|
We bought the piece of land in Phnom Penh Thmei in 2001. "Thmei" means "New". This area is called "New Phnom Penh" because the capital Phnom Penh is saturated with people already. This is somewhat like a "satellite" city, about 10 minutes ride from the International Airport.
The development on the land
Two years ago, after the land was filled and a brick wall was completed, the young people from our university student dorm and Phnom Penh Church often went there for soccer and volleyball games. In 2003 we built a house for the custodian, as well as fixing up a drainage system. In February 2004, the Cambodia Free Methodist Church had a great 10th Anniversary celebration and feast here under a big tent.
In September 2004, Charles and his wife came to live on the property to take care of the land for 6 months. Charles was about 60 years old. Every Sunday he and his wife went back to Prek Thei for Sunday worship. It took about an hour by motorcycle.
 Charles helped to plant 15 small mango trees on the land and watered them with care. It will take many years for the mango trees to grow big. This couple lived a very simple life. They kept the land in good condition. When they had time, they read the Bible and prayed. They also went to visit the neighbors to build up relationships. Most of the time the people were friendly, except a few were a bit hostile because they knew Charles and his wife were Christians.
In November 2004, when the medical team came, we had a clinic at the property. We hoped this would be a friendly bridge to the neighbors.
Starting church planting on the land
Now Lim and Pauline are living on the property. Pauline will give birth to a baby at the end of 2005. Lim and Pauline need a lot of prayer for the church planting project here. There is a Buddhist temple nearby, and sometimes they turn on the loud speakers to broadcast Buddhist chanting to the whole neighborhood.
Our missionary Rebecca Chung helped to start English classes. Lim gives tutorial classes for the children. This summer, even though 30 children came for the VBS, many of the parents would not let the children stay for lunch each day. They were afraid that the food was poisoned! When Lim and Pauline try to go visiting and just be friendly with their neighbors, they are not invited in, and people won't talk with them.
Open doors in a strategic spot
 The Lord Jesus has given us this piece of land in such a strategic spot, we have to trust Him. We need your prayers and support.
We are going to build a covered playground for different outdoor activities. After that, the next is to build the Amenities Building with dorm areas, activity rooms for small gatherings, a hall for meetings, a kitchen, dining room, and office space. This kind of campground and facilities are very needed here. In this way, we not only provide a good campground for our own churches, but we also can serve other churches and organizations. Moreover, through this campground, we can give job opportunities to our own young people in the university student dormitory, as well as our church members in the villages, and also provide an income-generating project to support the Cambodia Free Methodist Church ministries and pastors in the long run so that they can become self-supporting sooner. On top of all that, we will have a church here.
Your support in Prayer
- The estimated cost is UD$120,000 for the construction of the Amenities Building.
- Davis Lam is the Project Manager for this land. This is such a big construction project. Please pray for the wisdom needed in the communication with the contractors, during the construction time, in the supervision etc.
- A certified and honest contractor and construction company.
- Reliable construction workers.
- God to open the door for the church planting, and strengthen Lim and Pauline.
- Good health for Pauline and the coming baby.
Your support in giving
(1) In America
Please make checks payable to “Free Methodist World Missions”, and designate for “Cambodia Ministry Center – project # 20-771-018”. Mail to
Free Methodist World Missions,
PO Box 535002,
Indianapolis,
IN 46253-5002
(2) In Canada
Please make checks payable to “The Free Methodist Church in Canada”, and designate as “Cambodia – building fund for Ministry Center”. Mail to
The Free Methodist Church in Canada,
4315 Village Center Court,
Mississauga,
ON L4Z 1S2
(3) In Asia
Please make checks payable to "Asia Pacific Free Methodist Missions Association", and designate as "Cambodia – building fund for Ministry Center". Mail to our office:
Asia Pacific Free Methodist Missions Association
Room 1602, 16th Floor,
QPL Industrial Building,
126-140 Texaco Road,
Tsuen Wan, NT,
Hong Kong SAR, CHINA
For more information
|
Extend Our Land Project
