Keep this photo in your mind for future reference. Then, the next time you are getting grumpy as you wait to see the doctor, picture these precious Cambodians filled with joy as they wait their turn to receive medical treatment.
Click here to see the details of our recent medical mission trip to remote villages of Cambodia.
Thanks to Phanat Ouch for this post!
Samon (left) was a high ranking soldier of the Khmer Rouge. Sokhom (right) was a commando soldier of American-backed Lon Nol’s army. They were sworn enemies and shed blood against each other during the war, BUT the shedding of Christ’s blood turned them from enemies to brothers. This is the power of the gospel! Samon was the key organizer for this event to happen in his hometown. Not only were we able to help over 1000 people with health care, but we also preached the gospel to them this whole day! Had to share this amazing story.
Three weeks from now our medical team will travel to several different remote villages of Cambodia that have little or no access to medical care. We will provide medical exams, prescriptions, teeth extractions, and eye glasses to thousands. To see the faces of the poor as our massive bus full of medical people turns into their village will drive one to tears of humility. These people are so precious and so innocent and have so little compared to all of us on the bus. It is an enormous honor to bless them with the love of Jesus.
All workers must cover their own airfare to Cambodia, however we do need funds to cover medicine, eyeglasses, food and lodging for the workers, rental of the bus and driver, etc. We can provide medical care for $4 to $5 per patient. We estimate the cost of our January medical mission trip to be about $40,000, but that will provide over 10,000 patient treatments! Simply amazing.
We invite you to help us help the poorest of the poor in remote Cambodian villages. You can donate online or send your donations to Cambodia Christian Ministries, 10550 Marsh Lane, Dallas, TX, 75229.
See Mike’s most recent update on all things Cambodia below. There’s also a surprise toward the beginning… an unexpected guest joins by phone!
Meet Marin. His polio prevents him from walking on two feet so instead he crawls about on all fours (see brief video below). Marin lives in the Svay Reing Province of Cambodia, just minutes from the Vietnam border. He and his wife have four children, two of which have severe physical handicaps as well. Marin supports his family without begging for help. He crawls in the muddy fields, planting vegetables and rice. One year we gave him money to buy a new wheelchair to replace the rickety, old thing he could barely get around in. We found out later that he bought a new chair and gave it to his handicapped daughter.
Marin is a beggar but not the kind we would naturally assume him to be. He is a beggar telling other beggars where to get the bread: that is he tells the lost about Jesus, the Bread of Life. He is a passionate preacher for Jesus. Marin attends all of our LeaderCare seminars when we travel to the Vietnam border, and he is one of the most knowledgeable Bible students around.
We meet so many in Cambodia who inspire us. And we aspire to be like them in their devotion, commitment, and love for Jesus. Some drive us to “all fours” in humility and gratitude.
Be sure to watch this 30 second video showing how Marin lives day to day. His hand gesture is not that of begging, but rather that is the normal/formal way Cambodians greet others.
One of CCM’s primary ministries is providing free healthcare to the poor in Cambodian villages. Since 2009 we have provided over 150,000 treatments, helping people through exams and prescriptions, dental work, eye checks and distributing eye glasses. Medical professionals from Singapore, Malaysia, India, the Philippines, Canada, the US, and Vietnam have joined us to bless the poorest of the poor in Cambodia. And of course, we always provide spiritual help in the villages to any who want to hear about this “Jesus”, who sent us to them.
We have also become well-known for delivering babies… but not in the normal sense of the word! You see, the only motorized vehicles in the villages surrounding CCM Center are motorbikes, and the last thing a woman in labor wants to do is climb on a motorbike and ride 20-30 minutes to the clinic to have her baby. Thankfully, CCM just so happens to have a 15-passenger van. Local dads-to-be sometimes call Sokhom in the middle of the night in hysterics (proper time for going into labor, right?), asking if he can send one of our doctors to take their wife to the clinic to have a baby. Now the word is out! In the last year or so, we have “delivered” over 20 babies. One of them was even born in the back seat of the van!
The surrounding villages love the Jesus People at Jesus Place. I think we win the affection of a lot of young moms and dads along the way as we help bring their little ones into the world.
We thank God for a great January Medical Mission Trip! Our team of doctors, medical personnel, and volunteers worked together to serve thousands of Cambodians living in poor, rural areas. On top of that, 47 people heard and responded to the good news of God’s love in Jesus!
Check out Mike’s presentation, which includes photos and video from the trip. Also please continue to pray for Sokhom, our students and their families, the people of Cambodia, and the church there. God continues to work, and we are thankful to Him for your participation and support!
The flooding in Cambodia this year caused a lot of damage. Crops were washed out, homes, buildings and roads were damaged, and things were very chaotic. But God works in all things!
We have called it a flood of mercy for many reasons. First and foremost, because the Good News of Jesus has spread even more as a result of the flood. Thanks to your support, our preaching students, doctors, and other servants were able to show God’s love to the people with bags of rice to eat, rice stems to plant, and even the occasional water rescue. Beyond this, God is even using the fish that were lost from CCM Center to spread the name of Jesus.
You see, when the dam burst, our fish farm washed out and we lost 50-60 thousand fish! But then people downstream saw the fish (blue catfish and tilapia that are unique to the area) and wondered where the fish came from. Those in the know told the people they were from Jesus Place. Jesus Fish from Jesus Place from the Jesus People.
Jesus used a fish to pay the tax, two fish to feed thousands, and tons of fish from the other side of the boat to show the disciples who he was. Perhaps God isn’t done using fish to spread the gospel!
Thanks again to all of our 2018 Golf Tournament sponsors and participants! The funds we raised will go toward flood relief and the various components of our work in Cambodia (preacher training, leadership seminars, orphan care, water well drilling, medicine and food).
Click here to see pictures from our wet but beautiful day of fellowship and encouragement. If you were able to join us for dinner after the tournament, you heard first-hand how humbled and thankful Sokhom is for all of you. God has truly blessed this ministry! Sokhom returns to Cambodia very soon. Please continue to pray for him, for the work, and for the people of Cambodia!
On the second day of teaching in a mostly Muslim village, this woman really made me nervous. Her expression never changed – she just stared at me. She sat in the same spot and did not move during the class sessions. I was clueless as to what she thought about our teachings about Jesus, but she did not seem very happy to be in the room. As we shared Jesus with these precious souls many laughed at our illustrative stories while others seemed to show great interest in the One we called Jesus. But this Muslim woman just stared at me.
I figured she was mad at me and hoped she did not get violent. I figured I could outrun her but had no idea where I would run to.
I asked the group if they had ever heard the Bible read. None had! So I asked Sokhom to read the Bible to them. Many smiled and showed interest while others were extremely respectful; however, this Muslim woman just stared at me.
Taking a chance, I asked if anyone had any questions, and she raised her hand. “Uh-oh,” I thought, “Here we go!” To my complete surprise, she asked Sokhom and me, “Why are you only going to teach us for two days? Why will you not stay for at least one month?” I was relieved, elated, excited, humbled, and thankful to the Lord. What did I ever do to deserve such an honor as to be the first one to share Jesus with these adorable souls!
This kind of thing happens regularly in our ministry in Cambodia. We share God’s loving truth with Muslims and Buddhists who have never heard the name Jesus. There is no greater honor for a preacher than to be the first to tell the story of our great Savior and Lord.
Cambodia Christian Ministries
10550 Marsh Lane
Dallas, TX 75229
214-351-3731
Mike Meierhofer
mike@cambodiaministries.org
214-533-4266
Sokhom Hun
sokhom@cambodiaministries.org
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