Dear
Friends and Family,
Some
things just don’t make much sense or, maybe, “Any port in
a storm”, may explain how Sou and I got involved in
leading a marriage seminar for about 25 newly married
pastoral couples. I began by explaining that; “Sou and I
have been through about every marriage difficulty known to
man, that far from the idyllic couple that never had a
harsh word in 35 years of marriage, we’re lucky if we can
go three days without a spat. We call it the “Clash of
giftings”. Now, the miracle is; that after 35 years, we
are still together. So, let me ask you a question, “If you
are going on a cruise across the ocean would you rather
travel with a captain who has always had journeys with
smooth sailing or a captain who’s been attacked by
pirates, dodged icebergs and weathered hurricanes?” They
all chose the later, so, I added, “Maybe you do have the
right couple to lead you?” The idea for the seminar came
about as several couples were on the verge of splitting
up. Peter was desperate. I was reluctant, but he
prevailed. It came off to rave reviews, now every pastor
in Cambodia is clamoring for “Ma and Pa’s marriage
course”, go figure! Me? I’m trying to figure out how to
get out of it. But, I may have to acquiesce as I just
caught the most endangered couple smooching in the back
office. Hey, you can’t argue with success! I joked one
time with a US pastor that; “Sou and I have the perfect
marriage. When we married we saved two other people from
living miserable lives.” I was JUST KIDDING! HONEST!! “Sou
put down that ball bat! I repent!” Whack! “Ouch!” Anyway,
here it is: “The Ma and Pa Marriage Show”
http://www.missionreports.com/marriage_seminar2006
We have
really hit our stride with the garment factory workers.
Every week about a dozen have been coming to the Lord,
just at the Cham Chao Church. We have been trying to
figure out how to work in multiple services and will
probably opt for an afternoon service with the focus on
the factory workers. We are applying for a grant that will
complement funds already committed to build a dormitory to
allow us to train 300 evangelists that currently work in
factories. We feel the impact will nothing short of
revolutionary.
http://www.missionreports.com/chomchaochurchservice
What do
orphan care, pigs, fish, car repair, rice milling, tractor
production, furniture manufacturing, vegetable raising,
weaving and traditional dance have to do with missions?
Some people complain that we look like a development
organization not a mission movement. One “Missions expert”
came, looked, went back and reported to a large church
that we were not a church planting movement we were an
orphan care organization. We lost their support. But, ok,
call us what you will,
we’ve
still planted more churches than any other
organization in the history of
Cambodia. It’s like some really
believe that ridiculous mantra, “Thou shall not build
dependency!” is the ultimate commandment for inaction, or
the brainless appeal, “Don’t do anything to help people
materially because they will come to Christ
for the wrong reasons!” Umm Hmm,
is that why Jesus multiplied loves and
fishes? There is an old saying, “Feed a man a fish and you
feed him one meal, teach him how to fish and you feed him
for a lifetime”. Well, they missed it, because what
happens when the rivers are fished out?? Better to teach a
man how to raise fish then he can feed a entire village,
make some money, and build the economy. So, that’s why we
do all of the above things and more, to help the people,
which helps develop the country and demonstrates the love
of Christ in practical ways. And, most importantly,
whether experts agree or not, it builds the church.
http://www.missionreports.com/july2006_events
Food
shipments arrived from Gleanings for the Hungry, but
distribution is tricky this time of year. Most dirt roads
in Cambodia, and that’s most of the roads, are impassible
without a 4X4 and a cable winch. I put on new ball joints,
all new suspension bushings, 6 new shock absorbers, 4 new
springs, and repaired the 4X4 drive after my last outing
of a few days ago. We keep patching up our aging fleet.
Our newest vehicle is ten years old. Mine has 240,000 hard
kilometers on it. But we buy wrecks and rebuild them. The
best buys are cars that people died in because the
Cambodian’s are afraid of the ghosts. Mine was purchased
after being rolled over multiple times killing three
passengers. That was four years ago, and I’m still driving
it. Hint: We really need some newer vehicles.
This month, our friends in Hong
Kong came through with a great recurring stipend for the
support of a medical clinic that we hope to build soon.
And, Norma Johnson, from World Teams, plans to come to
train medical personnel that may involve clinic operation.
We
received approval for eleven more church homes from our
partners at ICM. That will put us right at 100
church/orphan homes for Cambodia. Talk about dependency?
We’ve
gotta be nuts! We dedicated one
church/home this
month, have three more in operation, but the dedications
are postponed until the rains slow down.
http://www.missionreports.com/building_progress_july2006
Warm
Blankets Orphan Care International, headed by Craig
Muller, has been our primary funding partner for years.
They provide at least $60,000 per month to feed, clothe,
and care for the orphans and widows of Cambodia. They
almost never get any glory for their sacrificial giving,
and now are sending one of their key people, Jamie
Gonzoles, to help us out in Cambodia. I had the privilege
of leading Jamie to Christ some time ago. Jamie read about
Jesus’ request to the ‘Rich Young Ruler’ and decided
to ‘Go and
sell everything’. She is a US army veteran
and will be very valuable to us. Jamie is still trying to
raise support. Warm Blankets maintains all the websites
for the homes and is wholly dedicated to the Christ
centered care of orphans. Please don’t forget them in your
prayers and
your giving.
http://www.warmblankets.org We are anticipating
another helper from Church on the Way in the person of
Emily Plater. Please pray for these young women.
There
was a lot of practical love demonstrated this month. We
had three
work teams and they were all fantastic! We had Lutheran’s,
Independents and Foursquare and loved them all. I only saw
a few of them, but Anna spent all her time
in the countryside leading the teams in building
cafeterias, security fences, walkways and roads. We
honestly could not survive without the teams. Thanks! You
will never know the good you’ve done this side of heaven,
but it is significant. We hope you will all sponsor
another church/home. That is still our greatest need.
http://www.missionreports.com/imm_mts2006
http://www.missionreports.com/hope_chapel06
http://www.missionreports.com/lighthouse_jul06
Pastors
are hungry for training, and thanks to a Foursquare
Foundation grant, about 135 trainers come to Phnom Penh
every month to be trained to go and
each
train about 20-25 more. The effect is
phenomenal. We are also training musicians. We put out a
notice for those that wanted training to apply. We were
flooded. So many applied we had to turn many away and
still wound up with more than 80 students when we planned
for 50. Very few things bring vitality to a new church
than an anointed worship leader with a keyboard. We
realize that the musical expertise is the minor element in
excellent worship so most of the training is spiritual.
Of the 80 that came only 30 had
Bibles so we passed out 50 new Bibles and you’d have
thought it was Christmas.
http://www.missionreports.com/pastoral_training2006/july
On a
personal note we took Hannah back to the US in July so she
can begin her studies at BIOLA University in California.
She is anxious to get started, and Sou and I are trying to
figure out, after almost 36 years with kids in the house,
how to be
‘empty nesters’, but somehow, 3500 kids
calling us “Pa Thom” and “Ma Thom”(‘Big
Daddy and Big Mamma’, Sou’s not sure she
likes that title) every time we venture out,
seems to fill the void.
We are
working on another great month. Hope you are as well!
Blessings!
Ted &
Sou Olbrich,
Anna
Blake,
Cambodia
