Cambodia

     Aldersgate has a special focus on this poor and war-torn country with rapidly growing Christian communities of over 100,000, the majority of which are Methodists. We support projects headed by Missionaries Clara Biswas, Irene Mparutsa, Esther Gitobu, Marilyn Chan, Beverly Barte, and Emmanuel Barte. These projects involve hunger relief through extra rice and seed money for crops and animals, food and education for orphans and destitute families in the slums, vocational training in engine repair, scholarships for secondary education, provisions for safe water through water filter programs, seed money for those trying to make a living (weaving, sewing, barbering, cosmetology).  We have sent mission teams to help with teaching ESL and critical thinking skills, funded Christian education workshops and helped with curriculum development for Sunday Schools, evaluated projects, and developed guidelines for greater involvement in sister congregations.

     Our latest mission team just returned from Cambodia on March 15th, 2007. We will send our next mission team in February 2009.

 

 

Report from Cambodia (Mar 07)

 

          Juanita Csontos, Toby Stalter and Bob Oelschlager just returned from Cambodia where they saw how the ministries and missionaries that Aldersgate supports dramatically improve people’s lives there. While visiting rural congregations they saw cows, other livestock and crops from the Alternative Giving Bazaar. They distributed water filters. They accompanied missionary Clara Biswas to the city dump where she ministers to the scavengers children. They provided seed money from Aldersgate donations to get a sewing co-op started.

          Juanita evaluated projects Aldersgate is funding and taught Sunday school lesson planning to local pastors; Toby conducted teacher training and taught English as a Second Language at a local Methodist school; and Bob taught basic electricity in the moto repair course. And they visited and attended church services at Aldersgate’s two new sister congregations, where we provide pastoral support funds.

          Here is their report:

Report on Aldersgate Mission in Cambodia

·        Cambodia is very poor

-                      Per capita GDP $380: 100x less than US

-                      Life expectancy only 57 years

-                      Malnutrition and lack of healthcare

-                      Poor sanitation and water quality

-           Limited educational opportunities

-           Lack of trained leadership

·        The Methodist Mission in Cambodia is highly effective

-                      Dollars go directly to designated programs

-                      Programs help people in need

-                      Huge impact from Aldersgate giving

-                      Aldersgate team saw results firsthand

-                      Methodists churches are growing

-                      Independent annual conference by 2016

·        Aldersgate is biggest Cambodia contributing UM church

-                      Missions budget + Bazaar + Fund Raising

·        The Aldersgate focus has major benefits

-                      Great relationship with Missions senior staff

-                      Access to all programs, districts and churches

-                      Our suggestions and feedback are welcomed

-                      As “Part of the Team” we “Make a Difference”

·        Recommendations

-                      Increase our level of involvement

-                      Get to know & support our sister congregations

-                      Tell members about our sponsored programs

-                      Share our passion with other VA UM churches

-                      Help them get sister congregation relationships

 


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