June 9, 2004

Pictured below are a god and goddess that a whole village risked their lives for. They brought it with them from the forests in Northeastern Cambodia when the Vietnamese Army invaded in 1979. They carried, on foot, the little shrine with the male and female deities for more then 50 miles. They believed these little pieces of wood could protect them. The priests that came with them have all died except two. One of the priests is bed fast and the other is growing old. The priests claimed magic powers for themselves and offered sacrifices to these two pieces of wood asking them for a good harvest, to cure the sick and to curse the evil.

Times are changing here in Cambodia and the young people are going to college. One young man from this village, who graduates from the University this month with a degree in philosophy, obeyed the gospel recently. This week he took us to his village in an attempt to open the doors there to the preaching of the gospel. Pray for these people to find the living God.

William E. "Bill" McDonough, Director
Partners In Progress
Phnom Penh, Cambodia