Uncategorized – Page 11 – FCOP International

October 1, 2020

“What’s Your Problem?”

We were facing our second failed rice crop. The rice production to feed our 3,000 kids, staff and widows for the next year was just days from extinction. We have pastors stricken with cancer and kidney failure and our prayers for healing were not being answered. The Lord reminded me of an encounter my younger brother had a few years ago: Brother Bob was going through some really rough financial times. He’s a believer and was confused as to why he was suffering all these continuous problems. As he was complaining to God about his circumstances, the Lord spoke to …

March 2, 2020

Calling Boogeyman Coronavirus’ Bluff

“To die is gain!” I wasn’t kidding! I confronted our staff with a bold proposal. Philippians 1:21 was my text for our staff devotions on Feb. 26th. I made sure they understood what they would be asking people to do, literally risking their lives. I explained that we’d only be taking healthy people, without young children, under age 40 (myself the exception). I wanted a solid commitment that they could fill a 747 airplane with 500 volunteers before I presented the offer. I was encouraged by their thoughtful agreement, so, we committed to follow through with this. I actually sent …

March 2, 2020

Long History of Healing

For almost as long as FCOP has been in operation here in Cambodia (just over 21 years), Pastor Erik Jensen and AsiaLink ministry have been leading teams from the country of Norway. This past month he brought seven other team members, including two medical providers. Together with our own full-time FCOP staff pediatrician, Dr. Lina, one other Cambodian Doctor, and a Cambodian Dentist, they went to one of the poorer areas of Oral District in Kampong Speu Province and ministered to the needs of the people by providing a full medical clinic that treated over 300 patients. Those that came …

February 3, 2020

Greatest Need

People often ask, “What is your greatest need?” Seriously, it is the regular recurring monthly support of the Church Homes, now referred to as ‘Refuge Homes’. Our monthly suggested support per home is $1500. That may be well over your budget, but could you give $100 per month? $10 per month? It can all be done on our website: www.fcopi.org . You may not be aware of a very serious effort by the UN to defund all institutional orphan care in two years. FCOPI falls into their ‘Institutional’ category. They want FCOPI replaced with foster care and adoption. The problem with this …

December 3, 2019

Millenials rise up in Hong Kong

Thanksgiving evening I received this: (News) It looks like a Fourth of July celebration from Washington DC, but it is Thanksgiving day in Hong Kong! They feel as though they have been given a new lease on life from the USA! It was amazing they had so many US flags in Hong Kong! It is unbelievable! While many US millennials are pushing for socialism, the Socialistic government of Hong Kong is experiencing and onslaught for democracy from their “millennials”. You have to see it to believe it!

September 2, 2019

Stupid is as Stupid Does

“Stupid is as Stupid does.” A lot of the local farmers think that Forrest Gump’s mother was referring to me. FCOP is in the middle of building 1200 tons of new rice drying and storage facilities for a crop that has just been plowed under. It really doesn’t look very smart but it is a strategic step in the development of our rice farm. This equipment was purchased last January and arrived in three containers on August 3rd and there will be a time when we need it. Really, when you consider what is at stake, just remember how last …

August 31, 2019

2019 FCOP Overview

May 2, 2019

Don’t Dance with the Devil!

I received a good lesson. It was about 7:30pm, April 29th. My phone rang and Naret (Our FCOP Chief of Staff) called and told me, “Pa, come out by the front gate. We caught a big snake!” I went out, and as the office crew were visiting after work, a python slithered out on the drive. Khemera, our Assistant Teams Leader, caught it, and after confirming it was a non-poisonous python, I took hold of it. Thany was shooting the event on my cellphone. Basically, I was just trying to show-off. I’m pretty careful with snakes and I griped him …

July 31, 2018

Love not your life to the death!

We are in the trenches and under fire! The last enemy to be destroyed will be ‘death’ and we won’t destroy that devil by being afraid of it. Our pastors and leaders are really paying a price. There were days last month when it seemed we were dropping like flies. One of our founding pastors from Kratie was walking through the garden and just fell over dead. Now that’s a good way to leave this world, and we’re all going to get dead some day, but I especially hate to lose the good ones. The same day he dies we …

January 31, 2018

No More “Stray Dogs”

106 Church homes with 20 to 40 kids take a tremendous beating and we have to constantly be ready to make vital repairs. But, the most precious commodity we house are the kids that have been discarded and told by their culture that they are “Stray Dogs” because of the bad karma that comes with being orphaned. Our destination is to provide a safe, healthy environment for them and build their self esteem. How do we get there? Teams come half way around the world just to help them. The kids feel cared for and special to get that attention and …

January 31, 2018

2018

Once again, as we start our 20th year in Cambodia, Thank you from the bottom of my heart. We are living the impossible dream. How do you start from nothing and build thousands of church congregations, raise over 18,000 kids at some point in their lives, and see 1,000,000 people come to Christ with no guaranteed support other than our Missionary salary? Only God can do that, but he uses you to get us there! Thank you and great Blessings! Ted (Pa Thom) and Sou (Mak Sou) Olbrich, and those who do all the work and get little credit, Our …

January 31, 2018

FCOP CAMBODIAN RICE PRODUCTION ENTERPRISE FACT SHEET -Since 1999 FCOP has raised 18,000 separated, abandoned and orphaned children at some point in their lives. 100% have come to know Christ. Over 5,000 churches and home groups have been planted, many pastored by former FCOP Church Community Home residents. -FCOP currently cares for about 2,500 separated children and widows. Widows become the primary parent figures and caregivers at the rate of one per five children. Pastors serve as surrogate fathers. -Cost of raising children in Cambodia has doubled since 1999. FCOP has to rely upon foreign donations to continue its work. …