By God’s grace, we arrived back in Cambodia on June 23, 2017, after being in the States almost a year and a half for my cancer treatments. We were missed by our friends in Phnom Penh and by our project team in Mondulkiri Province. On Thursday evening when we arrived in Mondulkiri, our student missionaries Anthony and Bezi, whom I had never met, were jumping up and down and waving their arms to welcome us home. A “Welcome home” banner in the hallway of our house greeted us in addition to special notes from our friends, colleagues and students. We were touched.

The next morning we went to the school staff worship where everybody smiled warmly at us. There I met Mariette, our acting principal for the school in Cara’s absence. She has the school running like a well-oiled machine. She invited me to lead in prayer for the school. It was nice to feel welcomed and appreciated.

After breakfast we examined the work on the new school building and meet with our builder. The last time I was there, the site had been empty. The only signs of activity were the soil-testing rig and the neighbor’s cows sauntering through. Now there is a large school building complete with a metal roof and walls built of compressed-earth blocks made with soil from the school property! Being in the States and watching from afar as the new school building went up was hard for me. Many people had described it to me, and I had seen pictures, but nothing prepared me for the experience of seeing it for the first time with my own eyes.

On Sabbath I led out in the prayer request/praise time at the Khmer church. Then I was invited to conduct a Bible study that afternoon in the Pnong village. For Sabbath evening vespers I shared the worship thought. I was thrilled to see the sheer amount of prayer our team has been pouring into the project. We lift up every challenge to God, and then we praise Him for His answers in faith, even before we see His solution. It is fun to watch Him work.

As you’re reading this article, please take a moment to pray for the Pnong Project. Pray that the Holy Spirit will continue to work in a mighty way on the hearts of our students and their families. Pray for the finishing touches being put on the new school building. And, finally, pray that God will hold back Satan and his angels so that the work can move forward as rapidly as possible.

Thank you in advance for your prayers for the Pnong Project. Thank you for your prayers for our family over the past year and a half. You have been an encouragement through very trying times. Once again, God has answered your prayers mightily!

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