Exchanging Ashes || Record

Exchanging Ashes My soul waits for the Lord More than those who watch for the morning Yes, more than those who watch for the morning.

~Psalm 130:6~

To console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.

Isaiah 61:3 

Having lived outside of the USA for more than twenty years, currency exchange rates have become part of my everyday life. Throughout Scripture (from Joseph to Job to Paul), there are many examples of God exchanging our ashes for beauty, mourning for joy, …. sin for salvation, and so much more! Sometimes, we face situations where all we have to offer Him is ashes etc. and time and time again, He has been faithful to give beauty etc. Looking forward, we trust Him to, “wipe away every tear…and make all things new (Rev. 21:4-5).”

Right now, we are trusting God to exchange the ashes of an international family (that lives in our neighborhood, and I met through the international church). I have been walking with and helping the husband for several months with various challenges. Just over a week ago, violence (between the wife’s boyfriend and the husband…) broke out. I had to call the neighborhood guards who called the police. A group of international Christians and missionaries along with Kayo and myself have been working together to help restore this family (including two children) over the long-term, because they can’t leave Cambodia at this time (armed conflicts in the wife’s country and visa issues etc. in the husband’s country). It’s still a precarious situation, but as of this moment, it seems to be improving.

We have been very blessed to see God’s beauty in other lives. When I spoke the end of March, one person became a follower of Christ. When I spoke on Palm Sunday, another person also put his faith in Christ, and another contacted me to request baptism. These new believers are such an encouragement! Please pray for them and for those of us who disciple and minister to them in various ways. There have also been meaningful opportunities to equip and challenge believers to fulfill the Great Commission in Cambodia starting with their own loved ones and communities.

I’m also trusting God to exchange the ashes of the Light Association/Light Times Magazine. I’ve been working with them since 2017, and they’ve always had struggles, but they haven’t been able to recover since COVID. I’m not sure if the organization will survive and even if it does, I’m currently uncertain about my future role. I was hoping to have them publish the Cambodian version of the book I’m working on but now I’m uncertain about this too. I may self-publish or go through my old publisher. They provide the legal documents for my Cambodian visa, but I do have other organizations that are willing to be my legal umbrella. Please pray for wisdom and that they would either become strong and thrive or that they would finish well...

Despite the above challenges, the evangelistic/apologetics book project continues make progress. A Chinese pastor here in Cambodia has offered to translate it into Mandarin.

Please continue to pray for Kayo as she continues to minister to Cambodian women through Precious Women Organization and to international women. If the neighbor’s wife is willing, Kayo and a woman from the wife’s country will minister to her. There are so many women with so many challenges and needs that are also needing God’s beauty etc. in their lives and situations

Please pray for Benjamin as he finishes 10th grade and will spend most of the time for the rest of year taking major comprehensive exams. Despite our best efforts to shield him, some of stresses, especially the situation in our neighborhood, spilled over onto him. We’ve all calmed down now. 

My GBS recovery/physical therapy/exercise is going well, and I’ve learned how to prevent and treat related muscle pains. Being able to walk etc. normally is coming but will take some more time. Please pray for our health in general, especially from the constant risk for food poisoning (which triggered my GBS in December).

Thanks for your prayer cover, encouragement, and support in so many ways! God continues to be faithful to us and exchanges our heavy hearts for praise and we trust Him to do the same for you.

In Christ’s Loving Hands,

Darryl, Kayo, and Benjamin