Mission Cambodia News

"Baby Sam" loves to climb

Happy New Year,

That’s right…we are now celebrating our 3^rd new year for 2009.  First, just like you we celebrated January 1^st, then in February “The Chinese New Year” (as many here in Cambodia are Chinese descendants or Chinese/Cambodian.  Now, this week begins the Cambodian New Year.  More regarding the Khmae New Year in next week’s report!

We pray you had a Happy Easter and a week filled with joy and blessings.

This past week was packed with much activity.  On Monday, we took the day off and headed out to the province.  The translator and his wife form CBI rode with us to Kampong Cham (approximately 3 hours away) for the wedding of a Khmae preacher.  It was a festive affair deep in the countryside.  We’re pretty sure they rarely see foreigners because we really drew attention.  We pray Jesus was glorified!  We really had a good time!

Two days we went with the students of CBI and instructor/translator Tawn to the countryside during “Evangelism Week”.  This is something the school does the week following every class term as an additional form of training for the students and outreach to the people.  We go to the countryside where we have existing works; such as church plants, or in the hometowns of the students.  We are glad when we can share in these times and also see how the training the students are receiving is being used practically as they teach all day.  It is with much joy we share with you that this week resulted in 6 new Christians.  We are grateful the Lord is showing us how the hard work of the students is helping to grow the Kingdom!

Last week we also continued our language training.  We added the last of the 33 consonants to our memory work.  Yea, we have 33 of the 88 completed (well almost, we must continue to put them to memory).  Our teacher forces us to converse with him in Khmae much of the time helping us to learn to listen carefully, learn street slang, and piece together our own response phrases and sentences.

Thursday evening we went to the home of Rich & Ronda Dolan (Rich is the dean at CBI) for our weekly missionary care group.  There were several people absent due to travels, but we did have about 8 attending.  Oh, BTW, if you have never had sweet sticky rice and sliced mangos you just haven’t lived, YUMMY!!!  We did not know how much we liked mangos; you must come and try them.  J

CBI students Pisey & Nika help children to sing

For the very first time since our arrival, we had all of the students and staff from CBI plus a number of their friends over for supper and singing.  Sharon made 2 dishes and Ronda brought 2 so we had plenty of food.  Then we sang about 25 songs (all Khmae) together sprinkled with prayers.  What a special time of great food and sweet fellowship.

Saturday, Dennis had the two CBI students studying Galatians come over and spend most of the day with us helping to finish-off the leftovers from the night before.

On Sunday we worshipped in the countryside at PTT, PTC & TNT.  CBI student Try taught a lesson at all three churches.  At PTC, Sharon continues to receive several requests for help with their medical struggles. She expresses her wishes of having more training to serve them.

God is so busy here which fills our hearts and souls with joy.  At the same time we see evidence of Satan’s evilness…daily.  Please continue to lift up prayers for the people here that are lost and the struggles within the church body.

We miss you all so much and send our love.  Although we are miles away, you are always near in heart!