Groth Report June 2007

From the Word

Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever. Daniel 12:3

One of the things that Chuck and I enjoy the most here in Cambodia is the night sky. Especially when we are working out in the provinces it is amazing to look up and see the myriads of stars. Each star seems more brilliant and more spectacular than the next. The reason for the awesome sight is the lack of ground light. Since electricity is sparse there is nothing on the ground to detract from the beauty of these heavenly lights.

Perhaps this scene of God’s creation makes the Bible passage above even more significant in our lives. We have the privilege of being “star polishers.” Since the strategy for missions here in Cambodia is to educate and develop a nation of Christian leaders who will know salvation in Jesus Christ and influence the entire nation for Christ our job seems at time to be overwhelming. But God has given us His Holy Spirit and wonderful Cambodian Christians who are anxious to expand their wisdom of the Scriptures and are already busy “shining” to those around them. By teaching, mentoring and working with these stars we know that they will continue to lead others to righteousness. Praise God for the brightness of the true LIGHT, Jesus Christ.

Current Events

My first polishing session of the month was the completion of a class in the writing process. I met with 18 young Cambodian Christians. We shared Jesus as “the Word” and worked to polish our skills as writers. Most of these young people were either involved in university training, had completed university or were working for Non Governmental Organizations here in Cambodia. They were so eager to learn that they gave up Saturday mornings for three hours of study. One young man said, “I have been praying that someone would come and teach me so that I could write better.”

After this event Chuck and I headed to Battambang. We needed to get everything in order for a team that is coming to do and eyeglass clinic, build a basketball court and run a basketball clinic. The most exciting thing about this event is that there will be a witnessing station where Christians will have the opportunity to “increase the number of stars” as the message of Jesus’ love and salvation is shared with the participants. It is always a joy to work in Battambang. Pastor Kosal is continuing to develop as a good shepherd. With intern Greg there we didn’t even need a full time translator. When we got stuck we just asked our friendly tuktuk driver Mr. Seng for help. It is interesting the way God is using his help to us to bring him into contact with God’s Word. We are so thrilled that he is learning guitar from Greg at church and is bringing his own children to Sunday School.

My next “star polishing” event came as I held an in-service for a small Christian School called New Life. I must admit as I began the day I was less than eager to go. Chuck had developed a case of malaria the day before and, of course, I hated to leave him. (The devil always tries to throw a wrench in the works.) The teachers there were very alive in God’s Spirit and the pastor there led us in worship and prayer to start the teaching. The school was taking a trip to the zoo so I presented the way to make this a truly educational experience. We developed a unit together that included an emphasis on Bible stories that used animals. (How many of these can you recall?) We did physical education, science, math, language arts, social studies, etc. all using animal themes. At the end the teachers asked if we could join hands and pray for Chuck. What a powerful, moving experience to be cared for and ministered to by these fellow Christians.

Polishing session number three was a teaching session for the preschool teachers at Opengate. These young teachers are such a joy!!! How they shine with the love of Jesus!! This time we worked on farm animals. We practiced Bible story teaching methods. We learned English words for the animals and played countless games to reinforce this learning. It is always fun to observe that as I teach them new ways of teaching and we practice they are so involved in learning in a way they have never learned before that they don’t want to stop the practice. These teachers have the opportunity to “lead many to righteousness” as they share with students and visit homes with the message of Jesus’ love.

Lastly we did an exciting “star polishing” event in the Sihanoukville area. Sixteen Sunday School teachers from many areas surrounding Sihanoukville came together. We were working on teaching methods for Sunday School and did it by working on Jesus’ appearances after His resurrection, Ascension, and Pentecost. I always love to work here because invariably we draw children, youth and adults who somehow become incorporated into the training and enfolded in the message of Jesus’ love. Now, the teaching event was awesome, but the next day was “shining” beyond belief. Sunday School students from each area represented by a teacher gathered together so the teachers could practice their teaching the Ascension account and living out Jesus direction to spread the “good news” to all people. This meant that the day started with 150 students gathered and eager to learn about Jesus. Interestingly by the time the teaching ended 200 children were there as neighborhood children wandered in and the teachers enfolded them in their groups and shared with them the message of Jesus. The Bible account became a life experience with the opportunity to share Jesus right there. The skies were truly “ABLAZE” with the brilliance of these stars.

In between, around, and with all these events Chuck was busy finishing reports that are always a part of life on the mission field. Then too, he has been collecting coordinates for sites for possible future wells. Water is such a critical need here!!

How’s your “shine?” It is our prayer that you are full of wisdom from God’s Word and that you will “shine brightly” as you lead others to righteousness and the knowledge of His Son, Jesus Christ.

Shining because of the LIGHT,

Chuck and Jeanette Groth

 

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New Life Teachers In-Service

A child holds his sleeping brother while he colors

Kids and teachers in the courtyard at the workshop in Sihanoukville

A pastor’s wife and Sunday School teacher leads her class of young people in a song.