September 18, 2003

Phnom Penh, Cambodia- Today is the annual celebration of the new moon. The Cambodians tell us it is a Chinese holiday, but it is celebrated here. They believe that a man who had attained perfection in this life went to the moon, which is supposed to be paradise. It is his face we see when we look at the full moon. The Cambodians worship the man in the moon in hopes that they “will one day be so lucky.”

The Chinese government officially made it illegal to celebrate this ancient holiday after the USA put a man on the moon because they said, “We will be worshiping the Americans if we worship the moon.” Makes sense to me! Ha! This is just another vivid example of what paganism does to a people. The Cambodians live in fear of their ancestors and evil spirits as they worship everything but the living God. You ladies will be saddened to learn that for a Cambodian Buddhist woman to go to heaven she must first be reincarnated as a man, because women can’t go to heaven. That may be one of the reason so many women are seeking the living God, the God we preach.

Today we picked up 660 more Bibles, which many of you helped pay for, and got them ready for distribution. We are placing a scripture reference card in each Bible that leads the reader through a study of God’s love and grace, and the gift of salvation. This study teaches the reader how to accept his grace and be added to his family, the church, where all spiritual blessings are found. We give these cards to people who come to worship and study with us if they can read or if someone in their family can read. At the present demand our supply will last us about three weeks.

Philip Gardner arrived Friday to teach with us for six weeks. I look forward to seeing you Sunday Morning, September 28, the Lord willing.

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