Seeing how well the staff and children have adapted to their new home and city is a real treat for us. They are really flourishing in every area. The children are all doing well in school. In almost every grade, one of the children from Heritage House is first in their class. The Church is moving along and having an impact in the area. At our guest house yesterday, a lady who works there said that she can hear the children singing and praising Jesus everyone day and that on Sunday mornings they seem to be so happy. Sisters Restaurant Two (Pheakadey's restaurant) is going well. Some of our older girls help cook and waitress when they are not in school. Yesterday, Mari and Chrup made our lunch and last night served us dessert. It is great to see how God is moving here and using the staff and children to make an impact in the city.
I shared at Hosanna Church Cambodia yesterday morning. We had five of the school teachers who had visited during the Christmas outreach return to visit the sevice. All five of them came forward to pray during the ministry time. They all prayed and opened their hearts to the Lord. In this culture, I am hesitant to say that they "prayed the sinners prayer." I do know that they prayed and asked Jesus to reveal Himself to them, confessed their sin and need for a Savior and asked the Holy Spirit to teach them about Jesus Christ the true God. So, we know that He is faithful to move in their lives and that the door has been opened for God to move. Please pray for them to truly encounter Jesus and for them to become true disciples.
The children from Heritage House led worship at the service. As always, Kristen and I sat and cried as we saw the goodness of God being lived out before us. To see these children who were orphaned, cast out by society and hopeless now being living epistles to the glory and goodness of God before our eyes. To see them singing and praising Jesus with all of their hearts lets us know that He is alive and still moving throughout the earth.
Please join us in praying for Coy, Somnang, Tola and Mari. These are our oldest children and we are seeking the direction of the Lord in what to do with them next year. We are praying about vocational schools or for them to continue one more year in public school. We need to be preparing them for their future and none of them will be able to finish all of high school due to their ages. We are trying to see what will fit each of them best.
Yesterday afternoon, Kristen and I spent hours with Vutha and Pheakadey and it was so refreshing to see all that God is doing in their lives. In the late afternoon, we played and talked with the children from Heritage House. It was a great day and we are thankful!
As strange as it seems, we only have four days left in Kampot. We leave for Phnom Penh Friday afternoon. We will visit friends there on Friday everning and Saturday and then start the long journey back to the states on Sunday. We did get seven hours sleep last night (our most so far) and may be getting used to the time here about the day we leave to head back to the states.
Thank you for your prayers!
Servant of a Passionate God
Lewis Burke
Rom 8:31
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