Kandi Lay | Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Some of you were wondering if I fell off the face of the earth . . . well, I didn’t, but I did take a nice long trip back to Pennsylvania in April to visit my Dad and see what I could do to help out.  It was good to be there and see my Dad make some progress.  He still has a way to go, so we’d appreciate your continued prayers for his mobility and health. Back in Cambodia, the 3rd and final trimester of the year is underway at the Antioch Bible Institute.  My days once again are […]

We are half way through the 2nd Trimester of the school year at the Antioch Bible Institute and the full-time students continue to do well.  Not only are they studying, they’ve also had the chance to do some helpful and fun things in the past seven weeks, too.  Things like donate blood, join in the wedding of a friend and take a day trip to the beach! The ministry group at the railroad track community continues to share Bible stories at two houses – (we are up to the stories about Abraham) and have found the children in that neighborhood […]

The new school trimester is off and running! The students and teachers have had a good first week of classes and all are gearing up to start the ministry groups this coming week.  Each time the teachers meet to discuss the ministry groups, someone else brings to our attention another opportunity to share Jesus in the communities around us. Just yesterday my teammate told me how she had been stopped near the market by a lady who runs a secular after-school program for children.  She said to my teammate, “I think you speak Khmai and I think you know about […]

As I write this, the New Year has started for me in Cambodia, but many of you in the U.S.A. still have a few hours to wait.  (There is a twelve hour time difference from Eastern Standard Time.)  But let me wish you a Blessed New Year already! The New Year brings a new trimester at the Antioch Bible Institute of Phnom Penh.  The students will be arriving today and classes start tomorrow.  Having been through one trimester already, I know how much work is ahead for the next three months – both for us teachers and for the students.  Please […]

December 18, 2017 Merry Christmas!  It’s the season for rejoicing in the gift of Jesus . . . and for Christmas parties.  What a privilege it was this weekend to celebrate with the International Worker team on Saturday (there is nothing like singing Christmas carols in English!) and then join the Christ’s Love Mission Church in their Christmas celebration yesterday (where we had a thunderous rendition of “Joy to the World” in Khmai). We have much to thank God for here at the end of 2017.  One of those Praise Points is the successful completion of the first trimester at […]

October 22, 2017 “Sit down and visit with us,” was the invitation given to Chantu, Shan and I, as we leisurely walked along the railroad tracks yesterday.  We happily joined the two ladies and talked about their families and their work, as well as, my skin color and age (always a point of curiosity).  This was the first time we had visited with these particular ladies, but were happy to do so.  Who knows what doors God might open up in our conversations with them? When our ministry group first went out to the railroad track community, it was a […]

September 17, 2017 We are into the third week of classes and everyone is adjusting to the new schedule and pace of life.  I still find myself tired by the end of the day, but loving the school, the students and what I am doing there.  God is good! One important part of school life is involvement in a ministry group.  This is a place for students to begin to use what they are learning – building relationships, being a witness for Jesus and teaching others about Him.  Three of the students and two teachers (myself included) have begun to […]

September 2, 2017 “It feels like one big family.”  That was my thought on Thurs., Aug. 31st while eating dinner for the first time with all the students and teachers of the Urban Ministry Training Center.  Part of the family feel came from the six children running all around – squealing and laughing, as they played together.  But part of the family feel also came from how well everyone seemed to interact with one another right from the first.  There was none of the awkwardness of new acquaintances, we were family – one family in Jesus Christ. The first day […]

August 25, 2017 The day for the opening of the Urban Ministry Training Center is getting closer.  September 1st.  It looks like we’ll only have a few students this first year, but that’s ok, because it gives us more flexibility as we figure out how things will work.  But we still need your prayers!  This last week before the students arrive will be full of last minute purchases and preparations.  Pray that we get everything done that we need to.  And pray for the students who are all from other cities in Cambodia and so will have to adjust to […]

August 12, 2017 Your prayers are powerful and effective – thank you for praying! The Urban Ministry Training Center (UMTC) plans continue to move forward.  We hope to open on September 1st with a small number of students.  Praise God, we found someone to oversee the kitchen and meals – and she’s from Poipet!  Moum and Heng are friends (and leaders from the Living Water Church) who came to Phnom Penh last year, so Heng could attend another Bible School where he received a scholarship.  Both Heng and Moum will teach a class this first trimester and will be living […]