missions update june-july

8/6/2019 Missions Update June-July

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LIVING FIELDS

About Cambodia

the

INSTEAD OF THE THORN BUSH THE CYPRESS WILL COME UP, AND INSTEAD OFTHE NETTLE THE MYRTLE WILL COME UP, AND IT WILL BE A MEMORIAL TO THELORD, FOR AN EVERLASTING SIGN THAT WILL NOT BE CUT OFF. ISA. 55:13

As an agriculturist and natural farming advocate, visiting villages, travellingto far provinces and communicating with local Khmer people opened my

eyes to the vast opportunities in helping communities through agriculture. In

these encounters, God has opened my eyes to see and appreciate the tool in

my hand and allowing Him to set the strength to move the tool and

minister to the physically and spiritually needy people in line with Gods

purpose and redemptive plan for the nations.

J U N E J U L Y 2 0 1 1 K I N G D O M O F C A M B O D I A

Chumripsua!

Okon Preah Ong! I thank God for

allowing me to finally set foot in

Cambodia for long-term commitment.

For the last 3 years, God has given me

glimpses of what He has in store for

me in line with His works in this land.

For the past two months, life in the

runway of a different culture has been

exciting, colorful and challenging. A

dollop of cultural and personal

adjustments here and there sprinkles

my human emotional vessel. With

these stirrings, my soul has no way of

settling itself except in finding its

stillness in the tents of the Most High.

I look forward to the path God will

lead my feet into. May it always be as

part of His work and will of turning

this land like a garden watered by Hislife giving waters that never fails.

Cambodia-for most people, what comes to mindwhen hearing this country would possibly be any

of these words: Khmer Rouge, Angkor Wat,Angelina Jolie, or land mines. For some, nothingcomes to mind at all.Theres truth in the sad notion that this smallSoutheast Asian country has gotten overwhelminginternational attention only after the atrociousregime and the failed social engineering by theinfamous Khmer Rougewhich killed nearly 2million Cambodians in a short span of 3 years.

friendlypeople andvast landsareGods giftstoCambodia

Theravada Buddhism (the narroway) is the main religiousphilosophy in Cambodia.


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`THE LIVING FIELDS JUNE-JULY

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Brief History 9th13

thcentury,riseandruleoftheKhmerEmpireovermuchof

SoutheastAsia;constructuionofAngkorWatTemplecomplex

14th

century,empireoverthrown,Khmer(pronouncedKmaay)faced

weak

kings,

internal

rivalries

and

warfare

with

the

Thais

1800s,colonizedbytheFrench

1953,independence

19751978,atrociousKhmerRouge regime 1993, adoptedmultipartydemocracyunderconstitutionalmonarchy

KingNorodomSihamoniandHunSen,ceremonialkingandprime

minister,respectively

People, Geography, and Economy

Population: 14 million; half of the population was born after 1987

and 35% is under age 14

80% live in rural areas organized into small farming villages

It is imperative that to be Cambodian is to be Buddhist; 92% of the

population is Buddhist

prominent low flat plains for rice farming, jungles, lakes and Mekong

River

Issues of Concern CultureKhmerRougedid awaywithlivingbearersofKhmer

culture,destroyedartifacts,instruments,andbooks

HealthCare75%ofadultCambodianwholivedthroughthe

KhmerRougeerasufferextremestressandposttraumatic

disorder

40%ofyoungCambodianssufferfromstressdisorderscausedby

growingupinafracturessocialnetwork

UNreports,16physiciansforevery100,000,notoneinpatient

mentalhospital

Infectiousdiseasessuchas TuberculosisandHIV/AIDSare

responsibleformorethan 10%ofdeathseachyear

Education,37%ofadultpopulationisfunctionallyliterate,low

wagesforteachersat$30$40/month,only1of5whoentersfirst

gradefinishesthe9th

grade

Families,itisnotuncommontofindfamilieswithoutfathers,

gamblinganddomesticviolenceplaguethefamilies

Religioiusfreedom,theconstitutiondeclares religiousfreedom

foritscitizensbutdeclaresthattobeCambodianistobeBuddhist

Pray for CambodiaLetusdotheactoffaithinprayinginloveforthepeople

whoareseparatedfromusintimeandspace.Cambodiai

inatimeofhealingasanation.Onlytheunfathomable

loveofGodcanhealthebrokenheartsandcrushedspirits

of apeoplewhomHealsodearlythoughtof.

Praywithoutceasing.

ForPrayerGuidesandknowmoreaboutUnreachedPeop

Groups,visitwww.joshuaproject.net

Adapted from The Peoples of CambodiCambodia Research Netwo

monksplace in Angkor Wat

Catching the rainbow over ricefields in

Kampong Chnnang


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Connecting with Khmer VillagersThrough Natural Farming

greeted by the people with the polite Cambodiansompiah

(hands held together as in prayer, heads slightly bowed).

Each one never seemed to fail to ask about the impending

project in their place.

Later in the evening, while killing time outside the village

house, a couple dropped by to talk to the visitors. After the

customary exchange of pleasantries, the husband told us

that they were Christians. We were astonished to hear such

declaration which is quite taboo, especially in rural

Cambodia. They went on to share that there are only two

house churches gathering in that part of Kampong Thom

and that they badly needed help in ministering to the

believers there.

We went back home that weekend holding on to the

excitement with where God will lead us next. Many are the

plans in our heart, but Gods perfect plan will surely come

forth.

Evicted but not haltedJust as July was about to end, Mommy Virgie, my ministry partner, and I were forced to transfer our base to another

location. At the beginning of the month, we had the optimistic start of gathering young people, mostly Mommy VirgiesEnglish students last year, to continue learning English. Newcomers started to join and Sunday afternoons were spent

gathering these young people. After two weeks, English and Bible studies were started with two of the relatives of the

landlady as the first students handled by our Indian missionary neighbor. We never expected the sudden rush of interested

English students. This has caused quite a little disturbance to the adjacent room. It was not long before the landlady

received complaints. The landlady told us to stop the activities in the base. We would later find out that she did not also

like the recruitment, as she called it, done by Christians who were subtly doing it behind free English classes. She was

known to be very headstrong in resisting anything that has to do with Christianity. To avoid further rocking of the boat

at this time, we decided to transfer the base to another place. The work must go on...(and we still are very good friends

with the landlady. We are always praying to God to prepare her heart to know Him and worship Him..in His perfect

time. )

Kampong Thom is a province right in the heart of

Cambodia. The place is believed to be the home province

of PolPot. Aboard a dilapidated Japanese surplus mini-

bus, we took the 2-hour ride to its dusty interior. Along

the way, MINES CLEARED sign boards dot some

communes we passed by, reminiscent of a painful part of

their not-so distant past.

A door of opportunity was opened for me to develop an

idle land to a productive spot. Sokly Eam, a Cambodian

YWAMr whos got the passion to testify about Christ to

her own people, has been praying about the answer to herhow question in using this land in a way that God can

use to reach her people for Christ. Started and ended

with much prayer, long talks about shared visions and of

using what each one God has put in our hands soon

transpired. A meeting with her father, a devout Buddhist

priest who shared equally with our enthusiam, and a visit

to the place soon took place. Upon arriving, we were


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fostering partnerships andfriendships

YWAM UofN, PoukThe University of the Nations, Pouk, a ministry under YouthWith A Mission has started partnership in making an organic

kitchen garden in the idle part of their property in the village. The

goal of this project is to augment the support of local Khmer

YWAMers serving their own people in the village. It is also

envisioned to become a center of learning for organic gardening. It

is our prayer and desire to mirror the love of God in every

livelihood project that we do in partnership with the village

families in the near future.

Teen Missions InternationalInitial assessment for 60-hectare farm development is also on its

way in partnership with the Teen Missions International,

Cambodia. The organization runs a BMW (Bible, Missions,

Work) module for Cambodian young people. They learn about the

Bible, do missions and evangelism, and finally do work in a farm

that helps their organization run sustainably and become self-

sufficient. May God continue to lead all of us who will be working

in this project and to lead more young people to dedicate their

lives to the rewarding and joyful life of serving God in their land.

Volunteering in the villageIn partnership with Mommy Virgie, we have dedicated our

Saturday afternoons teaching English in Jhrolong Village Public

Primary school. This is a pioneering effort of selecting qualified

primary students, supporting them till high school and discipling

and releasing them to ministry during and after university years.

Sunday mornings are dedicated in establishing relationship with

the village people through Sunday school and proposed

agricultural and livelihood projects in the near future.

InmyfrsttwomonthshereinSiemReap,CambodiaIgettoknowmany

missionariesandothermembersoftheChurchwhoarepassionate

enoughtospendapart oftheirlivesinmakingGodknownin

Cambodia.Inmysparetime,Iloveandenjoyhelpinginotherministries

InknowingotherChristiansfromdifferentorganizations,missions

agencies,andnationalities,ittaughtmemoreclearlyaboutWorld

ChristianteamworkwhichisunitedbyonevisioninwhichChristrulesas

Lordovereverynation.


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MISSIONS.

Whatisitandwhatstheurgencyabout?the purpose of His soon-coming death. The prayer of

his death and his life burst forth: Father, glorify your

name!

After His resurrection, He appeared to His followers

and continued to speak words imploring them to bring

glory to the Fathers name to all nations.

The Great Commission

Jesus last words in Matthew 28:19-20 Gotherefore and make disciples of al l thenations, baptizing them in the name of theFather and the Son and the Holy Spir it,teaching them to observe all that Icommanded you; and lo, I am with you

always even to the end of the age isknown as the Great Commission. Behindthese words, the Lord Jesus implored andcommanded His fol lowers to go and make disciples of al l nat ions. The Greek word fornat ions used here is ethn f rom which weder ive the word ethnic. By it , we meannat ion as a people group with i ts owndist inct culture and language. Today, thereare 16,000 people groups which haveemerged and are scat tered around the wor ld

from the or iginal 70 dist inct language groupsafter the confusion of the languages at theTower of Babel. This gospel of the kingdom wi l l be preachedin the whole world as a test imony to al l thenat ions, and then the end wi l l come.(Mark24:14) ' Finishing the task of reaching the unreachedis the urgency.

Be a World Christian and capture the vision ofGod for

all the nations.There are many ways to get involved in the Great

Commission. The following sites are great resources to

get you started or to learn more.

www.joshuaproject.net/mission-ideas-for-individuals.php

Adapted fromKairos: God the Church and the WorldLiving Springs International, 2005

Missions. Youve heard the word, you know someonewhos into it. Whats more?

The term missionscarries with it a load of strategic,

academic and religious definitions. To many, it means

something thats just out of their sphere of interest. For

some, it could be just another highfalutin

embellishment worn by the pious and the religious.

Missions, if understood to its very essence, could

change ones perspective in life in line with Gods

purpose for the whole world. Yes, it is a command from

our King, yet, it is also a willful response of worship of

a heart which is captured by His love for all the

peoples of the world. Missions is not only for and

because of the Christians called missionaries. It is all

about God, His glory, His global purpose, His

redemptive plan, and Christs universal bodys role on

it. Everyone surely has a place somewhere within the

vision behind the mission.

Gods Purpose and Plan

God has been at work since the beginning of time to

fulfill His own purpose.

I am God, and there is no other; I am God and

there is no one like me...I say: My purpose will

stand, and I will do all that I please (Isaiah

46:9b-10).

Gods ultimate purpose is to have a people, recreated

in Christ, representing every nation on earth, who are

fully yielded to His kingship and whose all-consuming

passion is to glorify Him and become an extension of

His divine purpose and person.

and with Your blood you purchased men forGod from every tribe and language and people

and nation. You have made them to be a

kingdom and priests to serve God, and they

will reign on the earth.(Rev. 5:9b-10)

Christ is the climax of the story of Gods glory. At the

end of all things, He will have purchased people from

everyt tribe and tongue to honor the Father.

In His final hour, Jesus displayed his life purpose, andWe are all called and each one has a place in the

calling.


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I thank and praise God for the fruitful first two months here in the field. In a short

span of time, I am more in awe of how God has shown miracles and given timely

blessings more than I got overwhelmed with any of the hardships. I consider these

times more than just testings, but more of experiencing God and His faithfulness

in opportune moments. Truly, my spiritual muscles were strengthened and my

character and perceptions refined.

I am sending all my heartfelt gratitude to all those who have willingly shared their

time and effort to pray for me in the field. You are Gods warriors in faith. Thank

you to those who have generously sent their support in many ways. Thank you for

being part of the greater work as God blesses the nations, in ways you may have

not seen or imagined.

I also would like to partner with you in prayer. Please dont hesistate to

correspond. Words and news from home and from afar are always appreciated and

anticipated. May God keep you and bless you always as we all partner in blessing

His name among the nations.

Together, let us expect great things from God. Till next updates!

With you in the service to theKing,

Miss Ma.Elna P. Furio

[Door # 12, Svay Dongkum Commune]

[Svay Dangkum Village], [Siem Reap Province]

[Kingdom of Cambodia]

Email: [email protected]

+85577368872 (Cambodia)

MEMOIRS AND REFLECTIONS

Gods guidance in all my community project partnerships, that God may help all of us who areinvolved to listen only to His voice regarding the best step that we will take as we are still in the

process of planning Gods protection and provision in the next few months which will be mostly travelling back to the

villages, working and talking with the local people. Hygiene in food and water is of great concernhere for most Christian workers serving in the community

My language learning, that God will just give me the grace to learn and understand theCambodians heart language

The local Cambodian churches, that they may be strengthened and encouraged

Lastly, that God may bring up new disciples and local , indigenous churches in Cambodia througthe unity in vision of the significant number of local Cambodian churches and the mission worksof the churches from around the world

missions update june-july

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