From Timothée in Cambodia Sept 1st 2011

These past 3 months have been full and exciting. Some of the highlights are…

…Speaking at a church in Takhmau (10 miles South of Phnom Penh) and seeing 7 young people turn their lives over to Jesus. The Fellowship is made up mainly of youth, many of them orphans. Though all of them have heard the Gospel over and over, some have not yet made a clear commitment for Christ.

…Seeing 10 believers get baptised, most of them children, at our church. The International Christian Assembly was packed on that Sunday morning. No more chairs for the late-comers. A great service!

…Organizing on International Childrens Day: a special day at the swimming pool. Over 40 children from the slums along with their Big brothers/sisters (volunteers at the Bong Paoun Project) took over Phnom Penh Sport Club. Great food too and a present for every child.

…Preaching at a prison in Kampot, South of Cambodia. 420 prisoners crammed in an old building. A Korean couple started the ministry there some years ago. Each Monday a chapel service is held. After preaching on Naaman (who was healed after going into the Jordan River), I had the joy of baptizing 42 prisoners (41 men, the youngest being 17 and one woman, who had all in the last few months made a commitment to follow Christ). Two students from a Bible school in Phnom Penh sang and a medical team from Singapore took care of the sick. Probably the highlight of the year! One of the prisoners has actually become the pastor. He‟s in for 20 years. He was telling me that if he has not ended up in prison, he would never have given his life to Jesus. This brother in Christ has now a great ministry to his fellow inmates.

…Being asked by the Senior Pastor of the International Christian Assembly to become an Associate Pastor. A couple of weeks after that (along with Frank Woods, a Christian businessman who married a Cambodian wife), we were officially accepted as the Associate Pastors. It was a very significant moment as we were anointed with oil and prayed for by the ICA board. I am looking forward to be more involved in ICA, a lively and diverse congregation of over 33 different nations. I hold the task of coordinating the home groups and would love to see all ICA members plugged into them.

…Joining on July 1st, the National Day of Prayer for Cambodia (held same day each year). Believers from a large number of churches gathered at Chenla Theatre in Phnom Penh for a whole day of intercession. A representative from the Cambodian government gave a speech before various Christian leaders were asked to lead a prayer session. I was invited to lead a time of prayer for all missionaries serving in Cambodia (over 2,500 Christian workers now across the country)!

…Being invited by the French Embassy to a reception with French Prime Minister Francois Fillon (and his delegation from the French government) during his short visit to Phnom Penh. A reception was held at the Sofitel (probably the most luxurious hotel in the country). After the Prime Minister's speech I even got to shake his hand! I spotted Frederic Mitterrand, French Minister of Culture. I went over and spoke with him, inviting him to join our service at International Christian Assembly if ever he is in Cambodia again. I told him: “The door to my church is always wide open as Heaven's door is.” “But I thought Heaven's door was narrow, right?'” he replied with a smile. “You are right Minister, nevertheless it's still open.” Then I looked straight into his eyes and added: “And it's open for everyone!'” May God touch his heart.

…Having a team of 12 teenage boys and girls from ICA and ICF churches involved in ministering in the slum of Boeung Tumpun. The first 2 days, we all got our hands dirty by filling up hundreds of big plastic bags of rubbish littering the whole area. Instead of cleaning it up for them, we cleaned it up with them. Dozens of kids from the slums wearing white gloves were all over, working like ants, making their community look nicer and safer. Each child who filled up 12 bags of trash was then rewarded by being taken out to Phnom Penh Water Park. What a time we all had - jumping, sliding and swimming in the water. Not sure who among the adults, the teens and the children had the greatest fun!

…Going out to Brazil for another missions-challenge tour. 12 meetings in 12 days. After a long flight from Cambodia to Brazil (boarding 4 different planes), the first meeting started at a large Assembly of God church in Belo Horizonte, Brazil's third largest city. Pastor Almeida did a fantastic job in translating (from French to Portuguese as he did 3 years ago). Sunday morning at Belo Central Baptist church was probably the highlight. The church has a great involvement in overseas mission and in reaching out to street children from the 'favellas', the slums in the city. A number of famous athletes are members of this church. One of its pastors was, back in the 90s, playing in the national football team. Still a star in Brazil! He is now busy reaching out to street children. His son was leading the worship that morning.

Almeida and I flew to Sao Paulo where I spoke at Betel Bible School. Sao Paulo is the largest city in South America with 21 million inhabitants!! (And I thought Phnom Penh was big!)

Then another plane for a Mission Conference in the town of Aracatuba. Hundreds turned up for the meeting in spite of the cold (it snowed that day in the South of Brazil)! Dozens came out for prayer, responding to God's call to missions. Aracatuba, a town with a population of 200,000 has over 30,000 Evangelical Christians!

Then back to Sao Paulo at The People's Church, a congregation of almost 3,000. The Mission Conference was a packed schedule: 4 meetings, 4 different sermons. I was happy to meet up again, as I did back in 2008, with the founding pastor of the church, a 97 years old Italian descent! Almeida and his wife are now busy meeting up many who, during that weekend, have responded to the missions‟ call. The Brazilian church is so big, so influential and yet still so few going out to the world. It looks like a big BMW car driving for years in the first gear. Time to change gears and send thousands out to the mission field!

…Boarding the plane on flight Dubai-Bangkok and having the Emirates Airways staff handing me an upgraded business class boarding pass! I have never been in such a comfortable flight before (bed, TV, mini-bar, computer…). God knew how I needed a good rest! The staff told me: “You are lucky, Sir!‟ I smiled and said: “Not lucky, but blessed!” The landing in Phnom Penh was the worst I had ever experienced. Phnom Penh airport was soaked from heavy rains and our plane skidded along the tarmac (a bit of spice to finish)!

…Speaking for 3 days at Kingdom Life Charismatic Ministries in Bangkok, Thailand two weeks ago. Pastor Chris from Nigeria and his wife have been ministering in Bangkok for the past 8 years. Their church is reaching out to the African community and also the Thai people. I also shared about The Bong Paoun Project, encouraging the congregation to reach out to the many children at risk across Bangkok. (Interesting conversation about Colonel Kaddafi‟s regime over a meal with Pastor Chris. “I think Kaddafi should stay in power…” he said. The last meeting on Sunday went on for almost 4 hours (which is normal for any African church)!

…Opening a 'Bong Paoun Project House of Joy' on the outskirts of Phnom Penh. This simple drop-in center (at the crossroads between 3 slums) is open for the street-working children we are working with. Pray for the 'paouns' to find there – the help, encouragement and guidance they need.

The Project is pleased to welcome today a new full time staff on board: Marjon, a Dutch missionary who has already been serving among children at risk in Cambodia for two years.

In 3 weeks' time, I will be celebrating my 12th year in Cambodia… 12 very fulfilling years!

Timothée

PS: If you're getting this letter by normal post but now have an email address, please let me know. Thanks.

timothee.paton@gmail.com