October 16, 2003

Never a respite or dull moment: Late Saturday night we got a call that one of the brethren, who lives about one and one-half hours from Phnom Penh, was missing. He had left around 7 a.m. to come to the Bible school in Phnom Penh. He didn’t return home as expected. His family became worried and started calling around in an attempt to locate him. Having no success, they called me. We cranked up the old Jeep and headed toward Tom Nhop Tom to comfort the family and see how we might help. After two hours of out-maneuvering oxcarts, motor cycles, trucks and horse drawn carts, all without lights or reflectors, we arrived to find the wife and seven children frightened to death and in tears.

The stories they related of bandits who had chased them in the past, trying to overtake them to steal their motorcycle and take any money they might have, and of rocks with threatening notes against Christians attached to them being thrown in their yard, all reminded us of where we were-Cambodia. Law and order exists in the city, but when the lights go out and the police go to bed in the countryside, anything goes. Theft, murder, family and political feuds, which often end in deaths that no one seems to be overly concerned about, are the order of the day. So naturally when one doesn’t return home, there is cause for concern. Since there has been no reported accident with anyone of our brother’s description, we are prayerful that he is well and will soon show up. Communication is next to impossible from the country unless you live where there is cell phone coverage. Not many have the luxury of owning such a device.

Returning home late Saturday night, we started out once again at 5:30 a.m. and went to one of the villages where we helped start a new congregation a month ago. We then traveled back to Tom Nhop Tom to meet with the church and again check on the family. Today, Monday, we placed a notice on television asking for anyone with any information about our brother, Nivek, to please notify the family. We got calls through to relatives in other parts of the country to let them know. Such events remind us that mission work is for young people like us and not for those who are faint of heart…

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