The Castro Family Prayer-Newsletter

From the Frontlines of Cambodia

January-February 2005

  

To:  Grace Baptist Church

        c/o Dr. Ken Martin

        Powder Springs, Ga

        Our Dear Brethren and Partners in Missions:

 Greetings in the most wonderful name of Jesus our Lord! How we thank our God every time we remember you, because you are our unseen but very important co-laborers in the mission field. We are forever grateful to you for allowing us to serve the Lord with you and to represent you here in Cambodia.

 Another year have passed. We are now on our 8^th year of ministry in this country. Thank you for your faithfulness in doing your part in this great work of missions.. Through your prayers and sacrificial giving, we are able to continue serving the Lord in this land. Let us give you updates on some of our existing ministries.

 Anchor Baptist Church in Siem Reap is blessed to have a Children’s Feeding Program through the ministry of Manna Worldwide (Rev. and Mrs. Bruce O’Neal, Hallmark Baptist Church) and the sponsor, Kelview Heights Baptist Church (Midland, Tx). Started in April 2004, we recently had the formal inauguration and dedication of the Feeding Center last January 8, 2005 with representatives of Manna Worldwide, Kelview Heights Baptist Church and Hallmark Baptist Church. Manna Center Siem Reap currently has 35 children.

 The Manna Worldwide Children’s Center at The Solid Rock Baptist Church in  Kampong Thom province, on the other hand, celebrated its first Anniversary with a Family Day and gift-giving by the Sponsors from Hallmark Baptist Church last January 7 and 9. To date, this Center now is feeding 72 school children from this poor community.

 Here at the Manna Centers, our kitchen crew and staff cook and serve delicious and nutritious lunch for the registered kids aged 5 to 13 years, 6 days a week. To most of these kids, lunch at the Manna Center is the first meal of the day, as their poor families usually skip breakfast. The Manna kids look forward to this happy meal time everyday with their friends.

 At the Center, the kids also receive primary health care, like treatment for common respiratory tract infections, gastrointestinal diseases and skin problems. The kids are de-wormed  regularly (usually every three months),  and de-liced (for hair lice) as necessary. Our staff also teach and train the children on personal hygiene and sanitation. But most important of all, the children are taught everyday about our Father in heaven who loves them. The children always look forward to hearing stories from the Bible before heading home or going back to school. This is how most of them have come to believe on Jesus and trust Him as Savior. Many mothers who have come to attend church meetings and services because of the Manna ministry have likewise come to faith in Christ.

 We have opened several outreaches in different villages through the medical ministry, and our Bible students and church workers regularly lead Bible study groups (cells) and Children’s Bible Clubs in these villages. One of these villages, called Pong Teak, has about 40 believers. But due to transportation problem, only a few are able to come to Church on Sunday. They have been praying to have their own chapel, so that they will have a decent place to  worship the Lord right in their village during Sundays.

 A few months ago,  I employed a night guard for our office cum residence in Phnom Penh, named Sareun. Through reading the Gospel of John and discussions with the Bible students, little by little he came to know about the God that Christians worship. Upon his request, I allowed him to attend a soul-winning seminar held in one of the Baptist Churches in Phnom Penh.  It was there that he came to understand God’s plan of salvation and his need of the Savior, and Sareun received Christ in his heart. I learned later that he had been a Buddhist monk just a few months back. And now that he is saved and  he knows how to be saved, he wants to share this good news to his family and village. He begged  us to help his village know about Jesus Christ. And that’s how we started our newest outreach work, in Tang Kraing village in the province of Kampong Cham. 

 There are still hundreds of villages all over Cambodia, and millions more of people who have not yet heard about the Savior. But God is at work, and through His people who are willing to be used by Him, in praying, in sending , and in going, Cambodians are coming to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

 When you come to the throne of grace, would you bring these prayer requests to the Father:

1. Pray for us, our Church workers and Manna Center staff (Kampong thom and  Siem Reap)- for  spiritual growth, faithfulness and intimacy with God. 

               2. For the “Manna children”  and their families- Salvation and discipleship

               3. For the believers- spiritual growth and maturity

               4. Funds to purchase Bibles, Gospel tracts and Song books

               5. For a church building for Anchor Baptist Church, Siem Reap

               6.  For other building needs of  The Solid Rock BC, Kampong Thom

               7.  Church property and building for Pong Teak village.

               8 . Newly opened work in Tang Kraing Village , and Th’mey Village

                9. Your missionaries’  family needs: health, safety, children’s education, and

              financial support.

 Thank you for faithfully holding the “ropes” for us, in prayers and financial support. We received your support of  $205.00 last  December,  $165.00 in January , and $1,125.00 this February ( is $1,000.00 of this amount for the medical ministry expenses?)

  Thank you for praying and giving, so that we can preach the Gospel to the villages of Cambodia. Thank you for allowing us the great privilege of being in the service of the King of kings. May He continue to richly bless you !

 Sincerely yours, 

Bro. Felipe and Joy Castro

And the Castro kids: Ryan, Lorie, Charis , and Mizzy