So we have been spending time fasting and praying seeking the Lord as to "Whats Next". You can pray with us regarding this, we have a few ideas of what we would like to do, but definatly want to only do God's plan!
We are still committed to discipling our New Christian families. A couple weeks ago we went up, to spend time teaching them, which was an adventure. :) we had Bible study and it got late, so they insisted we spend the night, so they wouldnt have to worry about us driving late.,( plus it is a bit of a moto drive into where they live, had to leave the pickup out at the main road
We will spend one more weekend with them before we return to US. We are trying to find a "home church or someone we can Plug them into in their area, hopefully before we leave.
We have also been using some of this time to concentrate on learning the language. Its so necessary to really be a part of the community here. So your not treated as an outsider, we feel upon our return, before we let ourselves get to "busy" we need to focus on language, concentrated time possibly for about 3 months spending time with a tutor, to help us "get it faster.".... especially with the reading and writing portion..
Another matter for prayer is, a different place to live that has a "shop/out building.. for welding, training guys. and helping other missionaries with some of their projects.
we have been keeping an eye out for something like this, thats affordable. For example we found one place the that may work, BUT it comes with dogs? I guess they are the absentee owners dogs.... we are praying if this is the place or not that God wants us to rent, will see what happens by the time we return.
We have been kept busy helping other missionaries here with their ministries.
One is a Swiss couple David and Sara, they have been here full time for 3 years . They did what we did, came part time for several years helping with a kids ministry, before they could commit full time, Currently they have a kids ministry in their home, teaching english several times a day, and David goes out to villages, with goal of putting in water wells and toilets, to help get the people fresh drinking water and sanitation. Using this as a platform to get the chance to spread the gospel. He has been renting a well rig, but now is currently looking to get his own rig, so he has been "picking Stans brain", about well rigs. they have looked at a few here to see what options are available.
Our church also keeps us busy, helping out with projects such as Stan just built a locking cover for the sound board equipment and also moving chairs, furniture etc. since we have the only pickup in the church....
ON the last Friday of the month we have our monthly Ladies Fellowship time, I shared for January's fellowship and am planning February to be on Monday the 20th, since we will be flying out Tuesday the 21st.
Using the VALENTINE them of "Love" Gods love what that looks like.
A lady in our church "Sandy" is a nurse Practitioner and goes to the Prison to hold medical clinics, also she has a local Christian dentist that volunteers his services to go do dental clinics and she assists him, she was seeing many health issues due to not getting enough nutrition in their diet, so she helped organize and get funding to get an organic garden started, she hired a man that has an education in Agriculture to hold classes for the prisoners to teach them organic gardening methods etc. and they now have several gardens where they grow several different types of "cabbage, and "greens", also white radishes. It has proved to be successful, in helping improve their health and they seem to enjoy getting outside to work in the garden. FYI Prison here is not like the US! She also funded getting a "ceiling in their cells, to help the heat factor, its just tin rooms and the heat inside is "dreadful" she said. She has such a compassionate heart for these people who are stuck in there. Obviously some deserve it, but some just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. and there isn't any real "justice system". If you have money or a family that cares you may get a court hearing and or get out, if you don't your " stuck" in there until they decide,
The most disturbing is there is many small children, the ladies who are in prison can have there children up to age 5, then they have to send them to a relative or organization. they just hang out in the cells with their moms. Can't imagine, growing up in a prison.. these little ones have nothing, there just innocent victims. Most of the women are in due to drugs? I really don't know.
Because she does so much to help the prisoners their she is able to hold Bible classes, she said there is approx. 60 people attending now!
She invited us to visit the prison last month with her, she told the Director we were interested in the garden project so we could come in, They don't allow anyone to come in less they agree you have a reason to be there. He allowed us to visit and talked to us about possibly helping with a project there. This maybe something we would do in the future, it would get us in to teach the guys there and possibly open doors for ministry. Stan has been helping Hooley, with some projects he is working on for the "garden" project. building a relationship with him, for possible future ministry opportunities.
On January 13th we took Saruon back to Thailand to re-evaluate his health problems, since nothing really changed after the last time we took him, the prescribed creams didn't help his rash ... so this time he saw 3 different doctors starting with the originally skin specialists who changed his medication/cream for his rash-psoriasis, ( works good this time!) they also did a lot of bloodwork, urine test etc. and X-rays, we got the results back, and there was some disturbing diagnoses , suggestions he followup with a GI doctor, also felt like the rash is from possible arsenic/copper poisoning. We found a Doctor here in Siem Reap originally from the UK, who has looked at all his test results and will see him this week to followup.
We met a Japanese lady out spreading the gospel thru handing out pamphlets and dvd's about the gospel. she invited us to dinner, to meet their team. and learn what all they are doing,
Last night we had a very nice time, eating and worshipping together, singing many old hymns from home:) some sang in khmer, japanese and english!!
When our "Job" stopped end of December we wondered what we would do, should we change our tickets to come home early? But we have been kept so busy!!! everyday is full with meeting people or helping someone!!! we have to be careful not to double-book! It happened! Time has flown by!
We will spend one more weekend with them before we return to US. We are trying to find a "home church or someone we can Plug them into in their area, hopefully before we leave.
Another matter for prayer is, a different place to live that has a "shop/out building.. for welding, training guys. and helping other missionaries with some of their projects.
we have been keeping an eye out for something like this, thats affordable. For example we found one place the that may work, BUT it comes with dogs? I guess they are the absentee owners dogs.... we are praying if this is the place or not that God wants us to rent, will see what happens by the time we return.
One is a Swiss couple David and Sara, they have been here full time for 3 years . They did what we did, came part time for several years helping with a kids ministry, before they could commit full time, Currently they have a kids ministry in their home, teaching english several times a day, and David goes out to villages, with goal of putting in water wells and toilets, to help get the people fresh drinking water and sanitation. Using this as a platform to get the chance to spread the gospel. He has been renting a well rig, but now is currently looking to get his own rig, so he has been "picking Stans brain", about well rigs. they have looked at a few here to see what options are available.
Our church also keeps us busy, helping out with projects such as Stan just built a locking cover for the sound board equipment and also moving chairs, furniture etc. since we have the only pickup in the church....
Our Pastor Ivor and his wife Carol are leaving us after serving here for seven years. We had a special church service honoring them.
ON the last Friday of the month we have our monthly Ladies Fellowship time, I shared for January's fellowship and am planning February to be on Monday the 20th, since we will be flying out Tuesday the 21st.
Using the VALENTINE them of "Love" Gods love what that looks like.
A lady in our church "Sandy" is a nurse Practitioner and goes to the Prison to hold medical clinics, also she has a local Christian dentist that volunteers his services to go do dental clinics and she assists him, she was seeing many health issues due to not getting enough nutrition in their diet, so she helped organize and get funding to get an organic garden started, she hired a man that has an education in Agriculture to hold classes for the prisoners to teach them organic gardening methods etc. and they now have several gardens where they grow several different types of "cabbage, and "greens", also white radishes. It has proved to be successful, in helping improve their health and they seem to enjoy getting outside to work in the garden. FYI Prison here is not like the US! She also funded getting a "ceiling in their cells, to help the heat factor, its just tin rooms and the heat inside is "dreadful" she said. She has such a compassionate heart for these people who are stuck in there. Obviously some deserve it, but some just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. and there isn't any real "justice system". If you have money or a family that cares you may get a court hearing and or get out, if you don't your " stuck" in there until they decide,
The most disturbing is there is many small children, the ladies who are in prison can have there children up to age 5, then they have to send them to a relative or organization. they just hang out in the cells with their moms. Can't imagine, growing up in a prison.. these little ones have nothing, there just innocent victims. Most of the women are in due to drugs? I really don't know.
Because she does so much to help the prisoners their she is able to hold Bible classes, she said there is approx. 60 people attending now!
She invited us to visit the prison last month with her, she told the Director we were interested in the garden project so we could come in, They don't allow anyone to come in less they agree you have a reason to be there. He allowed us to visit and talked to us about possibly helping with a project there. This maybe something we would do in the future, it would get us in to teach the guys there and possibly open doors for ministry. Stan has been helping Hooley, with some projects he is working on for the "garden" project. building a relationship with him, for possible future ministry opportunities.
On January 13th we took Saruon back to Thailand to re-evaluate his health problems, since nothing really changed after the last time we took him, the prescribed creams didn't help his rash ... so this time he saw 3 different doctors starting with the originally skin specialists who changed his medication/cream for his rash-psoriasis, ( works good this time!) they also did a lot of bloodwork, urine test etc. and X-rays, we got the results back, and there was some disturbing diagnoses , suggestions he followup with a GI doctor, also felt like the rash is from possible arsenic/copper poisoning. We found a Doctor here in Siem Reap originally from the UK, who has looked at all his test results and will see him this week to followup.
We met a Japanese lady out spreading the gospel thru handing out pamphlets and dvd's about the gospel. she invited us to dinner, to meet their team. and learn what all they are doing,
Last night we had a very nice time, eating and worshipping together, singing many old hymns from home:) some sang in khmer, japanese and english!!
When our "Job" stopped end of December we wondered what we would do, should we change our tickets to come home early? But we have been kept so busy!!! everyday is full with meeting people or helping someone!!! we have to be careful not to double-book! It happened! Time has flown by!
A few random photos for you:)
Beginning of January we "houses sat for " Odems " traditions at their home when the Khmer kids have a birthday they all get treated with the baby duck egg... So Stan tried it with them...
Stan had checkup on his hand, Dr was pleased with new bone growth, ( still can see where the saw took a "bite" out of his knuckle!
Lunch of grilled chicken, along the way between Battambang & siem reap,,, like her hat😊
Stan had checkup on his hand, Dr was pleased with new bone growth, ( still can see where the saw took a "bite" out of his knuckle!
This week we are visiting family in Battembang, looking around at possible places in case the Lord should lead us this direction, then back to Siem Reap to finish up any unfinished business, visiting farm families and packing. Pray we use our last bit of time wisely!
We are looking forward to seeing you all very soon!! Hopefully your lakes will have gone down by then😊🏊🏼 looks a bit cold still for swimming !
We are looking forward to seeing you all very soon!! Hopefully your lakes will have gone down by then😊🏊🏼 looks a bit cold still for swimming !
Pray for our trip back its a long trip, a few stops and long layovers😟.. Thank you, all our prayer partners, and home team ! We couldn't be here without all of you supporting us in friendship, prayers and finances Thank you so much!!!
