VBS September 2010

Dear Friends,

Here are some more photos from the VBS in Cambodia this past week. If you did not receive the newsletter telling about the VBS, send me an email at: bkkbeck5@gmail.com and I'll get it to you.

Our team

Daily Bible lesson

Singing Bible songs together

T-shirts with the memory verse theme Romans 8:38-39

"Nothing can separate us from the love of God"

A guest appearance from Kristin's camel

Decorating "Joseph" with his colorful coat

Painting for the timeline of Joseph's life

Girls' skill-hand sewing a blouse

Boys' skill making a stool to take home, and making three school desks for the ministry center.

End of the week program for the parents.

Singing for the parents, reciting memory verses from the week, and acting out Bible stories.

The boys' stools to take home

The girls' blouses

Having fun

Thanks for all your prayers last week for the VBS. We saw God working in wonderful ways, and felt it was a privilege to get to be a part of it.

In Him,

Gayle

Funeral for Nav Pen

Here are some photos from Nav Pen's funeral (Sophan's mom).

Inside the ministry center before the funeral service.

Processional to the gravesite

Pallbearers

walking to the gravesite behind the ministry center






Placing Nav Pen in the grave

Burial site in the cornfield at the edge of the property

IDOLS

The past month in Cambodia I've been reminded of the verses in Isaiah that refer to idols made by man. I will be sharing a wonderful story soon of God showing Himself to a man that was searching for the One true God.....and it reminded me of Isaiah 44:14-20

He cut down cedars,
or perhaps took a cypress or oak.
He let it grow among the trees of the forest,
or planted a pine, and the rain made it grow.
It is man's fuel for burning;
some of it he takes and warms himself,
he kindles a fire and bakes bread.
But he also fashions a god and worships it;
he makes an idol and bows down to it.
Half of the wood he burns in the fire;
over it he prepares his meal,
he roasts his meat and eats his fill.
He also warms himself and says,
"Ah! I am warm; I see the fire."
From the rest he makes a god, his idol;
he bows down to it and worships.
He prays to it and says,
"Save me; you are my god."
They know nothing, they understand nothing;
their eyes are plastered over so they cannot see,
and their minds closed so they cannot understand.
No one stops to think,
no one has the knowledge or understanding to say,
"Half of it I used for fuel;
I even baked bread over its coals,
I roasted meat and I ate.
Shall I make a detestable thing from what is left?
Shall I bow down to a block of wood?"
He feeds on ashes, a deluded heart misleads him;
he cannot save himself, or say,
"Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?"

Please pray for the people of Western Cambodia to turn away from man-made idols to the living Lord Jesus. May they come to know the saving knowledge of Christ.

May 13, 2010

Dear Praying Friends,

I have posted the baptism photos below, but would also like to update you on Sophan's mom. When I left Cambodia the end of March I didn't expect Sophan's mom had much time left on this earth. When I returned in April, she had improved and had a very interesting story to tell. She said for three nights in a row, she dreamed a man in whitish clothing came and sat with her all night long. He never spoke, but he smiled and comforted her. After the third night, she woke up and was very hungry. She has been eating normally - and very well - since then. She is able to get herself in and out of a hammock now - which she much prefers for sleeping. And last week, she tried to walk. Her knees are still quite weak and she wasn't able to bear much weight. We are amazed at her change - and are wondering what God is going to do!!! We continue to pray for her and seek what God wants to do in her life. Praising Him!!!

Baptism April 25th, 2010

We had the joy and privilege of witnessing the second baptism from Sompovloun. Pastor Sophan decided to have the baptism at a large pond near Kilometer 9 Village as it was a location that everyone could relax and enjoy after the baptism. Everyone rode out on motorcycles or a side cart. There were 25 people baptized last Sunday and I have posted photos of some people you have gotten to know over the past three years.

Part of the group waiting for the baptism.


This is Meng's mom. She has come to know the Lord, and has also experienced healing from serious kidney disease.



"Granny"





Sok - one of our sewing ladies


Vung - an HIV patient that shares his faith at the hospital.



Sokheun - another one of the sewing ladies.





Naan - the mother of baby Pheaq (that some of you helped support).





Relaxing after the baptism. Many of the youth and children swam and played in the water, and we enjoyed sodas and fruit together under the shade of this tree. It was a marvelous day. And as we reflected to three years ago when there were no believers in this area, we couldn't help but praise and thank God for the way He has worked and moved in the lives of these people. Thank you for your part in sharing in this event!


Blessings,
Gayle

April 2010

I would like to add an update on Sophan's Mom. She continues to decline in health, and apart from God's intervention, isn't likely to last much longer. Please pray for Pastor Sophan and his family as they care for her. Please also pray that God will reach down and touch her in a special way as she prepares for heaven. The photo below is a little hut that Sophan built for his mom behind the ministry center. This allows her to be closer to everything happening at the center and closer access for her care.





We are also planning the second baptism in Sompovloun at the end of April. Please pray for these new believers as they step forward in faith for baptism. Please pray for safety from the enemy, and that this will be a testimony to the community of our wonderful God.
Next month I hope to have photos of the baptism for you.

Blessings,
Gayle

March 2010

We are well on our way to getting the Scriptures into the hands of more Khmer. I have received 12 Proclaimers from the US recently, and will start taking them into Cambodia. I have also (with Glenn's handy IT assistance) recorded some of the MP3's and have five ready to go to the new groups that are meeting in Cambodia. Praise God for this progress!!

Some of you may remember Chan - often referred to as "the skin lady". We worked with Chan for the past several years - really even before Pastor Sophan came to Sompovloun. When we first met Chan, she had such terrible skin disease that she had not been able to work for years and was too poor to go to the doctor.

Praying with Chan


We worked with her over the years in getting her medical care, providing moringa for her, and helped with her skin care. And she was also one of the first people that received a micro-loan and started raising pigs. She was very successful with that and for the first time was able to survive above bare subsistance. Her husband, an alcoholic that didn't work, died last year. Last September, our VBS team put in a garden for her as she had broken her wrist and couldn't get her garden planted.


Planting Chan's garden

When I was in Cambodia 3 weeks ago, Chan was very sick. We got her medical attention again. However, within a week, she died in the hospital in Battambang. Please pray for her youngest daughter, 15 year old Srey Laa, as well as the rest of the family. I'm not sure where Srey Laa will end up living as many of her siblings live and work in Thailand, but I pray that she will live in a place that she will have opportunity to grow in her faith.

We've seen God work miraculously in the lives of others who are sick. One lady with severe kidney disease, has come to Christ, and her kidney disease has almost disappeared! We praise God for that.

These people face countless issues in life with little help or relief. Please pray that they will learn to lean on the One who can comfort, heal, and save.....that God's Spirit would work and move among them and be their strength.

Thanks so much,
Gayle