A few days before Christmas, a young orphan boy from far NE Cambodia was clearing brush with a gasoline powered brush cutter when it kicked back and severed his foot: cutting through the tendon, the bone, and the main artery. The foot was dangling by some skin and tissue. He was stabilized in a hospital in Ratanakiri and then transported to Phnom Penh where after a long surgery the foot was reattached. After several other surgeries the foot was stabilized for two months in a rigid rod structure, and on February 24th the apparatus holding his foot at an angle was …  

When I first arrived in Cambodia twenty-five years ago, it was one of the least developed and most impoverished nations on earth. People were hungry for hope and God moved mightily in signs, wonders, and miracles. Now, Chinese factories have sprouted up and the ecology of Cambodia has been permanently altered by hundreds of hydro-electric dams to the north of Cambodia. Cambodia has become a free trade zone with China with incentives offered for further development. The policies of the government are not pro-Church. Cambodia is a moving target, and the church must remain flexible and be led by the Holy Spirit. I am guilty of …  

“For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). I have discovered something about discouragement… it can be lethal without the power of God. In December, we were hit with a mandate to supply all new school uniforms (a $54,000US expense) or face being closed down. I couldn’t imagine the 2,500 young lives that depend upon FCOP being cast to the mercy of governmental agencies and the end of the FCOP ministry. In 24 years, we have never been able to supply all new uniforms all at one time. I kept up a brave front externally but internally, I was in anguish like Hannah (1 Samuel 1:10). …  

Three years of neglect from lack of work teams due to Covid, coupled with spiraling expenses had left us with properties that needed massive rebuilding. The costs were huge! Many early buildings constructed with cheap roofing had been chewed up by the acid rain. Just for one quick example: The pastor at the Ou Rang Ou Church/Home lost his mother and father, founders of our work in Kratie who had come to help him establish the church, to death in 2021 and his wife to cancer in 2022. He stayed faithful but his cafeteria roof had rusted away and his building needed paint. Thank …  

Our rice farm equipment is old and repairs are constant with the combines needing $35,000US just in parts to fix our worn-out machines. We have 65 hectares (160 acres) of good rice to combine this month. I prayed! A large farmer about 40 kilometers from our rice farm went bankrupt and it turns out he had bought three new larger rice combines last year and was losing them to the bank. They cost over $50,000 each and he only owed the bank $14,000 each. We could get all three for $42,000, but how do you ask for money for rice …  

Food for 3,000 people three times per day is our biggest expense. We raise our rice, most of the homes supply their owns vegetables, fish, and some meat but expensive supplies like cooking oil must be purchased. On January 3, 2023, two full shipping containers (5,720 gallons) of quality cooking oil arrived at our Training Center from our generous partners at Gleanings For The Hungry. That is a gift that saved us at least $90,000. This is multiplied by the wonderful jobs many churches are doing with their gardens, fish, and livestock. Once more, God provided for us big time!  

The first team to visit Cambodia from the USA in more than three years came in mid January. Pastors from B4 Church in Beaverton, Oregon, USA came to Cambodia to see the work of their supported missionary, Shanon Hladek. It was a special time for Shanon as B4 is the church she was attending, and they sent her to the field. The group was able to attend our weekly Friday night prayer at the National Training Center and then travel to Prey Touch Church/Home in Kandal Province where they met with the kids and pastors. They ended their visit with a boat …  

The Kingdom of God is more than just leading people to faith in Christ (although that is something that happens daily around Cambodia) and is the primary focus of FCOP. We need to remember that there are essential works that go along with that. Caring for the poor, the orphans, and widows, teaching the doctrines of Christ, water baptism, prayer, ministering healing to the sick, and deliverance to the captives are essential parts of the faith in addition to weddings and funerals. “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil…” (1 John 3:8b). It …