June 2008 Newsletter

Dear family and friends,

An old song we heard last Sunday at the Vietnamese church in Orlando spoke directly to my heart: “How can it be that my King should die for me? My response came quickly: “All hail King Jesus…I gladly follow You…into the chaos of Cambodia…into the dirty alleys of Siem Reap city….into the floating villages on the great Tonle Sap Lake.”

LET ME TRY TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS YOU ARE ASKING:

1. Why are you back in the States at this time?
By God’s grace we are on track with the original plan:

• Spend six months at a new location in Cambodia, establishing Project:” Love Your Neighbor’, a new ministry for unreached Vietnamese immigrants.
• Spend three months in Vietnam and the USA for recruiting, renewal, evaluation and raising up new ministry-partners.
• Spend six months to one year in Asia to build up the ministry with our new Asian colleagues.
  

2. How is this plan working so far? Praise the Lord! Very well.

• PROJECT: “Love Your Neighbor” has been started in Siem Reap, Cambodia near the largest Hindu–Buddhist temple in the world, Angkor Wat, and the great Tonle Sap Lake.
• A small ministry center has been built in one of the many Vietnamese immigrant settlements in Siem Reap city.
• After several visits to the largest village on the Tonle Sap Lake, permission has been granted to dock the old NewHope boat next to the Vietnamese leader’s houseboat. The boat will be renovated and used as a ministry center for Vietnamese classes, medical clinics, distributing water filters, etc.
• While in South East Asia, we were invited to share the needs of Vietnamese in Cambodia …in church services, in small groups and with church leaders. They are praying with us.
  

3. When are you going back?

• God willing, July 23, that’s what the plane ticket says and we are trusting God.
  

4. How about your support? Do you need more ministry-partners?

• We are very grateful for each one of our faithful ministry partners. A few strong supporters have lost their jobs or have had some thing happen which has prevented them from further giving. There has been a sharp rise in the cost of airline tickets and other expenses. So, yes, we do need more ministry partners now. We are short just under $10,000 to cover our total personal and ministry budget for one year. International Teams requires that we have on account or pledged the full year’s budget before we leave. Please pray.!
• If you can make an “occasional gift” or a monthly pledge, now is a good time. Please send your gifts directly to International Teams and let us know in a short e-mail/letter or phone call.
  

5. What about Rick’s health?

• Generally, good. Praise the Lord! There have been very few headaches, (no migraines), minimal back pain and for the 8th year I am totally cancer free. During the last few weeks in Vietnam and Cambodia, I was bothered by very persistent skin infections (probably staph) but thankfully after several rounds of antibiotics they have cleared up.

6. What are your current prayer requests?

• For the Vietnamese pastor cooperating with us in Cambodia who had to be hospitalized in Vietnam soon after we left. Pray for his healing and return, according to the Lord’s will.
• For the young woman who will be joining us to teach the children Vietnamese language as well as Christian truths. Please pray fervently that the children and their parents will open their hearts to Christ and a church will be started.
• For the development of the ministry on the Tonle Sap Lake.
  For another Vietnamese Christian worker to join “Project: Love Your Neighbor” as soon as possible.”
• For our continued health and physical strength from day to day.

With thanks to each one of you and praise to our Lord,
Rick Drummond (for Beth too)