March 28, 2018

March 28, 2018

Dear friends,

It was a blessing to have the opportunity to preach the morning service at one of our extension ministries this past weekend. The majority of the folks who are a part of this outreach have been saved out of Islam and are shining as bright lights in their very dark village. PLEASE BE IN PRAYER FOR THE FOLKS WHO ARE A PART OF THIS WORK AS THEY CONTINUE TO STAND FOR THE LORD DESPITE PERSECUTION. The enemy would love to frustrate what God is trying to do in this village and the surrounding villages by causing the leaders to be discouraged and weary in well-doing.

Here is a short video that I shot after the morning service.

Kahna lives near the open sewer a few blocks from our church in Phnom Penh. Brother Vannak and his workers have been reaching out to her with the gospel for several months now. Until recently she has been restricted in her ability to spend time with the soul-winners or attend church due to the hostility that her husband has toward Christianity. A couple of weeks ago he left to go work in Thailand and that has freed her up to attend church services. Though she is not saved and does not have much of a spiritual understanding of what is preached and taught at the church, we do believe that God is working in her heart to show her that she is a sinner in need of a personal Saviour. This past week some of the workers gave her an MP3 player loaded with teaching and preaching on the gospel and she has begun to listen to them in  her home. PLEASE PRAY THAT SHE WILL RESPOND TO THE GOSPEL AS THE HOLY SPIRIT CONVICTS HER OF HER LOST CONDITION AND HER NEED TO BE SAVED.

Sopheap (on the left) was saved around seven years ago, just a few months after I led her husband, Sinath, to the Lord. SeiYak is Sopheap’s mother. This past Sunday evening she attended our married couples class. I remember the cursing and anger that flowed from her mouth when Sinath and Sopheap turned to God from idols and were saved. She hated the gospel and accused them both of betraying their country and their ancestors. Her relationship with Sinath and his family has been very strained since that time. That is why it was such a surprise for me to see her in church with a smile on her face this weekend. I was able to sit and talk with her for awhile after class and share with her that we all love her and that God desires for her to be saved. She asked me when I was going to visit her in her village. I told her that if she invites me – I will go! She lives in Kompong Cham province very far from the city but we are looking forward to going to see her very soon, Lord willing. PLEASE PRAY THAT SEIYAK WILL BE OPEN TO THE GOSPEL AND THAT SHE WILL BE SAVED VERY SOON. Her other adult children who live with her in the province want nothing to do with the gospel and will likely do their best to keep her from spending time with us. PRAY THAT GOD WILL ORCHESTRATE THE CIRCUMSTANCES IN SUCH A WAY THAT WE WILL HAVE FULL ACCESS TO MEET WITH HER WITHOUT INTERFERENCE FROM THE REST OF THE FAMILY.

Two weeks ago we had the opportunity to meet Tach and his wife. We are in the process now of trying to forge a relationship with them and have had the chance to meet with them twice. At the end of this week we are planning to visit them in their home for the first time. PLEASE PRAY THAT WE WILL HAVE WISDOM TO KNOW BEST HOW TO CONNECT WITH THIS YOUNG COUPLE THAT THEY MIGHT BE SAVED.

We recently had the opportunity to meet with our entire team for a time of refreshment and training in Bangkok, Thailand. It is such a blessing to have the opportunity to serve alongside of these faithful men and women. I invited Pastor and Mrs. Tomlinson to come and speak for us and the messages were a challenge to each of us. Though this group looks large, there is still a need for many more laborers here in this part of the world!

As many of you already know, Debbie was hospitalized for a week with Typhoid Fever and a fever that reached 104.7. We are so grateful for the many many folks who contacted us to let us know that they were praying for her complete healing. Two days ago we had her one-week follow-up blood test and the results came back negative for Typhoid. There is still a slight issue with her liver that is likely a side-effect from the fever or perhaps the many medications that she was administered. The doctor said that within two months her liver should return to normal. We thank God for her healing and we thank you for your prayers!

Because of God’s grace,

Dave & Debbie