FCOP Update -- October 2009
Dear Friends and
Family,
“The damn dam broke!”
So say Vietnamese officials.
Natural disasters
come and go. Honestly,
we, the human race in general, have become so jaded and overwhelmed with
problems that the only catastrophes which really grab our attention are
the disasters that: 1) Affect us directly, or 2) They are so horrible
they can't help but shake us. Frankly, anything less than 10,000 victims
is barely a blip on the world "Radar Screen". They won’t
make CNN. So, with all the problems in the world, I almost hesitate to
mention our current state of woe. There's been a run on Asian/Pacific
disasters this month. Yesterday, a 7.6 (Richter scale) earthquake and
tsunami hit
in Sumatra . In preceding days, there was severe flooding and mudslides
in Manila . A
tsunami in Samoa, a
village obliterated in
Taipei , floods in Bangladesh , floods in
Vietnam ,
Laos , and then there is
Cambodia .
http://www.missionreports.com/typhoon_ketsana_cambodia A few
dozen deaths, the main bridge to Rattanakiri
Province has been washed away, thousands of hectares of rice ruined,
six of our
church/homes damaged (Thank
God! No casualties). The
tourist capital of Cambodia , Siem
Reap, is shut down, and it appears that the Vietnamese dam either
ruptured, or more likely (in my opinion), they have opened the flood
gates both there and in
China . Regardless, potentially serious flooding is
headed for
Phnom Penh within two days. The Mekong is over its banks in Stung
Treng (northern Cambodia ) and the water
headed south. So far our damage is limited to a roof blown off in
Kraite, water reaching about one meter
deep in 6 homes,
and damage to wells, electrical and sewage systems. For us, that's a big
deal! For the world? “Yawn!”
We have to figure out
how to house, feed and
re-equip several hundred orphans, repair their homes, and
protect our rice harvest with a budget down 35%. But, how do I make an
appeal for help when so many have it worse than we? I won't whine, but I
sure won't turn down some help! Our guess is that it will take between
$25,000 to $30,000 to sustain and repair our stuff, and that's if we
save our rice crop. Please pray!
We thank you very much! Send any help marked " Cambodia " to Warm
Blankets:
click on:
www.warmblankets.org
follow the links.
“I’m somewhere, in the
future, and it looks much better than it looks right now! (Repeat 3 X)
Hey! Come on! Sing with me! It’s the first verse of a rap song written
by my friend, the ‘Barley Soup Bishop’. All I can say is
that
I’d like to be there right now! (Looking good
in the future!) It gets better! The second verse is more
encouraging: “We’re the kick Devil butt generation!” (Repeat 3X). For
all the suffering he’s wrought on this region, I’d like to volunteer to
be the first in line to implant a print of my size 11 on his posterior!
He is a looser, and I can prove it! The “Young Lions”, our fired up
youth leaders, really gave him a boot! Verse three; “I’m
movin’ on, uhh,
uhh,” (3X) And “Move on” they did before he
tried to drown them out and tear up their bridge.
http://www.missionreports.com/youth_revival_rattanakiri Sore
head!
Or, maybe he’s just
ticked about how he blew his grip on Anlong
Veng? http://www.missionreports.com/youth_anlong_veng
Our kids, mostly fired up orphans, are planting their footprints all
over his ‘keister’. They are leaving behind
a focused and enthused generation of youth who are called to train their
piers and children. PTL!
The forth verse tells
us why, “Cause Jesus filled me with His Spirit from the top clear down!”
(Repeat 3X), we are seeing a hunger in the hearts of pastors for more
training! Foursquare Cambodia has realized marvelous results over the
past eleven years, but never anything like what we are experiencing
right now! Kick’n Devil Butt!
http://www.missionreports.com/teaching_around_country_sep09
“I
ain’t afraid of Jezebel! I
ain’t afraid of the Beast!
I
ain’t afraid of 6-6-6!” (vs.5, 3X) Now, that
explains why the Foursquare Women of Cambodia are cutting such a wide
swath. The Devil must have one
hurtin’
“South end!” http://www.missionreports.com/woman_ministry_kchh
In one meeting, in a remote area, they had 200 women come to Christ and
then proceed to baptize them in the Ton’le
Sap River. Not only That! They dealt a major blow to trafficking of
young women by opening the “Women’s Dorm” this month.
This four
story hotel will provide 400 young factory workers a safe
environment and train them to evangelize their factories.
http://www.missionreports.com/woman_dorm_dedication We are
so grateful to the donors who made this project possible. We offer a
very sincere “Thank You!” to Warm Blankets Orphan Care Int. with the
help of the Zimmer Foundation,
Chris Taylor, The
Haas Family, and to The Foursquare Foundation, Warm Blankets
Switzerland and
the Gaberit Corporation. These are true
modern day heroes! More than 400 young women say, “Thank you!” The Devil
says, “Ouch!” and God says, “Way to go!” Our problem now is that the
church building is too small!
“And Devil, you are
history! From the H to the I to the S-T-O, to
the R to the Y!” (vs 6,
3X) Now, History is an English word,
and English is the quickest way out of poverty for young Cambodians.
Poverty is the Devil’s first cousin. Kris Warner is
kick’n Devil butt all over Cambodia by
training the English teachers in our Church/Homes.
http://www.missionreports.com/esl_teacher_training_09 These
kids have him on the run
by learning to teach others out of bondage.
My song ends with a
shout, “Devil, You are history!” (one time).
So, I end with an appeal!
A shout! It is definitely a “Devil Kicker”. Education
destroys ignorance,
and ignorance is the Devil’s second cousin. School Uniforms! Our kids
can’t go to public school without uniforms,
and they cost us about $25 per student per year
(2 shirts or blouses and 2 pants or skirts,
socks, black lace shoes, and a backpack). We could use
2000 sets! If every one who gets this “Update” purchased one set we’d be
there! Again, click on
www.warmblankets.org and follow the link. Thanks we can’t do it
without you!
Would you like a 45
minute professionally produced DVD on the work in Cambodia to share with
your church or group of orphan advocates? Rob
Marcarelli, the award winning director and producer of films like
the “Omega Code” and “Long
Ride Home”, came to Cambodia for six days last Spring and filmed
this compelling account of what God has done. Funding for the
production came from the Foursquare Foundation. All that we ask is that
it be used to help you raise funds to support the Cambodian orphans. If
you’d like a copy to show your church or group contact: Tony Olbrich [tony@warmblankets.org]
Just send him a shipping address, he’ll send you the details.
It’s hot off the press! I saw it for the first time a few weeks ago and
if you’re one of our advocates, and want to find a practical way to
help, this is a great tool.
One last
note.
Please pray for Sou. She has a dysfunctional thyroid and is having a
hard time getting it treated in Cambodia . Thanks! We need her healthy!
Have a great October!
Blessings!
Pa Thom,
Mak
Sou,
and the Cambodian Crew
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