An Enemy Is Now a Friend
The church burned to the ground in minutes. "Christians are to blame for this drought!" spewed the angry Kampong Speu villager, Mr. Say, who had set the wooden structure on fire. "Go away!"
But, they did not go away. They stayed. Under the leadership of Khmer Presbyterian Fellowship pastor, Sarourn, they rebuilt the open-air structure and the church continued to grow. In 2005, they constructed a permanent building, which angered Mr. Say all the more. On several occasions he brandished machetes threatening the Christians with physical harm.
Imagine Pastor Sarourn's astonishment when Mr. Say approached him on June 12, 2009 to confess his wrongdoing and to choose to follow Jesus Christ! HANDS for Cambodia vice president, Albert Cheng--who was assisting with a HANDS clinic that day--captured the confession with his camera and digital recorder.
For years Mr. Say observed how the Christians care for one another. He saw HANDS' Dr. Pross come every few months and treat all who wanted medical attendtion. He witnessed the love of Christ in action, and it changed his life.
For more stories from the June 2009 clinics, click here.
Farmer falls from tree
“Farmer falls from tree” might well have been the headlines had a news reporter covered the story of Mr. Yeoun of Kampong Speu. Earning his living by farming and tree climbing, Mr. Yeoun, a man in his sixties, broke his leg in a fall from a palm tree. When Rev. Thysan Sam of Eliot Presbyterian Church, Lowell, MA, met him on a visit to the region in January 2008, he was lying on a bamboo floor without treatment because he had no money and his wife also was sick. Rev. Sam worked with Pastor Saroun of the Khmer Presbyterian Fellowship (KPF) in Kampong Speu to get medical help for the injured farmer at a hospital in Phnom Penh. HANDS for Cambodia learned about Mr. Yeoun’s situation and arranged for food and money during his recovery. Pastor Saroun and members of KPF continued to minister to the couple. On May 4, 2008, Dr. Pross of HANDS sent this report by email: “I just turn back from Kampong Speu, this is my report: thank God! I’m very happy cos the farmer can walk a round his house but he can’t work heavy job cos his knee is breaking so bad joint it can’t make flexion and extention, he has two knees different the distances 01dm (1/10 m) all the job in his family is his wife work. His wife is sick too but now I treat her so she is good…May God bless you all! Bye!” A further report on August 31, 2008 indicated that Mr. Yeoun has continued to make progress and is grateful for the generosity of HANDS for Cambodia.
When Pastor Saroun of the Khmer Presbyterian Fellowship in Kampong Speu learned that the approximately 120 children living at a nearby orphanage would be allowed to attend his church, he knew he would need more Bibles and hymnals! The National Cambodian Presbyterian Council—in the United States—with June Taing’s leadership, sprang into action. Generous donors from Eliot Presbyterian Church, Lowell, MA, contributed $400 to purchase the needed books at a cost of $5 each. The NCPC contacted HANDS for Cambodia to inquire if we might facilitate getting the money to Pastor Saroun. Recognizing that this request was a match with our mission, the transaction was made and HANDS’ Dr. Pross was instrumental in delivering brand new Khmer Bibles and hymnals to KPF in August 2008. One month later we learned that the orphanage, operated by a company from Hong Kong, has come under new management and the children are no longer permitted to attend church. Please pray for all involved in this situation. Thank you.
Mountain People Pray for Help
Dear friends,
I would like to share with you the trip I went to the mountain and to perform the clinic there. First of all, I want to thank the Lord God whom I'd been serving from my pure heart, serving Him with Joice [joys], praising and with thanksgiving to God most High, through Jesus Christ my Savior.
Last Sunday [26 Oct 2008], on a dirt, bumpy and muddy road, with my motor bike, I went to Kampong Speu church. After meeting with the congregation there, the people requested me saying there is great needs of the people at the mountain, because there are many sick people up there. With the sense of urgent, I extended my extra miles to the new village at the foot of the mountain, which I never go there before.
This new place is also pastor Saroun's cell church which he had been spreading the gospel in that area, where transportation is extremely difficult to travel to.
This new place called Phom Prey Char, and the people who live there are also a small group of believers, which is far away from Saroun's existent church [Khmer Presbyterian Fellowship in Kampong Speu]. Because of the distance, between the two groups, plus with bad trail and road to travel, people had such difficult time to come and worship together in Saroun church here at Preah Tropang Village.
In Cambodia, the cell church is the key to reach out and maintain in both of the community of believers and to non believers who are living around them. In this area, the believers normally come together to meet, either under the tree or under their grass house, reading the Bible, then discuss it among themselves. There are 200 families, with one thousand people, living in this mountain area. Please see the mountain in the picture which will be on its way to you.
In the afternoon, while the believers came together, seated under the tree they started praying to God over their sick children; husband and wife asking for God's helps. Suddenly from far away, they saw a man on a motor bike, going up and down, crossing bushes and rice fields, but they're not sure why the motor bike keep on coming toward them.
When one of them recognize me who rode on that bike, they all came to greet me and surrounded me with words of praising and weeping at the same time. They all said: God did answer their prayers! *** Our Living God did answer our prayers!*** and they didn't stop on crying, with tears running down on their faces, and I too was weeping with them; then every one else starts weeping without stopping.
I haven't cried for so long, but because of their tears, I too cried with them. After our tears had been wiped away, I started to unpack the medicine package off my bike, and began to treat them all. There are so many of them, from 200 to 300 patients in that one day.
After a long day of serving these dear farmers and villagers, with my body exhausted and mixed feelings over those sweet tears, I blessed them and headed home to Phnom Penh capital.
Thanks to all HANDS' staffs, and to those Saints who support the ministry, please know that your work is not in vain.
Glory be to our God .
With Peace and True Love to all
Doctor Pross