A New Chapter...

Last week watching the sunset from one of our favourite places.

​Writing this has taken me longer to do than I anticipated. I guess it’s taken me a while to fully process what God has been teaching and showing us, so I wanted to have clarity before sharing, including about news on the decision we mentioned about in our previous update.

Steve and I have had an incredible last few months since getting back, I would say we have felt the acceleration of what God has been doing, felt His joy greater than ever before and also felt such love and unity amongst our team and with the people here. Since arriving back I felt I have had permission to dream again and so excited about what God was putting in my heart; specifically for Sihanoukville. We have also seen some exciting fruit including some breakthroughs in outreaches to the "girly bars" and I have had the privilege of seeing our Cambodian team members reaching them with such passion, love and dedication.

​A few weeks ago our director Kellie was here and it was a wonderful time! She asked if we would consider moving to Phnom Penh for 6 months to help with leading the team there. Initially I thought “surely not…no.. no.. can’t be right! As right now we are carrying such promise for this place and we are so happy!" Etc, etc. However we wanted to honour the request to prayerfully consider it, so we set time aside to pray and process with the other leaders down here. 

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Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know, recognise and acknowledge him, and he will direct and make straight and plain your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 (AMP)

The last day at the current Dream Centre was a celebration and they all got a group photo in memory of the great times we ha there. (Photo by @jacobincambodia).

​During a powerful time of prayer Steve sensed that God wanted us to say “Yes” to this request. Initially I felt pretty upset and angry; why God? It doesn’t make sense! I had a million reasons why I didn’t think it was right. However over the following days I had some really amazing times of worship with God where I remembered that our obedience is greater than any sacrifice. How could I not follow Him if He asked us? Everything else besides that seemed irrelevant so I let go. From grieving and sadness I started to feel excitement; we have a good Father and so I know it’s going to be a great adventure with Him! Since then God has given us such a peace this is the right thing and confirmed it to us lots of different times, in lots of different ways and through different people. We feel our time in Sihanoukville is not fully over and that our time in Phnom Penh is just for "a season", which really helps; as our hearts are so connected with the many precious ones down here.
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Its interesting timing as our last week here is also the last week of the Dream Centre (at its current location) before it has to close temporarily while we prepare our new property. Even in the timing of all that it feels so amazing that God would let us see the end of the first chapter of somewhere so precious to us. Recently we got to be part of the final session there and it was incredibly beautiful and emotional as we got to reflect and remember all the amazing things that have happened. We also took all the kids up to our new centre (which at the moment is just empty land), watching them run around with such excitement and joy was incredible !

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​Another amazing thing is that another missionary , who is a close friend, has arrived back in Sihanoukville this week with a desire to work with our community in the railway slum. This is perfect timing as I know she will be able to continue with a lot of what Steve and I have been doing and will continue to love and disciple the sweet families there. Plus we have such a wonderful team here who will stay connected with them, and we are also in partnership with a local church who make weekly visits to share God’s word and build relationship.

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​This next week or so will involve lots of goodbyes (for now) and we will be aiming to finish this season down here really well. We are thankful that we have already found an apartment in Phnom Penh and we are excited to see all that God wants to do in and through us there.

In all honestly when our directors first asked us I felt completely inadequate for the job at hand but I have learnt this last year that He gives us all we need to fulfil the calling He puts on us; and I have learnt to not look at myself or my own lack but keeping my eyes fixed on Him!

The team we will be working with in Phnom Penh are so wonderful and feel like family already but I know leaving our team here is going to be challenging. We are praying God gives us the grace for it all! Everyday it’s a choice to surrender to God or to do things our way and sometimes that’s easier than others. However when we say “Yes” to Him He is always so faithful! We are both excited for this next season of new levels of dependence, stretching, and growth and most importantly for more of Him!

Thank you so much to all of the amazing people who have been praying for us in making this decision we really appreciate you all greatly.

​Much love,

Mollie, Steve and Gracie x

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Please pray...

• ...that we would finish well here! That we would not leave any “loose ends”.
• ...that divine relationships and the heart connection with the team here would continue to be strong despite distance and that this move would bring even greater unity between the two Iris Cambodia teams.
• ...that we would be equipped in every way to do a good job in our new roles and to be a blessing to the team in Phnom Penh. 
• ...packing, moving, logistics would go smoothly.
• ...we would settle in well to our new home.
• ...God would grace us with the ability to learn quickly and have the wisdom to make the right decisions.

Our neighbour's new front gate. Our team have loved them so well over the last few years. Please pray for them especially for protection as they continue to grow in their knowledge of Christ.

Gracie may miss some of the fun things we do in Sihanoukville, especially the trips with daddy to the local zoo! Please pray for her in this time of transition.

Grace loves her neighbours and especially the doggy's! Please pray for great community and friends in Phnom Penh.