Greetings from Weirton, West Virginia! This is our first Stateside prayer letter in over four years! It is hard to believe we have been in the States for two months already. Thanks to each one of you who prayed for our transition back. We have finally figured out how to be Americans again! We never realized how Cambodian we had becomed. Things that used to be normal to us had become abnormal. Heidi and I spent hours talking about all the differences between Cambodia and America. This is definitely a different world!

Cultural Adjustment

I thought I’d share a few of the cultural mistakes we made or things we said in our first weeks:
1. My first time driving in America was a very scary experience. In Cambodia, cars just merge slowly into on-coming traffic and those on the main road must yield. There is no right-of-way. Thankfully my wife gave a few helpful hollars to keep me from getting into accidents those first few days and I quickly re-learned how to drive here. Another facet of driving that is completely different is the use of the car horn. In Cambodia the horn is a friendly reminder that our car is near but in America it is used, in many cases, as an expression of anger. I must admit to honking the horn a number of times just to say that I was nearby. ☺
2. At home our first week back, I asked my mother-in-law where I could get hot water in the house. She graciously responded to me, “In any of the faucets.” Heidi later asked her, “Can it rain any day here?” In Cambodia, we have a rainy season and a dry season, in which it never rains.
3. Apparently our children were impacted by the fact they had to sit in a car seat here in America. When Isaac saw a nativity scene with Jesus in a manger, Isaac asked us, “Is that Jesus’ car seat?”

The list could go on but that’s enough to show how we experienced some real reverse culture shock. Heidi and I adjusted more quickly than the kids, since we had at least some memory of this place called America.

Traveling Adjustment

Over the past month of traveling, we have enjoyed seeing many of you who faithfully pray for the work of God in Pursat province. As I write this letter, we have been in five churches already. We plan to have a busy May and June visiting churches in Ohio, Michigan, and West Virginia. We praise the Lord for the wonderful vehicle He provided for us from a church in Memphis, TN. Please continue to pray for us in our travels.

During the month of April, we had two unique opportunities to see Cambodians living here in America. We visited a Cambodian family outside of Washington, DC who are related to some of our friends in Pursat. It was very strange to speak in Khmai here! Just last week, while at a missionary conference, I was able to visit a Cambodian community in Lowell, MA. I passed out 10-15 of our Ancient Path tracts after enjoying a delicious Khmai meal. Praise the Lord for these two times to minister to Cambodians here in America. Please pray for spiritual fruit from these two opportunities.

Baby Adjustment

This adjustment is more for our teammates, though our little Susanna has definitely made many changes since our last prayer letter. At six months, she is at the exciting phase of sitting up, eating Cheerios, and soon will be crawling! We want to praise the Lord for the safe delivery of our teammates fourth child, Sierra Hope, on March 30. They were in Bangkok for just over a month and have now returned to Cambodia. Please remember Jennifer and baby Sierra in prayer as they adjust to Cambodian life and the heat at this time of year.

While the McPhails were in Thailand, Tee (formally spelled Thi) did much of the teaching in the Preiy Nyee church. Forrest plans to help the believers there as well as Ming Khom to mature in areas of Stewardship in the coming weeks. Please pray for the believers to understand their responsibility to give their time (Lord’s day) and resources to their Lord. The McPhails are also planning to start a children’s Bible club in our village of Khbal Hong. Pray that many of Rachel and Isaac’s friends will come to believe in Jesus and that their parents will attend and repent as well.

Over the summer months, Forrest will also be hosting our first summer intern from Bob Jones University. Matt Hancock, an undergrad missions major, will be spending June and July in Pursat living in our house. Please pray for Forrest to effectively mentor Matt and know how to integrate him into the ministry. Also begin praying for the Lord to use this trip in Matt’s life. We are excited that he is coming to Cambodia.

There are many adjustments and people to bring before the throne of grace. Thanks for your prayers for open doors, Gospel words, and spiritual fruit!

Until the net is full,

Chris for the Seawright family