Our Family

The Timeline

April 2010

Joshua and Susie Meet

Joshua and Susie met in Youth Group at East Valley Church. Became friends at first and both participated in the student leadership internship program at the church.

The Calling

Susie graduated high school and left for a year long leadership internship with Desperation Leadership Academy (DLA). Joshua was as a senior and at this point knew he was called into ministry and specially the nations.

Training

Susie started her second year of DLA and was learning a lot about how to run ministry as well as put on conferences. Joshua had a dream about reaching the nations for Christ and began his year of missions around the world in August. That began the missions for Joshua, and he worked in 15 countries.

The Waiting

Both Joshua and Susie returned back to their hometowns and home church. They were both met with surprised of how hard it was going back after being away. They tried dating but Joshua felt called to missions and Susie did not, so they broke up. Both began working on their bachelors degrees as well.

Cambodia?

Joshua took his first team to Cambodia with Lynn Mireles. It was on this trip that God began to give him a heart for the Khmer people. Susie became the Junior High Pastor at our local church in California. She began to grow the ministry and help disciple more and more junior-highers.

Send me Lord!

Both Susie and Joshua went on the same mission trip to Cambodia in January. It was here that there friendship began to grow again and Susie’s heart for the nations began to soften! It was after this trip that Joshua knew he was called to Cambodia to serve with FCOP and Susie also knew she wanted to go to Hong Kong to serve with YWAM after she completed her DTS.

The Beginning

January 27th, Joshua left for cambodia with two bags. He began working with FCOP to help develop some additional systems and also lead visiting teams. Susie moved to Hong Kong to do her DTS with YWAM!

Feelings began to develop again between Susie and Joshua. Joshua flew to Hong Kong to see Susie graduate and that night shared his feeling with her. It was that night that after she shared she had feelings again, they both knew it wouldn’t be long until they got married!

Married!

Joshua and Susie were engaged in January in cambodia. Susie went back to start her staffing at YWAM Hong Kong. Everything changed however after her dad was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The marriage was moved from January 2019 to March 2019. They were married quickly so her dad would be able to be there. They were then married again with all their friends and family in May. They both returned to Cambodia as a married couple in July that year after Susie’s dad had passed away. They also started attending Nations Church’s English service in August of that year.

The Tribe Grows!

Abbygail joined the Dunlap Tribe on August 17th! She was born in Cambodia and was the perfect first addition to the family. It was a big change having a child overseas but Susie and Joshua made it through!

New Things!

The great pandemic was in full swing in most of the world but Cambodia was just having small effects. Joshua finished at FCOP in July and they went into a time of asking what was next. They knew they wanted to stay and dig deeper in Cambodia. Finally in September they made the call along with the leaders at the time they they would come on team with Nations Church Phnom Penh. They were going to be the new young adults ministry leaders and help where ever else they could.

The Church

Malachi was welcomed into the world on June 24th, making us a family of 4. He was born in Cambodia as well. It was this year that the pandemic came into full swing in Cambodia. We had just started our new ministry in January and already were facing major obstacles. But with a few zoom meetings and zoom small groups, we pressed on as well as continuing to have our expat/missionary small group that met at our home. It was a hard year but one that formed our ministry and made it stronger! We saw the power of the local church and saw how our purpose was intertwined with it!

Foundations

It felt like starting from the ground up, but with the pandemic mostly behind them, they set off to rebuild the church and fight for community. They were not alone, but in fact around the world, pastors were fighting to see community come together again. Through many trials and errors, we saw the foundations of the Church grow stronger and stronger. There young adult ministries was growing, people were in small groups, and there was real discipleship happening! It was all about coming back to the basics. Oh, and they had their third child, Asher in November!

Positioned for Growth

The year brought lots of refinements and learning for both Joshua and Susie. There was ample opportunity to try new things, fail forward and learn. Young adult small groups doubled in size, and Joshua took on being the assistant pastor of the Church. With weekly preaching, discipling staff, and raising up leaders, the Dunlap Tribe was running on all cylinders! The year brought in many wins and testimonies of salvation, life change and people brave enough to step into God’s call on their life!

There also was beginning talks of something very exciting that we will share in 2024!