Short-term Work Team

January 25th, 2008, four men from Highlands Community Church in Renton, Washington, joined us at the Cambodian border to spend ten days working at the ministry center in Sompovloun. Here are some photos from the work they did. I praise God for all that He did that week - for providing, encouraging, and keeping us through lots of challenges.



Planning the swingset over lunch - using chopsticks to illustrate:












Construction of the swingset has begun:





Making the slide:





The finished product:







Enjoying the play equipment:










Breaking up the cement floor of the Sunday School room:






Pouring cement to even the floor and make it larger:









Building the goat house:





Making the bamboo flooring:




The finished goat house and making bamboo fence:













We continue to pray that God will use the facility to further His Kingdom - to bring many to know the Saviour, and to improve the physical lives of this community as well.


Thanks for all your prayers,
Gayle

Christmas Outreach Sompovloun Cambodia Dec. 2007

December 16th, 2007 we had our first Christmas celebration at our ministry center in Sompovloun, Cambodia. There were 250 people that attended - 170 children and 80 adults! We were thrilled with the tremendous response and pray that seeds of the Gospel were planted and that God will cause those seeds to grow. Here are some photos from the day:

Church ladies preparing food for 250 people

gathering at the center:

Singing Christmas songs:

Sharing a meal after the service:

Gayle and David playing Christmas music as the adults ate:

Some of the youth that attended:

Please pray that those who attended will commit their lives to follow the Lord Jesus.

Merry Christmas,

Gayle

Starting a small business in Sompovloun, Cambodia Oct. 17-23, 2007

I would like to share some photos of our trip to Cambodia to begin the baby quilt business.






Priscilla and Sandy brought lots of donated material and equipment with them.










Traveling on the muddy roads of Cambodia to get to Sompovloun:





















Setting up the training:



















Starting one of the quilts:



















Starting to sew the quilts:












Nearing the finish of the first quilts:

















The finished products:










Please pray that this small business will bring jobs to Sompovloun and improve the economic status of the people in this area of Cambodia. Please also pray for the spiritual impact we hope will result through this business as well.

In His Joy,
Gayle

Ministry Center

The middle of September, I traveled to Sompovloun, Cambodia, once again. We had just rented a new ministry center and it was the first opportunity I had to see it. It is an old fixer-upper, but the structure is solid and strong and there is a good piece of land as well. When I first saw the center there was already lots going on. The weekly Bible studies are now located there ( we cannot legally call ourselves a church yet), there are Khmer literacy classes for the kids in another building on the property, the sewing ladies have a place to sew and produce their quilts, and Pastor Sophan lives in the center as well. Sophan hopes to raise goats, chickens, and fish on the land, and have a garden and grow fruit trees as a model for the villagers. We hope this center will be a safe refuge for both children and adults, and that it will be a place many people can come to know the Saviour. Here are some photos of the center:

The outside building for Khmer literacy:

The yard:

On this same trip, I purchased three sewing machines in Poipet, Cambodia, and transported them into Sompovloun for our three sewing ladies to begin a quilt business. I spent several days with them helping them get used to their new machines, and also helping them with some basics on quilting. In October, Lord willing, a friend will come and teach them further on quilt making, and we will begin our baby quilt business at that time. Here are some photos of the sewing:

purchasing sewing machines in Poipet:

admiring the new material:

sewing and cutting:

a quilt in the process:

Please pray for our ministry center, that it would be a safe refuge for many. Please pray, too, that the Gospel will go out from this place and that many will come to know the One True God.

Thanks so much,

Gayle

August 2007 VBS

A team of six arrived from Highlands Community Church in WA to hold a VBS on the Thai/Cambodia border with our school children. We had a daily Bible time of singing, memory verse, and Bible lesson, and then spent time each day teaching the children life skills. The girls learned hand sewing and the boys learned carpentry. At the end of the week, the girls had made pin holders, a sewing bag, and a quilted pot holder. The girls were given the sewing essentials for their sewing bag, and they were thrilled. The boys made their own tool boxes and small book shelves, and they too, were given the essentials for their tool boxes - hammer, saw, screwdrivers, tape measure, and a square. It was a wonderful week - and I'd like to share some photos of the week with you!

Bible Time

Carpentry for the boys:

Sewing for the girls:

Afternoon projects:

House Repairs for a single mom.

Wound care

Painting the school

Hope you enjoyed seeing these photos. We praise God for all the He did to make this VBS a wonderful time for the kids. We pray that they gained spiritually as well as gained life skills.

Blessings,

Gayle