FCOP Update -- December 2005

Dear Friends and Family,

There was a lot to be thankful for this year; being alive for one. Our eldest son, Tony, and his wife Sandi, finally got to visit us for the first time. Wanting to show him around, Rattanakirri was on the “must do” list, the problem is that more people wanted to go than could fit in the plane. In Cambodia, “No problem, cram in one more!” So, what is the elastic limit of the 40 year old, 52 seat, Chinese built prop plane? Well, it is less than 62 people and freight piled to the ceiling in the fore and aft compartments, as on landing on the dirt strip the right wheel strut collapsed, causing the plane to veer off the runway, breaking off the nose wheel, bending the wing, and setting the grass on fire. Typically, the courageous pilots bailed out the nose window, peeled off their uniforms, and disappeared into the brush. It turns out the plane was rented from the now defunct Royal Cambodian Airlines and probably neither it, nor the crew, had seen any maintenance in months. Ma Sou was the last one out, after allowing several panicked Cambodians to pass her over the seat tops. She remembers praying loudly, “Jesus, Jesus,  Help!” as the plane slammed into the runway and physically saw a large hand clear the way for the plane. Everyone lived with only a few sprained limbs. Pastor Mot, waiting for the plane to arrive, heard the explosive sound of the impact, and assumed everyone dead. Running, he was one of the first to the smoldering plane, and greatly relieved that everyone got out.   http://www.missionreports.com/plane_crash

The rest of Tony and Sandi’s visit was more benign with only the usual “Ho Chi Minh’s” revenge to deal with. It was Tony’s first trip back to Asia since he left Laos as a three year old during the height of the Vietnam War. Ted took them back to Laos to see Tony’s roots, including the spot where he survived a rocket attack in March 1970. Hannah turned 18 while they were here, and Wendy Hicks arranged a surprise birthday party for her on November 25th. The camera caught the surprise, and it was complete.  The same camera also caught a typical day at the office, so we’ll throw in a line or two just to let you see us in action. Some people think Spud is a fictitious character, but he is ‘Chief of Security” for F.C.O.P. He oversees a staff of two, Sergeant Bucco and Private Buddy (Anna Blake’s new best friend). Actually, Spud is a very religious dog, or a playboy, we can’t decide which, because he always comes to morning staff devotions, but then he sits between two pretty girls, and naps through my teaching. Must be a playboy? Bad dog! http://www.missionreports.com/dec_2005

Ryan Taggart, our Medical Director, along with Dr. Chhaya, took one of our pastors with a large tumorous mass on his head, via the generosity of a member of a member of the Northwest Medical Team, to Vietnam for special surgery with miraculous results. Make sure to click on the link to read the entire story. http://www.missionreports.com/vietnam_2005  We have also been busy with the usual training of pastors, musicians, and evangelism programs. The results are difficult for us to quantify but the numbers are huge. We are thankful for the help of the Foursquare Foundation in facilitating this growth.

Something everyone should be thankful for is the growth of the Cambodian Church. The official count is at 1423 with several hundred more small groups which we hope will become  churches (more than 20 adults in attendance) We thought you’d like to see the scope of the, soon to be, 82 Church homes that have been built since 1999. Each one of these is home for up to 50 or more orphans and has served as a divisional headquarters for the churches scattered in all the provinces of Cambodia.  We are specifically grateful to International Cooperating Ministries for their participation with the major portion of the construction expense for most of the homes, also World Orphans, for their help in building 55 homes. Warm Blankets, Children of Promise and Kids for the Kingdom take on the even harder task of daily care for the 3500 orphans and widows loved in these facilities with other wonderful partners supplying food, medical care and training. The work here in Cambodia has impacted nearly 300,000 people with the Gospel. http://foursquareorphans.org/home_pics.htm

Its harvest time in CAMBODIA!  Not only a harvest of souls, but also a harvest of rice!  Foursquare Children of Promise owns 31 hectors (equivalent to about 70 acres) of land up north in the Banteay Meanchey province, not far from our rice mill. Four months ago the land was plowed with an ox drawn plow and the rice planted.  Last month, fifty F.C.O.P. personnel (pastors, wives, and older orphan boys) went up to Balang and hand harvested the rice.  It took them two weeks to glean the 31 hectors.  Setting up tents to form a small camp, they worked from early sunrise to dusk, taking a break at noon in the heat of the day. Every evening they held a time of devotions.  After the last stalk of rice had been cut they offered up thanks to God and asked for His continual blessing upon their crops.  The harvest will be used to feed the orphans. Now, if only we could buy another 400 tons we’d be set for another year. Hint!  http://www.missionreports.com/rice_harvest 

Orphans! I often get inquiries about adoption of orphans. One problem is it is illegal for US citizens to adopt Cambodian orphans. It boils down to this. In a nation where the average per Capita income hovers around the $250 per year mark anything that remotely smells like money gets corrupted. In Cambodia, foreign adoption has turned into a real "Money Cow'. First of all you have the desperately poor people, especially prostitutes, giving birth to children that they may love, but have no means of supporting. Then you have the wealthy Americans who will pay almost anything to secure a "cute little Cambodian baby". Add to this government officials willing to exploit any situation to extract funds from anyone who can't hurt them, and you have the formula for disaster.  However, the truth is that even if it was legal for US citizens to adopt Cambodian orphans we would not participate. Why?  Well, the main reason that Foursquare Children of Promise does not provide children for adoption is that God called us to change a nation, not export its most precious commodity. Don’t miss-understand, there are many children in Cambodia who would benefit from adoption, we are for that, but our kids are raised to see their future in a new, Christian, nation of which they are the leadership core.  If we allow the adoption of a few of these kids every child’s focus will turn from, “How can I change my nation?” to, “How can I get some American couple to adopt me?”  That would destroy our purpose for being here and would probably cost us the blessing of favor that God has poured upon us.  I hope you understand.

Have you considered adopting a child? How about your church?  For $1500 per month you can adopt a whole home full of kids. Just think of it, you will have up to 50 kids, complete with a home, staff and church to care for them. You will be the provider for their feeding, care, clothing, education, and medical treatment. You will have web-site that links you to the home, with hundreds of pictures and information on what is happening in your home. You can visit anytime. We don’t even ask for advance notice. Come take your kids to the beach or just ‘hang out’. They will be praying for you daily, and want your prayers as well. For the price of raising one child in America you can raise up an entire home of children who will not only bless you and bless God,  but change their nation to boot. What more could you do to add meaning to your life? Not much!

Remember to find out all about us tap on to: http://www.missionreports.com/cambodia

Hey, from all of us to all of you, may God bless you and have a Merry Christmas!

Ted, Sou and Hannah Olbrich

Anna Blake, Ryan Taggart, & Wendy Hicks