Below is what Mark just sent to me. For some of you who might be new to this blog, let me try and explain where he is coming from in writing his words.
Mark has been experiencing some frustration. He is a hands-on type of worker. In other words, Mark truly enjoys working with his hands. Building. Constructing. Fixing.
Mark is not the kind of person who likes to sit idly back. He feels as if he does, he is wasting time.
On skype, last night, he voiced his concern that he had not done anything worthwhile since he had gotten to Cambodia. I tried to encourage him that he had done a lot. Maybe not in the physical realm. But certainly in the spiritual.
Friendships. Relationships. Teaching. Sharing. Praying. Meeting. He has done much in the six months he has been in Cambodia. There has been much fruit. Maybe not in the tangible, human vision kind of way. Yet, in God's eyes, there has been enormous work done.
Those are not his forte, yet God has used Mark. And God has moved in Mark. He has taught him about himself. About sacrifice and his own relationship with God. All of it extremely valuable for anyone on the "mission" field. Which I might add, means all of us, as followers of Christ.
Waiting is not easy for anyone. The end results, though, can be powerful and foundational.
Mark is enthusiastically wanting, and waiting, to share the "bacon." In whatever way the Lord enables.
We prayed his time in Phnom Penh would be refreshing and revealing.
Mark also wants to communicate Jesus well. Not just through ministry, but through the language. Language is hard for him. Hearing and speaking. Pray his ears would be open to hear all the crazy nuances of the language and his tongue be able to make all the sounds needed to share the words of Jesus.
May we each, daily, hear and act on what the Lord tells us.
Thanks for standing with Mark and all of us. There are many involved in this ministry.
You as pray-ers are right at the top.
D
---------------------------------------------------------
I am not going to give up no matter what happens.
Too many thing are coming together. God is working mightily here. I just needed to blow off steam. If for some reason finances are short, I will just do the way I always have.
Start small and build.
Why is it, right before the victory, Satan attacks the most?
Because he knows he has already lost.
Pray for me to stand strong. Another hard day but have new breath from God.
Going to Phnom Penh tomorrow and be around others that think the same. Well, maybe not quite the same. But have same purpose.
Jesus and His Glory!!
Don't know what I would do with out your understanding and your commitment to our Lord Jesus.
Mark
Sharing the Word and healing the forgotten people of the Mekong
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Sunday, January 27, 2013
new. family.
Went to new church today!
Very good. Very moving. I had met the pastor a few times. She speaks in English and her husband translates to Khmer. Was first time since I have been that I understood the message. They also put the words to the songs on flat screen TV in both English and Khmer.
Met five other Americans today. As soon as they found out I was the bacon man they want to buy. One girl, Margaret, is in the Peace Corp. She is trying to do health related teaching. Having a hard time getting it done. But she is going to teach it here. Write curriculum for us and teach. She has 18 months left. Told her what a blessing it was to met her. This may be more a blessing for her. She has not got to do much in the seven months she has been here.
Also met Khem, a man from Vancouver. He is going to teach a class in US business practices and why we do so good. He has been in US since 1980. Spent five years in refuge camp in Thailand before he went the the US. More than happy to help. Very strong Christian. Going to write Biblical curriculum so Chinda can teach it after he leaves on Aprli 17th.
If everything goes right should receive equipment a few weeks before that time. Praying we do. Can't really teach anything until we start. God is so good. He has been putting the people in place before I even go looking for them. That is the main reason I know this is of the Lord. All the pieces are just falling into place. Except the funds. But know they are coming just not from where or how soon. Have been sitting around too long. Time to do something.
These two things are a very big deal. They don't understand at all why we took the tile out of the kitchen. About every tenth piece was loose and under it was crud. From what they have come form it is very clean. Told them it has to be super clean. Said just to humor me. They just smiled. Think they think I am crazy. I have tried to explain but now have someone that really is able tell them why it has to be this way. The Khmer man will be able to explain business our way in a way they will understand. So important.
There are going to be many changes here doing this business. Most in just the way we do things so different from them.
Thanking the Lord for these people and they are both Christian. Thank you Lord.
God Bless form your brother in Christ Jesus.
Mark
Very good. Very moving. I had met the pastor a few times. She speaks in English and her husband translates to Khmer. Was first time since I have been that I understood the message. They also put the words to the songs on flat screen TV in both English and Khmer.
Met five other Americans today. As soon as they found out I was the bacon man they want to buy. One girl, Margaret, is in the Peace Corp. She is trying to do health related teaching. Having a hard time getting it done. But she is going to teach it here. Write curriculum for us and teach. She has 18 months left. Told her what a blessing it was to met her. This may be more a blessing for her. She has not got to do much in the seven months she has been here.
Also met Khem, a man from Vancouver. He is going to teach a class in US business practices and why we do so good. He has been in US since 1980. Spent five years in refuge camp in Thailand before he went the the US. More than happy to help. Very strong Christian. Going to write Biblical curriculum so Chinda can teach it after he leaves on Aprli 17th.
If everything goes right should receive equipment a few weeks before that time. Praying we do. Can't really teach anything until we start. God is so good. He has been putting the people in place before I even go looking for them. That is the main reason I know this is of the Lord. All the pieces are just falling into place. Except the funds. But know they are coming just not from where or how soon. Have been sitting around too long. Time to do something.
These two things are a very big deal. They don't understand at all why we took the tile out of the kitchen. About every tenth piece was loose and under it was crud. From what they have come form it is very clean. Told them it has to be super clean. Said just to humor me. They just smiled. Think they think I am crazy. I have tried to explain but now have someone that really is able tell them why it has to be this way. The Khmer man will be able to explain business our way in a way they will understand. So important.
There are going to be many changes here doing this business. Most in just the way we do things so different from them.
Thanking the Lord for these people and they are both Christian. Thank you Lord.
God Bless form your brother in Christ Jesus.
Mark
Friday, January 25, 2013
view from veranda
i am sitting on verinda on the 2nd floor
.
the meat shop wall faces right on to highway no. 5.
Paint it white and show movies.
anyone coming down the highway will see it!
show cartoons and movies and the Bible.
and of course the Jesus film.
would be like drive inn movie
So glad we serve such an incredibly good God!
A Hummer. Some bacon. And a General....
This is from a couple days ago.
----------------------------------------------
So, around four this afternoon, Chinda, Chan and I are sitting on front porch talking about a meeting tomorrow at pastor Wuty's church from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. They want me to go. Sure. No problem.
Well, this Hummer pulls into the yard. Chinda says they must be looking for owner. The driver gets out. Very rich man. Must have had 5,000 dollars worth of gold on and his wife has diamond ring. So big it almost blinds you!
He wants bacon.
We talk for awhile. Tell him it will be a few weeks till can make any. He asked if could make him some now. He was told I make the best bacon in Cambodia. Speaks very good English. Asked where he is from. Pu Sat, 50km north. Asked how he found out I did bacon. Said his good friend the General told him.
I have coffee with General Nat San most mornings at 6:00!
He said every body knows you make bacon. The strangest thing is Mr. Nat San has never tasted my bacon. Word travels fast here. May be the only thing that does go fast here.
He really wanted it now. I had to explain how long it took to make and that I was waiting on funds from US to start. He wanted to how much to start. Told him 25,000 to buy machines. Have to come from Malaysia. He said he could loan me the money. Explained to him that wouldn't be necessary. it will still take 6 to 8 weeks to get machines and that I already had the funds. just waiting for everything to come together. Wow!
He left after talking with him about 1 1/2 hours. He supplies the army with goods. That is all he would say. But he did say when I go to order call him first. Thinks he can speed up delivery time. And if there is any way could make a little for him before that he would be very grateful. I think he's used to getting what he wants when he wants it. Will be calling him as soon as I have some.
You can bet on that!
God is so good!
Mark
----------------------------------------------
So, around four this afternoon, Chinda, Chan and I are sitting on front porch talking about a meeting tomorrow at pastor Wuty's church from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. They want me to go. Sure. No problem.
Well, this Hummer pulls into the yard. Chinda says they must be looking for owner. The driver gets out. Very rich man. Must have had 5,000 dollars worth of gold on and his wife has diamond ring. So big it almost blinds you!
He wants bacon.
We talk for awhile. Tell him it will be a few weeks till can make any. He asked if could make him some now. He was told I make the best bacon in Cambodia. Speaks very good English. Asked where he is from. Pu Sat, 50km north. Asked how he found out I did bacon. Said his good friend the General told him.
I have coffee with General Nat San most mornings at 6:00!
He said every body knows you make bacon. The strangest thing is Mr. Nat San has never tasted my bacon. Word travels fast here. May be the only thing that does go fast here.
He really wanted it now. I had to explain how long it took to make and that I was waiting on funds from US to start. He wanted to how much to start. Told him 25,000 to buy machines. Have to come from Malaysia. He said he could loan me the money. Explained to him that wouldn't be necessary. it will still take 6 to 8 weeks to get machines and that I already had the funds. just waiting for everything to come together. Wow!
He left after talking with him about 1 1/2 hours. He supplies the army with goods. That is all he would say. But he did say when I go to order call him first. Thinks he can speed up delivery time. And if there is any way could make a little for him before that he would be very grateful. I think he's used to getting what he wants when he wants it. Will be calling him as soon as I have some.
You can bet on that!
God is so good!
Mark
Bacon Story
When I first went to the village and talked to them about fish ponds, they asked if I wanted to raise pigs. I said I didn't, that I had done it before and it was a lot of work. Also cost a lot to go into big production. And the pork prices here fluctuate a lot. One time you make money the next you lose. That's because Vietnam imports a lot. They flood the market. So of course they would do what I want. They don't have any money to do any thing. Forgot what I heard said in Perspective Course: ask them what they want and help them do it.
Pastor Rith and I go to breakfast 3 or 4 time a week to one of the nicer hotels. Usually have omelet and bacon. One morning they were out of bacon. And then again when we went back the lady said she hadn't been to Phnom Penh to get more. I mentioned I could make it. That surprised the pastor. Didn't think any more of it. Then a few days later go back to breakfast. Still no bacon. Pastor asked if I could really make it. I said sure. I had made it for years at home. That surprised him more. The only bacon comes from Thailand is $ 5.00 lb. Only the rich can buy it. Most is sold in foreign restaurants and Lucky's supermarket (big store that mainly sells foreign foods. Everything expensive)
Well a few days later Pastor asked if I would make some. I said would think about it. Had to see what smoker would cost made from 55 gallon barrel and the meat and if could the ingredients to make it here. I had a pre paid visa that I had before I opened bank account. I spent my saving right away moto bike phone clothes other thing would need. Took five days at beach South China Sea. You would have to spend a few days there to know how beautiful it is. Spent the time figuring out just where the Lord wanted me.
In the six months I have been here I have had to use my prepaid a little each month. Wasn't going to touch it but there were things that needed to be done and the money I am getting was used up early most months. Didn't have to use a lot. Well I got my balance and there was still a balance of $325 left. So decided to check it out see if I could do it. I knew I had to fund it. But also knew that it would be ten, maybe one hundred times bigger than fish ponds.
The reason I choose fish farm was it was the only way I could see to make money here to support the ministry. The Lord put on my heart to help the Vietnamese on the Mekong River. Build a boat to support it. Fish would take around two years to make enough to start that. Thus I relayed to all. Fromm time you put the fish in the pond it is six months to harvest. Would stock a pond every month so would income every month. When I talked to all at Mosaic and others, the cost to do this was $2500/month. That was able to be whittled down to $1700. Wasn't worried. Knew that if the Lord wanted it done it would happen. Might take longer but would happen.
Cost to test bacon. Barrel 15 dollars. To have made into smoker 50 to 75. Now I had to go to Phnom Penh to see what could and could not find. This I knew would cost around 100 as I would have to stay a few days and pay tuktuk to run around all day. All day in tuktuk 30. The last day John was here spent 45 including his trip to airport.
So after three days find most of what need. Biggest thing, potassium nitrate, can not get here. Was able to buy enough to do about 40 lbs from Dan's meats. He smokes it here but charges over $5/lb. Only sells to best restaurants and expats. I needed to able to make with everything could get here except potassium nitrate. Knew after Phnom Penh would have to import that but a little goes along way. If pure only takes teaspoon for 50 lbs. Couldn't find meat or BBQ thermometer. Very important to have. Bacon can not cook over 200 F or you cook the fat and you have roast pork. And with it being 90 to 100 here every day will be hard to keep temperature down. Cost of trip for three days 140. Back to Kampong Chanang.
Found palm molasses. Never even knew they made it. Couldn't find cane molasses. Have smoker made. Make first batch. Cook at too high temp and way to salty and the wood they have to smoke with is very strong. Way too smokey. They have sea salt here. Is damp and very concentrated. Next batch better cooked at low enough heat. Should take 3 hours at 200F. But was afraid of over cooking. Took five hours. Less salt. More sugar and molasses. Smoke for half the time. Much better. Still too smokey and just a little salty.
Took some to Andy when had meeting about what we would do when John came. They liked it but agreed too smoky and salty. Two more batches. Last batch only cured for three days. Been curing six days as did at home, but no matter what do still too salty. And only putting smoke to it for one hour. Wow! Got it very good. Everybody loves it and wants me to start today. But no way I can. Need freezers, slicer, grinder to make sausage. Have to make sausage. When you buy you always have trimmings. Have been giving them to Chinda. For first batches Chinda gave away to poor families. Was good if made in stew or soup. But not plain. Doing 50 to 100 lbs a day will have about 10 lbs of trimmings every day. So need to make sausage.
In Phnom Penh pork sells for 2.00 lb.
Kampoung Chanang 1.75
Out in the village 1.25
cost to cure would be 10 cents/lb
labor at 50 lbs a day 10 cents over head 40 cents/lb inculdes house, electricity
taxes 20 cents/lb.
that comes to 80 cents/lb cost.
Added 20 cents/lb which brings it to a $1/lb production
$1.25/lb pork
$1.00 production
total cost 2.25/lb
selling for 3.25/lb
leaves $1/lb profit not including sausage
figuring 15% waste skin and fat.
the skin sells for 90 cent/lb
lard sells for 50 cents/lb
No waste. None. They make a soup out of the skin. They say it tastes very good. Personally, I don't think so. I can eat it but would rather not.
50 lbs/day 26 days a month
Will not work Sundays. Most do.
Would profit 1300/month. At half of that it is very good. Talking with seven restaurants here in Kampong Chanang that want to buy. Police and friends of the pastors. People in church. I feel that within two months we would do that here in Kampong Chanang at 3.25/lb.
About 1/3 to1/2 the people could afford it.
10,000 live in Kampong Chanang.
Andy wants me to sell it in Phnom Penh through Diamond Project. They feel they would sell much more than that. I don't feel I could supply them for 4 or 5 months. Would have to get up to production. Would wholesale to them for $3/lb.
This would employ 5 to 10 people with in six months. Make the money to do fish ponds and filters much faster. Six fish ponds puts one person to work besides myself. Once fish are in the pond, have to make fish food and feed. This would take two hours every other day. And feed them three times a day. Two years before could start other ministries. I wouldn't do the fish farm but would put two ponds at church in village. Use solar we have working there for them. They already have one pond.
The vision has not changed at all. Just the way to support it . I didn't plan this. I believe it is totally God lead. Too many peices came together without any effort. The cost is the same as fish ponds but this will allow for the investment to be paid back in a timely manner. Fish ponds would take four or five years to pay back loan. That is no reason to do it. But it is a plus.
I had no desire to live in a house like this or do this but I really believe it is what should be done.
Other reasons for this:
1 Will have other ministries distribute. Would sell to them for $3/lb. They sell for $3.50 to $3.75/lb. depending on were they are. Phnom Penh and the four other major tourist cities would be the highest priced. This would give them a way to support themselves or at least help them a lot.
2 Employ many more people. There really is no end to it. Thailand is importing over 2000 pounds a day. That would require a factory employing I don't know how many, but a lot! That is a few years away if we wanted to take it that far.
3 Would have contract growers raise the pigs so could guarantee them a good price for their pork.
4 Be a example to business here that if you treat your workers good and pay fare wage they will work better and want the company to do better. I would want to have profit sharing for employees.
If anyone has any questions please email or skype.
God bless,
Mark
marktmasingale@gmail.com
Pastor Rith and I go to breakfast 3 or 4 time a week to one of the nicer hotels. Usually have omelet and bacon. One morning they were out of bacon. And then again when we went back the lady said she hadn't been to Phnom Penh to get more. I mentioned I could make it. That surprised the pastor. Didn't think any more of it. Then a few days later go back to breakfast. Still no bacon. Pastor asked if I could really make it. I said sure. I had made it for years at home. That surprised him more. The only bacon comes from Thailand is $ 5.00 lb. Only the rich can buy it. Most is sold in foreign restaurants and Lucky's supermarket (big store that mainly sells foreign foods. Everything expensive)
Well a few days later Pastor asked if I would make some. I said would think about it. Had to see what smoker would cost made from 55 gallon barrel and the meat and if could the ingredients to make it here. I had a pre paid visa that I had before I opened bank account. I spent my saving right away moto bike phone clothes other thing would need. Took five days at beach South China Sea. You would have to spend a few days there to know how beautiful it is. Spent the time figuring out just where the Lord wanted me.
In the six months I have been here I have had to use my prepaid a little each month. Wasn't going to touch it but there were things that needed to be done and the money I am getting was used up early most months. Didn't have to use a lot. Well I got my balance and there was still a balance of $325 left. So decided to check it out see if I could do it. I knew I had to fund it. But also knew that it would be ten, maybe one hundred times bigger than fish ponds.
The reason I choose fish farm was it was the only way I could see to make money here to support the ministry. The Lord put on my heart to help the Vietnamese on the Mekong River. Build a boat to support it. Fish would take around two years to make enough to start that. Thus I relayed to all. Fromm time you put the fish in the pond it is six months to harvest. Would stock a pond every month so would income every month. When I talked to all at Mosaic and others, the cost to do this was $2500/month. That was able to be whittled down to $1700. Wasn't worried. Knew that if the Lord wanted it done it would happen. Might take longer but would happen.
Cost to test bacon. Barrel 15 dollars. To have made into smoker 50 to 75. Now I had to go to Phnom Penh to see what could and could not find. This I knew would cost around 100 as I would have to stay a few days and pay tuktuk to run around all day. All day in tuktuk 30. The last day John was here spent 45 including his trip to airport.
So after three days find most of what need. Biggest thing, potassium nitrate, can not get here. Was able to buy enough to do about 40 lbs from Dan's meats. He smokes it here but charges over $5/lb. Only sells to best restaurants and expats. I needed to able to make with everything could get here except potassium nitrate. Knew after Phnom Penh would have to import that but a little goes along way. If pure only takes teaspoon for 50 lbs. Couldn't find meat or BBQ thermometer. Very important to have. Bacon can not cook over 200 F or you cook the fat and you have roast pork. And with it being 90 to 100 here every day will be hard to keep temperature down. Cost of trip for three days 140. Back to Kampong Chanang.
Found palm molasses. Never even knew they made it. Couldn't find cane molasses. Have smoker made. Make first batch. Cook at too high temp and way to salty and the wood they have to smoke with is very strong. Way too smokey. They have sea salt here. Is damp and very concentrated. Next batch better cooked at low enough heat. Should take 3 hours at 200F. But was afraid of over cooking. Took five hours. Less salt. More sugar and molasses. Smoke for half the time. Much better. Still too smokey and just a little salty.
Took some to Andy when had meeting about what we would do when John came. They liked it but agreed too smoky and salty. Two more batches. Last batch only cured for three days. Been curing six days as did at home, but no matter what do still too salty. And only putting smoke to it for one hour. Wow! Got it very good. Everybody loves it and wants me to start today. But no way I can. Need freezers, slicer, grinder to make sausage. Have to make sausage. When you buy you always have trimmings. Have been giving them to Chinda. For first batches Chinda gave away to poor families. Was good if made in stew or soup. But not plain. Doing 50 to 100 lbs a day will have about 10 lbs of trimmings every day. So need to make sausage.
In Phnom Penh pork sells for 2.00 lb.
Kampoung Chanang 1.75
Out in the village 1.25
cost to cure would be 10 cents/lb
labor at 50 lbs a day 10 cents over head 40 cents/lb inculdes house, electricity
taxes 20 cents/lb.
that comes to 80 cents/lb cost.
Added 20 cents/lb which brings it to a $1/lb production
$1.25/lb pork
$1.00 production
total cost 2.25/lb
selling for 3.25/lb
leaves $1/lb profit not including sausage
figuring 15% waste skin and fat.
the skin sells for 90 cent/lb
lard sells for 50 cents/lb
No waste. None. They make a soup out of the skin. They say it tastes very good. Personally, I don't think so. I can eat it but would rather not.
50 lbs/day 26 days a month
Will not work Sundays. Most do.
Would profit 1300/month. At half of that it is very good. Talking with seven restaurants here in Kampong Chanang that want to buy. Police and friends of the pastors. People in church. I feel that within two months we would do that here in Kampong Chanang at 3.25/lb.
About 1/3 to1/2 the people could afford it.
10,000 live in Kampong Chanang.
Andy wants me to sell it in Phnom Penh through Diamond Project. They feel they would sell much more than that. I don't feel I could supply them for 4 or 5 months. Would have to get up to production. Would wholesale to them for $3/lb.
This would employ 5 to 10 people with in six months. Make the money to do fish ponds and filters much faster. Six fish ponds puts one person to work besides myself. Once fish are in the pond, have to make fish food and feed. This would take two hours every other day. And feed them three times a day. Two years before could start other ministries. I wouldn't do the fish farm but would put two ponds at church in village. Use solar we have working there for them. They already have one pond.
The vision has not changed at all. Just the way to support it . I didn't plan this. I believe it is totally God lead. Too many peices came together without any effort. The cost is the same as fish ponds but this will allow for the investment to be paid back in a timely manner. Fish ponds would take four or five years to pay back loan. That is no reason to do it. But it is a plus.
I had no desire to live in a house like this or do this but I really believe it is what should be done.
Other reasons for this:
1 Will have other ministries distribute. Would sell to them for $3/lb. They sell for $3.50 to $3.75/lb. depending on were they are. Phnom Penh and the four other major tourist cities would be the highest priced. This would give them a way to support themselves or at least help them a lot.
2 Employ many more people. There really is no end to it. Thailand is importing over 2000 pounds a day. That would require a factory employing I don't know how many, but a lot! That is a few years away if we wanted to take it that far.
3 Would have contract growers raise the pigs so could guarantee them a good price for their pork.
4 Be a example to business here that if you treat your workers good and pay fare wage they will work better and want the company to do better. I would want to have profit sharing for employees.
If anyone has any questions please email or skype.
God bless,
Mark
marktmasingale@gmail.com
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
river trip pics
Here are some pics of John and me on our river trip about 5 hours.
Chinda and Chan really made this great.
The pic of us praying before we eat is of the family that 5 kids are living with me.
God is so good!
Thanks for praying with us!!
Monday, January 21, 2013
first dinner in house
first dinner in house.
some people from the church showed up with a feast to pray and bless the house with a meal! God is so good!
spent all day scrubbing bathrooms and the boys floor. it is amazing just how much respect you get when you do the drity work with them. they didn't want me to help. said I shouldn't have to clean. but how could I sit and watch them work? wouldn't want to anyway! they said I really clean good.
most of the drit is from the water and years of build up. when you fill the water barrel after about a week there is a film of dirt. even though the city well is over 150 feet deep. you only notice it in the barrel or on the floor after a few weeks of taking showers.
when you come from a house of palm reeds this place was very clean to them.
Friday, January 18, 2013
a week with pastor john
left pastor at airport last night. was very sad time for me. I came to know him as a dear friend and parting with a friend is never easy.
what a week it was! one of the best I have had in a long long time. we were able to talk to many other missionaries. it was totally all the Lord doing. John may have gotten information over load. for me, for the last 6 month i have felt like i haven't done anything but make friends and relationships. I do business is the way Lord programmed me for. and not been doing any of that. been doing everything i though i was no good at. but seeing it through John's eyes i see i have been doing just what i needed to do.
you have no idea how that makes me feel. when we are weak He is strong. believe me when i say it has all been Him, not me. i have just been me. didn't seem like much, but after seeing it all condensed in one week showed me i have done just what the Lord wanted me to do. now time for me to do what i came here for. need others to pick up the pieces i won't have time to do now. Praying God will send others to pick up where i will have to let go to do bacon. The lord gifted all in different ways
being here by my self has been very hard. many many days i have not left my room because felt i wasn't doing anything. and very time you go out so many need so much. just to eat. so hard to see and not be able to do anything about it. but then this last week showed me i have done a lot with very little. sometimes that is the way it is. as Americans we think money is the answer to every thing. don't get me wrong. it takes money to do anything. but i had to go through this time to see that money not used right does more damage than good.
i don't do any thing unless Chinda says to. seems strange but she knows her people so much more than i do. like giving small money to kids on the street. your heart says help but most buy glue with it. so giving them any thing is just buying them drugs. glue cost 500 reil. twelve cents. help to destroy a life with twelve cents. buying toy. they need food not toy. what we take for granted does not work here. i would have made so many blunders with out Chinda. i thank God every day that He put her in my life. she has stopped me from making so many mistakes.
one thing that is hard here is talking with them about things we take for granted. like meat slicer. i bet there are only 5 in the whole country so they have no idea what i am talking about. so many things like that. everything is done like it was 150 years ago in the US. they are that far behind. they're not dumb. they just have not ever seen so many things we have seen since we were young. but when they do see it the look on their face says it all.
if others would just come for a few weeks or months. i bet many would never want to leave. the first couple of weeks is shock. after that you begin to see how they live so simple. so happy with so little. if you never saw it you never miss it.
well, will let you go. lots of love from bother in Christ Jesus. half a world away but still together. only God could do something like that. thank you all. i couldn't do any of this without you. i am just the hands and feet. you are the rest of the body. love from Cambodia
Mark
what a week it was! one of the best I have had in a long long time. we were able to talk to many other missionaries. it was totally all the Lord doing. John may have gotten information over load. for me, for the last 6 month i have felt like i haven't done anything but make friends and relationships. I do business is the way Lord programmed me for. and not been doing any of that. been doing everything i though i was no good at. but seeing it through John's eyes i see i have been doing just what i needed to do.
you have no idea how that makes me feel. when we are weak He is strong. believe me when i say it has all been Him, not me. i have just been me. didn't seem like much, but after seeing it all condensed in one week showed me i have done just what the Lord wanted me to do. now time for me to do what i came here for. need others to pick up the pieces i won't have time to do now. Praying God will send others to pick up where i will have to let go to do bacon. The lord gifted all in different ways
being here by my self has been very hard. many many days i have not left my room because felt i wasn't doing anything. and very time you go out so many need so much. just to eat. so hard to see and not be able to do anything about it. but then this last week showed me i have done a lot with very little. sometimes that is the way it is. as Americans we think money is the answer to every thing. don't get me wrong. it takes money to do anything. but i had to go through this time to see that money not used right does more damage than good.
i don't do any thing unless Chinda says to. seems strange but she knows her people so much more than i do. like giving small money to kids on the street. your heart says help but most buy glue with it. so giving them any thing is just buying them drugs. glue cost 500 reil. twelve cents. help to destroy a life with twelve cents. buying toy. they need food not toy. what we take for granted does not work here. i would have made so many blunders with out Chinda. i thank God every day that He put her in my life. she has stopped me from making so many mistakes.
one thing that is hard here is talking with them about things we take for granted. like meat slicer. i bet there are only 5 in the whole country so they have no idea what i am talking about. so many things like that. everything is done like it was 150 years ago in the US. they are that far behind. they're not dumb. they just have not ever seen so many things we have seen since we were young. but when they do see it the look on their face says it all.
if others would just come for a few weeks or months. i bet many would never want to leave. the first couple of weeks is shock. after that you begin to see how they live so simple. so happy with so little. if you never saw it you never miss it.
well, will let you go. lots of love from bother in Christ Jesus. half a world away but still together. only God could do something like that. thank you all. i couldn't do any of this without you. i am just the hands and feet. you are the rest of the body. love from Cambodia
Mark
Friday, January 4, 2013
bacon and baby
finished batch of bacon
real close in flavor. is very good and everyone at guesthouse loves it. cured for six days. maybe two too long. have another batch smoking tomorrow. only cured for 4 1/2 days. should be just right. taking that one to Richard in the morning. he is going to try it. the taste is right. the smell is right. just a little salty. not bad but a little to much. see what richard thinks.
doing what i can here to to help Vietnamese and Cambodians.
I can't do any more as I don't have any more nitrates and Dan's meat won't sell me any more and out of money. but got done what I needed.
last pics of baby born in house close to Chinda's. she is big for Cambodian baby but what a sweetheart. two hours old. I am a blessed man. I was asked to pray over her that she would live to get her name in 30 days. won't name until 30 days old then have party. over fifty percent don't make it that long. pray for her.
God Bless you all
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| before smoking |
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| after smoking |
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| smoker |
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Pics of baptism
Pics of baptism yesterday.
I am so blessed!
And couple of me in village school.
God Bless all of you for making this happen. You will never know what a blessing you are to all of the children. May Jesus bless you greatly for your support!
Your bother in Christ Jesus,
Mark
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Feelings
Yesterday as we were coming back from village a car hit a moto bike right in front of us. Was car's fault.
The man's leg was broken in 3 places, bone sticking out blood everywhere. He also had very bad cut on head. Barely conscious. Had to help move him out of road. Held leg as it just hanging there. Blood didn't bother me but afterwards I was really shook up. I have never been afraid of any thing. If it was dangerous I was the guy for the job. Top trees 100 ft up. For high lead walked walls on 3 story building. Nothing bothered me. But I am afraid to drive on highway now. It is very strange feeling. I feel like a sissy. But I realized that could have been me the other day.
The man will never walk right again. Will take months to heal especially here. If that would happen to me every thing that Jesus has for me to do would stop. I don't know what to do. Really afraid not to ride in town. Only go 15 mph but highway 35 and cars go as fast as they want. The rule of the road here is the bigger you are the more of the road you can use. No traffic cops. Took one hour for police and ambulance to come.
The man may not live. The car just kept going. Never even slowed down. Life is worth about 50.00 here if you kill someone. In wreck will cost around 8000. Wow!. I knew all this but really hit home last night. I really know Jesus had me in His arms in my wreck. I was driving to fast. Only a cracked rib and a few scratches. Nothing. But know I could just as easily be killed or hurt very bad.
What to do?
Pray that God helps me with this. It very upsetting to me. New feeling. I can not explain the way I feel. Never had this feeling before. I know Jesus is with me but I also know I have take care of myself so I can do what ever it is He wants me to do.
My life is not that important but what Jesus has for me to do here is. God bless all of you!
Mark
The man's leg was broken in 3 places, bone sticking out blood everywhere. He also had very bad cut on head. Barely conscious. Had to help move him out of road. Held leg as it just hanging there. Blood didn't bother me but afterwards I was really shook up. I have never been afraid of any thing. If it was dangerous I was the guy for the job. Top trees 100 ft up. For high lead walked walls on 3 story building. Nothing bothered me. But I am afraid to drive on highway now. It is very strange feeling. I feel like a sissy. But I realized that could have been me the other day.
The man will never walk right again. Will take months to heal especially here. If that would happen to me every thing that Jesus has for me to do would stop. I don't know what to do. Really afraid not to ride in town. Only go 15 mph but highway 35 and cars go as fast as they want. The rule of the road here is the bigger you are the more of the road you can use. No traffic cops. Took one hour for police and ambulance to come.
The man may not live. The car just kept going. Never even slowed down. Life is worth about 50.00 here if you kill someone. In wreck will cost around 8000. Wow!. I knew all this but really hit home last night. I really know Jesus had me in His arms in my wreck. I was driving to fast. Only a cracked rib and a few scratches. Nothing. But know I could just as easily be killed or hurt very bad.
What to do?
Pray that God helps me with this. It very upsetting to me. New feeling. I can not explain the way I feel. Never had this feeling before. I know Jesus is with me but I also know I have take care of myself so I can do what ever it is He wants me to do.
My life is not that important but what Jesus has for me to do here is. God bless all of you!
Mark
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