At the end of the meeting, we gave each child, two packages of noodles, a toothbrush, and a tube of toothpaste.

Transcription

1 WR Cambodia June 2012 Report CHILDRENS MINISTRY Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. prayer Romans 12:12 Page 1

2 Ministry Trip Praising with the songs! Kean Svay 14 June 2012 On June 14, the Children s ministry team of TWR- Cambodia along with the Youth team and Women s team went together to visit our listeners at Kean Svay village, which is about 30km from Phnom Penh city. We left the office at 7:00am and reached the village at 9:00am. The children were so happy to meet with us again. Our meeting place was on the floor inside the Sre Om Pil church where we put a plastic tarp on the floor so that all the children could sit on it. It s sad to know that now the church has no leader, no pastor, and that they don t meet to worship every Sunday anymore. There is no Sunday school class or teacher either. The children, youth, and women meet only when our team is there. Please pray for the people and children in this community. It used to be a very strong church 15 years ago, but then those people and leaders left the village and didn t train the next generation to do it. There are a few church members who still live in the village, but no one helps them. Please really pray for this village because TWR can t go and work alone. The people in the village really welcomed us to come and teach them. On that day, there were 164 children who came to the meeting. We praise the Lord together with joy and excitement. After the songs, Charia told them the story of how God led Joshua and the Israelites to take down the Jericho wall. In relation to the Bible story, Bros taught a memory verse from Joshua 1:9: be bold, be strong, for the Lord your God is with you every day, every time, and everywhere you go. The children were so encouraged with the word of God and the Bible story. One child told us, now even though there is no Sunday class in my village, God is still with me. If I m afraid or weak, I know that God is still with me. Not only did the children who attended receive encouragement from the story and the memory verse, but Bros, a member of our team was also very happy with what he learned in that morning. After that, Mara taught the children a health lesson (the proper way to brush your teeth). We found out that in that village, there are still many children who have never brushed their teeth. One reason is because they don t have a toothbrush or toothpaste. After Mara showed them how to brush their teeth, he invited two kids to come up front and show other children on how to do it. Listen to the Bible story Praying At the end of the meeting, we gave each child, two packages of noodles, a toothbrush, and a tube of toothpaste. After the meeting with those 164 kids, Mara and Bros meet with 5 children who have volunteered to follow up with the children in the village by sharing what they learned from us. Through the feedback from these five children, we could see that changes in habits for good health are very slow. We can say that there is only 20% improvement because there is lack of care from their parents and their community. Sarak, one of boys in the group of five kids said, Now before I eat, there is a reminder in my brain that I must wash my hands first. But I still see that many children in my village still do not yet use to this habit; I keep reminding my younger brother and sister every day to do it. Page 2

3 So, it was a great time after the meeting with the big group, we spent more time with our volunteers to talk with them about how things have improved, their struggles, and how can we help them. We praise God for the safe and fruitful trip on that day. Learning the memory verse Joshua 1:9 Practice! Mara teaching the health lesson Bros meets with volunteers Get the noodles, toothpaste, and toothbrush Page 3

4 Group photo with the girls at Plas Prei Prah Vihear Province June 2012 On June 27-29, Charia and Mara from the Children s ministry team, Kimsong from the Youth ministry, and Makara from the Women s ministry joined together with Dan and Rose Ellen Blosser to take a trip to Prah Vihear province. Thank you so much Dan for helping our team to drive us all the way up there, which was 330km one way. The purpose for this trip was to provide training and follow up with the girl at Plas Prei center. Our first training was in June last year, the second training was in January, and this was our third visit. In January, the topics were good health, forgiveness, self-esteem, and honesty. We also thank the Lord for His providing through our friends in Australia for this trip and we are very thankful for the partnership with Plas Prei center for letting our team share with these girls through the training. During this trip in June, we shared another three topicsl: the 4 Ds, Women s Health and Family Planning, and Non-Violent Communication. Singing: walk in the light of God! Taking note Our classroom! We started each morning with worship songs led by Makara and Mara. It s always a blessings and joy when we are able to worship God together. On the morning of June28, Mara led things with a review of the lesson we shared with the girls in January, (what is good health?). The girls remember the lesson very well, and work edin their small groups and stood up to share about this lesson. The new 3 topics this time of training were: Page 4 Charia provides counseling to the girl at Plas Prei

5 1. 4 Ds (Discovery, Dream, Design, and Deliver). We spent time talking with those who had graduated and wanted to use their education to help develop their village. Thus this lesson was meant to encourage them on how they can begin to help in their homes, families, and village. Makara led them on this topic. 2. Women Health and Family Planning. We focused on practicing no-sex before marriage, basic health care for women, and the meaning of family planning. None of them knew much about these topics and the idea of how to protect themselves. Charia led this topic. The girls were very touched with this topic as in Cambodian culture we don t talk about these things. Normally a woman must not talk about it. In the afternoon, Charia opened the time for personally counseling and discussion with the girls one on one. She had a list of 15 girls who made appointments to talk with her. It was a great afternoon as she spent time with each one of them. We were able report back to the center that 12 girls had vaginal discharge and needed to see the doctor. Some of them have had this problem for a few years but never said anything about it. Please pray for each one of them that after they receive treatment and learned the basics of good hygiene that they will keep themselves healthy, will remember and practice what they have learned. Pray also for a girl named Kolab whose family is living with so much violence. Her father curses her mom and beats her mother and the rest of the children almost every day. Her family just lives with that. On Khmer New Year, the father beat the oldest son who beat the father back. At home they never peace and quiet. The neighbors count the violent noise from Kolab s house as normal. Please pray for Kolab as she focuses on her studies; she has so much concern about her family, especially her mother. 3. Non-Violent Communication (Taught by Kimsong) - Learning to observe others better than evaluate - Understand other people, do not blame - Understand the needs of others and the feel related We spent the morning of June 29 on this topic. We had a great time with them, and returned to Phnom Penh that afternoon. Praise the Lord for the safe trip. Food for the children Kampot 17 June, Steng Mean Chey 24 June Yes, with our Food for the Children Project, on June17, we provided food again for the children of Tropang ropao village, in Kampot (rice with pork and salad). Charia also taught the children the proper way to brush their teeth. It was interesting because we as we go to different Charia telling the Bible story village around the country, we have found the same thing, that there are still many children who have never brushed their teeth or don t know the proper way to brush their teeth. We also gave each child a toothbrush and a tube of toothpaste to the children in Kampot. Page 5

6 On 24 June, we fed curry soup to the children in the slum area of Steng Mean Chey. We did not just provide food, but we had a great time of worshipping God together with songs, and by telling a Bible story, teaching a memory verse, and giving a health lesson (the lesson for this month was on dengue fever because it is rainy season so it is the time when children can easily get dengue fever.) We thank the Lord for a safe trip and for the partnership with the local church and for the great time with the children. Practice again! Getting food, toothbrush, and toothpaste Chantheng from RHAC Siem Reap Getting the curry soup and bread for taking home to Chantheng is the senior project officer for share with the rest of the family Reproductive Health Association of Cambodia (RHAC) in Siem Reap province. TWR-Cambodia has been working very closely with him to provide Community Health Evangelical/Education (CHE) training to the government leaders in the districts which are the target areas for Chantheng s projects. We also have been a good friend so Chantheng has also started to know and learn more about Jesus from our TWR team and CHE team. Please pray for him, he is in the last stage of the intestinal cancer. He went through chemotherapy for this cancer five years ago but now it has spread into his intestines again, including his liver and gallbladder. He is only 33 Charia with Chantheng and his wife years old and has a five year old daughter and five month old son. It brought a big shock to his family. None of them are believers so have tried various ways to find healing for him, even sending him to see a witch/traditional doctor. We praise God for support and prayers for Chantheng. He came down to see Doctor Monich in Phnom Penh and Dr. Monich sent him to see a cancer surgeon at Jeremy Hope Hospital. There was nothing that could be done for him except to help him to be comfortable as possible. Chantheng has lost a lot of weight due to the condition and he can t do much. His body bas turned very yellow and he got itching all over his body. Our team went along with him to the hospital and prayed for him, and helped a bit with his financial needs. Please pray for him and his family to receive peace and comfort from the Lord. Page 6

7 His Amazing Providing New Van-Good New Reader Book-Second Team for Follow-up God is good all the time and He always does things beyond my expectation beyond what man can do. I (Charia) still remember the first time that I met Mr. Con Schlenk in Through all these years I have seen his commitment to share God s grace and blessings with Cambodia children and how he has been faithful to pray and provide financial support. These things are very encouraging to me and the team as we serve and see our brothers and sisters in Christ from other parts of the world stand together with us. When I went through the communication with Mr. Con Schlenk, I found the report below that he wrote when he got back to Australia in January this year. And yes, it s so amazing for me to see how fast the Lord opens the door and provided the funds needed for all of these needs. Praise the Lord and thanks the Lord. Please pray for TWR-Cambodia team that we will be good stewards of what God has given us. Pray for us to get a good quality van. Pray for the Children s ministry as we develop the Good News Reader book for the children, and pray for God to send the right person for the extension of the follow up work. We also would like to thank all the churches, family, brothers, and sisters in Australia for their commitment to contribute to the financial resources toward the ministry. Here e is the report from Mr. Con Schlenk about his trip to Cambodia in January this year:.. 2. THEIR NEEDS. Present at the meeting on 24 th January were Veasna. Charia, Kimsong, Leader of their Youth ministry, Sangva, Leader of their Church Leadership and Development ministry, and also Paul Schulz of Maitland, who is the Chairperson of the Australian Committee of the Plas Prai Girls Hostel in Preah Vihear, North Cambodia, and his wife Fiona, whom I appreciate were able to arrange to be in Cambodia at the same time as myself. In discussion, Veasna mentioned that a great need is for a replacement (second hand) reliable vehicle to replace the present unreliable 2002 Hyundai van, and that for the last 12 months they have been praying for more staff as they have difficulty maintaining the current load let alone being able to take up further challenges which are presenting themselves. The discussion therefore centered on the NEEDS of the Happy Children s Garden ministry. :- 1. VAN. They are presently using a 2002 Hyundai van worth approx $2,000 which Charia in her monthly Reports has from time to time reported has broken down on their trips to the villages. These trips can involve travelling km from Phnom Penh, sometimes in relatively remote areas. These breakdowns cause disruption to their arrangements and serious safety concerns for themselves, plus a problem with repairs for the vehicle. A replacement reliable 2 nd hand vehicle is considered a high priority. Cost around $16, STAFF. The possibilities for extending the outreach of the Gospel to the children of Cambodia are there. However, the present totally committed and extremely competent Happy Children s Garden team are already stretched and would find it difficult to handle any extra load. Unless additional staff is provided little more could be undertaken. And because a primary task would be to visit the children in the villages, employing one extra person alone would not be a satisfactory solution. After considerable discussion it was agreed that to expand the ministry a second team of two full time and one Page 7

8 volunteer (low remuneration) staff would be needed. Together with the extra running costs of the van, follow up costs to enquiries from listeners etc the total cost of appointing this team would be around $14,000 a year. If this is done, because of the desirability of having continuity of appointment and the continuity of contact with the villages, support should be considered for at least two years, preferably three. 3. RADIOS. Because some children cannot afford radios with which to listen to the broadcasts, from time to time Charia and her team find it necessary to supply a radio. Together with distribution costs these cost TWR around $40 each. It was felt that a further 100 could wisely be used by both teams. Total cost $4,000 pa. 4. SPEAKER BOXES. As mentioned earlier, these are proving a valuable new aid with great potential with such as Listener Groups and schools. Charia has also started using them in the three eastern Provinces where radio messages are not possible. Interestingly, a Speaker Box is being use among prisoners in a country prison, and a group of timber workers in a remote village, after hearing the messages, became interested and now use a Speaker box regularly. This presents tremendous opportunities for spreading the Gospel and helping children to study the Word. 100 of these could easily be used in the first 12 months. Total cost including distribution fees, exchanging the USB cards etc would be around $4,000. pa. 5. GOOD NEWS READERS Radio broadcasts are weekly. Visits to villages are inevitably infrequent. The idea was put forward that if a simple GOOD NEWS READER especially prepared for the children in Cambodia, comprising maybe 24 pages of Bible stories but especial selected to include all the fundamental truths of our Christian faith, of high quality but low cost, were available, these could be given out fairly freely to children for them to read in their homes between broadcasts or visits. They could be read with friends or by some family member. In schools which lack resources they might be used as text books to help teach the children to read. This possibility was enthusiastically taken up. It was agreed the GOOD NEWS READERS would fill the current gap and allow children to pick them up at any time to read a Bible story. Quite possibly they would share the stories with family and friends, thereby further spreading the message of God s love and salvation. Some preliminary costing had been done on this prior to the meeting, and it is expected that 20,000 Good News Readers could be produced (including the initial setting-up costs) for around $10,000. Unit cost would then be around 30c each. The meeting was enthusiastic to see this pursued as it could be a simple way of getting the message of the Gospel to thousands of children, even to children not connected to the Happy Children s Garden broadcasts and visits. The Readers could be given to children who write in and respond to radio messages (at least 1,000 a month), at visits to villages (average attendance around 200), visits to schools (average 300 per visit) and through many other opportunities which would present themselves. Opportunities abound. 3. THEIR HOPES/EXPECTATIONS FROM THIS. To what extent could this be hoped to extend the message of the Gospel to the children of Cambodia? God alone knows who and how many more children would listen to the messages and read the stories in the Reader. In Cambodia children usually don t do things alone but get their friends along or listen with their families. Some Good News Readers will not be read. Others will be shared, possibly by many. And over time could influence whole families. We are called to be sowers of the seed and to pray to the Lord of the harvest to bless the sowing. We call on the Holy Spirit to open hearts to be receptive to the messages and respond to their Savior Page 8

9 Happy Children s Garden Program HCG Listener s Stories/Feedback 1. From Pastor Chanthy Pastor Chanthy is 42 years old. He lives in the village in Takeo province near the Vietnam border. He heard about the HCG program when he came to join the training in Phnom Penh city with AOG. He visited the TWR-Cambodian office and requested the CD of the HCG programs for the children in his village. Pastor Chanthy believes that through the Bible stories in the HCG program that it would help the children in his village to know more about Jesus. He also wants them to know and learn the basic healthh lessons that we have in each program. Each week, there are 30 to 50 children who come to the church to listen to the HCG program. Pastor Chanthy tries to come to TWR office almost every month to bring letters from the children to us and take the responses from us back to the children. The children in his village are so happy to get the responses back from the presenters. They feel so blessed spiritually and physically. They really love the school supplies thatt we send to them because it helps them in the needs of their studies. Later on, his CD player broke so the children were not able to listen to the program for a while until Pastor Chanthy came to see us again when we were able to give him a speaker box. Pastor Chanthy really likes the speaker box because it s very easy to carry around. So, he now has expanded to having two more listening groups with the help from the Sunday school teachers at his church each week. They take turns bringing the speaker box to three different villages to lead children to listen to the HCG program. Sometimes, Pastor Chanthy goes by himself because the Sunday school teachers still go to school or their schedules do not work for them to go. Please pray for the Sunday school teachers at his church to have time and to use their talents to serve Christ and the children. May the children experience Christ s love from them and may they grow in love for Christ. Pray for Pastor Chanthy too; pray for God to give him strength in serving the church and pray for his church members to grow spiritually. 2. From Phanna My name is Phanna, and I m 15 years old. I do not yet believe in Jesus but I like to listen to the HCG program because this program helps me to know about the real stories and behaviors of people and the good and bad things that these people like to do. I can see that no matter what time we live in, people always are the same even in the past; the temptation to do bad things is very easy to do, but we always find that it s hard to do the good things. Now, I have started to come to the pastor s house in my village to learn more about Jesus. Thank you so much for this wonderful program. It is not only me who likes it, but other children in my village like this program so much. Thank you so much for all the stories. 3. From Dyma My name is Dyma, and I m 14 years old. I ve been listening to HCG program for many years. I just accepted Jesus as my Savior eight months ago. I really like the HCG program because through listening to the Bible stories in the program for all these years it has helped me to find Jesus and to know His words. I thank the Lord for choosing me out of this world and for His blessings so that I can hear His message from the storiess in the program each week. The story today was about Rebecca s plan to lie so that Jacob got the blessing from his father instead of Esau. Thank you so much for a great reminder for me to always love the truth. God bless you. Page 9

10 4. From My name is Chiva, and I m 13 years old. I like to listen to the HCG program because it helps me to know God s word and I like to write letters to the program and to answer the question in the program. I do not yet believe in Jesus; please pray for me as I m seeking the true God and salvation. I continue coming to the house of the pastor in my village each week to listen to the HCG program. Thank you so much for all the stories. 5. From Mong My name is Mong. I m 12 years old. I like to listen to the HCG program. I listen to this program from the radio station in Banteay Meanchey province. Thank you so much for the Bible stories that you tell me each week. I also like the health advice in each program. I have earned so much about dengue fever, especially what I can do to prevent me and my brothers and sisters from getting dengue fever such as keeping my house clean, and sleeping under a mosquito net. Thank you so much sisters. God bless you. If you can, please send me a writing book and story book. Radio Program Feedback Listener Responses HCG Program June 2012: 1,268 responses a) Letters: 1,187 b) Phone calls: 39 c) Visit: 42 listeners HCG program Responses in 2012 Month Number of Responses Letters Phone calls Verbal SMS Visits January 1, February 1,621 1, March 1,292 1, April May June 1,268 1, Total from Jan. Jun ,999 6, Program Production Status Script completed: Program completed: 5 scripts 3 programs Plans for July HCG Script writing: 5 scripts... Charia 2. HCG Program Production: 5 programs... Kirivath 3. Ministry trip and food for the children at: a. Thnong Primary school, Prey Veng 4 July b. Pastor Chanthy s church, Takeo 12 July c. Pastor Samneang s church, Takeo 19 July d. Siem Reap July e. JJ Center, garbage dump 29 July 4. Follow-up with HCG listeners through phone calls... Team 5. Distribute Mobile speakers to the listener groups... Bros 6. Distribute radios to the listeners... Kirivath 7. Answer listener letters.... Bros and Mara Page 10

11 8. Count, stamp letters, and put all the details in the Monthly Listener Response report Kirivath 9. Report:... Charia Praise and Prayer Points 1. Praise God for the safe trip as we traveled to visit our listeners during this month of June and for the safe trip to Prah Vihear. 2. Praise God for His provision, strength, and protection upon the team. 3. Praise God for His amazing provision for new transportation for TWR-Cambodia and thank you so much for your prayers. We praise God for all the strength and wisdom that He put in our brothers Con and Paul and Australia believer who are raising funds for this project. 4. Praise God for His providing to make the Good News Reader story books for the children. We have enough funds to print 30,000 books. Thank you so much to Mr. Con and all the donors in Australia who contributed for this project. Pray for the process of making the good news reader book, pray for Mr. Con as he and his friend write the content for the stories. Pray for Pastor Sokha as he paints the picture for each story. Pray for Sangva and Charia as they communicate with Mr. Con in Australia and bring all the ideas for Pastor Sokha to paint. Pray for Bros who will do the design for the book. 5. Praise God for His providing to extend the follow up work of the children ministry. We are looking to recruit another staff member for this work. Please pray for God to send us the right person who He planned for this work. 6. Pray for the leadership team of TWR-Cambodia as we lead the ministry, that we will always have unity and seek for His guidance and wisdom, not follow our own understanding, wisdom, or power. 7. Pray for the children in Cambodia as the virus EV71 is spreading around the country. Pray for the healing upon the children who got this virus and pray for God s protection upon the rest of the children. Kirivath 1- Praise the Lord for my studies at the university. I m on school vacation now so I m able to work full-time these past two months. May God the Father give me wisdom and keep me healthy, and a good steward. 2- Praise God for Cher Tel Church, there is a donor who God led to support to build a school for the children there. 3- Thanks to the Lord for my family, we moved to live in a new house one month ago, please keep us in prayer as we are living in a new community and have new neighbors. 4- Pray for me and my mom s health. She is on the medicine for her stomachache. Pray for God s healing upon her as this sickness has been bothering her for a long time now. Bros 1- Please pray for God s strength, wisdom, and good health as I work and for my studies in the seventh semester of my last year in college. Pray for me to be ready for the assignments and writing the book for my last year at college. 2- Pray for God s strength for me to do the work. 3- Pray for my future plans, especially for the relationship between me and my fiancée Dalis, as we are getting to know each other, pray for a good relationship with God, family, and each other as we walk together. Please pray also for my wedding as we plan to get married in early Please pray for God s providing and leading. 4- Pray for my family to be in good health. Page 11

12 Mara 1- Praise God for His providing toward my need. 2- Praise God and give thanks to Him for the joy that I have in serving Him with TWR-Cambodia 3- Praise God for this month that He keeps me safe and in good health 4- Pray for my grandma to have good health and pray for her faith to remain strong in Him 5- Pray for God s peace in my heart and for me to stay close to God. Charia 1- Praise God that my Dad is he recovering very well. There is no reaction from the medicine. He looks much better and his health has gotten much better, he hasn t lost any weight, and he continues taking the medicine daily. 2- Pray for God s wisdom on me as I write the HCG scripts, and pray for me as I lead the team to fulfill their calling. Report Submitted By: Charia You Date: July 25, oac Cntntntntt acac ac: TWR Cambodia Phom Roung Chak, Sangkat Phnom Penh Thmey, Khan Sen Sok, Phnom Penh Tel: cyou@twr.org Page 12