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August 8, 2019
 ATTN: If the pictures in this article are distorted, then click on the "view it in your browser" link located at the top right-hand corner of the page.
Dear Friend,
Greetings from Los Angeles! Since the last Mobile Good News Email on June 24th, the Spirit has taken me to Lagos, Nigeria; Stockholm Sweden; London, England; Mexico City, Mexico; Kathmandu, Nepal; Phnom Penh, Cambodia; and of course, Los Angeles! Elena has traveled with me on the average of every other trip for her health's sake. Except for our latest stop in Phnom Penh, I have sent brief reports from each of the aforementioned cities on my iPhone email to all "usd21.org users." Following this pattern, since the Mobile Good News Email has become so long for you to read and so time-consuming for me to write, the Mobile Good News Email will only cover Elena's & my missionary trips.
Praise God that Elena was baptized at 17 years
old on August 8, 1973, so today is her
46th Spiritual Birthday!
The Kathmandu Mission Team was sent off from
the New Delhi Church on June 30th!
Kip's beloved grandson & granddaughter in
the faith - Luke & Brandyn Speckman - led
the planting of the Kathmandu Church!
Kip led a Bible study that Capil Estep (right)
translated into Nepalese!
The Kathmandu Inaugural Service had 66 in
attendance and Kip was especially proud
of his daughter in the faith Capil,
who had 21 visitors!
Kip is very close to Joe & Capil as he not
only married them, but was honored to
walk Capil down the aisle!
However, my afternoon schedule was free so Luke was kind enough to take me to see the Monkey Temple, the Boudha Temple, and the Pashupatinath Temple – where we witnessed the ongoing funeral pyres of the Hindu dead!
Luke and Kip spent the afternoon walking
the busy streets of Kathmandu!
Luke's and Kip's first stop was
the famed Monkey Temple!
While feeding the monkeys, Luke made
one particularly close friend!
Kip's new friend was a bit more docile!
Luke's parents - Fred & Virginia - were on the
Kathmandu Mission Team and lived in a
very tiny apartment overlooking
Durbar Square!
At the Boudha Temple, it was very evident
that many Nepalese have "melded"
Buddhism and Hinduism!
Lastly, Luke and Kip visited the very sobering scene
at the Pashupatinath Temple - where families
mourned over the funeral pyres of
their loved ones, who had
died that same day!
On Monday, July 29th, l left Kathmandu to fly to Phnom Penh! Unfortunately, this meant a 13 hour layover in Bangkok – where I remained overnight. After boarding an early morning plane, I finally arrived in Phnom Penh to a glorious SoldOut Movement Welcome! That night, the Phnom Penh Disciples gathered again, as we met Elena coming in from Los Angeles via Seoul, Korea!
Near midnight, the Phnom Penh Disciples greeted
Elena at the airport with a SoldOut
Movement Welcome!
Maruja Cabrera - a Manila Intern - came for the
Inaugural Service, which was her first
time out of the Philippines!
Thursday and Friday were spent in planning meetings with Ricky & Coleen Challinor – who are the Geographic Sector Leaders of Southeast Asia stationed in Manila, Blady & Cielo Perez – the Phnom Penh Mission Team Leaders, and Nick & Denise Bordieri – the Directors of the CSW MERCY Orphanage!
Blady, like most of the Phnom Penh Mission
Team found motorcycles the easiest
form of transportation to get
around the city!
Friday night was the Devo where 64 gathered in the beautifully renovated "Game Room" at the MERCY Orphanage! The singing was "off the charts," as we joyously sang at various times in Khmer, Tagalog and English!
Blady welcomed everyone to the Devotional
which was held "free of charge" in
the renovated Game Room at
the MERCY Orphanage!
At this incredible event, the Perezes "officially" recognized the Bordieris as the Phnom Penh Shepherding Couple! Following, Elena & I shared Good News From Around The World and Ricky Challinor preach the Word! All of the English speakers were translated into Khmer by Bonarithy "Rithy" Keo!
Blady & Cielo so admire their newly appointed
Shepherding Couple - Nick & Denise Bordieri!
The creative title from Ricky's text of John 4:34-38 was, I HOPE YOU’RE HUNGRY! His two points were: 1) Finish What Is On Your Plate, and 2) God's Plan Is Delicious! During the message, Ricky admonished the Phnom Penh Disciples that no longer are they to see themselves as the "mission team" or the "remnant group," but only as the one family of the Phnom Penh International Christian Church! An incredible message from a man that just turned 30 years old!
Ricky preached a humorous but inspiring sermon
entitled, I HOPE YOU'RE HUNGRY!
Saturday was a first for Elena & me... We were invited by our brother Don Protasio to the Phnom Penh International Fashion Show!
The disciples crammed into the elevator excited
to evangelize at the Fashion Show!
Elena gently encouraged Don immediately
before the Fashion Show!
The sisters really "got into" the Fashion Show!
Don Protasio's beautiful collection was
very "futuristic" in style!
The other designers were also
very forward thinking!
The breath-taking view from one floor below
where the Fashion Show was held!
From here, we traveled 20 minutes to the CSW Orphanage where the 55 children enthusiastically gathered to meet us – most of whom were wearing their green MERCY shirts! This gathering with General Chhem – the President of the Orphanage Board – and the children was to commemorate the completion of the new Boys Bathrooms and the renovated Game Room!
Nick & Denise Bordieri are the dynamic World
Sector Leaders for MERCYworldwide!
The General arrived a little early, so we were able to walk around the grounds discussing our visions for the future of the orphanage. Listed are the agreed upon future projects and the estimated amount we must raise to complete each project:
1) Since the dorms are in relatively poor condition: Painting the Boys and Girls Dorms – estimated cost $7,500.
2) Since the “backyard” is unusable by the children (and in fact dangerous especially when flooded this time of year): Construct an artificial turf field to play soccer and other outdoor games – estimated cost $33,000.
3) Since English is the International language: Hire a part-time English Teacher to teach three night a week – estimated cost $750/month.
4) Since “IT” education is the pathway to success in the future: Hire a part-time IT Teacher for twice a week – estimated cost $500/month.
5) Since many of the orphans sleep on old or non-existent bedding: Buy mattresses and sheets for 55 children – cost $3,000.
Elena and two of the baptized Kingdom Kids - Marysa
(left) and Morakod - showed the expansive but
dangerous field behind the Boys Dorm where
the Soccer Field will be laid!
At 4:00PM, all of the orphans and many disciples gathered for the Commemoration Ceremonies! The speakers for this fun-filled event were: Mr. Saman – the Executive Director, General Chhem, Nick, Elena and me. Though there was a little sprinkling of rain, everyone was so enthralled with the program that no one moved to shelter!
Mr. Saman gave the history of the orphanage and
really lifted up the Bordieris and MERCY!
When General Chhem finished his remarks, Kip
was moved to congratulate him on his
speech, where the General shared
that he too had been an orphan!
As well, Dean & Audrey Lam came directly from the airport having arrived from Hong Kong, where they lead the church! They were both so excited about their new marriage of a month and the three baptisms in Hong Kong the previous Sunday!
The Hong Kong Church celebrated three baptisms
on July 28th and then Bobby's (center)
baptism the following Sunday!
Afterward came a delicious feast for all served and cooked by the orphanage chef!
The incredible feast was prepared to celebrate
the completion of the Boys Bathrooms
and the Game Room!
Following dinner the General took the Challinors and Elena & me on a "tour" of the Boys Bathrooms and the Game Room!
Ricky & Co were very much in awe of the quality of
work that produced the splendid new bathrooms!
The General sang in Khmer!
As dusk gave way to night, so after the singing came dancing to both Cambodian songs and modern music!
The orphanage girls tried to teach the American
Sisters the Cambodian dances!
The American Sisters helped the Cambodian
girls learn the "Cupid Shuffle!"
Elena & I awoke early on Sunday filled with anticipation about the Phnom Penh Inaugural Worship Service! We arrived at the Cambodiana Hotel about 9:00AM finding that many of the disciples had been there for a couple hours getting the room ready for the service!
The gorgeous Phnom Penh Inaugural Invitation!
The Challinors and Malnegros welcomed all to
the Cambodiana Hotel for the Inaugural!
The General, his wife Chantheravy and his son
Virasun were also welcomed by John & Anna!
Amazingly, God blessed the 16 disciples in the remnant group, the 14 disciples on the mission team, the 5 disciples that were baptized in the 5 weeks since the mission team landed, and the 15 visiting disciples with an astounding attendance of 255! With only 5 children, that means the 35 Phnom Penh Disciples had exactly 200 non-Christian visitors – about 6 visitors for every Phnom Penh Disciple! Of special note, since there were 32 children and 8 others associated with the orphanage, as well as having 11 other friends, Nick & Denise had 51 visitors… even though Nick was quite sick!
The historic Phnom Penh Inaugural Service was
blessed by God with 255 in attendance!
The service began at 10:15AM with three songs – two in Khmer! Then came a terrific Welcome Video made by an amazing 17 year old disciple from Cebu – Airi Nakazawa! Following came the beautiful Cambodian Cultural Dance!
Airi Nakazawa's Welcome Video was as
outstanding as the one she produced
for the 2019 Pacific Rim Missions
Conference in June!
The beautiful Welcome Dance!
After this incredible presentation, Elena & I gave our customary Inaugural Service Welcome! Then came the International Prayer in 10 languages: Khmer (Rasmey Pov), English (Marc Carbonell), Japanese (Airi), Cantonese (Dean Lam), Tagalog (John Malnegro), Visayan (Paul Adorable), Thai (Phearun), Burmese (Kee Aung), Spanish (Denise), Mandarin (Nick), and the last prayer was in Khmer again! (Bryce Perez)
Kip & Elena shared that in 2019, the SoldOut
Movement has plans to plant 12 churches!
Then came the two place memberships directly from the ICOC – Phan and Sokum, who are Rithy's mom and his older sister!
Rithy was so excited about welcoming his mother
and sister to the Phnom Penh ICC!
Following the place memberships came one of the great highlights of the service: Since General Chhem graced us with his presence at the service, we asked him to address the crowd. I think because he saw Elena & I speak together, quite unexpectedly, the General motioned to his wife Sam Chantheravy and to their 14 year old son Virasun to follow him to the stage! The General gave a stirring message in Khmer, translated by Rithy! However, when he finished, he asked Chantheravy and Virasun to speak – even surprising them! When Chantheravy stepped up to the mic and spoke with a huge smile, the entire crowd was enchanted by her eloquent words! Virasun did very well with his few words!
Chantheravy charmed the entire crowd with her
words of encouragement to the church!
The Communion was presided over by Bryce Perez who read 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 before giving his mom Cielo a moving introduction! Cielo shared her conversion story in detail which really pulled in the crowd! Then Reymer sang Amazing Grace as he played on his guitar.
Bryce gave his mom Cielo a
tremendous introduction!
Reymer moved many to tears when
he sung Amazing Grace!
Following Ricky & Co gave the Contribution Charge based off of James 1:22, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: To look after orphans…” During the sharing, Coleen not only talked about how impacting her first visit to the MERCY Orphanage was, but she also shared the names of the girls that she had bonded with there, especially during the dancing! Coleen really fired up everyone from the orphanage!
Ricky knows that he married "up!"
Then all of us were moved by the trio of Sreynich Ngov – recent baptism, Martin Lu Tar – the nephew of Kee Aung, and Reymer singing Still in Khmer, Burmese and English!
Still was brilliantly performed in three languages!
After this, the congregation sang Wade In The Water before Blady preached! The title of his incredible sermon was FORGIVEN, which he preached – according to General Chhem – in perfect Khmer! Blady was translated into English by his son Bryce! In the lesson, Blady shared about being baptized in Manila, and then a short time later in 1993, he was asked to go on the Phnom Penh Mission Team, which totally transformed his life! In all, Blady & Cielo have spent 20 years in Cambodia and so love the country and the people!
Blady preached one of his best and shortest
sermons - just 25 minutes with translation!
After the sermon were the four baptisms – Moses, Phearun, Lu Tar and She Ling! Lu Tar is Kee Aung's nephew and She Ling is Kee Aung's lovely wife! Kee Aung - a denominational preacher in Yangon, Myanmar - was baptized into Christ at the 2019 Pacific Rim Missions Conference!
Lu Tar said with deep conviction, "Jesus is Lord!"
Immediately after their baptisms, Lu Tar and
She Ling are congratulated by Kee
Aung and Cielo!
Kee Aung, She Ling and Lu Tar have flown home
and formed the Yangon ICC Remnant
Group! (Yangon was previously
called Rangoon!)
Kee Aung, She Ling and Lu Tar
in traditional dress!
To close the day, and imitating our Lima Brothers and Sisters, everyone was asked to fill out a response card, which would be used in a raffle to win one of three baskets of "goodies!"
Airi (left) was selected as a new intern
after the Inaugural Service!
After lunch and a little rest, we took off for the Inaugural Celebration Party at the Sen Han Hotel, where the Phnom Penh Church usually meets! Almost 60 gathered for a buffet dinner and a lengthy time of sharing about all of the visitors!
The Inaugural Celebration Party was
held at the Sen Han Hotel!
Rasmey Pov - an intern - shared about
having 23 visitors!
General Chhem's Response Card!
Monday was filled with appointments and ended with a very sad farewell to our beloved Phnom Penh Family!
The Phnom Penh Sisters - Kendi, Denise and
Sharon - cheered up Naomi after she
was admitted to the hospital
for dengue fever!
In the past two months, the Lord has allowed Elena & me to participate in three thrilling Geographic Missions Conferences – the Pacific Rim Missions Conference in Manila, the African Missions Conference in Lagos, and the Latin American Missions Conference in Mexico City!
The 2019 African Missions Conference
was the best one... yet!
Come to the next AMC and see first hand Makoko
and Okobaba - where MERCY has the Signature
Project of "The Real School!"
There are still five more opportunities in 2019 to see the Lord working powerfully around the world:
1) The new Caribbean Missions Conference
Port-au-Prince, Haiti – October 4-6, 2019
2) The European Missions Conference
London, England – October 24-27, 2019
3) The Austral-China Missions Conference
Sydney, Australia – November 1-3, 2019
4) The South Asia Missions Conference
New Delhi, India – November 14-17, 2019
5) The new Middle East Missions Conference
Dubai, UAE – December 6-8, 2019
LIVING THE DREAM is the exciting theme
of the 2019 Austral-China Missions
Conference in Sydney!
Come to Dubai for the first Middle
East Missions Conference!
Lord willing, the first Hawaiian Island Missions
Conference will be held on January 17-19,
2020 in Honolulu!
Please be praying for the Davao (Philippines) Inaugural Service this Sunday, August 11th! Excitingly, in the Philippines – with 312 Manila Disciples, 78 Cebu Disciples, and presently 19 Davao Disciples – there are over 400 Disciples… and "the Lord [is adding] to their number daily those who are being saved!" (Acts 2:47)
The mighty Davao Mission Team has "declared war"
against Satan and his kingdom of darkness!
Already this year, Inaugural Services have been celebrated in Atlanta, Georgia; Auckland, New Zealand; Lima, Peru; Kathmandu, Nepal; and Phnom Penh, Cambodia! Lord willing, in the next two months, Inaugural Services will be held in Johannesburg, South Africa; Apia, Samoa; New Haven, Connecticut; and Indianapolis, Indiana! Then to close out the year, Amsterdam, Netherlands and Kolkata, India will celebrate their Inaugural Services! And to God be all the glory!
We are family… bold and unashamed,
Kip
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