We hope you had a blessed Christmas and New Year’s season. Thank you for all your prayers and faithful support. They have made a difference here in Cambodia!
God was so good to us in our year-ending activities and ministries. Our church service on Christmas Eve saw about 30 adults and teens join together to honor Christ and listen to the Word of God. There were also 6 visitors, half of which were brought by our members.
In 2021, there were 23 salvations and 9 baptisms. There were many more Gospel presentations. Although we were somewhat disappointed with those numbers, we did rejoice with every soul saved. We rejoiced even more when those same souls followed the Bible’s command to be baptized, but we rejoiced most of all when we saw them come faithfully to church.
Our partners, Joey and Renn Bustamante, were the main reason for three of those baptisms. Another cause for praise was the baptisms of Veasna, his sister, and his mother. The only member of the family yet to be saved is the father, who sadly is a habitual drinker. My wife was the main influence in leading this family to Christ and encouraging them in following in baptism.
In this new year, we are slowly bringing back some of those who stopped attending Straight Road Baptist Church due to COVID. The new year has already brought us five new visitors and one saved.
Last year, I had five men who were in various stages of discipleship. One of those men died. Three others became very busy with work. The final man is struggling with counting the cost. However, God sent Ricky our way. Ricky is Cambodian but grew up in the U.S. As a youth, he fell into the Asian gang life in California, and the authorities sent him back to Cambodia. Before I had any chance to teach him, he shocked me by saying that he reads large portions of the Bible every day. He told me, “Pastor, I am at the lowest point in my life. I want to find out how to get back up with the help of God.”
We are planning to come back to the USA for furlough this summer and possibly extending this into the early fall. Our last family furlough was in 2014. Please let us know if you would like us to come to your church.
Please pray for:
• Ricky’s job prospects and growth in the Lord.
• Our furlough this summer.
• Men to help pastor Straight Road Baptist Church while we are gone.
Sincerely,
Walter Poole and Family
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- Three Pakistani men, along with Bro. Bustamante and me, on Father’s Day
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- Three recent baptisms
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- My wife with our children, along with a new convert (the lady holding the baby), and various relatives
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- Suvarnala Yeluri, Ambassador of Christ to Cambodia (right), next to Dr. Devyani Khobragade, Ambassador of India to Cambodia (left)
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- Meng Long, fruit of Bro. & Sis. Bustamante