In Prayer, Believing

God’s Spirit works in hearts and opens opportunities for us to share the gospel. Please keep praying for people at the hospital to turn to the Lord and be saved. Today I could especially see the hand of the Lord in the encounters He gave. Thank you for your part by prayer.

God helped Hubert during his trip to Phnom Penh last week. He tried to return on Friday afternoon but there was no bus going. If he had, it would have put him close to an area of town where some demonstrations became violent. He came home safely on Saturday. Please pray for peace in the capital.

I am preparing our guest rooms for the visit of two missionary friends for a couple days later this week. They want to see some of the ways God is working in Koh Kong. Please pray for God’s blessing.

Please pray for the planning of a baptismal service for early February.

We mentioned in our last prayer letter the Baptist Mid-Missions OASIS retreat in Thailand for missionaries working in Asia and SE Asia. The dates are January 27-30. Please continue to pray for that. I plan to go a few days early to have time with our youngest daughter, and I have been invited to share my testimony at a prayer meeting. There may be some Thai doctors in the prayer meeting. We want to see God work in lives there too.

“And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” Matthew 21:22

 

Happy New Year

It is great to see the joy of P. and V., new believers, as they study the Bible and watch God answer prayer. They have seen God work in P’s father’s heart so that he is less opposed to her now. Thank you for praying for that. They have seen God help them with exams at school (they are in 12^th grade). They have rejoiced in answers to prayer as God helps me caring for patients and sharing the gospel at the hospital. They thank God for new people coming to church. They are ever grateful to God for their salvation and for changing their lives. D. is not as regular coming to the daily Bible study, but knows she is born again and a child of God. S. makes it to the Saturday Bible study, plus church on Sunday and is also happy in Christ. L., the new believer who is a student in Phnom Penh has not been willing to attend church, just like her father, our neighbor. Please pray for God to help his children grow in grace, and that their families and friends would turn to Christ.

S.  a new worker at Mr. L.’s ice cream shop has visited church once. He used to play in our yard with other neighbor children when he was a child. Please pray for him to turn to the Lord for salvation.

Hubert is planning a trip to Phnom Penh Thursday to Saturday this week.

Thank you for praying for our family Christmas celebration via Skype and phone to our children and grandchildren on the 25th. God has blessed us richly.

Thank you for your faithfulness in prayer with us. Let’s continue to watch God work in the New Year 2014.

“…Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will show to you today…” Exodus 14:13

 

Merry Christmas

God blessed in the Koh Kong Baptist Church Christmas celebration on Sunday the 22^nd. There were many special Christmas songs, testimonies, messages, reciting Scripture and good fellowship. The children put on costumes to portray the Christmas story and wore them during the noon meal together. For the evening service, the youth dressed up and portrayed the story of Christ’s advent. There were a few visitors present. Thank you for praying for God’s blessing.

Please continue to pray for the families of the new believers to turn to Christ. P.’s father is upset at her for continuing to stand for the Lord and refusing to worship the spirits. Praise God for the grace He is giving her.

God gave us a great anniversary/vacation trip to a national park in Thailand. It was relaxing and refreshing. Thank you for praying.

Have a blessed Christmas, rejoicing in the Savior, God’s great gift to us.

“Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.” 2 Corinthians 9:15

 

Emmanuel

Studying English as a second language can be a lot of work. Some of Hubert’s students in his English classes are very diligent. He teaches English five days a week. Then on Sunday the students come to the evening service which is in both English and Khmer language. We thank God for those who have accepted Christ. Please pray for more to understand and turn to the Lord. Pray especially for the new students to realize who Christ is and their need of Him. Keep praying for families of the Christians to be saved as well.

The whole church is involved with Christmas preparations now. The house is decorated (the church meets in our home). The celebration is planned for December 22. People are memorizing verses, deciding what food to make, practicing special music, and rejoicing in the Lord who came - Emmanuel. Pray for Hubert as he preaches.

Next week Hubert and I plan to go to Thailand, to a national park. Making van and bus connections is always an adventure. And managing in a country where we don’t speak the language is a challenge. Pray for a smooth and fun trip.

“Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” Matthew 1:23

 

Celebrations

Thank you for praying for a smooth trip to Phnom Penh last week. God answered and helped us in all things there. When it looked like they could not give a new visa right away because a key person was out of the office, we then got word that he returned, and the visa was issued in just a couple days. When the rented motorcycles gave problems, God protected and we were able to get one replaced and the other fixed. Our thanksgiving celebration with friends was a blessing. We found a new print shop and they did a very good job printing Hubert’s books. Hubert made it to their shop about 7 am Friday morning to pick them up, then to the motorcycle shop to return the rented cycle, and then to the bus depot in time to catch the bus to Koh Kong which left at 7:45 am. I was waiting there for him with our baggage already on the bus.  God’s presence with us was evident as we traveled. He is so good.

The youth in the church have begun preparations for Christmas. Pray that it would be a great time of outreach to the lost, as well as good fellowship for the believers. Pray that God would be glorified in all aspects of our celebration.

Please pray for preparations for our anniversary trip to Thailand. We thank God for 40 years He has given us together.  We have many wonderful memories. 

“…Shewing to the generation to come…his wonderful works that he hath done.” Psalm 78:4

Thanksgiving

We are so thankful for God and that He wants people to know Him. We are grateful for what He is teaching us and showing us. We appreciate the family of God and our family and friends. We thank God for health and strength to serve Him each day. May our hearts offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving continually.

We thank God for saving more people in Koh Kong. A patient at the hospital accepted Christ a few days ago.  And today S., a student from the English class, was born anew. Two of the other new believers were present as he prayed to receive Christ. The new believer’s class keeps growing as we seek to ground people in the Word. L. teaches one of the classes.

Tuesday we are planning to go to Phnom Penh. The road is getting worse all the time and trucks and buses sometimes get stuck. Please pray for smooth travels. I need to pick up my new passport and then get a new visa. Hubert needs to reprint some of his books. Pray that we will find a shop that does better printing. We have shopping to do and other errands. On Wednesday evening Michelle Little will be flying out. Pray for her travels back to New York State.  Then Thursday evening we are looking forward to celebrating Thanksgiving in the home of another American missionary family.

“I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.” Psalm 69:30

Joy

When W. accepted the Lord as his Savior less than a week ago, he was filled with joy. He had been considering the claims of Christ for a long time and concluded God is real, is truth and is the only Savior. Now he loves the Lord and sings of Him at home and at school. He treasures times in prayer with the Lord. He witnesses face to face and on his Facebook posts. He came to both morning and evening services on Sunday. He played the bells with the youth group. He is delighted with the Lord! Please pray for his family to accept Christ.

God has done great things while Michelle Little has been with us. She has visited many homes and witnessed to many people. Christians have been taught the Word. She learned quite a bit of the language. Please pray that God would continue to work through her during her last week here now. Pray for her trip back to the USA November 27-28 and God’s using her wherever He chooses in the years ahead, maybe even to return to Cambodia.  

“Thou hast put gladness in my heart…” Psalm 4:7