“He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” Colossians 1:17 Preparing for our Time in Japan, June 13-August 1 Thanks for praying for our home assignment in Japan this summer, (please don’t stop : )). We will be visiting more than a dozen churches in multiple cities across Japan and visiting Kayo’s family in Hiroshima. Please pray for opportunities to be a witness to Kayo’s unsaved relatives. ...
"… and after all these long years of waiting, I am eager to visit you." Romans 15:23b NLT I could not include the first part of this verse which reads, “But now I have finished my work in these regions.” because our work in Cambodia is not finished. Many new and exciting projects are already lining up for after our return from Japan at the end of summer. Reconnecting in Cambodia ...
“But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” Luke 21:28. A lot of “things” are happening in the world right now. I don’t know if they are “these things” or not. : ) Regardless, I am reminded that it is always a good time to “straighten up and lift up your heads.” By lifting up our heads we will find that we are looking up to God and therefore we have reason not to be discouraged because God is greater than any problem that we could possibly face. ...
“For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come.” Hebrews 13:14 NLT Not being able to visit either of our passport-countries since 2018 and 2019 respectively, has made me think about the concept of “home.” Cambodia isn’t really “home” either because our presence here depends, in part, on whether or not the government will renew our visas each year. We never feel a sense of being fully rooted anywhere in the world. But, the good news is that this world is not our home. Heaven is our home and so that is where we find our root and permanence. ...
“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” Psalm 46:10 It is hard to believe that 2022 is already here. God was faithful to us in 2021 and carried us through that strange year. Now, as we start 2022, we know that even though our plans may not go as we expect, but no matter what happens, God will be exalted among the nations. ...
“ If it had not been the Lord who was on our side,” Let Israel now say—... " Psalm 124:1 The Cambodian government seems to be on the trajectory of reopening the country. They have already begun to reduce some of the travel restrictions which have made it too difficult for us to leave the country since 2019. Lord willing, we really desire to visit the USA or Japan in the summer of 2022. Please pray that some more barriers will be removed to make that possible. ...
And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Galatians 6:9 Giving God the glory for 100,000+ views on www.youtube.com/evidencecambodia. I would like to thank God, my Cambodian ministry partners, senders, and viewers for helping my YouTube channel reach 100,000+ views! This channel only has Apologetics/Evangelistic videos in the Cambodian language. Based on the mostly positive comments I have received, it has reached Christians and non-Christians. One person told me recently that she sends my videos to equip her Cambodian parents, who are new believers. These videos are also used as teaching aides in evangelism classes at a Bible school in Cambodia. In addition to YouTube, I also share my videos on www.internationalfishers.com/khmer and in several pages and groups on Facebook. I do not know how many views these videos have received, but most of my videos are more popular on Facebook than on YouTube. Since my last update, I was able to make one more video in the Cambodian language entitled, " Is God Imaginary?" ...
“Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth.” Psalm 127:4 NKJV Thanks for praying for Benjamin’s summer break from school, especially since we couldn’t visit the US or Japan (Lord willing, summer of 2022). Benjamin, totally on his own initiative, started helping with my International Fishers apologetics/evangelism ministry! He improved the graphic design of the title slides and Cambodian language Bible verse slides of my videos using skills (and software) he learned in school. He even wrote the rough draft (which I reviewed and edited) for a video entitled, Fact or Fiction: the Battle of Jericho. You can watch the video in the Cambodian language at: https://youtu.be/Bp172pctWGo and read the English script at: https://www.dropbox.com/s/7m5x8mottu2qyjw/Fact%20or%20Fiction%20Jericho.docx?dl=0 ...
" In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in C hrist Jesus for you." 1 Thessalonians 5:18 I’m thankful that this passage says “In everything” instead of “For everything”. We can be thankful in the midst of various trials even when we can’t be thankful for the trials themselves because we can’t see the big picture. The past month has been an “in everything” kind of time. We have had a lot sicknesses, some more serious than others. One hospital wanted to admit me (Darryl) as an in-patient for high fever (probably a stomach flu) but the government requires a COVID test before they could treat me. I was too sick to travel around the city looking for a COVID test, so I had to ride out the sickness at home. Kayo mobilized prayer and my high fever went away soon. A Cambodian Christian doctor prescribed some medicine for other symptoms online, free of charge. We give thanks that I recovered just in time to record our mission report/sermon video for Tokyo Chapel and then go on a prescheduled family trip to the seaside. Kayo has also had some minor/annoying aliments but also recovered just in time so that we haven’t missed any important ministry or other activities. ...
“For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.” Colossians 2:5 Even though we could not travel to the USA or Japan this summer as we had hoped due to COVID restrictions, we are thankful that we can feel close to our families and senders in both countries. We thank God for communication technology that allows us to communicate so that living on the other side of the globe now feels like living on the other side of the state felt a few years ago. We are thankful that we could even do some online shopping in the USA for a few essential items and books for Benjamin and have them shipped to Cambodia. This too is a blessing. ...