We went to a village to drill a well, upon  arrival we found two non-functioning wells drilled by the UN several years earlier. We asked, “Has anyone tried to repair these wells?” The answer was a shockingly quick and simple, “No”. The obvious follow-up, “Why?” was just as quick and the answer very revealing. “If we fix the well our neighbors will just break it and we will lose our money.” There was no concept of working together as a community to repair the wells by sharing the cost. Why? Because: 1) No commanding authority required them to contribute and took charge of the project. 2) They would not …  

FCOP has undertaken the development of a modern rice–production farm through the acquisition of small land holdings through purchase. This is done on purpose. Rather than accept a large government grant, which would save FCOP hundreds of thousands of dollars but produce bitterness, resentment and jealousy on the part of farmers who lived on the land. The farmers working the land receive a fair price and observe the synergistic result of land assets being combined. Production can go from 2.5 tons per hectare per year to 30 tons per hectare per year. We have to first demonstrate the concept through purchase, then farmers can trust enough to put their land into cooperatives to …  

Having our own rice is great, but does not supply a balanced diet. Even though we try to supply every home with fish, meat and vegetables, it is not always as uniform as required to ensure optimum health. That’s why we are so appreciative of the Nutrition Meals we receive from Reach Now International. We try to make sure that at least one meal is served using one of these products as the main course. These meals supply all the essential nutrition to maintain a healthy life.  

I am confident that for 67 years I have heard this sung, several times per year, but especially at New Years. It wasn’t until my 67th year of hearing that I understood what I had been participating in because, I was curious, and Google is so convenient. I suspect many of you are in the same boat of ignorance. I always thought it was a song about remembering your friends and good times. The phrase “Auld Lang Syne” literally translates “Old Long-Since” but in the entirety of the original poem, it seems much more about forgetting and forgiving past hurts and wrongs and remembering the good about people. The song is attributed to Robert Burns who put a 16th century Scottish poem to a traditional …  

Things that should not happen, do, and things that people believe should, don’t. An elderly man had passed away, and in his will stipulated an early morning funeral. The grave digger came out the afternoon before the funeral and, in the hard red clay soil of the town cemetery, dug a very precise six foot deep grave. That night the town drunk stayed out until the bars closed down, and because he was a little tipsy, he decided to take a shortcut home through the cemetery. Sure enough, in the moonless dark, he stepped right into the open grave. He …  

Ten years ago we dedicated the Training Center. Its existence has led to hundreds of thousands of Cambodian’s coming to Christ. Its campus has grown, it’s outlived three coats of paint, and could use another, but the mission has never changed. It now includes: a 480 bed factory women’s dorm, hospital, tractor factory, weaving arts building, library, outdoor events stage, automotive technology building, and an office complex as well as storage building. It should have never happened. Originally funded by a devout Buddhist woman from Singapore who knew that we were leading people to Christ. It was a miracle in …  

“You can’t educate all these kids!” I used to let the devil keep me awake at night with that accusation. I’d stare at the ceiling and just pray with no concept of a solution. The improved Cambodian job market, our need for pastors and the help of partners like Don Bosco have put me in the position of Mark Twain, “I’ve been afraid of a lot of things in my life, fortunately most of them never happened!” A big “Thanks!” to Father John Visser for taking a chance on kids who had no chance! We have thirty of our post …  

During a 40 day period in August and September around 5000 Cambodians came to know Christ through the efforts of two medical teams. In September Horizon’s Church sent a group of medical professionals, and under some harsh conditions, they lent their skills and prayers to bring health and salvation to 2000 residents of Malai, near the Thai border. It was wet, the accommodations were basic, but they slugged it out and brought in the harvest! Way to go Horizons!