Good Evening!
We looked at the parable of the seed and the soil
last Friday during bible study. The "thorns" were compared to the
things we love more than God and the reminder was ever so true: We cannot serve
2 masters. When Potifar's wife tried to seduce Joseph, he said: "How can I
sin against God '', he did not say I cannot do this because I will offend my
earthly master Potifar. No he thought first of his heavenly Father.
Siem Reap was declared a Red Zone this week, so
nobody can enter or leave. All shops are closed. You cannot even buy a cool
drink alongside the road. We are just outside of town so we cannot enter. Anton
fell ill on Thursday with fever and very sore throat. Then Gideon started to
complain of back pain on Saturday. Anton is doing a bit better, no more fever,
but Gideon is in a lot of pain. We managed to get permission to go to the
hospital this morning for an ultrasound and x-ray. He is severely constipated
and his cut is blocked up and infected. Please pray for healing.
Due to this lockdown, Mordegai is not able to go to
Noak every day. Please pray that she would keep the wound clean as much as
possible. We are also concerned because the young man who brings her food every
day is outside of the red zone as well and cannot enter. Pray that he would
find a way, and receive permission to bring her some food every day.
We've received news that Gideon and Anton's new
passports are on their way. Praise God. Please continue to pray for Gideon's
visa, we have not yet received it.
It is Pchum Ben again here in Cambodia this month.
We've included a short explanation of this very dark religious holiday. Please
pray for our Cambodian Christians during this time. Pray for them for
discernment, boldness, standing firm in what they believe but still respecting
their family. It is a big holiday but
with lots of dark spiritual offerings and visits to the temple. There is a lot
of pressure on them to join in as this is a traditional ceremony.
PRAY FOR CAMBODIA
Next week is the beginning of Pchum Ben,
a 15-day religious festival when many Cambodians pay their respects to deceased
relatives of up to 7 generations. It begins with a 14 day period called “Kan
Ben” (observed celebration) when families gather at nearby pagodas to offer
food and prayers to the monks in honor of their deceased ancestors. The belief is that deceased relatives wait at
the pagodas for their loved ones to return to them. Pchum Ben is a festival
unique to Cambodia, originating in the Angkorian period as an animistic
practice. Cambodians believe that during this period, the gates of hell are
opened and the ghosts of their ancestors are will be especially active. Devout
Cambodian Buddhists will travel to 7 pagodas in order to make sure that their
offerings are received by their ancestors. In addition, some throw balls of
sticky rice, called “baay ben” into the enclosure of the pagoda or into a field
which they believe will be directly consumed by the ghosts of their dead
relatives. The goal is that the ancestors are placated and will not become
angry and bring bad circumstances to the lives of their descendants. The
festival ends on the 15th day called "Pchum Thom", where the ghosts
are especially active and special meat offerings are made.
Please pray for the light of the gospel
to dispel the darkness and fear of spirits, ghosts and demons which control the
lives of traditional Cambodians.
Love
Rossouw-clan
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