Destiny Rescue, Agape, Mother’s Heart, and International Justice Mission.
Pray for the new byTavi Boutique in Franklin, IN. That it would be successful from a business perspective with lots of customers and monthly sales, but also that it would be a light in that community and a place where people sense God and get a glimpse of what He is doing in this world and possibly be moved to join in the work beyond buying a byTavi product (i.e. volunteer, donate, advocate, etc).

Prayer Requests – From the CGI Phnom Penh Team

byTavi

Pray for the wisdom and good health for Nary, Mouy, Sreymao, Mala, Sokchea, March, Seangly, and Chantoo who administrate the program and lead the byTavi women.
Pray for Sreymao and her baby, pray for a healthy delivery.
Pray for all the women who participate in the byTavi program to have good health.
Pray that all the women of the byTavi program and their family to open their heart to know Christ.
Pray for the protection over the staff and the ladies of the byTavi program
Pray for the new byTavi administrator, Vireak, for his work with byTavi

The Imprint Project

Pray that the 12 young women who are participating in The Imprint Project and their families will come to know Christ
Pray for the staff at Imprint Project, especially Norin who will be returning to work soon from maternity leave and Pisei who is now on maternity leave.
Pray for students to have more wisdom to understand the lessons faster.
Pray for wisdom and patience over the staff to lead and work with the girls
Pray for the participants and staff to have good relationship to one another.
Pray for 2 students who recently left – that they would be safe and return to the program and finish their training.

cgiKids

Pray for the 15 students who are participating in cgiKids program and their family will come to know Christ
Pray for Sreyleak as she teaches these students and meets with their families.
Pray for other ways that we can connect with this community.

Phnom Penh and USA Office

Pray for Alan and Katy Beringer as they are traveling over the next few weeks.
Pray for Seiha (Co-director) as she continues to lead the staff in Phnom Penh.
Pray for Seiha as she will start school in November.
Pray for the CGI Cambodia Office Staff – Somnang, and Sopheany
Pray for our US Staff – Nathan, Whitney, Kristen, Hali, Lindsey, Jaime, Nicole, Carrie and Andraea to have wisdom, strength, and health.

General about CGI

Pray for the volunteers without whom we could not exist.
Pray for the increase of the products selling
Pray for all the supporters that God will double the blessings to them

General about Cambodia

Pray for Cambodia’s government, leaders, and political issues.
Pray for all the people affected by human trafficking in Cambodia
Pray for peace in Cambodia and around the world.
Pray for a safe Pchum Ben holiday for our staff and participants.

Prayer Requests – From the CGI Battambang Team

CTC Staff:

Pray for wisdom and patience for all the teachers when they teach
Pray for our social workers who work directly with the participants
Wisdom to work with the participants and their families
Safety when they go to do home visit
Pray for unity among staff
Pray for two staff who are non-Christian. Pray that they will learn and know more about Jesus when they are among us and come to believe and have faith in Jesus.
Pray for their health
Pray for the encouragement and self-motivation for staff, so that they will thrive in doing God’s work through CGI
We need an English teacher. Please pray that God would bring us the right person.
Pray for Alison and Connor as they will go back to U.S. in November to get married.
Pray for Ryana as she is in the U.S. mourning the loss of her grandmother.

CTC Participants:

Pray for wisdom while they study in our program
Pray for perseverance as they are going through the program until they finish
Pray for their health
Pray for their home lives, so that their families will not abuse them physically, mentally and emotionally
Pray that their families will support and encourage them to finish the program
Pray that their families will see the changes in their children’s lives
Pray that the participants will experience love and learn and know Jesus while they go through their journey with CGI
Please pray for hope and healing for their future when they finish the program
Pray for the heart and life transforming through the work that we are doing both staff and participants

Green Mango and Red Chili:

Please pray for our businesses that both of them will run well and be sustainable for the future
We are still looking for a Khmer Manager for the restaurant. Please pray that God will bring the right person for the job
Please pray for the restaurant staff that they will be working together in unity and continue learning and improving their skills through their job
Pray for wisdom and strength while they are working and know how to avoid wastage
Pray that we will be able to have a sustainable income to support the businesses and the operation in Battambang in the future

Overall:

Pray for staff and participant as the go home over Pchum Ben holiday.
Pray for their safety while they travel to places
There will be a spiritual warfare happen at their home. Please pray that they will stay strong in their believe and trusting that God has power over all the evils and spirits that try to attack them in the different way
Pray for their time with family.
Pray that their families will see the differences and see Jesus in them.
Pray that they will return back to work on time and safe
Pray for a new project (Hospitality training) that we are planning for CGI Battamabang.
Pray for vision, wisdom and discernment from God among the leadership team
Pray for the right timing, right staff and new participants
Pray that the plan will work out and the CGI leadership and Board will help cast vision and plan strategically.
Pray that many lives will be transformed by this potential new project

Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits; who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed…..Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts, you his servants who do his will. Praise the Lord, all his works everywhere in his dominion. Praise the Lord, my soul.

Psalm 103:1-6, 21-22

Cambodia: 10 Facts About Our Mission Field

Cambodia is a beautiful country. We have been blessed to be a part of it and to get to know the community within it, full of wonderful people. As a part of this ministry, we thought you would like to know a little more about the country itself. So, here are 10 important facts about Cambodia- to allow you to step into their culture and see a piece of the past and present.

1. Cambodia has been through many name changes.

Whenever a new government has come to power, the country’s name has changed.

Here is a breakdown of name changes:

The Kingdom of Cambodia: 1953-1970 (ruled by a monarchy)
The Khmer Republic: 1970-1975 (ruled by President Lon Nol’s government)
Democratic Kampuchea: 1975-1979 (under Pol Pot’s terrible Khmer Rouge regime)
The People’s Republic of Kampuchea: 1979-1989 (under the rule of the Vietnamese sponsored government)
The State of Cambodia: 1989-1993 (under the United Nations Transitional Assembly)
The Kingdom of Cambodia: 1993-present (under the restored constitutional monarchy)

2. Cambodia has a very young population

A compelling fact about Cambodia is that it has a very young population with 68% of its people are between the age of 15-30! There is a small percentage of people over the age of 50. The unfortunate reasoning is because of Khmer Rouge genocide in the late 70’s.

3. Cambodia is the only flag in the world featuring a building

The building, of course, is the country’s famous world wonder: Angkor Wat. It is the main reason tourists travel to Cambodia. It is the world’s largest religious building and considered one of the wonders of the world.

4. Birthdays are not traditionally celebrated in Cambodia

Traditionally, birthdays are not celebrated in Cambodia particularly in the rural areas. Recently, the youth have started celebrating birthdays because of western cultural influences. Many of the girls CGI works with, don’t know their birthdays.

It’s interesting to believe that older people may not even know their exact birth date.

5. Cambodia has seen much sorrow over the years

During the four-year rule of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge (1975-1979), one-fifth of Cambodia’s population was killed. These people were mostly the educated, priests, and monks.

6. In Cambodia, the head is considered the highest part of the body and shouldn’t be touched- even if it is for good intentions.

7. Traditional Cambodian weddings are quite involved and can last for up to three days and three nights.

8. Phnom Penh is Cambodia’s largest city, and it’s capital. Roughly 20% of Cambodia resides here.

9. Buddhism has been the state religion since 1989. About 93% of all Cambodians practice either Hinayana or Theravada Buddhism. Less than 1% of the population is Christian.

10. Center for Global Impact has been working in Cambodia for 7 years

CGI has had the privilege to walk alongside many families in Cambodia and share the Good News of Jesus. Ever since we were called to this mission, we hope to bring education and vocational training to women and families who have been effected by poverty. Our vision is to hope and pray for a future in which those we serve experience the freedom, dignity and fullness of life that comes when we enter into a relationship with Jesus Christ.

If you would like to receive more information about what we do, please contact us at contact@centerforglobalimpact.org!

Top 3 Highlights of My Cambodia Trip.

My two weeks of travel in Cambodia came to an end a couple of weeks ago. It was great to be home and reunited with my family. But I do already miss being with the CGI staff & participants in Cambodia. It was a great trip and fruitful in many ways. I really enjoyed spending time with everyone there and deepening our relationships as a team. I thought about what I would consider my top three highlights from the trip and I decided to share them with you. So here goes–

1) The Culinary Training Center graduation ceremony was incredible. If you received my last update you recall I shared how wonderful this ceremony was. The eight girls who completed their training in our 3rd culinary training class graduated on March 12th. Several of their family & friends came to see the girls receive their certificates of completion. Through the smiles and the tears of joy, you could see this great accomplishment meant a lot to not only the girls graduating but also their families. The 70+ people in attendance got to eat lots of food the girls had prepared for everyone to show off their cooking skills. Best of all, prayers and the Good News of Jesus was a central part of the ceremony.

2) A big focus of this trip was to figure out what to do with the Culinary Training Center & Green Mango location. We learned a few months ago that our lease on the current property could not be renewed long-term. Thus we were looking at a new property to move to. The new property was a former school and is twice as big as our current property for less monthly rent. This new location has great potential and we believe it is also in a better location for restaurant customers. There are obvious build-out costs and operational issues for which to consider and plan. We are trusting that God will provide the needed financial resources and leadership staff to make the move a reality. Please pray that we would have wisdom & clear discernment in this decision.

3) Before I left for this trip I had the idea of sharing about how Jesus is the light of the world with the CGI staff & participants in Cambodia. And so I purchased several small LED flashlights and I prepared a ‘light of the world’ devotion and took them with me. I had several opportunities to share them with everyone there. I explained how Scripture tells us that Jesus is the light of the world. And how light always overcomes darkness. We looked at the invitation from Jesus to follow Him, and if we do we can walk in the light instead of the darkness. And the coolest part – like Jesus – we become the light of the world too! I explained how we let our light shine by doing good works that point people to Jesus, the one true God. I gave everyone a flashlight and explained how it is powered by the battery which gives it the ability to shine. And as followers of Jesus we are powered by the Holy Spirit which enables us to shine. And I told them to think of Jesus every time they used that flashlight, how He is the light of the world and how they too can be a light in this dark world if they choose to follow Him. I also told them that is why CGI exists – to share the light of Jesus!

Every time I have been to Cambodia I have a moment (usually many moments) where I stop and ask myself – “How did I end up here?” This trip the answer was crystal clear. I ended up in Cambodia because that is where Jesus led me. CGI is there to do good works in the name of Jesus. We shine the light of Christ in Cambodia through the programs we operate and relationships we build. To God be the glory!

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” [Matthew 5:14-16]

-Nathan

The Imprint Project: The Experience of Growth

What’s one word that you would use to describe the women in the Imprint Project?

“I would use the word “growing” because I see them growing from a girl who is young, immature, and know nothing about the sewing skill and now they are mature and care about their future and family.”

–Seiha, CGI Co-Director of Phnom Penh Operations

Growth.

A term rarely used or even thought about when someone’s life has been placed in a horrible situation. The only thought that may run through their mind is: “doing what I have to do to survive and provide”. We have recognized that women in Cambodia don’t have many opportunities to grow in a certain skill that can raise them above poverty. This is why we chose to create the Imprint Project.

With their experience in the Imprint project, our goal is to provide:

LIFE SKILLS
teaching practical habits for a healthy lifestyle and vital skills for generating a stable income.

HOLISTIC APPROACH
social worker stays involved with each student as well as the student’s entire family

SPIRITUAL FORMATION
Spiritual formation and Bible studies are an integral part

“When they first started the project a year ago they were girls, now they have matured in many ways and are becoming adults.”

–Alan, CGI Cambodia

Stay tuned for an update on the next incoming class! We are excited to share their stories with you.

Hope and Love in Cambodia

Stephanie Maass is a friend of CGI and has traveled to Cambodia on more than one occasion to volunteer and encourage our Cambodian staff and program participants. She recently accompanied our Designer, Nicole, on a trip to Cambodia and these are the words she wrote when she returned. We are so encouraged by Stephanie’s beautiful insights and wanted to share them with you:

“I want you to know what I saw [at CGI Cambodia]. I saw girls who would now look you in the eye, hold their heads high, and not approach with slumped shoulders & eyes downcast. I received hugs instigated with wide-open arms and smiles. I saw local Cambodians who were encouraged and empowered to use their gifts and talents in leadership roles. I saw freedom to exchange ideas and creativity among the CGI staff, both Cambodian and American. I saw validation of design concepts, invitation of feedback, creative freedom to experiment and freedom to fail and try again.

I saw acceptance.

I saw people working together for the good of the work of CGI and The Kingdom itself. I heard laughter (I love all the giggles and signs of joy!). I saw camaraderie in the workshop. I saw leadership, teaching, and learning taking place. I saw relationships being established there and the Light that CGI represents being taken to the streets and marketplace. I saw people having table fellowship by the meals provided through CGI. I saw healing in the eyes of girls who need to know their identity as a daughter of the King of Kings. I saw dignity being restored. I saw dignity being harnessed, resulting in people walking in confidence. With my own two eyes, I saw HOPE.”

Here at CGI, we LOVE these stories of HOPE that give us the FAITH to keep moving forward. Happy (early) Valentine’s Day and thanks for loving these girls and giving them a hope so evident.

Merry Christmas from Phnom Penh!

CGI Staff in Phnom Penh

Merry Christmas!

We want to express our deepest gratitude to each of you. Your support has made a world of difference in our ministry in 2014. We’ve been able to complete our first year of the Imprint Project, expand our Culinary Training Center and restaurants in Cambodia, invest in the lives and education of young children through Kien Svay Kids, expand our byTavi line and provide lunches for our byTavi staff, bring on additional team members in both the U.S. and Cambodia, educate hundreds of people on the issues of poverty and trafficking, share the Gospel with the beautiful people of Cambodia and so much more!

You’ve freely given of your time, finances, talents and prayers to further our work in Cambodia, and we can’t thank you enough.

Merry Christmas from all of us at CGI.