A VOICE FROM AFAR … a report from Archie Manotos, our Vietnam outreach
Excerpts from a report from Archie Manotos in Vietnam. Recently as me and my daughter were driving back home after taking my wife to a nearby bus stop, a fast moving motorbike hit us. My daughter was right in front of me when it happened. I had to go to the hospital and have about 30 stitches in the lower part of my left leg. It was a very traumatic experience, but there are so many things I would like to thank God and praise Him for. I thank God my daughter is safe and not even a small bruise, scratch or any broken bones found in her body. I thank God because during that time He gave me a presence of mind. As soon as the other motorbike hit us I was able to grab Enah and we jumped off from our motorbike. My back was flat on the ground while I was embracing Enah on my chest. I have to say at that very moment I really felt the embrace and protection of our heavenly Father. In spite of my condition, I felt so encouraged and strengthened to see that my daughter was safe. It was really a miracle of God's protection over us. Praise be to God! Pray for our group which will go to Cambodia soon. I will not be able to go but they are so eager to go and take the good news to the people. Pray for God's guidance and also for Mr. Tin who will replace me as leader of the group. We must always live our life to the fullest for God and His cause because "we never know what tomorrow will bring." (Proverbs 27:1)
For the King & His Kingdom, Archie, Kathy & Enah
MORE FROM ARCHIE … Dear Mission Partners & Friends, Thank you for all your prayers for my quick recovery from my recent accident. I'm so grateful to God that I can now walk normally and start doing the ministry again. Though I was unable to join our students in their Mission Exposure trip in Cambodia last August 29 - September 2, my heart was so blessed to hear all their good reports and experiences. I would like to share some of a journal kept by Lam, one of the students on the Mission Exposure trip. We are 8 young people leaving Saigon at 9AM on 8/29/08 in a bus, having a desire to see what God will do in Cambodia. When the bus crossed the border, I started to recognize the Buddhism style of architecture. There are houses with yellow roofs with designs and patterns of Buddhism. Many big hotels and casinos are being constructed saying that this kingdom (Cambodia) is rich and free. When we went further into the land, I saw farms and poor villages. Children without clothes are running around. I felt that this kingdom is under the darkness of worshiping idols, full of hatred and insufficient love of God. We arrived at Phnom Penh at 3:30PM and went directly to the Vietnamese village. Next morning (Saturday), we went to different houses, we shared the love of God through Jesus Christ. We gave some used clothes, medicine and material for children. We invited all the children to come and join our activities in the church on Sunday. In the evening, we attended the cell group in mother Lim's house. More than 20 people came. We sang Vietnamese and Khmer songs, played games and shared our testimonies. Sunday morning we went back to Phnom Penh to join the English service in the mother church. Our group rendered a song to the congregation. We worshipped and danced freely in the presence of the Holy Spirit. Then, all the members of the church prayed for us before we left to go to the village to prepare our meeting there. The service in the daughter church in the village started at 3:00PM on that Sunday. Many children came to church because they were invited Saturday. While the adults were attending the service, we gathered all the children in a small yard at the back of the church. We taught songs and games. We told them the story of baby Jesus and baby Moses. The children were very happy when they played games, received balloons, cakes and candies. We really thank God for His protection and provision during the trip. We had a very fruitful and blessed time with the Vietnamese and Khmer friends. We want to go back to Cambodia with some other friends in our church to share the love of God. There is no barrier between Vietnamese and Cambodian because we are brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ our Lord. I praise God for the zealousness He has instilled in the hearts of our students; indeed nothing can hinder the work of God and His people who are willing to give their lives for His cause and His Kingdom! Please continue to pray for revival in Vietnam, protection/provision for our families and ministries, additional committed volunteers to work in our HIV/AIDS hospital ministry, God's anointing as I teach and preach the Word of God, for our plan to move out of Ho Chi Min City and start a new work in God's time, and that God will continue to guard our hearts so that we do nothing apart from His will.