When we first arrived Cambodia in May 2013, we have focus our effort helping Hope House, our local partner, to set up a new center to teach English, and working with mission teams to serve at the village school in Kampong Speu. We also served in our church, International Baptist Church of Phnom Penh as worship leader and Sunday school teacher. We also started to serve at a Christian university dormitory, since late 2013, by teaching them worship music and piano, as well as topical bible studies such as financial stewardship, relationship/marriage.
We continue to learn to be faithful, learn to be patience, and learn to listen to God’s words during good times and challenging times. And God has showed us His blessings through each of the projects, no matter big or small; just like in Luke 16:10 says "One is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own? No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money." Luke 16:10-13 (ESV)
We continue to learn to be faithful, learn to be patience, and learn to listen to God’s words during good times and challenging times. And God has showed us His blessings through each of the projects, no matter big or small; just like in Luke 16:10 says "One is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own? No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money." Luke 16:10-13 (ESV)
Moving Forward in 2014
After nine months of living and working with people in Cambodia, we realized that the needs are really far greater than we (westerner) can imagined. At the fundamental level, people in Cambodia are not only poor and lack education, but probably due to the years of wars, poverty and corruption, their "moral compass" is also tainted. What is a simple right and wrong to us become something that is impossible to comprehend or differentiate for even some Christian we worked with. In an organization level, we can see many local groups growing in their ministries but at the same time they lack proper structure, guidelines and internal control that foreign organizations or donors will require. In the coming months, we will begin to steer our work in the following areas:
1. Strengthen organizations' operating and financial procedures
God continues to amaze us by showing us how He has planned for us to serve in Cambodia. Our work experiences, me as an auditor/accountant and Amy in consulting/investigation, have prepared us with see some of the needs and differences in operational standard and face some of the challenges we encountered.
In every ministry that we are involved with, we can identify different internal control weaknesses. We realized we can begin to take steps to improve their procedures in order to reduce the risk in both financial and operational areas. But change is certainly not an easy thing for people in the east and people in the west. Many people might even think why a Christian ministry need all sort of “rules & regulations” because we are all Christians and can be trusted? We certainly love and trust our fellow brothers/sisters, however, proper internal control can protect both the staff and the donors. Also, as a good stewardship practice for God’s ministry and money, we should take extra care to safeguard them. And we believe we are all human beings with a sinful nature, by having proper internal control, we can protect each other from the temptation of any wrong doing.
In every ministry that we are involved with, we can identify different internal control weaknesses. We realized we can begin to take steps to improve their procedures in order to reduce the risk in both financial and operational areas. But change is certainly not an easy thing for people in the east and people in the west. Many people might even think why a Christian ministry need all sort of “rules & regulations” because we are all Christians and can be trusted? We certainly love and trust our fellow brothers/sisters, however, proper internal control can protect both the staff and the donors. Also, as a good stewardship practice for God’s ministry and money, we should take extra care to safeguard them. And we believe we are all human beings with a sinful nature, by having proper internal control, we can protect each other from the temptation of any wrong doing.
At the same time, we are also helping our church, International Baptist Church of Phnom Penh (IBC), to develop many of its internal administrative policies and for its ministries. IBC, like many others, started as a small service and now growing into an English congregation and Khmer congregation in the city and multiple churches in various provinces.
*Please pray for us for endurance and patience to work with various local groups, as some of the issues are quite challenging to work through.
2. New location for church
Who is better than house shopping than us, who recently went thru an intensive house shopping experience? just kidding.
Our church, International Baptist Church in Phnom Penh (IBC), is looking for a more permanent location in Phnom Penh! As the church is growing in both Khmer (Cambodian) and English’s congregation, a location with more facilities (e.g. rooms for classes, fellowship, prayer meeting during the week...) So we started our house shopping again the past week to help find a good rental facility for the church.
Once we settled down in the new location, we plan to take charge in the development of some outreach program in the new church building for Monday to Saturday.
Our church, International Baptist Church in Phnom Penh (IBC), is looking for a more permanent location in Phnom Penh! As the church is growing in both Khmer (Cambodian) and English’s congregation, a location with more facilities (e.g. rooms for classes, fellowship, prayer meeting during the week...) So we started our house shopping again the past week to help find a good rental facility for the church.
Once we settled down in the new location, we plan to take charge in the development of some outreach program in the new church building for Monday to Saturday.
*Please pray for us for the location search and find the right place for the church which can serve both Cambodians and foreigners.
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| Waiting for the owner to answer open the gate |
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| We rang the door bells for 3 different houses on the same street until we found the right one! (The house numbers are not in order!) |
3. Medical Clinic last week
Last week, we had our first medical clinic in 2014 at HHEC, the village school in Kampong Speu! Over 100 villagers and children were seen by the nurse and doctor. And for the very first time, the team performed an eye exam to the children and villagers, and giving out sunglasses and reading glasses to the villagers. Sunglasses can protect their eyes from sand and dust from the sandy roads on a motorbike. At the same time, evangelists also took every opportunity to tell the villagers the gospel and 7 villagers were saved on that day!
Medical service is much needed in villages, in the coming months, we will be partnering with our church to plan for more evangelistic medical clinic in other rural areas.
*Please pray for us to help to address the medical needs in other rural areas and to do it effectively and safely. Please pray for the team’s wisdom to overcome the administrative hassle in order for us to help others who has medical needs in Cambodia.
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| Pastor Tom (an American medical doctor) and Pastor Saron is praying with the villager and explaining the gospel to him. |
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| Ms. Unni from Norway is measuring blood pressure for the villager. |
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| Explaining to the children how to use the medication. |
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| Although the weather is very hot, it is a joy to see the villagers and children receiving medical care and hear the Good news! |
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| Thomas is cooking lunch for the team |
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| Villagers are waiting outside and watching "The Jesus Movie" |
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| Villagers and children are waiting to be seen by nurse and doctor |
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| This woman is very happy to be seen finally after a long wait. |
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| This little boy has a stomach problem |
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| We had to hurry up to find a bed for this villager as he needs to lie down before Pastor Tom Johnson (MD) can see him |
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| The first eye exam for children in Kampong Speu performed by Mrs. Johnson! |
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| Pastor Saron, our school principal, is talking to villagers about the gospel and explaining the "The Jesus Movie" |
4. University students
As we continue to serve this particular group of christian university students, we found that they need more guidance and help to sustain their dormitory in Phnom Penh. These students came from the same village hometown and attended the same village church and they come to Phnom Penh to study at different universities. They all come from very humble farming families and most of them are currently working part-time to pay for their tuition fees and living costs. Recently, there is a deficiency in the dormitory’s finance because of some heart-breaking reasons: a few students had to give up their studies and go back to the village because they lost and can't find work hence do not have enough money to pay their tuition fees; a few had to move closer to their schools (still in the city) because they are riding bicycle to school and work.
Our goal for them will be: (i) develop a business model to help them earn a bit of income to support their own dormitory; (ii) to encourage them not to lose faith as the goal of this dormitory was to nurture these young christian while they are in the city studying; (iii) develop a more long term solution to prepare and bring more students from villages to obtain university level education to help break the poverty cycle.
Our goal for them will be: (i) develop a business model to help them earn a bit of income to support their own dormitory; (ii) to encourage them not to lose faith as the goal of this dormitory was to nurture these young christian while they are in the city studying; (iii) develop a more long term solution to prepare and bring more students from villages to obtain university level education to help break the poverty cycle.
*Please pray for opening doors for the university students to have a chance to work and earn income to support their own dormitory. And pray for wisdom on future plan to help break the poverty cycle of these young Christian.
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| Aside from our Saturday meeting, we are now meeting with two of the students from this Christian dormitory in our house once a week to study English in Biology and Health. The boy in photo is now admitted to a local medical school and the girl just started in the school of nursing. |
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| Our worship music and piano session each Saturday afternoon. Amy teaching worship song "Amazing Grace" to sing and to play on the piano |
*Please continue to pray for us and our family to continue move forward in 2014 to work for God's kingdom and His work in Cambodia.
Our Immediate Needs and How to Get Involved?
Currently, for 2014, we have only reached less than 40% of our monthly needs from all one-time and monthly pledges and support. Please pray for our financial needs and become one of our mission partners. We are a self-supported missionary family and not earning a salary from any organization. Both of our church in Chicago and Hong Kong are very supportive in our mission and you can support us by sending financial support to them (tax deductible in HK or USA). Please consider becoming one of our monthly supporters and partner with us in serving Him in Cambodia.
Our Immediate Needs and How to Get Involved?
Currently, for 2014, we have only reached less than 40% of our monthly needs from all one-time and monthly pledges and support. Please pray for our financial needs and become one of our mission partners. We are a self-supported missionary family and not earning a salary from any organization. Both of our church in Chicago and Hong Kong are very supportive in our mission and you can support us by sending financial support to them (tax deductible in HK or USA). Please consider becoming one of our monthly supporters and partner with us in serving Him in Cambodia.
HOW TO SUPPORT US
In the USA, please send cheques:
Payable to: "Chinese Baptist Church of Northwest Suburbs"
Memo Line: "Thomas & Amy CAMBODIA"
Mail to: 4242 Kirchoff Road, Rolling Meadows, IL 60008
In Hong Kong, please send cheques:
Payable to "Clearwater Bay International Baptist Church"
Memo Line: "Thomas & Amy CAMBODIA"
Mail to: P.O. Box 65414, Tseung Kwan O Post Office, Hong Kong
In the USA, please send cheques:
Payable to: "Chinese Baptist Church of Northwest Suburbs"
Memo Line: "Thomas & Amy CAMBODIA"
Mail to: 4242 Kirchoff Road, Rolling Meadows, IL 60008
In Hong Kong, please send cheques:
Payable to "Clearwater Bay International Baptist Church"
Memo Line: "Thomas & Amy CAMBODIA"
Mail to: P.O. Box 65414, Tseung Kwan O Post Office, Hong Kong
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