Learning to Give

Hope is the anticipation of your faith realized”, I heard the Lord speak this to me in a dream as I wrestled with the future provision for FCOP. A prophet friend of mine told me that we are approaching a season of drought and lack, but that it would lead to new provision, like that of Elijah at the brook Cherith.  “And it happened after a while that the brook dried up” (1 Kings 17:7), for 20 years we have been primarily supporting Cambodia’s orphans and widows with donations from foreign donors. Every year FCOP is seeing declines in this income flow, yet the need is still there. The rice farm is meant to eventually supply much of this support but we are a long way from seeing the farm developed with a dependable water supply. We must move Cambodian believers to fill the void, as well as encourage those who have been helping to not stop, just yet.

We know that the best route out of poverty is to give. That is taught in every service throughout Cambodia. But, giving out of your need, not out of your abundance, is the part that is hard to communicate. Sonny Weimer brought a gift and a message to our headquarters church in Chom Chao, Cambodia in March that refocused our thinking. He brought a gift of nearly $300 from an impoverished Vietnamese Hill-tribe for the Cambodian orphans. Sonny did not ask for the offering in Vietnam, the villagers brought it to him and forced it upon him. Everyone in the Cambodian service was shaken by this act of kindness from a traditional enemy. Sonny’s message? Giving in faith out of love (from 2 Cor. 9:10). I have strong faith for a giving Cambodian church that will one day support their Cambodian orphans. But, until we get there, please don’t give up on us. The horns on that dilemma are sharp!

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