Dear brothers and sisters,

Peace in the Lord!

In the blink of an eye I have already served in Cambodia for over a year. Looking back over this grace filled year, I truly give thanks to our Heavenly Father! Although the sickness I had when I wrote before dragged on a long while, I am finally recovered. Before, I shared that those discipleship students who were baptized were excited beyond words. One of those students was struggling with whether Buddhism, Hinduism or Christianity was right. Before he was baptized all the brothers and sisters gathered around him and prayed, and he felt the thrilling presence of the Holy Spirit. This let him experience that God is true.

The Lord can turn a crisis point into a turning point

In February this year I began to take responsibility over our Childcare Ministries work. Later, because the person responsible for finances was leaving, I also gradually took over the bookkeeping. When there was a shortage of cash in July and August, we slowly realized that our present two Childcare centers (House of Love & House of Joy) were spending more than was coming in. A careful review of the accounts revealed that the overspending problem had started last year. In recent years prices in Cambodia for fuel, rice and other foodstuffs have been rising, and this was a primary cause for the overspending. The reason it hadn't been discovered was because we had been spending the US $3000 that was reserved for building our third Childcare center (House of Peace).
After extensive discussion with our local management committee, it was decided to cut expenditures. But, most of the local issues in the villages were not settled, that is, how to implement it and communicate the news. How do we work it out so that the benefits are fairly allocated to everyone? This was truly a huge job requiring careful workmanship. Who would gladly accept a salary cut? Who would willingly reduce the benefits that they were already used to getting?

Thanks to our Heavenly Father's presence and leading, the two Childcare centers have already cut spending. Although it is difficult, it truly is a good learning experience. Pray for the Holy Spirit to continue protecting and guiding. Besides letting us learn how to keep expenditures in line with income, we also learned to appreciate and have grateful hearts for the blessings we have already received. More importantly we learned to rely wholly on God rather than just on the resources at hand. May the Almighty one, who can help us turn crisis points into turning points, lead us in overcoming difficult relationships, and relying on Him, to continue to press forward!

Graduation means unemployment?

In September each year, the senior high school students get their School Certificate Examination results. This year our churches and Childcare centers had over twenty senior high students who passed the exam and can apply to public or private universities. While they are rejoicing over having passed, they are also concerned about the road ahead because most local families cannot afford the over US$ 300 per year tuition fees. Each year the church calls on overseas brothers and sisters to give to support our local students to go on to advanced studies at university. So, they are all waiting for sponsors to help them. At the same time, however, they all realize that with an especially large number of graduates this year, not everyone will be able to enter university. Because there is also a lack of job opportunities in Cambodia , this group of young people that may not be able to attend university will really feel directionless. Keep praying that the Heavenly Father will lead them on the road ahead.

Traffic accident

Pherra is a student at House of Love and an active participant among the church young people. Just over two weeks ago he was in a traffic accident and had a head injury. That he was able to leave ICU in only three days was already a miracle of God! At present his right side arm and leg still cannot move. He needs other people to support him when sitting. His speaking is also one word or sentence at a time. His parents hope to take him to Vietnam to seek medical treatment. The brothers and sisters from church are always visiting him and stay with him at night. He said to a church brother who was sitting with him at night, "I want to die." Pray for our Heavenly Father to watch over his heart feelings and to heal him!

Give thanks

• for God's care, for physical health
• that the financial problem at the Childcare centers was discovered early and could be handled in good time

Prayer requests

1. For Pherra's complete healing by the Lord
2. That the newly graduated senior high school students will hand over their futures completely to the Lord, and that in times of worry and lack of direction will experience the Lord's leading and preparation
3. Recently the prices for meat and vegetables have risen again. Ask the Lord to give wisdom to the staff at the two Childcare centers. May the centers' students receive proper instruction and grow in body, soul and spirit.
4. Because of the rains, the construction of House of Peace has temporarily halted. Ask the Lord to watch over the center so that when school starts in October we can provide ministry services to help the children who are impoverished.
5. During this period when the ministry responsibilities are heavier, ask the Lord to give wisdom and health for body, soul and spirit.

Thank you brothers and sisters for laboring together with me through your prayers!

Miu-Ling
September 16, 2005

Correspondence address:
Lee Miu-ling
PO Box 602, Phnom Penh, Cambodia