“Lord, help us reach our goals by training time,” we prayed. For the past several months, we had been throwing ourselves into raising the necessary launching and monthly support for our project in Cambodia. We had around $20,000 towards launching and $350 of monthly pledges to raise in the few weeks before summer training. We wanted to finish it off so we could focus on summer training and then have a quick entry into the field.

My thoughts turned to the story of Elisha and King Joash. Israel had been plagued by the Syrians. What’s more, Elisha was about to die. Days were dark in Israel! The young king came seeking advice from the old prophet. Elisha commanded the king to take his arrows and smite the ground. The young king grasped the arrows and struck the ground three times. “You should have struck five or six times,” Elisha told him. “Then you would have struck Syria till you had destroyed it! But now you will strike Syria only three times.” Harsh words? Maybe, but true. The lesson was clear. Israel’s success came from God but was contingent on the vision and faith of His people. Now God was asking us to “strike the ground six times” in our fundraising. Glory to God! By two and a half weeks from training, God had provided all the funds we needed, and over $9,000 of it within three days!

Thank you, supporters, for listening to the promptings of God’s spirit! Without your prayers and financial support, the Cham would have to wait even longer to hear the good news of Jesus. In partnership with you, and empowered by the spirit of God, we can make a difference!

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