The Aftermath

After the high of the cross-cultural trip and after the initial sting of the lessons that we learned, a new question comes to mind, "What do we do next?"

Watching the Khmer youth leaders come forward to commit their lives to serving God while singing "I Have Decided to Follow Jesus," some of us made a silent promise to come back someday. In the meantime, while we are waiting for God's confirmation regarding this, there are some things that all of us can do to help. Here are some of them. We can help our missionaries through:

1. PRESENCE. Our missionary hosts were very kind to us. They didn't just welcome us into their homes. They took the time to show us around and help us in any and every way. We didn't feel comfortable about it at first, but when Tita Eva explained how much they enjoyed having visitors and how our presence is an encouragement to them, I understood that merely being there to cheer them on can be a way of blessing them. If any of you, guys and gals, want to get to know them all personally and visit them in Vietnam and Cambodia, feel free to post a comment. We will get in touch with you and help you organize the trip.
2. PROVISION.The missionaries gave freely and generously to everyone. Thus, there is a constant need for a steady stream of provision for them. We can be the ravens that send support to the people doing battle in the harvest field. You can do this through cash or kind. As students from Messiah college will be going there every year, they can bring our pabaons to them for free. We can also collectively arrange for surprise packages for them containing stuff that Filipinos abroad miss like Boy Bawang, Chippy, etc. We can also send cash. No amount is too little if we pool it together. If God is urging you to participate in this, post a comment and we will arrange for it.
3. PRAYER. That's one thing we learned as a team. Prayer is very important. It's funny how Christians sometimes turn to prayer as a last resort when all of their efforts already proved futile. Prayer should be the first thing we do every time. Let's keep praying for Vietnam, Cambodia, God's work there, and the Christians who sacrificially serve a nation and a people that's not their own. This page will be constantly updated regarding prayer items and God's answers to them. Please check back regularly.

"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of him" (1 John 5:14-15).

May 05, 2011

Prayer requests from Tita Elvie Batifora

• Salvation of my English students, the returnees and their families
• The home of refuge ministry - funds for the food, clothing and education of Ruth ( Pagna ) and Elizabeth ( Sovoeun )
• ANM - reaching the unreached people group here in Cambodia; survey of villages; funds for this ministry; volunteer local workers
• Good health, let us continue to be partners in finishing the task of reaching the unreached tribes and nations for the glory of God.