Please pray for paperwork in Koh Kong

Late May through early June 2012 a medical team is planning to come serve the Lord with us in Koh Kong. Mobile medical clinics have been greatly used of the Lord in the past as a means to carry the gospel to large numbers of people in Cambodia. Families bring their loved ones often from remote places to receive medical treatment. They see the compassionate care of the Christian medical team and hear about the loving Savior who invites them to believe on Him. Some make decisions to receive salvation.

Teams are composed of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, other health care workers and helpers who come from the States for about two weeks. Then there are Christians in Koh Kong who preach and witness one-on-one to those who come to the clinics. Besides these there are translators for those who come from the States. Medicines are purchased in the capital, Phnom Penh. Some supplies are brought out from the USA. There are trans-oceanic travel arrangements to be made by the team coming out. We arrange housing, meals and local transportation for taking the whole team around to the clinic sites.     The team must have the permission of local authorities in order to work in Cambodia.

Please pray for the important step we are presently working on – that of obtaining permission from the Koh Kong ministry of health. Since Hubert and I are still on furlough, I cannot talk to the offices directly myself.  I have sent letters to Koh Kong with our requests. L. and Dr. L. in Koh Kong are involved right now to present the letters to the right people and communicate back with me. Let’s watch the Lord work in accomplishing this step.

“Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.” Micah 7:7

Christmas in the East today

The Christmas celebration at Koh Kong Baptist Church was a joyous feast together. The believers prepared rice and curry, fried chicken, and many other special dishes. The fellowship was great. They praised God for His blessings during the past year. Commemorating the first advent of our precious Lord Jesus is such a special time of the year. What a contrast to the darkness of Buddhists and Moslems around them. The Christians rejoice together in knowing the Savior who came to earth, and is King over all kingdoms and nations.  The dinner was held on December 11 because several of the members will be traveling out of town in the next two weeks. Please pray that God would give them safety and use them for His glory wherever they go.

God continues to help Lalin as he leads the church. He is still unable to get ice cream for his ice cream shop because of the recent flooding in Thailand. Also he needs to go to the capital, Phnom Penh, in order to get a new license plate for our motorcycle. Please pray for God to help him in these matters.

Praise God for His people around the world celebrating, and sharing the good news of Christ. Thank you for praying.

 “Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem” Matthew 2:1

Family

This Christmas season as we are in the States, God is giving us many special times with relatives. We appreciate your prayers for a few special requests for some of our family.

-          My mother, Fran Hovingh, in assisted living. She is still able to get out a lot, but tires easily.

-          Hannah and Kevin Sherd, our daughter and son-in-law as they homeschool their six children and as they are trying to sell their house in Carmel, IN, and move to a home in the country.

-          Cherith and Jonathan Teachout, our daughter and son-in-law as they home school their three children and finish up a six month furlough. They plan to return to France Jan. 17.

-          Davar and Shauntelle Broeckert, our son and daughter-in-law in Alberta, Canada. They are planning to fly to Grand Rapids, MI and stay with us for 3 days at Christmas.

May you have a joyous Christmas season and special times with friends and family.

“Great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty…”  Rev. 15:3

 

Pray and Watch

God has been working

- in our recent excellent meetings in churches in Flint, MI, and Indianapolis, IN

- in meetings with individual supporters and people interested in coming to serve in Cambodia

- in renovations to the front of our duplex being completed

- in special times with our home church, with friends and with family around Thanksgiving Day.

Please keep praying for our speaking ministry in the next couple weeks:

-           12/2  Ladies’ Christmas party at Chippewa Hills Baptist Church, Remus, MI

-          12/4   Freeport Baptist Church, Freeport, MI

-          12/8   Ladies’ meeting Wealthy Park Baptist Church, Grand Rapids, MI

-          12/11 Faith Baptist Church, Muskegon, MI

A friend is working on getting a smart phone for us to use for my medical program in Cambodia. There have been snags in getting this through. Please pray and watch what God will do.

We need God’s power to work through us to accomplish His work for His glory.

“Now the God of peace… make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever.  Amen.” Hebrews 13:20,21

Thanksgiving Prayer

Thank you, Lord, for your church in Koh Kong, Cambodia. Someday in heaven our churches here in the USA will get to meet those dear believers that You have purchased with Your blood. Thank you for blessing in the services as your people study the Word of God, pray together and sing praises to you in the lovely Khmer language. Thank you that they are continuing to memorize Scripture. Thank you for L. leading the flock and studying for the sermons each week. Thank you for guarding him on the slippery road to Tema Bang each Saturday as he goes to teach. Now that the rains have about stopped it is slippery gravel instead of mud. Please help him to get ice cream again to sell in his ice cream shop since the flooding in Thailand stopped the supply. Please help Koh Kong to get electricity restored. They have been several days without it again. Thank you for the deacon, T. Please bless him and his family and provide their needs. Please keep the birds from eating his rice crop. Thank you that K., the paraplegic, is able to sit up and work in his repair shop. Please guard his health and keep him growing in knowledge of You and Your Word. Please help the believers in Cham Yiem where we can no longer go and hold Bible classes. Please help the Koh Kong Baptist Church as they begin preparations for Christmas outreaches. Thank you, Lord, that Your name is being lifted up in that corner of the world. Amen.

“Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  Eph. 5:20

Thankful

As we anticipate Thanksgiving Day next week we reflect on God’s goodness to us. We are thankful for:

•  God’s grace and great salvation
•  Friends who pray for us and for God’s work in Cambodia
•  The Christians in Koh Kong who are standing true for the Lord
•  Safety as we travel on furlough
•  God’s working in our meetings in churches
•  Progress on the Asia Cambodia/Thai video project
•  Some new Bible study books we just got
•  Seeing our first snowfall in a long time
•  Special times with our family and friends here in the States

"Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place."  2 Corinthians 2:14

Encouragement

We have just come from Missionary Christmas weekend at First Baptist Church of Rochester Hills, Michigan. We are rejoicing and thanking God for a great time. Throughout the days there was encouraging fellowship with the saints. It was great to hear how God is working in their lives. Many people there are praying faithfully for God’s work in Cambodia. Please pray for even more people to go forth to serve the Lord in missions.

On the way back to our home in Allendale we stopped and visited a friend who had purchased and prepared a new computer and printer for us. He has joy in giving to God in this way so we will have these tools we need for ministry on the field. We rejoice and give thanks to God for this equipment and for the willing heart of His servant.

Our schedule for this coming week includes:

-- Baptist Mid-Missions general council meeting in Cleveland, OH

-- Speaking at the CMDA/Biomedical Christian Fellowship, Cleveland, OH

-- Visiting our daughter Hannah and family in Carmel, IN

-- Speaking at Calvary Baptist, Church, Wabash, IN

Thank you for praying for us.

“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.”  Eph. 6:18