the team

2011 CCC Cambodia Team

 (from left to right) Back row: Rick, Marlin, Ron, Mike, and Ray

Middle row: Liz, Maxine, Sandy, Karen, Abby, Abby, and Becky

Front row: Steve, Logan, Andrea, Laura, Marti, Kim, and Ben

Please pray for us as we go on this adventure, according to God's commissioning!

Here is a little information about our team members:

Karen & Rick

Karen - I have been married 28 years to Rick, who is going to Cambodia for his third time. This will be my first time out of North America. We recently celebrated the high school graduation of our fourth child and are now officially out of the parenting children phase and enjoying being friends and advisors to four wonderful young adults. I have always enjoyed traveling, but I never dreamed I would have a chance to go on a mission trip to a third world country. God has amazing ways of taking our delights and turning them into reality. I am also an artist, and look forward to experiencing the colors and textures of a whole new and different culture. I am not exactly sure how God wants to use me in Cambodia, so I am going with an open mind to serve wherever and however he leads.

Laura & Liz

Liz – I’ve been married to my wonderful  husband, R.J., for 28 years. I’m also a mom to four mostly-grown "kids" (and mother-in-law to one) and a preschool teacher. My hobbies include writing and taking pictures, and I am eager to do both of those in Cambodia. I have prayed for the team going to Cambodia from Christ Community each summer and couldn't be more thrilled that God asked me to go this time. I hope to be open to all that He has in mind for me on this trip, and to connect my preschool families to Cambodia by keeping them updated on our adventures. An added blessing is that my daughter Laura is also going on this trip.

Laura - I’m a 19-year-old who just finished a year at Crown College. I’m very excited to be going to Cambodia (and ride on an airplane) for the first time on this trip. I know that I can’t even imagine all that God has in store for me there. Along with going to Cambodia this summer, I am working with preschoolers part-time at Camp Kingdom Kids. I spend much of my free time knitting and crocheting with any yarn I can get my hands on (though I particularly like putting my hands on soft, cuddly, yellow yarn). Life is good, and joy abundant.

Marti & grandchildren

Marti - I think I am in the sweet spot of my life. I'm retired so I have all kinds of time to be involved in just what I like.  My three grandchildren are the loves of my life and I get to see them often...our best thing is sleepovers.  I love to be involved in missions here in Rochester and also in Cambodia.  I can't wait to go back this summer and see my Cambodian friends.

Logan & Steve

Steve - Lori and I have been married for 25 years. We have three energetic and intense kids. Allison and Marcus attend Bethel U in the Twin Cities and Logan is in his last year at Century HS. I have traveled to Mexico, Jamaica, the Philippines and Great Britain. This will be my first trip to Cambodia and I am thrilled to be one of the "tour guides" leading this well seasoned group of veterans and some very excited "rookies" to a country filled with opportunity to live out the gospel. I am especially pleased that our son Logan is travelling with me. We will learn much together and I am confident that it will increase our love for each other, for others, and for Jesus Christ who we serve.

Logan - To start, I have a mullet that I am proud to wear without shame. Also, I'm going into my senior year at Century High School and am starting to take on many of the new challenges that life has thrown at me. To be honest, the idea of going to Cambodia never really interested me until Bill Lobbezoo came and I heard that you could buy mopeds there for fairly cheap. Bill also had a really cool haircut that I admired :). After going to several of the informational meetings, I realized first off, I probably wouldn't be able to get the moped, but secondly, that I really did want to go to Cambodia. I am still a little hesitant because I am a very picky eater and have yet to expand my diet to multi-cultural foods, but I am eagerly looking forward to this trip to see what God is going to do in my life!

Mike & family

Mike - I am excited about this upcoming mission trip and learning how God may use me and what He wants to teach me.  I have two daughters and two stepsons who range in age from 8 to 14 and they keep my wife (Kristine) and I very busy.  My daughters live in Indianapolis and I am fortune enough to be able to spend 10 days a month with them during the school year and 5 weeks in the summer.   I started a scientific consulting company in 2009 and it is keeping me busy, but allows me to live in two states.  When I have free time, I enjoy skiing, biking, and autocrossing.

Sandy

Sandy - I enjoy gardening, biking, travel, and time with my 8  awesome grandchildren, when I am not working as a hospice nurse for Mayo. I was married for 39 years, have been widowed for 7, and have 4 terrific kids. I am delighted to be a part of this this trip with my son Mike. My prayer is that we will be faithful witnesses to the people of Cambodia (Acts 1:8).

Marlin  & Abby

Marlin -I grew up a Christian family and had some wonderful Christian examples in my life.  I have been married to Janice for 19 years and have two children; Caleb is 14 and Abby is 12.  Abby is also going on this trip.  This will be my first mission trip.  I am a little nervous about the cultural differences but yet excited to see what God has in store for me and how God can use me to make a difference in someone's life.  I am also looking forward to experiencing this adventure with my daughter.  I think it will be a great time of bonding with my daughter and with God.

Abby - I'm 12-1/2 years old and will be in 7th grade at Schaeffer Academy in the fall.  I've been able to meet several missionaries from Cambodia, including Marie Ens, and have heard many fascinating stories about Cambodia.  This year in 6th grade, I also got to do a big research paper on a country, so I chose Cambodia.  I really wanted to go to the country I'd learned so much about to try to help them and learn more about the people and their culture.  My dad is coming with me on this trip.  I like to play basketball, to scrapbook, take pictures, and play with friends.  I've been at CCC since before I was born. 

Ray, Ben, Andrea, & Becky

Ray – I’ve been married to Becky for 19 years. We have 5 wonderful children. This is my second trip to Cambodia, and I am really excited to have my wife and two oldest kids (Ben and Andrea) going on this trip.

Becky –I have been married to Ray for 19 years and we are very excited to be making this trip together, along with our 2 oldest children Ben 17 and Andrea 15.  I am excited to see what God has in store for us on this trip. We are leaving the three youngest Sam 13, Tim 10, and Natalie 8 with grandparents when we are in Cambodia.  This is my first trip over seas and the longest I have been away from my kids so please pray for peace about this.

Ben - I am seventeen years old and I have been on mission trips to Mexico and Cleveland. I even gave my shoes away in Mexico. I am thinking of getting a mullet like Logan so the Cambodians will think we are twins. I am always kind to my little sisters and I try to be a wonderful son. (Look whose bio got hijacked!)

Andrea –I am fifteen years old. I go to John Marshall High School. One of my favorite things to do is hang out with little kids. I also love to bake all kinds of treats. I am super excited to go on this mission trip to Cambodia. I am so excited to see what God is going to be doing in my life during our trip to Cambodia. I cannot wait to go on this trip with my mom, dad and older brother, Ben.

Kim

Kim –I am thrilled to have the opportunity to travel to Cambodia this summer, and am excited that my daughter Abby will be going on this adventure with me.  While we’re gone my husband and son will be have some bonding time of their own.  I have been praying for the people that I will come in contact with and hope that many relationships will develop.  I will be taken out of my comfort zone and I know that God has plans for me there.  My interests include camping, hanging out with my family, scrapbooking and teaching Kindergarten.

Maxine

Maxine - I was married to my husband for 44 years, 33 of which were spent on the farm, where we raised 3 adopted children, and countless calves from the dairy herd.  When his health was going downhill, we left the farm and moved to our place in the woods by Oronoco, where I still enjoy the deer, pheasants, wild turkey, and other wildlife.  One of my hobbies is gardening, and have built ponds and waterfalls down our hillside;  I also enjoy Bible study, and hope to do Revelation with the Cafe group soon.  My children are all grown, with 6 grandchildren (plus 1 in heaven), whom I enjoy a lot, and have many good memories of the Grandkids Weekends we have enjoyed over the years.  I'm enjoying these "freedom years" after being tied down with cows and ill husband, and am eager to see what God has planned for me in Cambodia.

Ron

Ron will be returning to Cambodia for his 4th (?) time. He is a drummer in the church worship band, and is also the videographer/photographer (officially) for the group. He and Ebby have been married a bunch of years, and have four kids. When Ron is in Cambodia, their immediate family will be on three different continents. I wonder if Ebby will know what time it is where everyone is. Good luck with that, Ebby!

What a group!! With the variety of ages and interests and backgrounds, it will be interesting to see what God has in store for us.

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This photo was takent on the 2010 trip. Ron and Nicole are enjoying the lively company of the students at English camp. Not only is learning English a great thing for these kids' future in the workplace, but it is also a fun time with friends.