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