Cambodia: Newsletter from Esther and Nick

Dear Friends of Cambodia,

We bring you greetings from Cambodia where we continue to witness Gods faithfulness. We were blessed to have had the opportunity to host a Medical Team from Louisiana Conference. When we stepped off the bus at the church in Kampong Chhnang on the second morning of our medical mission, we were overwhelmed but not surprised to see that the size of the crowd had nearly doubled since the day before. Without cell phones, word still travels quickly. Among the crowd whod gathered to see the American doctors was an old man and his wife whod set up on their mat at the churchs entrance rather than in the waiting area with the rest. The wife was steadfast in her position at the doorway of the sanctuary-turned-examination room, where her reclining husband, whom she spoke for, would be seen as a priority.

Soon, Dr. Edgar Feinberg was ready to see her husband inside. It took the doctor under the right arm and another volunteer under the left to walk him in and sit him at the table. He had great difficulty holding himself up and he smelled of urine. With the assistance of his wife and a translator, Dr. Feinberg learned that Hom Pen, age 72, had become progressively weaker over time. By examination, he was found to be anemic and was suffering from jaundice. His firm liver suggested a possibility of scorosis as well.

Without the resources to run tests for an official diagnosis, the doctor explained his condition as the dropsy, a label given in such cases to a variety of internal illnesses that could be anything from an infection to cancer. More specifically, he offered an educated guess that Hom Pen suffering was caused by organ dysfunction. Dr. Feinberg later explained to us that with proper funding and equipment available in his practice back in the United States, this condition would be more definitively diagnosable and treatable.

However, in this situation, Hom Pen would most likely live 10 more months. Dr. Feinberg did not give this sobering news to the couple, but with the help of the translator, helped them understand the seriousness of his illness and the best ways to help him rest and minimize any pain. While the translator labored through these explanations, Pens wife held Ericas arm tight. We dont know whether it was for physical support, emotional support, in any sort of gratitude, or just because shed never seen an arm so white in her life. No matter what the reason, she was getting something out of that moment, with her lame husband, the fast-talking translator, the mysterious American doctor, and white arm holding her up.

Over the 5 days this team spent in the rural communities of Kampong Chhnang province, the six doctors saw about two thousand patients. Some needed antibiotics for infections, a pair of eyeglasses or a tooth pulled, and were sent home healed. Others were identified as suffering from treatable illnesses and were referred to the provincial hospital. And some left like Hom Pen. Regardless, each patient whod heard of these doctors from America had come to the church and received blessings. They were cared for individually, walked to the pharmacy, and were given their medications. Team members engaged them in a bell choir, drew their portrait, and played with their children. They were prayed with and prayed for. Above all, they went home with the memory of a time at the local church that folks from far away had cared about them as brothers and sisters in Christ, and shared His gentle care and joy with them and their community.

We want to thank you so much for helping make it possible for us to continue sharing Christ's love to our brothers and sisters in Cambodia. It is through small, repetitive gestures of a visit, attentiveness, gentleness, a touch, a hug and genuine care that Christ's love crosses language, cultural, and generational boundaries to meet us at our point of need. Every donation, big or small, helps make this continually possible. Your generous and selfless contribution to your brothers and sisters in Christ is going to help build His kingdom in Cambodia, one day at a time.
Thank you for helping us to strengthen the astounding work that God has began in Cambodia.


In Christs Amazing love!
Nicholas, Esther, Erica, Jeanette, Nicole and Michelle.
Missionary Advance # 13959Z, 13077Z

Laos Advance Projects

As Missionaries to Laos, we are asking for your financial support. Please select one of these vital mission projects. Your prayers and financial support are vital to the success of the Southeast Asia Mission church, “Laos District”.

(1) Covenant relationship advance Tsuchue #15073Z, or Joua # 15074Z
(2) Congregational Development # 14927A, (3) Church building #14926N, (4) Women children & youth ministries #3020470, (5) Seed project #3020462, (6) Undesignated project #00239A

Volunteer in Mission (VIM)

Seven year ago, Laos Samphang Methodist Church (LSMC) was born with three couples’ families, and the church has continued to grow since. In January of 2006, GBGM sent the first missionaries to Laos to carry out God’s ministry. The church had grown from three couples’ families into 69 congregations or (villages) that held Sunday worship regularly. A church facility is greatly needed for LSMC in Laos. Of the 69 congregations, only seven hold their worship in a church building; 63 congregations hold worship at the lay preacher’s or a laity member’s house. In the last three years, the Laos Council and Missionaries to Laos put in a lot of work to show LSMC that by the year 2016 the Laos Council and GBGM can build 63 church buildings to house its members. In order for the church to grow faithfully, both spiritually and socially as witnesses to the larger community, our obligation is to find a way to build church facilities to hold church events, activities, and Bible study. We believe gathering regularly and socially is foundational to spreading God’s good news.

In order to meet these goals and this vision, the LSMC Council has set up a few projects that greatly need VIM teams to help to accomplish what is necessary for the year 2009. Currently, there are four church buildings and a school facility that need to be completed for this year. The greatest of the church building’s needs are vinyl/tile supplies, ceiling work, concrete wall finishing, and electrical work. Each project will cost between $2,500.00 and $3,500.00. Please help LSMC by spreading word of this need to other members in the church or friends you think may be part of God’s solution. “PEACE”

Lao Samphang Methodist is Homeless

4,800 Lao Samphang Methodist church members are “homeless”, and we are in great need of 69 homes (church buildings) to house our worship by the Lao Samphang Methodist Church’s (LSMC) 15th anniversary (2016). A place to worship our Holy God is important to our United Methodist faith, and the church building is the physical part that makes the spiritual church grow in faith and spiritual understanding of the life of the church.

In 2001, Lao Samphang Methodist church was born without a church facility. Since then, the church is continuing to grow. Although some church buildings have been built to house its members, they are not enough to meet its need. These are growing pains; still, we can no longer ignore the facts and let the church continue to be homeless. As church leaders and disciples of Jesus Christ, our duty is to come together, to gather resources and build 69 church buildings to house 4,873 members. The Council has put a plan in place to follow. The plan is to begin by building six churches for the first year (2009), increase by twelve churches in the second year, build fifteen more churches in both the third and fourth years, twelve more in the fifth year, six more in the sixth year, and three more churches in the seventh year (2015). That will total 69 churches by 2016. The total project is estimated to cost $654,800.00. We (the council) come to ask you, our UMC sisters and brothers in the world, for $428,800.00. The LSMC Council will be accountable for the costs of land and labor ($226,000.00).

A physical church building is central to holding the church together in Christ, for continuing growth in evangelism, for church leadership development, and for skills training for future leaders in such lay leader, women, and youth leadership – what is needed to lead the LSMC into the next century. As the LSMC Council, we come to you asking for financial support and prayer. 98% of LSMC’s members are newly converted, and it takes time to understand the life of the Church, and how to be a part of the local church’s contribution to the whole Church. Our covenant to you and to the Lord is that we will make sure that every penny that the LSMC Council receives for church building will go straight to building.

New Mission VBS in the works!

A team is working on a Children through Youth Mission Vacation Bible School project based on mission work going on in Southeast Asia. It will be piloted at the Annual Conference this June and is slated to be made available for churches in 2010.

Projects In Laos

The Methodist Church in Laos has two projects available for small teams.

Vientiane, Laos -- Build a computer classroom, library, Laying floor tile, install ceiling, wall finishing, and electrical wiring. Two Teams of 3-5 needed (avoid August). Youth (16 and older) accepted. Total needed for the project: $4,306.00. Cost for food/housing will be $38 per day PP. Coordination Fee for the team is $21 PP. Other possibilities for the team: English as a Second Language, adult literacy, and Bible Women Training.

Vientiane, Laos -- Laying floor tile, install wood ceiling, and electric wiring at Lao Samphang Methodist Center. Two teams of 3-5 needed (avoid August). Youth accepted (16 and older). Total needed for the project: $4,690.00. Cost for food/housing will be $38 per day PP. Coordination Fee for the team is $21 PP. Other possibilities for the team: English as a Second Language, adult literacy, and Bible Women Training.

If interested, please contact Mike Collins at mcollins@wnccumc.org

Esther and Nick Available for Churches

Esther and Nick Gitobu and family will be itinerating in the Western North Carolina Conference for a period of 10 days between June 22 through July 16, 2009. We will attempt to schedule them according to regions.

If you would like for them to come to your church, please let Mike Collins (mcollins@wnccumc.org) or Laura Diviney (ldiviney@wnccumc.org) know possibilities. Once we have a list of possibilities, we will work on the schedule.

Southeast Asia Consultation

The Western North Carolina Conference will host the Southeast Asian Consultation in the Charlotte area October 1-3, 2009. Larry Goodpaster, Bishop and Mike Collins, Coordintor of Mission/Outreach extended this invitation to the General Board of Global Ministries and it has been accepted by GBGM.

Bishop Goodpaster has visited Southeast Asia several times and is the overseeing Bishop for the United Methodist Church in Southeast Asian countries of Laos, Vietnam, and Thailand. He is not presently overseeing Cambodia.

Sandy Waldron, the Chair of the Commission on Mission/Outreach will meet with members of GBGM in Jacksonville, Fla. the last week of January to help work out the preliminary details for this consultation. As information becomes available it will be shared on this blog and in the WNCC-enews.

Asia World Desk Blog Page

Thank you for your interests in working together in ministries and missions throughout Asia. This is our first attempt at working together in mission relationships through blogging.

I see us sharing information in several ways:
1. Using this Blog: The blog will cover information I receive through the General Board of Global Ministries, work we aredoing within the Commission on Mission/Outreach, and news I receive through emails, … It is a joint process. I am urging others to join us share information that can benefit the total mission work. Share information you wish to be placed on the blog in one of two ways: email information to me, mcollins@wnccumc.org or share your comments after each posting.
2. Enews: The WNCC-enews is our number one way of sharing information. If you have not signed up for the WNCC-enews please do so at http://www.wnccumc.org/.
3. Conference Calls: As time and finances permit, we will have conference calls to share information.
4. Commission on Mission/Outreach: The Commission (or its future organization) meets two-four times a year through conference calls or in-person. Shelley Webb is the Asia Desk Coordinator. Should items be brought to our attention through the Blog or other means, Shelley will bring this to the Commission’s attention.

I am looking forward to partnership with you.

Mike Collins