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OFF TO SOUTHEAST ASIA- Cambodia-Singapore
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E-ntercession
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Here at the Asia Pacific Conference in Phnom Penh, Cambodia we have leaders from Japan, Singapore, China, Thailand, and Australia as well as other Southeast Asian nations. We are looking forward to a wonderful time of ministry, fellowship and teaching. Last year I mounted a cycle with Pyep to visit the back alleys and ghettos of Phnom Penh to film addicts living in desperate bondage. As we filmed, we prayed. We will return to visit the 13 ministry points for addicts planted on the street since our 2011 visit. |
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THEY CALL THEM SILLY BOYS |
CAMBODIA: They call them "silly boys." We encountered them lurking in alleys and side-streets with noses firmly planted in crumpled plastic bags filled with crude glue, sniffing and watching as the world and their lives went by. We saw them on crowded sidewalks, ignored by virtually everyone. With vacant stares and glassy eyes, they wander until they pass-out, sleeping night and day. "Silly boys" support their habit by begging and petty thievery.
A generation of young Cambodians is wasting away, poisoning their bodies and minds as they meander about the city like urban zombies |
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Cambodia is a country that remains psychologically war-torn and deeply scarred, decades after open combat has ended and the Khmer Rouge has been ousted from their vicious reign of terror. These young boys are continuing victims, poor, shiftless, uneducated glue-sniffers. Not only are they neglected, but their public self-abuse is readily accepted and tolerated. People react to the boys as if they see a pile of dog-dirt on the sidewalk. "Not my dirt, not my dog, not my problem.
Do nothing ... avoid stepping in it." These boys have no hope without Teen Challenge, without Jesus.
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TESTIMONY, CAMBODIA TEEN CHALLENGE ... Noun Sophanith |
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My father and mother died when I was young. Life without parents was just like a car without a steering wheel. I lived on the streets. I survived by scavenging rubbish, shining shoes, and doing any other job that could get me something to eat. As
I made friends, I found out that sniffing Rugby shoe glue, was cheaper than food and it took the hunger pains away. I had no idea of the damage that it was doing to my body and mind, I thought there was no hope and I was going to die on the street when . .
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click for Noun's testimony in his own words |
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DESPERATE FOR A MIRACLE He injects drugs in his abscessed ankle. Wearing a crusty tee shirt, with crude tattoos and scabs on his upper arms, 24-year-old Thom has been living on the Phnom Penh streets for years. He is one of a growing number struggling with addiction to "ice," crystal meth. |
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| CLICK for Cambodia Teen Challenge 2011 ANNUAL REPORT. There has been a dramatic increase in drug dependence in the last decade with escalating rates of meth-amphetamine use and increasing number of children addicted to sniffing glue. Exact figures differ greatly among UN agencies and NGO's, but the official UNODC estimate is that over 1/2 million suffer from serious addiction in Cambodia. Teen Challenge is experiencing incredible growth as they develop self-sustaining models to fund the ministry and now have opened a brand new women's home. |
On the street we
lay hands on
the infection praying that God will grant the miracle he so
desperately
needs to survive! |
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ASIA PACIFIC CONFERENCE |
The Asia Pacific Conference was great. Leaders from Australia, Macau, Hong King, Mainland China, Thailand, South Korea, Japan, and Cambodia gathered in Phnom Penh under the direction of Asia-Pacific regional representative James Lowans and his wife Kathie. Times of prayer and worship were wonderful and the teaching by Daryel Erikson of GTC, from Counseling to Core Values was excellent. My training on evangelism was interesting because many of the opportunities that we take for granted and outreach must overcome huge hurdles in places like China, Singapore, Japan, and Cambodia. Pray for vision and
boldness for these wonderful leaders.
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Singapore is one of only three sovereign city states in the world (along with Monaco and Vatican City). Declaring sovereignty in 1965, this strategic island was first inhabited by regional fishermen and pirates, and later became part of the Sumatran Empire of Srivijaya. Malaysia was formed in 1963 when Singapore and the states of Sabah and Sarawak joined the Peninsular Malaysia Federation.
The country of Singapore consists of one main island and over 60 small islands. This modern economic powerhouse's seaport is one of the busiest in the world, and Singapore has become a major worldwide banking, ship building and petroleum center.
Due to its diverse ethnic mix of peoples, Singapore is a secular multi-religious country. Most major religious denominations are present in Singapore, but Buddhism and Islam dominate the religious landscape. The cultural diversity of Singapore provides both wonderful opportunities and significant challenges as they bring the gospel to bear on this culture.
We look forward to a powerful week of ministry at Singapore Teen Challenge. Peter Toh did a wonderful job of scheduling our week, please join us in prayer.
OUR SCHEDULE INCLUDES:
1) Dinner meeting with staff & board,
2) TC chapel services and prayer time
3) Staff training and prayer.
4) Visiting outreach points, the Turning Point Women's Home, and the proposed location of the new Singapore Teen Challenge children's home for violent children.
5) We will be ministering at the Assembly of God Bible School
6) Saturday outreach to prostitutes
7) Sunday church services. |
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SOUTHEAST ASIA- On from Cambodia to Singapore |
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Happy Leap Day. It is the dream of every Teen Challenge leader to have one extra day. Even though February 29, 2012 provided an extra 24 hours for ministry here in Singapore, it certainly did not help me to get E-ntercession out on time. We appreciate your prayers as we continue to minister in Southeast Asia. Please continue to join in prayer for the needs of TC in Asia Pacific and China.
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The photographs included in this update contained such compelling images that clickable full-screen enlargements are attached to each.. May the pain in their faces and need in their eyes call us to pray.
Ministering and walking the streets in Phnom Penh, as the night fell, the "silly boys" came out of the shadows with bags of glue pressed firmly against their face. Ten cents worth of glue can take away the hunger pains for days, a piece of bread only for an hour.They wander aimlessly without hope. What a joy, in the center picture, to see them come into the light of Jesus Christ in
Cambodia Teen Challenge. The difference is more than night and day. It is life and death!
click here for a photo album of the faces of need on that incredible night of ministry.
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We had the privilege of ministering at New Life Fellowship in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Through the blessing of English subtitles on the overhead, we sang and worshipped as if we were at home at Calvary in Hampton.
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What a joy to see so many young married couples and college age folks worshipping so enthusiastically. While at one level the number of young people seemed like a blessing, the roots of this demographic are frightening. The high number of young people is because nearly 2 million adults were exterminated by the Khmer Rouge. That genocide exterminated a generation. For many of these young Christians, there are few parents or older relatives to nurture or mentor them. Praise the Lord, He has raised up missionaries, pastors and leaders to fill that gap. (click to continue)
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Singapore Teen Challenge (click pix for enlargements) |
YAMAH
In Cambodia and Singapore the most abused drugs are Marijuana (Yarsaens) and Meth Amphetamine, once known as YaMah-(literally, "makes you strong like a horse.") Now it is called Bah Mah which means crazy medicine. We saw evidence of the continued escalation of meth amphetamine abuse In the outer court of a Buddhist temple, where the addicts congregate because the police do not enter the holy grounds. They openly smoked YAMAH (methamphetamine) in homemade water pipes crafted from a water bottle and straws. They laughed and joked with us- but of course, that was because they still had dope the crash was still an hour away, even though we prayed with them, they desperately need a miracle and a program like Teen Challenge |
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BLESSED TO BE HOME |
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After a tremendous time of ministry in Southeast Asia, we returned safely to the USA through Chicago. Unfortunately, Bern fell and broke his back. After the fall, he had no feeling in his lower body, but when feeling returned, oh my, what searing pain. He suffered fractures of the transverse process of the L1/L2 vertebrae. By God's grace, he soldiered on with two services at Calvary West, Naperville on Sunday. We are grateful for your prayers.
Rod and Ambre Thill were wonderful hosts and my son Chris and Nia set up a bed in their living room to care for him. We are home and Bern will see and Orthopedic specialist today. |
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Singapore Teen Challenge (click pix for enlarement) |
