We are encouraged because the promise of Emmanuel is still true today! God
is still with us and will be for Eternity! This is the living Hope we have
through faith in Jesus/Emmanuel (Matthew 1:21-23).
2007 has been a good year for the Manfred family:
Joshua is 19 and graduated from Dalat School in Malaysia and is now a
freshman at Bethel University in St. Paul. He continues to grow and develop
into a fine young man. We are so thankful because he just came back to
Cambodia to be with us for two weeks over Christmas before he heads back to
his studies at Bethel.
Joel is 17 and in 11th grade at Northbridge International School here in
Phnom Penh where he has been involved in the soccer, basketball, and
volleyball teams. He volunteered to help build some homes for homeless
people this year. He is taking several Advanced Placement courses and is
beginning to think about his college future. The timing for him starting
college will work well for us because we are scheduled to return to the
States for our one-year home assignment in the Summer of 2009 just after he
graduates.
Janelle is 14 and in 9th grade. She is involved with tutoring younger kids,
the Student Council, the swim team, and a young ladies weekly Bible study
with some school friends. She and her brothers enjoy joking with each
other. She also likes her little sister (most of the time) and is growing
into a fine young lady.
Jenna is 6 and attends Kindergarten at Hope School. She is becoming a good
reader. She was the “Enormous Star” (a leading role) in her School
Christmas play. She still likes to be close to mom and she loves her little
white dog “Pup”.
So in addition to Joel, we have a freshman in college, a freshman in High
School, and a Kindergartner... quite the spread which makes life lots of
fun for mom and dad.
In addition to her duties being “Mom”, Chris has become our Mission’s
resident architect and has helped design:
1. Our Cambodian Mission Ministry Center which involves a new office,
missionary storage and Guest House facility 2. The Cambodian National
Church Office and Conference Hall.
3. A new church building for one of our major CMA churches here in Phnom
Penh
In addition to being “Dad”, David has started his sixth year as the
Cambodian Mission Field Director. He continues to work with a wonderful
team of about 35 missionaries around the country. This year has also
involved finding funding for these building projects (see above). It has
been great to see how God has and is providing for these strategic needs.
Thanks to each of you for your partnership with us through prayer and your
financial support for the C&MA’s Great Commission Fund which keeps us
serving here.
We have included below a brief story that highlights the ways that God
continues to work in Cambodia... especially during this Christmas season.
Blessings to you and yours as you celebrate Emmanuel...
Dave, Chris, Josh, Joel, Janelle, and Jenna
PS: We recently started a "blog" where we occasionally include updates to
our life and ministry. You can access this at
www.cambomanfreds.blogspot.com
*****************************************
A Cambodian Christmas
Christmas in Cambodia does not at all seem like a North American Christmas.
The temperature is about 90 degrees. There are very few decorations. The
idea of giving gifts at Christmas is almost non-existent. Since Cambodia is
a Buddhist country, Dec. 25 is a normal work and school day. The only ones
who celebrate Christmas are the Christians.
A local Cambodian church can have their Christmas service at any time from
Dec. 15 to Jan. 1. They have a large service where they invite Christians
from other nearby churches along with their friends and neighbors. During
the service, the youth group typically puts on a Christmas play. In
addition to the normal parts of the Christmas story, one interesting
addition that Cambodians often include in their Christmas play is the
slaughter of the babies in Bethlehem. That is understandable given the fact
that it is biblical and is related to Cambodia’s recent violent history but
it does seem a little strange to North American sensibilities. Following
the service, the Christians put on a large meal for everyone who attends.
Most churches take special offerings to save up for this meal for up to two
months before the Christmas service.
On Dec. 15 David had opportunity to attend the Christmas celebration at one
of our CMA Churches about an hour motorcycle trip northeast from Phnom Penh
at a place called Koh Daj. Koh Daj is a large island in the middle of the
Mekong river so a small ferry ride was also part of the trip. The church is
about three years old and meets at the home of one of the members. When
David arrived, there were already over 100 children there and about another
100 adults and youth meeting under the house and into the yard (houses in
Cambodia are on stilts about 3 yards high so it works out great to meet
under the house). More than 50% of the people who were there were not yet
Christians but had been invited by the Christians in the house church.
David had opportunity to preach and spoke about the meaning of the names
given to Jesus that first Christmas… “Jesus”, the One who saves us from our
sins (Matthew 1:21) and “Immanuel”, “God who is with us” (Matthew 1:23).
When an invitation was given for people to receive Christ, about 25 people
raised their hands indicating their desire to make a first decision for
Christ. The key for these people growing in their faith will of course be
the local believers following them up through their on-going ministries and
teaching in the community.
After the message, Christmas songs were song (Christmas songs were a new
thing to most of the people there), the youth put on their Christmas play,
and then the kids were dismissed to play games while the adults shared a
nice curry meal together.
This service was quite typical of what is happening all over Cambodia this
Christmas season. Although a Cambodian Christmas does not have all the
“trappings” of Christmas in North America, in some ways, we think the simple
approach that Cambodian Christians take towards Christmas may be closer to
the mark of what it is all about… worship, telling the Story, sharing food
with other Christians and non-Christian neighbors, and working together to
help others know about Christ.
Simple but profound… like the first Christmas.
