I want to share with you the story of a young man named Mackera.Mackera is a university student who came toNew Hope School with the endeavors of im-proving his English. In attempt to reach out tohim, I began meeting with Mackera and a friendof his to teach them the Bible. At the end of thefirst Bible study, Mackera and his friend decidedthat they needed Jesus to be Lord of their lives. That afternoon, Mackera prayed for the first timeand excitement and joy sparked from his eyes.Mackera now sings in the worship band andteaches the children at New Hope School in theafternoon. He is also has his own Bible now andis continuing to be taught by Josh and I, and alsoCambodian teachers. Josh and I have spent somegreat evenings with him sitting outside, answer-ing questions, and encouraging him in his walk with God. Josh and I believe that Mackera has agreat call on his life.Mackera has found forgiveness and joy thathe could only find in his savior Jesus. God lovesMackera and cannot get enough of him. Mackerahas found peace and purpose, but his life is by no means easier. This isn’t Canada, where what-ever feels right to you, is good enough for every-one else. This is a Buddhist nation, and to beCambodian is to be Buddhist, and anything elseis betrayal to the culture. Mackera’s family boastsof how they hate Jesus and they hate Chris-tians. Mackera faces a dilemma as his motherdemands to know if he is a Christian now. As Canadians, we have some theology aboutthis subject, but we lack the experience. Godhas given Mackera answers and guidance inthis delicate situation, and He has sur-rounded him with other Cambodian Chris-tians in the ministry who have faced thesame difficult situation.Here in Cambodia the results are slow-coming, but they are coming. I believe thatalthough God wants us to have a vision andpassion to see multitudes and nations cometo Him, we must be willing to go after theone person. We must feel that all of our ef-fort, time, money, prayers, experience, im-partation and love were worth it just for thatone person to be free from their sins andhave a relationship with God. Your prayers are so important to us. Pleasepray for Mackera and the other Christianshere, that in their day to day lives and intheir trials, they will grow and become re-fined in their faith. Please pray that they willhave strength and boldness. Please pray alsofor Josh and I, that we would be receptive toGod’s plans for us as we prepare to leaveCambodia in four weeks.

Mackera

April /09

The One

There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who

repents

Luke 15:10

OBEDIENCE IS BETTER THAN SACRIFICE (josh)

It is midway through April, andnearing the halfway mark of 2009. How does time get away from us so quickly? The Bible teaches us that‘obedience is better than sacri-fice’. This means that even if we give money to the poor, ordo good things for people, or whatever, but do not do thesethings out of love, or God’scalling, then they mean nothing.Humanitarians do great things,but all those great things willend at death. Great things, done without God, prove to be eternally vain. The smallest thing, done inservice to Jesus, will result in fargreater reward than the greatestthing done in our own pursuit of recognition. Time flies by far too fast to live forourselves. The things we feel con- victed by God to do, we must do,URGENTLY. Eternity constantly pleads with us to give up our ownpursuit, and obey God’s. Eternity also, withgreat joy, waits for those who do. You see, when you are following God, obedience always producessacrifice. However, sacrifice doesnot necessarily produce obedi-ence. Let us not get the two con-fused with each other.He who has called us with a holy calling is waiting. We shouldobey, while there is yet time.

Contea & JoshNew Hope SchoolPhnom Penh

Somebody iswaiting on theother side of your obedience.

Tim Storey.

On April 10 the children of New Hope School celebrated the Khmer New Year with a school- wide powder fight and a water war. The powder fight is a tradition for Khmer New Year in which people run around with contain-ers of baby powder and dump it on each other. It was some good, messy fun!

New Hope School Celebrates Khmer New YearThe Duffy’s Go to Vietnam

During the Khmer New Year Holiday, we went on a five day tour to Vietnam. We visited Ho ChiMinh and Da Lat with a tour group that was made up of all Cambodian and Chinese people. Thank God that there were enough people there who spoke decent English so we knew what wasgoing on sometimes!

Approximately 8% of theof Vietnamese are Chris-tians. According to the cen-sus of 2007,about six mil-lion are Roman Catholicsand fewer than one millionare Protestants