The earthquake in Nepal has been devastating for the country. It is hard to imagine we were just there last month. Here are some pictures that were posted by a missionary friend of mine in Nepal. This is what is left of villages that we walked through during our visit. Life can change quickly. We are reaching out to our contacts in Nepal and working to develop a plan to assist the recovery work there.
40 years ago today, Pol Pot lead the Khmer Rouge regime of the Communist Party of Kampuchea through Cambodia, ultimately killing 25% of the population. It was one of the largest genocides of modern times. Anyone with an education was tortured and killed because they posed a threat to him. Here is an article about the anniversary and some history.
http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/16/asia/cambodia-khmer-rouge-anniversary/
Cambodia is still working to recover from the Khmer Rouge. MANNA is working to help them. Last month I stood where they stood. I took the cover photo above at Tuol Sleng, a former high school that Pol Pot turned into an interrogation and execution center. I saw the horror of the past, and the beauty of the future. Today we have a feeding center at a former dump site in Phnom Penh. God does redeem, I’ve seen it with my own eyes. Come with us to Cambodia sometime and see it with your own eyes.
What does 32,000 airline miles, 25 flights through 16 airports in 6 countries get you, other than a severe case of jet lag? Something amazing and beautiful because of 1 God! People have been asking to see more about our trip. It would be impossible to share everything that the Lord did, and is continuing to do. But, I wanted to share a video I put together to highlight where we went and the lives that were touched. Thank you for your prayers and support.
Just got back from getting my blood work done. It’s that time again. The irony has not been lost on me that I am having my blood drawn on Good Friday. It took only 5 vials this time for me. Jesus gave it all. I’m thankful He did. Happy Easter everyone.
It’s amazing the difference a few days can make. On Monday I was in Burma where it was 99 degrees and sunny. Today I’m in Boston. With Kim and it is 32 and snowing. I am thankful I was able to make it home safely and hug my kids, even if it was only for a day. Kim and I are now in Boston to give an update on our nutrition center in Mongolia with a church that supports it. A lot can happen in a week for sure.
It is hard to even tell all that happened in Burma. We had so much favor. To even access this area of Burma we had to have a government official go with us for the entire trip. Everyone points and stares at us. One lady dropped a box and stared at us when she saw us walking up. The government heard we were coming, so they recently built a road to the Upper Village so that we didn’t have to do the 2.5 hour hike up the mountain. One day we were not allowed to go up because the military was concerned for our safety due to the war going on. However, after our official met wit the local police and military they determined it was safe for us to proceed. They told us that foreigners were normally not allowed to go to the village, but because we are teaching the Word of God and built a school, then they wanted to allow us.
The people wouldn’t let us help work on the water tank as we had planned. They said they wanted to build it if we would teach their people the Bible. Wow! So we taught the Bible while some men built the tank. In the Lower Village we started playing soccer with the kids. Little did we know the impact it would have on the village. The people don’t play with their kids and others neglect their kids. They could not understand people from another country coming to play with their kids and love on them for no reason. We were told that Asian pastors don’t play with the kids, but we did. The villagers noticed it and it may have been the biggest impact of the trip. They saw that we came and loved on them because Christ loved us first. It was the first time they had seen the Gospel lived out in front of them and they were different because of it. They started looking at things differently.
More people turned out for the evening service than any other time. They were all impacted by how we engaged and loved on their kids. The things we take for granted are amazing. Just loving on a kid is so foreign to them. The importance of training up a child and teaching them is foreign to them. It seemed like they saw a difference and how it is real. Our tour guide is a Buddhist and he told a person in the group today that he now believes there is a God. His wife is a Christian, but he has not become one. I think we have had a tremendous impact on his life. The restaurant has been impacted by our presence even. They enjoy us coming. Everyone is amazed that these white skinned people from half way around the world are here in their village. It doesn’t make sense to anyone.
Got to see several places in Bangkok today that I have never seen. It amazes me how Bangkok is a city of extremes. Extreme poverty and extreme wealth. Extremes in religion and in many other areas. These photos were all taken in relative close proximity to each other, yet are worlds apart.
The airplane I was flying back from Nepal on had a camera mounted that allowed me to watch what we were flying over from the screen on the seat back in front of me. As we flew over small villages and individual homes in remote areas the Lord showed me the great need. The people in those homes have children just like I do. They love them just like I love mine. They are just as important as I am. Why am I blessed and fortunate enough to have had the gospel shared with me? Who will help them? When their father dies who will hold their hand and pray with them? I am so thankful there are people like Rob and Grace Robideau and Kevin and Cynthia Weldon for giving up everything and coming to Nepal to love them as I have been loved. Our time was short, but impactful. Thank you to FliteTest for investing in lives half way around the world and for Lee Kachner for taking the time, and physical challenge, to travel half way around the world to make a difference in the lives of people you don’t even know. Here are pictures of the land and the need:
God gave us favor! When we checked in they said Cory and I had to come back to Thailand tomorrow, which was our originally scheduled flight. That would mean only 1 day in Nepal. But a manager stepped in and was able to get us tickets back on Thursday! So we get an extra day in Nepal, which was really needed. I text Kim when we got the bad news and told her to pray. After I got the good news I gave her an update and she said she and the girls got together and Kayli and Reaghan started praying for us. Cory said Donna and his kids did the same. Very cool to see God use the prayers of our families half way around the world.
Wow! What amazing things can happen in 24 hours. As you know, we flew down to Cambodia for a day because we were stranded in Bangkok and had an open door. It was amazing. We got to meet with a lot of kids and adults. Cory shared with them what we do at MANNA and why we do it. This allowed him to share the gospel with the group. Thank you FliteTest for allowing your planes to help impact the Kingdom.
Then Mara got up and shared with the group what it was like growing up as an orphan in our orphanage in Kampong Thom and what MANNA has meant to her. Then Bimol shared with the group about her experience working at our projects and now going to nursing school with Kim and Mara. It was hard to even keep my composure as they shared. So cool to see what God is doing and how He is using them. Then Lee took the plane to the air and the kids got to see it in action. They really thought it was amazing. After Lee landed the plane, we took them and helped them make their own planes that they could glide. The kids loved every minute of it and ran around playing with their planes. It was so worth trip and investing time in the work there. Here are some pictures of the day.
Jones Family - MANNA Missionaries 