Ready for Christmas

Dear Praying Friends:

Thanks for your prayers for Cambodia over these past few weeks since the
stampede that killed about 350 in Phnom Penh. The Christian community did a
good job of being "light" in the midst of that darkness. The women's group
from the largest C&MA Church in Phnom Penh has had a ministry for many years
in a large local hospital where they make weekly visits to patients who have
AIDs. They assist as they can with their needs and also share the Gospel.
So it was natural for them to do the same kinds of things with the 100 or so
injured people and their families who were at the hospital after the tragedy
last month. In addition, the Evangelical Fellowship of Cambodia (the
umbrella organization that most evangelical groups in Cambodia work with)
had outreach to victims and their families in several other Phnom Penh
hospitals. "Care" packages and prayers were given out by both groups. We
are thankful that through CAMA Services we were able to come alongside these
efforts to demonstrate the love of Christ to those who have lost so much.

As we enter into the Christmas season here, we continue to be amazed and
encouraged about how curious many Cambodians are about Christmas. Stores in
Phnom Penh are quickly understanding that they can make money by promoting
this holiday :-) so Christmas lights are up, Santa hats are out, and even
Christmas music can be heard in some places. Ten years ago, none of that
was true. We are not lovers of the commercialization of Christmas but in
Cambodia, it has created a curiosity about this holiday with many
Cambodians. And that in turn does open up some wonderful doors to share the
Reason for the Season.

We just attended a C&MA youth Christmas gathering in Phnom Penh on Dec. 10
with about 150 youth in attendance. At the same time in NW Cambodia,
another C&MA youth Christmas gathering was held with about 250 young people in
attendance. On Dec. 18 we will be having a Christmas meal at the home of
fellow missionaries, Joe and Kay Kong, where about 20 government officials
will be in attendance (almost all of them not yet Christians). Our family will be going to Poipet on Christmas Eve where David has been asked to preach for their Christmas service. In speaking with our missionary couple who serve there, Soeuth and Syna Lao, they anticipate more than 500 will be in attendance.

On Dec. 25, there are plans in several places to hold large
inter-denominational Christmas services. In Phnom Penh, they will be doing
this for the first time. Interestingly, it will be held at the same
location where the stampede that killed so many happened in November. We
are praying that many thousands will come out for this meeting and that the
Lord would transform this place of death into a place of life. In addition, in the northwestern Cambodian city of Sisophon, over the past two years, they have
had Christmas services with about 10,000 people who came out, They anticipate
about the same number this year. Amazing open doors for the Gospel!

In addition to all of this, each local church also has their own special
Christmas celebration in their community. The local churches do not
necessarily celebrate Christmas on Dec. 24 or 25 but they pick a day any
time from Dec. 10 to Jan. 1 to celebrate... so it is a full month of
celebrations.

Christians in Cambodia are not shy about sharing the Gospel during these
meetings. Pray that the true significance of Christ's birth, death, and
resurrection will be clearly heard by all who come. Pray that many will
respond in faith. Pray that those who response in faith will be discipled
to follow and serve Christ.

December happens to be the month when rice is harvested throughout Cambodia.
Cambodians are encouraged this year because it looks like it will be a
bumper crop for rice. Please join us in prayer that this December will also reap
another harvest in Cambodia... An even more significant bumper crop of
changed lives for good, for God, and for eternity.

Our service here is made possible by praying people like you. Thanks for
standing with us in prayer. Some of you may have heard that giving to the
Great Commission Fund is down so far this year. We just had to cut our
ministry budgets by about 7% for the next eight months. Our tight budget
just got tighter! Your giving to the Great Commission Fund through your
local Alliance church or through www.cmalliance.org/give/ helps us bring in the
Harvest. Thanks for your prayerful consideration to come alongside us in
this way as well.

Merry Christmas!

In Christ, Dave and Chris