CBBC Graduation 2006

Last July 6, we had our 5th Commencement Exercises at Cambodia Baptist Bible College. Dr. Billy Wood of Grace Baptist Church, Powder Springs, Georgia was guest speaker for the occasion. Four ladies and 13 men walked the platform to receive their diplomas. Two of the men who graduated are members of Grace Baptist Church – Phnom Penh. Bro. Siem Bunthol is now ministering in a pioneering work in Kandal Steung. Bro. Sophea, the salutatorian of the graduating class, is our assistant pastor at Grace Baptist Church – Anlong K’ngan. Most of the other graduates are helping in their respective churches with some of the men preparing to start new churches in the countryside of Cambodia. We are so thankful for your faithful support for CBBC these many years. Your prayers and financial support is being multiplied several times over through the graduates coming out of Cambodia Baptist Bible College.

Courageous Creativity!

Part of the thrill of being a missionary is being able to observe other people’s strange ways of doing things. Some of their unusual ways here are driving their motorcycles on the opposite side of the road. In the market you spend time trying to look for items you need and the salesperson will insist to you that the product they have is just as good or even better than what you are looking for, even when it is obvious that it isn’t and sometimes it does not even come close to being similar with the item you wanted. Often when you ask someone to do something for you, the instant answer would be “I’m sorry, it can not be done.” or “It’s not possible.” What they actually mean is; “We’ve never done it that way before.” or “We’ve never seen it done that way before.” Honestly, at times when the flesh kicks in, these could become excuses for irritation!!!

On the other hand you can observe unusual ways that often strikes you with wonder. Sometimes you find yourself saying; “Wow!” Cambodians are very creative and in the name of survival more courageous than most of us. On the roads, at least, courageous creativity is a way of life in this country! Just look at the pictures!

P.S. - Please don't misunderstand me as saying; this is how we go to the market or transport things ourselves. We haven't acclimatized ourselves that much yet! Who knows? Maybe in time we will!!!

Father's Day

How many children do you have to have to be a father? The more, the merrier, maybe! I think this is the case with us here at Living Waters Children's Home. Including our two biological children who are still with us, we have 16 children from age 4 years old to 20 who greeted me Happy Father's Day last Sunday. Our home is filled with children's noise from early morning till sleeping time. There is plenty of little boys' yelling, girls' giggles, children's fights and a lot of times unending reporting of this guy did this and that guy did that! There is also the unending competition of the little ones for attention from Papa and Mama. Taking care of these many children has definitely added to our daily work load but the added dimension has become another avenue of joy and fulfilment in our lives and ministry.

New Ministry Baptisms

Bro. Siem Bunthol is a member of our church who will be graduating students from Cambodia Baptist Bible College this coming July 6, 2007. About the end of last year, he has been going to a place called Kandal Steung. This is about 26 kilometers (approx. 16 miles) from Phnom Penh. He has been conducting Bible studies with adults and Bible clubs with children on a regular basis. Several women and teen-agers have been attending his Bible studies regularly. Many of them have professed faith in the Lord Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Last Sunday, June 18, eight new believers from this ministry came to ba baptized at our main church in the city. Please pray for Bro. Bunthol as he will be working more at Kandal Steung after his graduation from Bible college. Please pray that he will be able to find a suitable place to stay and at the same time utilize as a place of worship and other ministries. Please pray for his safety and for his daily needs as well.

Missions Conference 2006

Early on in the ministry here in Cambodia, we tried our best in teaching and motivating our Cambodian brethren to be involved in reaching lost souls with the Gospel. The 3-day Missions Conference we had last May 22nd to 24th was just a highlight of the continual teaching we do during the weekly worship services. Our Cambodian brethren who are doing mission work within the city and around the countryside reported about how the Lord is blessing their respective ministries. They also mentioned challenges they are facing and asked for help in prayer for certain needs. Other than the small cash love gift given from the church's missions offerings. Our church people were divided into several groups and each group gave a special gift for one of the mission pastors our church is helping to support.

We were blessed to have Pastor Jesse Lubiano as guest speaker for the conference. Pastor Lubiano is the Senior Pastor of the church where we were first members in Baguio city in the Philippines. The church is now called High Crest Bible Baptist Church. Pastor Lubiano's messages on giving for the sake of World Missions were both challenging and inspiring.

Another special feature of this year's conference was the choir organized and conducted by our eldest son, TJ. This is the first real choir we ever had where the singers actually sang 4 voices. We will be missing TJ's services in this area when he goes back to Bible college very shortly soon. The song rendered by the choir was special because it is an original composition by 2 of our young men in church, Bro. Proh and Bro. Sophea. Already the song has become a 'hit special number' in the churches of our circle of friends here in Cambodia.