August 20, 2004

Pressing on toward the Goal of the Cambodian Mission

BUILDING RESPONSIBLE CHURCHES AND PEOPLE

Village Christian Co-Op

Our Hunger Fighting Co-op OFFICIALLY OPENED TODAY, August 17, 2004 28 Christian Families were each loaned 50kg. (110lbs) of rice which they will repay in about three months when the harvest comes. Every year they run out of rice, their primary food staple, well before the new harvest and are forced to borrow rice from a few wealthy land owners at 180% to 300% interest.

Training: Our Brother with eight years experience in village development work has spent five weeks training the committee that was selected by the church. Each family that elected to participate has the right to borrow rice at only 10% interest and the co-op will immediately be self supporting. The co-op has been registered with the government and is managed by the committee of five Christians that were elected by the church. A Christian couple from Alabama provided $1300 start-up funding.

Why: The people are helping themselves in a positive, tangible way, building self respect and gaining the admiration of the community.

Practice: Success will bring responsibility and self respect to the very poor that have viewed themselves and been looked on by others as worthless beggars.

In all this we are teaching them He Cares about them and knows each one by name.

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