The beautiful waterfall cascaded over the rocky cliff and into the swirling pool below. It was a lovely scene, but the eyes of everyone (including a group of tourists with cameras) were riveted on the four precious souls in long maroon robes climbing carefully over wet rocks to wade into the rushing river and start a new life with Jesus through baptism. Praise the Lord for the first fruits from the Pnong Project!

We were privileged to attend these baptisms. They are a testament to the commitment of many years of loving friendship and work among this minority group in the hills of Cambodia. How thankful we are that the missionaries stuck with it through hardship, pain and disease in God’s strength.

The following Sabbath we watched as 16 youth made the same commitment to choose a life with Christ through baptism. This occasion was extra special to us, as it was the fruit of Arnold’s work in Cambodia 20 years ago. One of the young men baptized was the eldest child of someone Arnold led to Christ in 1997. How sweet to see the ripple effect!

It makes us ponder what our influence on others will be. Will it bring heart changes that affect the very core of someone’s being as they come to know and love Jesus? That is our hope and prayer!

Stay faithful, brothers and sisters. Jesus is coming very soon, and your influence is changing lives around you. Through your prayers, love and support of missions, ripples are spreading and growing into waves for the kingdom of Jesus!

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