Widows Island … Not a Paradise
We had the opportunity to go to a place today called “Widows Island”. It is an island for ladies who husbands have died and have no place to go. It is also a place for women who’s husbands have abandoned them. There are many orphan children who are simply dropped off at the island for the women to care for. We drove about an hour then rode a small boat across a large river to the island. One of the missionaries has planted a church on the island and they hold weekly services and Bible studies. It is amazing to the see the intense poverty but the intense love for the Lord among these ladies. We took about 20 children from another orphanage with us. Some of them sang for the ladies and then the ladies fed them.
I had the privilege to preach to them and try encourage them that God still loves them and He has a wonderful future waiting for them. Pray for these ladies. There are many more on the island that have not been saved and are skeptical about why the missionaries are there.
WOW! What an experience.
AIDS Ministry in Cambodia … 9 saved!
I had the opportunity to preach in a service for the AIDS Ministry. Our missionary Jojo Miraflor is doing an incredible job with about three different ministries. One of them is an AIDS ministry for people who have been diagnosed with the disease. Some contracted it through prostitution and some through an unfaithful husband. One person received a blood transfusion that was tainted with the disease. There were approximately 25 in attendance. Turnover is a big issue in this ministry because many of them die. We had a great service with 9 women getting saved!!! Pray for the workers in this ministry.
I smell a RAT!!
What is this picture about you ask? Let me just start by saying I HATE RATS! We moved to a different place out in the country. Each one of us had a little cottage deep in the woods. I got back to my place around 11pm and walked into my cottage. When I turned on the light a BIG (did I mention it was BIG?) RAT jumped off of my bed and ran across the floor into a cabinet.
This picture is a “re-inactment” of what I saw (a blur)! He had already started eating 2 of my snacks. I was sure he would coming back for dessert later. I talked to the front desk. They decided to move me to another cottage. They walked in first and before I could start in they came running out saying “no, no, you not stay here”. I am not sure what they saw in therE, and I don’t want to know.
Then they took me 100 yards away from everyone (at midnight) to a cottage down by the dirtiest lake you ever saw. I could have screamed for help and no one could have heard me. They left me there…..all alone. Just me and some of the worst noises I have ever heard. I was awake (with the lights on) and heard noises at 1am…2am…3am…4am…5am…and up at 6am. I never slept, but I did catch up on my prayer life.
Just in case you are wondering we have now checked out of that “resort” and moved back to the city. PRAISE JESUS!
The “Dump Children”… Thank God for our Country
As bad is gets sometimes, we should never take God’s blessings on America for granted. These children live in the dump in Cambodia. Many do not have parents and the ones that do are forced to work there, even as small children. They receive $1 per day to sort through garbage and turn in bags of things to be recycled. Most have to give their parents the $1. We went to the ‘BE HAPPY” Dump Ministry. The purpose of this ministry is to pay the children $1 a day and give them a free meal to come out of the dump. They are fed a meal, taught the Bible and some education. This ministry is over a couple of years old and is reaching many of these children for Christ. Most of them still live in the dump and some are still required to spend the afternoon sorting through the garbage to make money for thier parents.
Many of the younger teen girls are sold into prostitution by their own parents for $200-$300 each. They have no clue that there is a better life or that there is a God who loves them.
Note in the pictures above a little girl in pink. After she is given her food she walks back to the dump by herself. There was no one watching her or caring for her that I could see. Without the gospel people live in such darkness that they do even know there is light.
I will posting another blog in a about 6 hours to let you know how the day went after preaching many times today.
Miss everyone and see you soon!
A Python… Horses… Jungles… Rivers – All Make For A Great Day!
Today we left early and took a 2 hour bus ride to one of the largest rivers in the world. This was where the US patrolled during the Vietnam war. It is muddy, dirty, and big. We got off of the big boat and waked onto an island. That is where it happened. I saw a 10 foot Boa Constricter about to attack Jim Smith and Jeff Pangle. Not thinking of my own safety or caring if I perished, I threw my body in front of them to stop the snake from taking them both. As Jeff Pangle screamed like a girl Jim and I took charge of this volatile situation. Just before life was lost, we got the snake under control and saved our comrades life. All in a days work for a southern boy.
Well, that’s not exactly how it happened. Actually, we stopped at a place on the island that housed this Boa Constictor. As our group watched in horror a woman pulled the snake out of its cage and asked if anyone would like to hold it. After Natalie Smith and a few other ladies decided to hold it, once again, the men had no choice. Since I am a smart man I decided to let Jim hold the mouth of the snake, and Jeff care for the end. Knowing the the end tail left unattended would begin to “constrict”. As it constricted around Jeff…the party was on.
We were carreied around on a wagon pulled by a horse. The we road down a smaller river on a boat. A female was paddelling the boat. She never said a word, just carried us a mile or so down stream back to our larger boat. These gals are tough as nails!
Tonight is our last night in Vietnam. We will be flying to Cambodia in the morning. We had the opportunity to eat with 5 Pastors and their families tonight. They are front-line warriors for the Lord. Our church gave everyone of the pastor $100 to help them financially. We also bought a case of Vietnamese Bibles that will be strategically brought into the country and given to believers.
Pray for these churches and Christians in Vietnam. They are under scrutiny and persecution for every move they make. They are some of the most committed, bold, Spirit-filled people I have met. Let’s join together to pray for an Acts 2 type of movement in Vietnam.
See you in Cambodia!
Rush Hour … Vietnam Style
- Rush Hour
We have not had much time to be on the internet. We have been on the go. Vietnam is 11 hours ahead of Georgia. My brain stays confused enough, I don’t need anything messing with it. It tries to tell me to go to sleep, but it is in the middle of the day. At night it tells my get up and get going! I am averaging about 4 hours sleep a night. It wants to catch up with me, but I keep running ahead of it.
There are motorcycles EVERYWHERE here! Traffic signals are simply a “suggestion” not a “command”. There will whole familes riding on a small motorcycle. They haul everything on them and never use the brakes, only the horn.
Tonight we had an opportunity to worship in a “house church” in Vietnam. They are sweet people that love the Lord. I will be preaching to a large group of believers tomorrow night (About 5:30 Thursday morning your time.)
Today we went to a lot of sights around town. We toured the War Museum. It is nauseating to see how they call the Vietnam War a “War of Aggression” by the US. All of the propaganda in the museum is so slanted toward communism. They all just “love” Obama here. Go figure.
We also went shopping today in 2 markets. I don’t have a lot of luggage space so I couldn’t do much. Of course you know me, the ultimate shop-a-haulic.
Keep your prayers going and I will keep you updated.
