Empty Nest

Well, the war is mostly over and the camp we’ve been running for 3 months at Ee Tawn market has finally dissolved and the people went back home; but Lin and I decided to stay to help our leaders Marlin and Sreyown with the ministry here in Srayang. Lin has gotten over most of her morning sickness, only throwing up a few times every couple days.

Several of the neighbors, and even Aunt Ee the owner of the Ee Tawn market have given their lives to Jesus and have received quite the education considering we were teaching at the camp two times a day. Aunt Ee has been filled with so much joy, she does whatever she can to get to our meetings on time to worship and learn more about Jesus. She told the monks that she’s a Christian now and so she’s not giving them money anymore. They couldn’t believe it, so they asked her neighbor grandma Vut who said, “Not only is Aunt Ee a Christian, but so am I.” It’s amazing to see how quickly their lives have changed and that they’re walking in new life.

The church at Ee Tawn market

The former residents of Ee Tawn market have been missing one another, there’s been conflicts, sure, but at the end of the day we’re all one family.

Now my responsibilities include working at our base (farming and developing) as well as teaching in the churches and villages. I’ve also volunteered for some administrative stuff and to also explore creating our own khmer language teaching program for missionaries.

Lin cooking a meal at the base, we don’t live there, but we visit a couple days a week.

AMT

We had some Americans come to do the Overland Missions Advanced Missions Training in Cambodia this year, so after they graduate next week they will go back to the States and start fundraising and launching into their assignments in different countries. Four of them have decided to serve in Cambodia though, which is awesome.

Farewell

Our coworkers, Matt and Kim Belden, just left Cambodia to work for Overland Missions in Florida doing administrative work there, pray for them as they enter this new stage of life and ministry.

Battambang

Praise

• Lin and I just bought Matt & Kim’s truck. Now I can take Lin and others with me to more villages and we can go farther out to teach/preach.
• Lin is doing well at 4.5 months pregnant.
• Lin and I just received our Cambodian marriage certificate!

There’s an array of massive temple ruins in my new town.

Pray

• That the people we minister to would mature.
• For our new team members that they would get funded and on the field here.
• For our base that we would have the resources and wisdom to develop it.

until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, as we mature to the full measure of the stature of Christ. (Ephesians 4:13)

Tommy and Lin