Dear Friends and Family,

Recently I received a note from Roy and Dee Hanson of the Shelbyville Free Methodist Church . They asked me how they could pray for us, and what an ordinary day here was like. I pounded out this spontaneous recollection (is that possible) and thought I would net two fish with one toss, which means I'm passing it on to you, too.

Thank you for thinking of us and about how you can pray. Let me answer your hodgepodge of questions with a collage of reports of unrelated things that happened of late.

Yesterday, or a couple of days ago, I was riding my bike home from market when I saw a nursing dog run over to a mother who was walking with her two-year old child, and bite the toddler on the leg. It all happened so fast, and then the dog was gone.

In a personal encounter, I brought a smile to the face of the local mechanic when I suggested that since he was busy, I'd come back the next day with my car. He smiled, but then unexpectedly caught a mouthful of dreadful things from an exhaust pipe.

Oh yes, I've mentioned one older lady in my newsletter before. Yesterday she was sitting in front of my house so I brought her a yogurt and a piece of fruit. She threw them out in the street. A motorcycle taxi saw the incident and smiled telling me,"No,no!" It was his way of encouraging me. I appreciated that he understood what I was trying to do.

Two days ago I walked to market because one of the young men from church, knowing that I'm his friend, borrowed my bicycle without asking. Since I'm a pastor and really to be liked, he brought it back with a flat tire. As it's over ninety degrees everyday here, I wear a hat and long sleeves to keep from melting along the way. On my way home, a taxi with a cart dropped something. I picked it up and gave it to him. He was all smiles and offered me a ride home. I said thanks, but we were in front of my house. Why couldn't he have dropped it half a kilometer up the road?

There is another member of the family who seldom gets mentioned, Mikan, our dog. He is a big, black, lovable, and mischievous. I spend ten minutes with him every night before I go to bed because he gets lonely. As we were wrestling the other night, I noticed a firefly. It was a real treat. Another one is just outside our window. When there is not a full moon, we have a great view of one of the Dippers, From where we are near the equator, it seems very close. Regarding Mikan, however, recently I have not been thrilled about his behaviour. I bought some plants for Yuko last week. I returned the laborers who had helped me lift some of the heavier ones, gave them a tip and a tract and came back to the house to find several plants had become dog fodder. Then today, when the landlord came over, Mikan went into the downstairs area that serves as garage and chapel (it's pretty when the car is not in it), and left an offering I had to clean up.

Yesterday I went to the home of one of the ladies in our development group. Everyone was surprised to see me riding a bike because I always drive the truck there to pick them up for church. One of the men of the enclave was happy to see me, after all, I help bring cash into the community. That sounds a bit utilitarian perhaps on his part or pessimistic on mine. Maybe it is a bit of both. Anyway, I can understand where he is coming from. After making some arrangements there I went to see a girl who has not been coming to church lately, one of our worship leaders. She is dating a Buddhist monk. She was out studying; she always is, even when she isn't. Her mother has said her daughter is out playing at times when supposedly she has gone to church or to study. Well I didn't see the young lady at the first house I went to, probably because she didn't live there. At the next one, her house, I talked with her mom. Baby pictures are a door opener. Everyone in this town knows Caleb and he is only a month and a half old.

I bought biscuits from a lady at the market for Yuko and Caleb's Welcome Home party. She is the step-mother of one of our believers. The girl, Yavan, comes only to special functions as she is forbidden to come on a regular basis. I try to keep a door open by shopping there on occasion.

Four or five times a week I go to one of the local coffee shops for a twenty cent ice tea with lime. I didn't go today and I'm already feeling withdrawal pains. Thank goodness I have some tea and limes in the fridge. There is a community of men that have coffee there every day, with whom I have become acquainted. Baby pictures again. Next to the cafe are several key makers who also fix shoes. One fellow is incapable of making me a good key, but he is a very nice fellow. He has a baby, too. There are also several ladies who spend a part of every day begging. They are widows. You can tell because each one has her head shaved.

Yesterday as I left the cafe, my tire was out of air AGAIN! I asked one of the fellows on the corner to fill it. He charged me double the usual price, an outlandish, eight cents, but I told him I'd go to a different place in the future. It was half in jest--half. This is a barter culture so everything is negotiable. I've told you about the continuing saga with flats. You are probably saying to yourself:" Why don't you get a new tire, Wilkins?" This is a reasonable conclusion as I see logic. In fact I approached my house helper about it. Her conclusion was to fix the air pump. My experience here could be termed: "When Worlds Collide." Anyway, I live in a flat universe even if the world is round.

Flats are not the only recurring negative. King George is back in the wall of the kitchen. For the uninitiated, King George is a large lizard, a stowaway, a freeloader, an uninvited guest, and, he is rude. I pounded the wall, but once he winds up those lungs for a hoot there is no stopping him. I ceased hostilities as the wall is only two mil thick. As I write this, his distant cousin is calling, "cheh cheh cheh." King George, on the other hand looses a loud "Uh hah, uh hah." I knew you would want to know. You heard it here first.

We're starting a training session. It is part of a widely used program begun by the CMA . At present some of our young people get scholarships for college. Some don't receive them. We don't always have enough donors. Also, if a student goes to Bible college, he/she quits work or doesn't go to work, leaves their community for several years, and finishes with the expectation of a higher salary now that they are educated. The problem is that the churches consist of poor farmers, widows, young people in school, and very few trained laborers. Well, some of our people in Kampong Cham want to go to Bible College . This is good but they were opposed to me starting TEE (Theological Education Extension). I talked to them and let them know the college requires the first part of TEE anyway. I have found that if one quietly and patiently shows the reasoning behind decisions, people begin to trust you. So many decisions in this culture are based on association and resources. Who do you know and how much can you give/get. By way of example, my language instructor took me to the doctor, I was feeling rundown, and was worried I may be contagious with something I didn't want to give to Yuko and the baby. After we were finished she said to me, "If I'd known he was here we wouldn't have come. Of course I asked "Why?" Her response was that his family has money and had bought his medical diploma.

I didn't mention in my last letter a sad episode regarding our childcare home, House of Love, in Prek thei village. Many of our young people gathered at the Phnom Penh church on New Year's eve for a worship service. Two of the young ladies, sisters, left after they performed in a skit. They were both killed by a drunk driver moments later. Please keep their family and the driver as well, in prayer.

Two Sundays ago I picked up the folks down by the river for afternoon worship. After arriving at the church, Sarah, our mission office receptionist, told me she was worried about her cousin Mari who was going that day to work in a factory. I asked Sohklin, our music director to start the worship service, and Sarah and I went to talk to Mari and her mother. We offered her some work for a week or so and encouraged her to get involved in our development project. So far she is still here. In fact, she's coming today to help get rid of dust and spider webs.

I met a married college student last September who works for the local commune (area of administration). Last week I went to dinner at his traditional Khmai household. We had a good time, a good talk. I hope to have them to our place in the future.

Six of us went to Andang Svai last week. Some of the young people were not really interested in going, but went with us anyway. We had a very good time. Sarah and I saw several men drinking rice wine from a bowl so we sat down with them. One fellow kept asking great questions, like: "Do I have to stop drinking if I become a Christian?" and "Which religion is the right one?" We talked with them about forty minutes, and even gave our phone numbers to the fellow who asked the questions. I gave him a New Testament. A few days later we received phone calls from him requesting money. Oh well. He said he would make trouble if we didn't help him. Please keep this in your prayers, too.

Well, I've mentioned a lot of people, but I think that is the best way to show you our life and work.

To answer some of your direct questions, I wear western clothes. Folks here wear a mix of traditional and western clothing. Special events are usually done in traditional apparel. Regarding hobbies, I like to jog, and to write novels. I do both with fervent irregularity. As for my language ability, I need a translator for Sundays. The language for God and king is honorific with an entirely different vocabulary. This is not to say I wouldn't need a translator were it the common Cambodian vocabulary.

You asked for specific prayer requests. I had asked for prayer regarding the children in the neighborhood who were ringing my gate bell at all hours. Well, our prayers are answered. The bell is broken.

As Yuko and Caleb return, please pray for good health, and wisdom for new parents. It is more than two hours to the nearest clinic, unless I go to the one already mentioned.

We have three outreaches here. In the town of Kampong Cham and the village of Suong we have weekly services. Kampong Cham usually has twenty folks plus a separate children's Sunday school. Suong usually has eight to ten. We have had a Sunday school for twenty children but the village leader squashed it. Please keep that in prayer. Andang Svai was a five hour round trip when we first started going there. The road has been improved somewhat, and the trip is a little quicker now. At present, we go once a month. We visit homes and the village leader for an hour and a half, and then sing, do a skit, and have a short message. We had a hundred people gather for our Christmas meeting.

Please pray for the TEE training. As our people grow inwardly I believe we will see more success in our various neighborhoods. Living the Kingdom life will be a good witness.

The FMC Mission is having a ladies meeting in March. We're anticipating one hundred married ladies, We will have a large youth gathering in April with an anticipated show of two hundred. We had this many last year. It is held at festival time and there is a lot of travel and partying. Please pray for empowerment and safety.

Yuko and I would like your prayer for language study and appropriation.

Well, those are the majors. For Chris, Yuko, Caleb, Mikan, and King George, thank you for your prayers and well wishes.