More Photos

Here are some more photos of Katherine and us. Enjoy!

Bill

Heading Back to the Bodia

Our time in Thailand is coming to a close. We have completed all the paperwork and are set to fly back to Cambodia on Friday, November 16. The Lord has been an ever present help to us during our stay. Katherine had her last checkup in Thailand before we return and the doctor said she is doing great. She has gained weight back to her birth weight and some extra. We thank God for helping Katherine to grow. We know he is the Lord of the harvest! We can feed and take care of her but God gives the increase!

We are looking forward to returning to Cambodia in about a week.

God Bless,
Bill

Short Video of Katherine

Hello everybody! We took a short 2.5 minute video so you guys could see her in action. She really moves more than we thought she would at this age.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7166788722846765545&hl=en

This link will take you to the video.

God Bless,
Bill

Baby Katherine is here!!!!

It is with great joy that we anounce the birth our our first child Katherine Elaine Hale. She was born Thursday, October 25th at 6:34 PM. She weighs 7 lbs and is 19.7 inches long. She is beautiful…she takes after her mother. Jennifer did an amazing job with the labor pains and both she and Katherine are doing well. We couldn’t believe how quickly it all took place.



On behalf of Jennifer and our families, let me say how grateful we are and thankful for all of your prayers and interest in our lives. May God bless you and keep you!

Waiting...

We've almost completed our second week in Thailand. It has been a nice break from the fury of activity and preparation we left in Cambodia, though I might have preferred not swinging so far to the other extreme!

We've been occupying ourselves with walks and taxi rides to malls and markets around Bangkok. (I had determined that Asians don't turn their thermostats down as low as Americans, but Billy assures me it's my thermostat that's been adjusted.) Billy has recorded a few songs and sent them to a band friend, and we have studied Khmer a few times. Applying discipline to a completely unstructured life is actually quite a challenge.

Bangkok (at least where we are) is quite modern and caters to wealthy shoppers, though on the other side of the posh shops and malls are aged buildings bordered by narrow, crowded, and sometimes smelly sidewalks. One could visit a different massage parlor and custom tailor everyday for a month and still not have to look very hard tomorrow.


This is a beautiful nook in a nice city park we walked through on the way to a museum.

I think I've been anticipating, thinking and reading about the birth for long enough that I'm past being nervous and ready to get on with it! So I suppose we'll see what we can do to try to walk her out again tomorrow...

Jenn

House Pictures - Inside

Here are some pictures of our new home. We have been living in it now for almost 4 weeks. It is really a nice place to live. Many thanks to FBC Parker and many others who helped with gifts to complete the construction.

Enjoy!

Kitchen Table

Front Porch

Kitchen Stove

Living Room

Living Room

Bedroom Fan and Ceiling

Bathroom

Update from the Hales...Finally!

Here is a picture of our almost completed house and a current photo of us. It's hard to explain why it has been so long since an update. Probably a little bit of sloth and a lot of just working from sun up until sun down for many days.

We are both doing well. Jennifer has been feeling great for the most part. Lately though, she does get tired much faster than before. We are both sure that this is par for the course. We plan to go to Thailand in about 3 weeks, Lord willing, to prepare for the delivery. Please be in prayer for us as we travel, learn a new country, and for Jennifer and baby Katherine. We plan to stay there about 6 weeks.

God Bless,
Bill

Working on in the Community

The recent "no evangelism" ban has been a real reminder that the door is open today but could be closed at any time.

But we continue to witness everyday in other ways. Our home has become a make shift clinic for some local kids. When they get injured they come to our house to get fixed up. It has been a priviledge to care for them. This boy burned his leg while riding a moto. It was starting to get infected when he came to our house. He came by a few days later to show us how well it was healing!




I continue to teach the book of John 3 days a week. About 75% of the students are not believers yet, though I see signs of repentence and fruit in some.



Please pray for us as we teach and care for the Cambodians. Pray for our students as they hear the Gospel call.

God Bless,
Bill

Evangelism Banned in Cambodia

I am sad to report the Ministry of Cults and Religion has made a new directive banning all public evangelism. Including door to door witnessing, passing of tracks, and open air broadcasts. We are still free to worship and preach inside the church property.

They have released numerous radio and TV broadcasts in the last week to make the public aware. If churches continue to evangelize they will first be warned. The second time the church in violation could be closed.

Here is a bit of the news;

"All public proselytizing activities are prohibited. Christians are not allowed to proselytize citizens' houses by knocking on doors or waiting for them, saying "the Lord is coming" which is an interruption to daily life or may intrude on privacy in the community."And then: "Teachings of religions must respect other religions and avoid insulting and degrading each other, especially Buddhism, the state religion.

"Minister of Cults and Religion Chea Savoeun said last week that the new directive is a prudent move. "People have complained a lot to the Ministry of Cults and Religion over this issue," he said, adding that some Christian groups have been accused of "looking down" on other religions and disturbing people in their homes.

Chheng and I though saddened by this are encouraged by God's providence. Our afterschool teaching program draws in about 150 students per day. We preach the gospel to them daily. The Lord lead us to start this program before any of this happened with the government and we are thankful for His provision. Here is a link to the whole article that summarizes the ministry's position. Please continue to pray for Cambodia.

http://www.camnet.com.kh/cambodia.daily/selected_features/enva.htm

Bill

House Construction Photos

Here are some current photos. The house will be about 1100 Sq/ft total. God Bless!

Bill

It's a baby girl!!!

We wanted to let you guys know that we are having a little baby girl. We have decided to name her Katherine Elaine after my grandma and Jennifer's mom. Thank the Lord for his kindness to give us a little girl.


God Bless,
Bill

We almost have a house now!

Hello all! Here are some recent photos of our home construction. The workers are doing a great job. Please continue to pray the Lord will provide for the building. We have had some cost overruns. I'm sure this happens to many people that build a home. And this too we know is providential.

God Bless,
Bill

Hello from good ole Cambodia

Hello to everyone! We have been really swamped lately and have not had much time for blogging. But just in case you thought something was wrong we have included a few recent pictures of us as proof that we are doing well. Enjoy!

God Bless,
Bill and Jennifer

Our 1987 Toyota Camry

We are happy to tell you that we have successfully acquired a car to drive around in. The best feature is the air conditioner! It is an old car but it still runs good and will be much better for Jennifer and the baby than the moto. Thank the Lord and those who have helped with gifts.

The rains have really started coming down now. For the past week it has rained everyday. The roads are getting really messy. But we are glad to see some cooler days. Jennifer and I are doing well. Jennifer had a checkup the other day at the SOS clinic in Phnom Penh. The Doc says she is doing well and we were able to listen again to the baby's tiny heart beat. It is truly an amazing thing! Please continue to pray for Jennifer and the baby.

God Bless,
Bill

The Baby Begins To Show Itself

Jennifer is now entering her 16th week of pregnancy. Everyone has been clamoring for a picture of her growing belly. So here it is… enjoy. She is doing really well.

We both continue to feel the Lord’s blessing upon us. No doubt we also sense your prayers for us. Thank you for your faithfulness in prayer.

We press on to that great destination of Holiness and Godliness. This is our goal in Cambodia… to discipline ourselves for the purpose of Godliness (1 Timothy 4:7) and to teach others to do the same. To read the Word of God daily, to pray without ceasing, to be faithful in attending public worship, to receive communion, to share the Gospel in the community. It is a most difficult task but one that in the end will yield its good fruit.

God Bless You All,
Bill

“I must take care above all that I cultivate communion with Christ, for though that can never be the basis of my peace—mark that—yet it will be the channel of it.” – Spurgeon

Laying the Foundation

Last week was very busy on the building front. We finished what we needed to finish on the wall so we began adding the dirt. At present we have added 282 trucks of dirt at $3 each. We estimate we will need about 100 more before we are through. This area is a bit low so we needed to raise it up. This morning the foundation crew started hammering in the concrete piers that will be the beginning of the foundation. Each pier will be hammered into the ground 4 meters deep.

After these guys get finished up with their work (later today hopefully) the builders will start on the foundation work. After that they will start laying the bricks. The materials needed for such a small project is tremendous.

Some of the materials used so far:

100 pounds of 1mm steel ties
770 pounds of 6mm steel
100 pieces of 10mm steel at 12 meters each
18 pieces of 12 mm steel at 12 meters each
4 tons of concrete
6 tons of sand
2 tons of small rock
22000 bricks

Please continue to pray for the work on our home. Jennifer and I feel it will firm up our presence in the area to have our own place. And it also put us in a better position to raise our family. May the Lord bless this home to be a home that will serve Him.

Peace,
Bill


1Co 3:11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

The Internet is up and running!

I am glad to say that the Internet was successfully installed at the church today. We went with a company called camshin which offers a satellite option. The price was less than we had thought it was going to be...$59 per month with no equipment charges or deposits. We got the 128 k version. We still have a power limitation because the power is not on until 6:00 PM but as the Cambodias say, "step by step."

Many thanks to FBC Parker for providing the funds for the internet. This is a real blessing for us out in the country side.

God Bless you all,
Bill

Vacation Photos

This is what our room looked like. The best feature is not shown (the air conditioner).

Some photos of Wat Phnom which is a temple in the heart of Phnom Penh. Some of the structures are beautiful though they all are tainted by sin and idolatry.

Jennifer and I enjoying some American food. I had a club sandwich and Jenn had a ceasar salad with a pineapple smoothie.

Hello again

Well long time no talk. We have been busy for a while. The heat continues to just blast us with all its furry. The thought of the rainy season approaching makes us glad.

We were able to take a little 3 day vacation last week. We went to Phnom Penh, rented a hotel room, and mostly just sat in the air conditioning. The room was nice and we were so thankful for the relief. Though, when the trip was over and we returned to Prek Ambel we both thought that the time in the air con made it feel even hotter. The work continues on our home. The workers are doing well but moving slower than we had hoped. The heat has been wearing them out too.

I plan to post some pictures from our vacation and others soon.


God Bless you all,
Bill

Kilograms are Heavy

We continue to mix concrete for the wall. The majority of the work is almost done. We just have to put up the last half meter of a two meter wall. The bucket I’m holding weights about 30 kilograms (66 pounds). We carried them over and over and over. When I work on projects like this I am reminded of how small I am. The Earth is amazingly huge. Our God truly is mighty in his creation. He holds everything together.

Col 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Amen!

Bill

Thursday, March 22, 2007

On Sunday afternoon we were desirous of a change of scenery. In the States we would often take a Sunday afternoon drive in the country; enjoy the trees and farmland, look at old buildings in old towns, and talk. A drive to Phnom Penh isn’t so relaxing. Chheng said he also wanted to go, so he drove us to the mall in Phnom Penh. Bill said, “They sell everything that’s wrong with the United States here!” More specifically: ’80’s fashion. After an hour and a half there and an hour and a half back in bumpy, swerving, stop-and-go Cambodian traffic, we decided the thought of going to Phnom Penh is better than actually going! I did thoroughly enjoy the pizza and salad we had for dinner there, though. Especially the salad.

Sunday, March 25, 2007

I was thinking about the discrepancy between the ideas associated with the title, “Missionary to Cambodia,” and my actual daily life, and I have come to two conclusions: the generally-held, nebulous impression of the super-spiritual life of a missionary is wrong; and the generally-coddled, notion of the ordinary (sub-spiritual) life of the “ordinary Christian” is also wrong.

Life is life, no matter what country it is lived in. When we’re hungry, I don’t break off a piece of bread from a never-ending loaf. I spend a considerable amount of my day in the kitchen. And when I want to grill pork, I don’t douse the charcoal with water and call down fire from heaven. I just use a lighter and a wad of paper. When our tank runs out of water, rather than tapping on a rock, we call the guy who pumps it from the river. We haven’t even healed anyone or cast out any demons.

What is the chief end of man? To glorify God and enjoy Him forever. If mopping isn’t glorious in the US, it’s not glorious in Cambodia. If loving and serving my husband doesn’t honor God in the US, it doesn’t honor Him in Cambodia, either. There I was a wife, a housekeeper, a church member, a Sunday School teacher, a friend, a neighbor, a customer. I’m all those things here, too.

Do you look to God to supply your needs? Do you delight in His attributes? Do you seek to display His character in your own? Does the thought of His kindness to you stir up the least bit of gratitude and affection? Do you love His people and His house? Is His word on your mind? Is His praise on your lips? Is His peace in your heart?

This is why you were created.

So do you have a husband? Love him! Do you have a neighbor? Talk to her! Do you have children? Train them! Do you have a trial? Seek the Lord’s peace and trust Him! Can you rejoice? Then rejoice in the Lord!

Our calling and purpose and responsibility are not contingent upon our address. Do you need a title to set your life in perspective? How about “Child of the Most High God.”

Jenn