All for the Glory of God

“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31

Kayo and I at Precious Women Organization

Over the past few months, the importance of living all aspects of our lives for the glory of God has increasingly been on my heart and mind. This has impacted me personally and in the focus of my teaching.

Since October 21, I have been keeping up with my diet and exercise and so far I have lost more than 60 pounds! I have really sensed God opening all doors for me to focus on improving my health and fitness in many ways. Please pray for me to continue all the way to the goal because the more weight that I lose, the harder it seems to become to lose more weight. This is not a crash diet but a lifestyle change for the long-haul. One major payoff for this lifestyle change is that now I have much more energy for family and ministries and things are greatly improving and expanding in those areas as well.

On the ministry front, the end of January I started teaching Apologetics and Evangelism at a Cambodian church. Sometimes I teach in person and sometimes on Zoom. I have been able to share my Apologetics textbook, unity and discernment book, and soon will share my videos with the students and pastor. I also have started training the teachers at a Christian school on the spiritual/Biblical aspects of education. This is a new step for me but it has been going well. I continue to lead the men’s ministry and speak as needed at the international church. In February I spoke twice. This church provides opportunities to not only encourage and equip other missionaries but also other believers (and nonbelievers) from more than 30 nations!

Kayo and I continue to partner with Precious Women Organization. Kayo helps the founder/executive director in the office, trains the staff and students, and leads devotions. I continue to help them make videos and lead devotions as needed. Precious Women Organization has a new project to start a school outside of the city in a new neighborhood. Please pray for wisdom, discernment, and provision for this project. Once the school is up and running Kayo and I have agreed to help there as well.

Please pray for Light Times Magazine/Light Association. They are currently paused as they try to figure out funding and vision issues. I am standing by to help them but at the moment there is no work for me to do there so I am shifting my focus to other projects and partnerships.

I have also suspended the International Fishers website, but will keep the videos available of YouTube and Facebook. I haven’t been able to make any new videos for more than a year and since Covid ended the traffic on the website has greatly decreased. I may launch a new website in the future but I am waiting for the right time and focus.

Please continue to pray for our health. All three of us have been sick at least once in February. Benjamin has been sick twice. The weather/season is changing and now there are lots of viruses coming in from other countries.

Thanks for your prayers, encouragement, and partnership. You are very important to God’s work in Cambodia and beyond as part of His Body!

In Christ’s Hands,

Darryl, Kayo, and Benjamin

He Shall Direct Your Paths

“In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:6

Apologetics Class at CPTI

Our lives and ministries have been quite active since our last update in early December. We continued our regular ministries, work, and partnerships (Precious Women, churches, Light Times, and others). From the beginning of December to the end of January, I have been teaching Apologetics (and Evangelism) at the Cambodia Presbyterian Theological Institute (CPTI). The students were very engaged and kept up with the lectures, class discussions, and asked good questions. I have been teaching this class at this seminary (founded and run by Korean missionaries) for more than ten years and am blessed to have been used to equip hundreds of Cambodian Christian leaders.

In early December, God allowed us to become uncomfortable in our apartment building. We lived in the same apartment building since 2016 even though we changed units a few times. To make a long story short, God opened the doors for us to move to a better place, with a better environment, closer to Benjamin’s school, etc. The place was completely unfurnished so we had to purchase and install some major appliances and equipment, but God opened the doors for that as well. We were able to move during Benjamin’s Christmas vacation with the help of some Fijian brothers. The move was a step of faith. The day after we moved in, the transmission went out on our car and the mechanic found many other problems (brakes, steering, and an oil leak). This was also a step of faith for provision.

God worked out the schedule of the move, housing set-up, and car repairs so that they didn’t interfere with hosting ten visitors from Japan for four days and then one more retired woman from that group stayed with us and worked alongside Kayo for another week. During that time I was sick for a few days.

Now, I am gearing up to start teaching Apologetics and Evangelism 2-3 times a month at Faith Family Church and also to equip and train the teachers at Sonshine Kids International School (connected to Faith Family Church) on the spiritual and Biblical aspects and foundations of Christian education.

Please pray for wisdom and strength for us as we continue with our existing ministry activities and possibly expand into new areas with current and new ministry partners in 2024.

In Christ’s Love,

Darryl, Kayo, and Benjamin

Restore the Years

“So I will restore the years the swarming locusts have eaten.” Joel 2:25

I turned 47 on November 25 and Benjamin turned 15 on November 29.

Restoring the Years Part 1

With the passing of Benjamin’s and my birthdays and the upcoming Christmas and New Year, we realize that God has blessed us a lot during this year. At the beginning of 2023, we went through our worst financial crises ever to the point that it looked like we might have to leave Cambodia permanently. God provided in mysterious and miraculous ways and we were able to have a most blessed visit to the USA for the first time since before Covid.

For me personally, God is restoring the years in relation to my health and weight. Growing up, my relationship with food (overeating/stress-eating) wasn’t good and I had asthma so I couldn’t exercise enough and developed a weight problem. Between 2000-2003 while serving in Cambodia as an English teacher/missionary, God took away my asthma and I was able to exercise and so I lost enough weight during that season to run a half-marathon here in Cambodia. However, in 2003 upon returning to the USA I got sick for the first time with my chronic brain disorder and between the medicine and the ensuing depression I started to regain the weight that I lost and more and this continued for 20 years. Finally, God provided all the tools (a smartwatch/calorie counting app from friends and know-how from Benjamin) and I have started an effective but sustainable lifestyle change in regards to, diet and exercise. So far, I have lost 25 pounds since October 21! I still have a long way to go so please pray for stamina in this process to lose the weight and then keep it off over the long-term.

Restoring the Years Part 2

Between 2004 and 2015 my brain-disorder symptoms were healed enough for me to live without medicine, but the since it came back in 2015, I have needed medicine and went through years of being minimally functional yet with severe depression in which I could just do the minimum to survive. As a result of this and other factors I wasn’t able to actively raise the funds we needed and so we have fallen behind financially. Here are some areas that need to be restored.

  1. Benjamin’s Christian High School Tuition is our largest unavoidable expense by nearly triple. In meeting this expense, we are unable to fund other important needs on this list and we are uncertain if we can meet the projected increases over the next 3.5 years.
  2. Housing Upgrade: Our current two-bedroom apartment is getting too small for us, has maintenance issues, and we are in a losing battle with cockroaches. Also Benjamin’s bedroom doesn’t have a window and he needs more space.
  3. Benjamin’s Launch Fund: Benjamin will have to return to the USA after graduation in 3.5 years and will need housing, transportation, and set-up funds at that time.
  4. Retirement/Savings: Most of our senders are older than us so we are concerned that they will not be able to support us in our senior years. We want to continue to minister as long as we are able and don’t want to be a burden on anyone during our senior years.
  5. Resume Family Vacations: Because of Benjamin’s tuition and our financial crises, we haven’t been able to take any family vacations for around 1.5 years. This is especially important while Benjamin is still with us.
  6. Transportation: Our 1997 Toyota Camry has a slipping transmission and is on secondhand tires. We need to be able to maintain it as needed and potentially replace it in a few years.
  7. Ministry Funds: There are so many needs and exciting ministry opportunities in Cambodia that we would like to pursue when God provides sufficient funds to meet our needs and expand our ministry impact. 1. Resume International Fishers evangelistic/apologetics video production etc. 2. Help launch Light Association’s training/publication/resource ministries including to people with mental illness and their families. 3. Help expand Hope Ministry’s impact in two impoverished Cambodian communities. 4. Continue to volunteer and support Precious Women’s work with at-risk Cambodian women. 5. Expand our support of Bethel Grace Mission’s work with impoverished Cambodians who live in graveyards. 6. Encourage and equip local churches even more.
Kayo teaching a lesson on “Hope in Christ” to at-risk Cambodian young women.

Ministry Update

We have been very busy since our last update, the middle of October. Kayo and I continued our volunteer-work at Precious Women. Kayo did administrative work, led staff devotions, and taught the clients (young at-risk women) life skills lessons including “Hope in Christ.” I helped with video production and led devotions.

Kayo continues to lead the women’s ministry at the international church and led an over night women’s retreat. I preached twice, helped with Chinese Bible Study and led the men’s ministry.

I also continue to serve as the English editor for Light Times Magazine, the only Christian magazine in Cambodia. We have a new issue coming out this month so things will get busier with that.

I also am preparing to start teaching Apologetics/Evangelism at another Cambodian seminary founded by Korean missionaries starting this week.

December is the month in which we must renew our Cambodian visas so please pray for wisdom and favor in this high-stakes process. Gathering all the documents each year feels like taking on another job.

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year!

In Christ’s Love,

Darryl, Kayo, and Benjamin

Able to Teach Others Also

And the things that you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 2 Timothy 2:2

Christian Apologetics/Evangelism Class

Christian Apologetics/Evangelism Class at Cambodia Bible Institute Sept. 25-Oct. 6

I had a wonderful time with my Apologetics/Evangelism class students during our two week intensive class. The students studied hard, listened intently, asked good questions and worked hard to complete a reading log, two tests, a video script, and recorded their own video during the short class. We covered obstacles to faith like “I don’t need God.” “God doesn’t exist.” “The Bible isn’t true.” “Jesus didn’t really live, die, and rise from the dead.” “What about my unsaved ancestors?” and more. Two of my students said that before the class when someone would ask them a challenging question about the truth of Christianity that they would just walk away but now they both finally feel more confident to answer. These students serve in local churches and will be future Christian leaders so please pray that they will remember, apply, and teach others what they have learned in the class.

Answered Prayers Over Visa Stress

During my lunch break from teaching Apologetics, I got a desperate call from my neighbor/Christian friend. He told me that due to a problem with his visa documents his visa was rejected at the airport and the only way to keep him from getting deported and separated from his family was for me rush to the airport before noon and sign a guarantee letter for him with the government. I did that and he was able to get a one-month visa.

A couple of weeks later, he asked me for some more advice and help. I checked with the company that helps me prepare the documents for my own visa just before a four-day Cambodian holiday so that I could get information to help my friend. The information my visa agent gave me made me very uncertain about whether or not my own family would be able to renew our visas in December or not (and be forced to leave Cambodia). All this stress combined with my exhaustion from teaching the two week class, made me start having difficulty sleeping. So, I put out a prayer request on Facebook on a Friday. By Sunday my stress level dropped and I could sleep normally again. On Tuesday, I got confirmation from the Immigration Dept. via my visa agent that we have the right documents to renew our family’s visas in December. My friend is still in process with his visa situation, but it looks like everything is in order with his paperwork as well. Thanks everyone for praying for us whether or you know what we are going through at the moment or not. Your prayers make a huge difference!

Other Ministries

Please continue to pray for Precious Women Organization and Light Association as we continue to help and support these Cambodian founded and led Christian organizations that are reaching out to other Cambodians. We also partner with other local ministries and churches as we can.

Family Update

We are doing well. Kayo has some exhaustion/minor health issues so please keep her in prayer. Benjamin is doing well in school, extracurriculars, and weight lifting. He keeps growing and eating us out of house and home so please pray for our grocery bill :–).

In Christ’s Love,

Darryl, Kayo, and Benjamin

Phonm Penh, Cambodia

Equipping the Saints, Building Up the Body

“Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:12 NLT)

The past month has been full and blessed and we look forward to a full and blessed October as well.

Equipping the Saints

I will be teaching another round of a two week intensive Christian Apologetics class at Cambodia Bible Institute from September 25 to October 6. Please pray for wisdom and strength for myself, the staff, and the students during this class.

I continue to preach at the international/interdenominational church around once a month to around 400 people from more than 30 nations. This church includes everyone from missionaries to non-Christians who are open to the Gospel. I also have started/am leading the men’s ministry there our first meeting was on October 9 and despite heavy rains and flooding 13 men from 8 different nations attended and were blessed by the prayer, fellowship, and teaching. I continue to help with the ministry to the Chinese there and help lead a verse-by-verse Sunday School/Bible Study in English and Chinese with the Chinese pastor. Kayo also started and leads the women’s ministry there too.

I also have started to lead the devotions at Precious Women Organization about once a month. Kayo also leads the devotions there on a regular basis.

Building Up the Body

Linat and Soksan, the Founders of the Light Association (LAFH)

I have been volunteering as the English Editor for Light Times Magazine with Soksan and Linat since 2017. They are wonderful friends and Christian siblings. Now, I am excited that LAFH (Light Association for all Families Healthier-English translation of the official/registered organization name) is developing the organization behind the magazine.

You can see the vision and activities of the Light Association organization in the diagram above. One of the areas that I am most excited about is the Mental and Spiritual Wellness area. Mrs. Linat is a trained mental health counselor and trainer. I am a trained Christian apologist and I also have a testimony of how God has blessed, restored, and protected me through the past 20 years of mental health challenges. Even though we are now a small organization of only three people and limited resources, God has given us great impact, unity and synergy together to minister to the mental and spiritual needs of a broad range of people-both Cambodians and expats. We may also be able to equip churches, families, and organizations in Cambodia to better minister to the spiritual and mental health needs of people who need help but are often marginalized for various reasons. For those of you that know my testimony in this area this is truly a “Beauty for Ashes” opportunity!

In Christ’s Love,

Darryl, Kayo, and Benjamin

Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Back on the Field in Cambodia

“For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:16-19

Benjamin has already grown nearly another inch since this photo was taken the middle of June! Our picture cards just can’t keep up! 🙂

Reading the above passage with fresh eyes, I realize that it is actually an encouragement from Paul, a missionary, to his senders. Another way to say this is, “You all faithfully met my needs…Therefore the fruit that comes through my ministry will be credited to your heavenly account …..and God will supply all your needs!” This perfectly describes how Kayo, Benjamin and I feel about our senders and loved ones in the USA and Japan.

We just returned to Cambodia from the USA. Our time was so full and blessed that we were not able to visit everyone we wanted to in person. We were blessed and encouraged in so many ways! Now, we are back in Cambodia. We have pretty much overcome jet-lag, gotten our apartment etc. reopened and restocked, and are starting to serve in our various ministries here. For example, I will preach this Sunday at the international church and help with the Chinese ministry. Kayo and I will both soon resume our regular work with Precious Women Organization. Benjamin will start high school (year 9) at Hope International School. Looking ahead, I will teach a two-week intensive Apologetics class at a Cambodian Bible school the end of next month so I need to start preparing for that along with other ministries that will resume and start soon.

Prayer Requests:

>Please pray for opportunities for me to evangelize and disciple a man from the Middle East who is here in Cambodia as an international student.

>Please pray for Light Times Magazine, the only Christian magazine in Cambodia, they had to delay the printing of their most recent issue because of lack of funding. This is a valuable ministry and also they provide the legal basis for my Cambodian visa renewal.

>Please pray for Benjamin as he starts school and for continued provision for his education.

>Please pray for wisdom and provision regarding our funding from Japan. The Japanese Yen has lost between 20-25% of its value over the past 2 years against the US dollar. Cambodia’s economy is based on the US dollar. This means the sacrificial donations of our Japanese senders have been greatly devalued. Meanwhile, our expenses, (mainly Benjamin’s education), continue to rise. We have already done everything we can to cut expenses and have already looked into part-time employment in Cambodia (but right now that door doesn’t look promising and it would reduce our ability to minister effectively here).

>Please pray for wisdom, peace, and grace as God has placed us in the unique position of ministering to and alongside so many Christians from so many cultures/nations (this is the easier part) and denominations (evangelicals with a broad range of perspectives on secondary doctrinal issues–this is the more challenging part). We are blessed that there is a beautiful unity of the Body of Christ in Cambodia and beyond. It seems that God has called us to work in the joints (between the bones=denominations) (Ephesians 4:16). Please pray that there won’t be any arthritis…:).

In Christ’s Love,

Darryl, Kayo, and Benjamin

Now Visiting the USA!

We arrived in California on June 6 and have spent the last few days getting over jet-lag. We had a smooth trip. It is a blessing to be able to visit the USA after four years away! We will spend June 28-July 12 in Missouri. We will return to California and stay here until we return to Cambodia on August 1. We look forward to connecting with as many of our beloved friends, relatives, and senders while we are here in the USA both in-person or even online. Please feel free to contact us at darryl@sgwm.com.

The last couple of months in Cambodia were full but blessed as we wrapped up our ministries there before coming to the USA. I continued working with Light Times Magazine, Kayo and I also worked with Precious Women Organization. Kayo continues her work as a board member, and administrative volunteer and I helped them produce videos and lead devotions. I continue to mentor a Cambodian pastor and another missionary. We also continue to partner with the international church to minister to expats and Cambodians. Kayo successfully completed her first round of leading the women’s ministry, helped with the communication system, and she also helped the worship team. I spoke a couple of times, helped with the Chinese ministry, and started laying the groundwork for a men’s ministry. I have a couple of projects to work on while I am here but I have a lot of flexibility and free time available to connect with people here.

In Christ’s Love,

Darryl, Kayo, and Benjamin

Miraculous Provision! (And USA Trip Update)

And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

Since the second half of 2022, our family’s finances have been getting tighter and tighter (for context see our last two updates at www.sgwm.com/record). At one point, our financial situation looked so bleak that we thought that we might have to leave the field by June due to a lack of funds. On top of that, we had a lot of unexpected expenses and upcoming travel expenses. It looked like we would just barely be able to visit California this summer but we would not be able to visit Missouri. But God had other plans and through the miraculous generosity of donors we know personally and even those whom we have never met, God has supplied enough funding for our immediate needs (car repairs/medical expenses, etc.) and travel to California (June 6-August 1) with a trip to Missouri (June 28-July 12)! We have never experienced miraculous provision like this before! We are truly grateful to God and all those who have made and continue to make it possible for us to serve as missionaries in Cambodia.

Now that our immediate needs have been met, we can focus our prayers on our long-term needs: funds to launch Benjamin into his life in the USA in 2027 and savings for us to be able to continue ministering after our senders retire or pass away.

Ministry Update

I finished teaching an eight-week Christian Foundations Sunday school class at the international church. We discussed essential apologetics topics such as the existence of God, the truth of the Bible, and the Resurrection. The students were from China, Ethiopia, Fiji, the Netherlands, Tajikistan, and the USA/Japan. We had a great time and the students want me to offer another class after the USA trip or next year. I also preach in the main service about once a month. I continue mentoring a younger Cambodian pastor and have spoken on faith and leadership over the past couple of months at his Cambodian church. I continue editing the English for Light Times Magazine, the only Christian magazine in Cambodia. I also have been helping Precious Women Organization produce videos of their clients and staff in the Cambodian language with English subtitles. Lord willing, I will be able to start producing apologetics/evangelistic videos in the Cambodian language as I have in the past in the near future.

Kayo continues to serve as a board member/administrator at Precious Women Organization. She also leads the women’s ministry at the international church. She is applying for a part-time job to offset Benjamin’s increasing educational and other long-term expenses.

In Christ’s Love,

Darryl, Kayo, and Benjamin

Breakthrough?!

“And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD.” 2 Kings 19:14

I always thought that King Hezekiah went to the house of the LORD alone but somehow the event and the contents of the letter were put into the Bible. Sometimes we just have to spread our situations out before the LORD so that we can praise Him boldly when He meets our needs. In this update, I will spread our situation out before the LORD.

Latest Apologetics Class

Budget Breakthrough!

Last month, when I wrote the last update, we were in the midst of trying to figure out our mission budget for 2023 and beyond, but no matter what we did to save money or raise money, we were still short around $600 monthly. Kayo projected that we would be forced to leave Cambodia for lack of funds by June. We prayed for a few days and then God guided us on what changes to make so that our budget balances (just barely)!

Now that we have cut our budget to the maximum it is clear that we need more income. We don’t know whether God will provide through more donations and/or earning income on our part, we are knocking on all the doors to see what He does. We need more income for one-time expenses (medical/car repairs etc.), saving money to launch Benjamin in the USA in only four more years, and saving money so that we can continue to minister as many of our key senders retire or go to heaven.

Blessings in the Midst of Breakdowns!

In January our printer/scanner broke down but we couldn’t replace it because of lack of funds. At the end of January, I had an ear infection and at the beginning of February Benjamin had severe food poisoning and neither of these expenses were covered by insurance. Then in February, our rice/pressure cooker caught on fire so we had to replace that (Asian households must have rice 🙂 ). Kayo accidentally spilled tea on her laptop and it stopped working, but God heard our prayers and it started working again the next day! All four tires and a wheel bearing on our 1997 Camry had to be replaced. We still need to rebuild the rear suspension and the transmission is beginning to feel worn. While getting my tires replaced, I met a Cambodian-American man and was able to share my testimony and invite him to church. He attended the Christian Foundations/Apologetics Sunday school class I am teaching and part of the service. Please pray for more opportunities to reach out to him. Finally, Kayo’s filling fell out of her tooth. A year ago, when something similar happened the dentist’s bill was $1,200 but this time it was only $45! So, God protected and blessed us once again.

Ministry Update

In February, I started teaching an apologetics/evangelistic Sunday school class at the international church. The first week no one attended but now we have between five and ten (believers and non-believers) who are getting equipped and gaining confidence in the truth of the Bible as their doubts are answered. Please pray for God to use this class to draw the non-believers to himself. I also finished teaching the Apologetics class at a Bible school founded by Korean missionaries. I continue to help make testimony videos for Precious Women Organization and edit articles for Light Times Magazine.

Kayo has also been very busy with serving as a board member/administration work/leading devotions at Precious Women Organization, a local organization that evangelizes and retrains women who work in bars, etc. She also started a thriving women’s ministry primarily among foreign women at the international church.

USA Trip

I don’t have much to update about our planned trip to the USA between June 6 and August 1. The California part of the trip is for sure (we already bought the tickets), but I am growing increasingly doubtful that we will be able to afford the Missouri part of the trip unless there is some major financial breakthrough between now and then. Please pray for God to open and close all the right doors so that the trip is according to His perfect will.

In Christ’s Love,

Darryl, Kayo, and Benjamin

Upcoming Visit To The USA!

Celebration of 100 Years Since The First Evangelical Missionaries Arrived in Cambodia

“Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.” 1 Samuel 17:45

Visit to the USA

As each new year started since 2019, we kept asking ourselves, “Is this the year that we can visit our loved ones in the USA or Japan?” In 2021 and 2021, the answer was “No.” Finally, in 2022 we could visit Japan for the first time since 2018. Finally, the doors have opened for us to visit the USA! We have booked tickets to arrive in California (Los Angeles/San Bernardino/Orange County areas) between June 6 and August 1. Lord willing, we want to also travel to Missouri (St. Louis area) but we are waiting for some more doors to open for that trip. We are looking forward to seeing as many of you as possible. We also need to take care of some legal/banking business things while in the USA as well.

Please contact us by e-mail or Messenger if you think you might be able to meet us so that we can start thinking about our schedule. We may not be able to contact you because the contact information we have for many of you may be out of date or buried in 4-year-old emails. We are available to meet individually or in groups etc.

Ministry Update

Ministry in Cambodia has gotten increasingly busy and fruitful. From December 22 to February 9, I have been teaching Christian Apologetics every Thursday morning at a Cambodian seminary founded by Korean missionaries. On December 31, I spoke on “True Joy in the Midst of Suffering” at a local Cambodian church’s New Year’s/Christmas celebration. I continue to co-teach the Chinese ministry’s English/Bible class at the international church, and on January 22, I preached on Isaiah 28 “Christ the Cornerstone” at the main service. I also continue to edit English articles for Light Times Magazine and help produce and edit videos for Precious Women Organization.

Kayo has been busy with Precious Women Organization as a board member, leading devotions for the staff and clients, helping with administrative work, and preparing and organizing Precious Women’s booth for the Centennial Celebration (see photo above). As many as 30,000 Cambodians and foreign Christians and non-Christians gathered for the event (FEBC Australia). Special guests/speakers included the Prime Minister and other top government officials. She also is busy in planning, organizing, and starting the Women’s ministry at the international church.

Financial “Goliath” Situation

For a few years now, our monthly donations have not met our monthly expenses but God provided enough one-time donations/stimulus to keep our account balanced. However, since COVID, the one-time donations/stimulus have not been able to keep up with our monthly expenses. At its worst, our financial reserves/savings were draining at a rate of around $1,500 per month. Our accounts are now at an 18-year low and so we must take action.

To correct this problem, so far, we have been able to raise $400 monthly and cut our expenses by around $550 monthly by getting cheaper health insurance. These provisions and the fruitfulness of our ministries encourage us that God wants us to continue serving in Cambodia. We still need to raise/cut/earn (locally through part-time work) approximately $550 (or more) monthly in order to continue our ministry in Cambodia. There are drawbacks to cutting expenses further or attempting to earn more money here in Cambodia in terms of our effectiveness in ministry here. We also recognize and are grateful for the fact that many of our most faithful senders have already maxed out their capacity to give. Right now, we don’t see any open doors in any direction so we can only LOOK UP!

Please pray for wisdom and provision from whatever sources God wants to provide. This is a “Goliath” situation and so ultimately, only God can make a way for us. He has brought us through even more serious trials than this and so we trust Him to carry us through this trial as well!

In Christ’s Hands,

Darryl, Kayo, and Benjamin