Second Quarter Missions Report 2012

Dear PASTORS and Ministry Partners, 

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! I was hoping to send this letter out much earlier, but as you will read, we have been very busy. I hope and pray that you all are doing well and keeping busy in your part of the world. We have plenty to rejoice about and we want to share it all with you. 

APRIL 

This month had been a very busy month for Cambodia because of the Khmer New Year. Cambodian Khmer New Year celebrates the end of harvesting season, usually falls on the 13th of April and last for three days. It is called Chaul Chnam Thmey in Khmer language, literally means “Enter The New Year”. Gifts and tips are especially auspicious during this holiday. During the Khmer New Year, people come to street corners with friends and families, dancing and playing traditional Cambodian games. Also, Cambodians will do good deeds by donating and contributing to charities. And also, people bath their elderly to get good wishes and advices. And the sad part was, many of them will dress up, and go to the temple and shrines to pay homage to Buddha and ancestors. Brethren, our prayers for this place is to make known the True and Living God to these people not only to the Khmer's but also to the Tribal people worshipping the spirits here in Rattanakiri. 

MAY 

This month is the start of the rainy season in some places around here in Cambodia. In this place, most of the roads going to the villages were so muddy and slippery. And it is really hard for us and most villagers to drive their motorcycle during this season. In one village alone that we visited, there were leeches on the road. Also, many of the people especially some of our members start to go out to the farm to prepare the soil for planting cassavas and beans. In spite of the many situations going on every rainy season in this province, our good Lord continually showered Bethany Baptist Church with so many blessings this year. The Lord blessed us with abled adults and young people faithfully helping us in some areas of our ministry. Last May 27, God enabled us to celebrate our 5th Mission-Church Anniversary with the theme, “Redeeming the Time”. The theme was very timely, refreshing and challenging to all of us. The speaker of the hour was a Khmer pastor of Liberty Baptist Church, Pastor Sihok. He was the former member, staff and assistant of Missionary Lomer Dela Cruz. The message was very simple but a great reminder to all of us to redeem the time because the days are evil and our life is too short. Because of these two reasons, as believers, we need to keep on serving and working for His glory. It was a joy and delight to see the attentiveness and enthusiasm on the faces of our members while listening to God’s Word. Our choir and some of our members rendered special songs. My wife and my sister together my nieces also gave a very inspiring song. God blessed us with an attendance of 110 people that Sunday. About 20 first time visitors came. During the invitation, four people raised their hands for salvation and five for water baptism. And many of our members came forward and knelt down, some renewed their commitment to the Lord while others will start using their given time and talents for God’s service. Then, our church served lunch after the victory. To God Be The Glory! 

JUNE 

Last May, one Christian family from another village about four of them came to our church thru the invitation of our ever faithful and determined member. This member of ours has been consistently inviting people for many years. After the service, I talked to this family and they said that they had been praying and looking for the right church in this province where they can grow spiritually and be used by God for His glory. They just arrived from another province and they had been in this place for six months now. And while talking to them, I found out that they attended a Methodist church for more than 3 years but not yet baptized. So, I witnessed to them, they understand the plan of salvation and accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their Lord and personal Savior. After a week, they decided to be baptized and I baptized them together with another man in one of the lakes in this place. We praise the Lord again for another family added unto His church. Brethren, Thanks to all of you who support this work financially and prayerfully which God blesses every day in spite of the difficulties. Thank you very much……. 

In The Service of Christ the King,

JAMANDRON’S KIT & JANETH