March 2023 – The Creels' Catch

Exploring the City

Another week of adventure. We’re not sure we can share on a weekly basis, but we’ll try whenever we can. Here’s an update on our life here in Southeast Asia.

Our main mode of transportation in the city is called a “Tuk-tuk” or a modern rickshaw. (Other people have cars). On a daily basis, we travel from our apartment to the radio station office (about 10–15 minute drive depending on the traffic). We thank the Lord for a good tuk-tuk driver, Nara, who drives us to and from the office everyday. Going to other places, we also use a mobile phone app to call a taxi or other rickshaws (like booking an Uber ride).

Visiting the Transmitter Site

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One day last week, we visited the transmitter site of Voice of Love. The studio and office are located in the main part of the city. However, the transmitter site is in the outskirts west of the office site, about 5-6 miles drive, again depending on the traffic. One of the engineering staff took us to the transmitter site. We all rode a taxi.

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David, as a broadcast engineer is happy to see the FM radio transmitter running well. We were delighted also to visit with the faithful workers who keep the transmitter running day in and day out. We were blessed by their hospitality as they served us drinks and snacks.

Construction of new Data Center and Transmitter Building

For the past few months, David and the leadership of the ministry (VOL) with a project team have been planning the construction of a new tower. Currently our radio station is using a guyed tower. Lord willing, the team here is preparing to have a self-supporting tower and other improvements.

Transportation and Language Challenges

After a good visit with the transmitter staff, and seeing the on-going construction, we prepared to book a ride back to town. We found out that it was not easy to get a regular taxi to go back to town, except for a tuk-tuk or rickshaw. Since small rickshaws can only carry 2 people, the staff suggested we take separate rides. So, we booked our rickshaw. When our rickshaw came, just before we drove away, the driver told our staff in the local language that his phone was not working well. The main language of the people in Cambodia is called Khmer (pronounced Ka-mye). We noticed many of the young people speak some English, but others don’t. Communicating is sometimes a challenge.

So going back to our rickshaw story, in the middle of the ride, the driver said something to us that we did not really understand. We thought he said something in English, the word, “cancel”.

So, we said, “No cancel please”. We didn’t know how to say it in Khmer, and we forgot to use our phones’ translation app. We did not know the road, and we were not sure if the driver was taking us in the right direction to go back to town. So, we started praying. In our phone app, the ride was cancelled, so we could not see if the driver was following the right directions in the map. David and I did not know what to do and how to communicate with the driver. We prayed and trusted God to help us. When we got to the middle of the city, we noticed the driver was not sure how to get to our destination (back to our apartment). With wisdom from our Lord, we told him the nearest landmark, a well-known mall near our apartment. After a few minutes, we arrived at the mall. From there, we knew our way to the apartment. We thank our Lord that even amid language challenges, the Lord took care of us.

So, we started language class this past weekend with a small group of 3 students and 2 teachers (a local teacher and an American).

We would appreciate prayer as we study Khmer.

Week 2 – Adventure

Last week was our second week in the city of Phnom Penh. We did paperwork for our visa extension and apartment hunting. We thank the Lord for the kindness of Voice of Love (FEBC) staff helping us with the paperwork. At the same time, we looked at several apartment condos in the area. We also thank the Lord for the kindness of the staff of Quality Expat Services who are helping us to look for different apartment condos. Most of the apartment/condos are in high rise buildings.

This past weekend while recovering from jetlag, trying to adjust to a warm climate and different environment, we went to a park and the riverside.

While going around the city, we noticed many places that have altars and images of the traditional religion. It seems many people are engaged in traditional religion as we see food and other items offered on altars and carved images. It is sad to see many people worshipping gods that do not have life. As the Bible says,

“They have mouths, but they do not speak; Eyes they have, but they do not see; ⁶They have ears, but they do not hear; Noses they have, but they do not smell; ⁷They have hands, but they do not handle; Feet they have, but they do not walk;
Nor do they mutter through their throat.
Psalm 115: 3-7

We are praying for many eyes to be opened to the One True God, who loves and cares for them. When we meet people like taxi or rickshaw drivers, shop workers, and others, we try to tell them, “Our God in heaven bless you!” Sometimes we say, “Our God in heaven cares for you, His name is Jesus!”

It feels overwhelming sometimes to see many people who need to know the One True God who created and saved them. We are praying that the Lord of the harvest will send out workers to the harvest field. (Matthew 9:37-39).

We are also grateful to our Lord for His provision, faithfulness, and protection. The Lord provided for us even before we arrived. We have household stuff that we are using now from friends who used to live here, Mike & Brigit. We are thankful to the Lord for keeping us safe while we ride around the city, and for a trusted driver, another blessing from Mike & Brigit. We are thankful also for little ways God encourages us, like finding almond milk, breakfast cereal and other USA products we are familiar with. We thank our Lord God for His faithful provision for all our needs. We thank Him for friends and ministry partners who pray and support us.

A Little Adventure to Share:

Here is a little adventure to share about the first day we arrived in the city. After checking into the apartment/condo and getting into the room, I said a little prayer. We needed to go out to buy some items at the store. When I saw a safe deposit box in the closet, I thought we could keep our passports there and not carry them around. It did not look like the regular safes I had seen in other hotels that have numerical keypads. (Later, I found out, it had a numerical keypad behind a cover). After I placed my passport in the safe and shut the door with the key, I tried to open it but it would not open. After several tries, still it wouldn’t open. We asked help from the hotel staff and they could not help either. They said, somebody will come in the morning to help. David and I spent a lot of times in the afternoon and the following morning trying to crack the safe. David researched online how to open or crack a safe. We were getting anxious about the situation. We prayed hard and earnestly.

The following morning, we again asked the staff for their help. They kept telling us, the manager was on her way.

That morning, as I prayed and had my morning time with the Lord, He reminded of His Words in Ephesians

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. ¹¹Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. … ¹³Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

¹⁴Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; ¹⁶above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. ¹⁷And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; (Ephesians 6:10-17 NKJV)

The Word of God in Ephesians 6 spoke to me, first to be strong. When I started to think of the worst, and when doubts and fears started to creep in, the Words of the Lord encouraged me to be strong and to take “the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the of the wicked one.” (Ephesians 6:16)

Instead of fear and doubts, I was reminded to have faith that our Lord God would send help and will take care of us.

After asking a few times, the manager finally arrived just before 12:00 noon. She had the passcode of the safe box, opened it, and got my passport, PRAISE the Lord! Thank you Lord Jesus!

Bible Quotations from Bible Gateway

It’s All About Him!

“The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in
From this time forth, and even forevermore.” Psalm 121: 8

After many months of cleaning, sorting and packing, the past few weeks have been like a whirlwind for us! We had several get togethers with extended family, friends, church folks and neighbors. We thank and praise the Lord for the outpourings of love through potluck meals, well-wishes, prayers, cards, gifts, etc. Though emotional to say goodbye to everybody, we are grateful to our Lord for His love and goodness expressed through every individual.

One of the greeting cards that touched our hearts was a handmade card from the children of our home church, Christ Central Church.

We praise and thank the Lord for His grace, wisdom, and strength and for sustaining us over the past few months in the most challenging and difficult time of transition. Changes are not usually easy. Moving house, especially international moving is not fun. But we thank and praise our Lord for everyone who gives to our ministry and for everyone who prays for us so we could serve Him. It is a privilege and honor to serve our Lord and to be called by Him. We also thank everyone who helped us in practical ways such as transporting items to storage, and those who helped in other ways.

Again, it’s all about Him, our Lord Jesus Christ, the very first missionary, who came from His heavenly home to earth.

This is not the end, but just the beginning of a new adventure – Jesus’ Call to His Harvest Field, Adventures in the Mission Field

Part 2 – In Singapore

We started our long journey from Alabama on February 27^th, going first to Houston, then to San Francisco and arriving in Singapore on March 3rd. While staying at the Retreat Center of Salvation Army, the Lord encouraged us with the words written on the wall: “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” (Exodus 33:14)

While attending a church there on Sunday morning, again the Lord encouraged us through His words:

“The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in
From this time forth, and even forevermore.” (Psalm 121:8)

Singapore is an interesting place, a melting pot of all kinds of people in Asia. We saw many people from different backgrounds; Islamic people perhaps from Indonesia and Malaysia. There were also people from Hindu backgrounds, Buddhists, Christians, and perhaps people from non-religious backgrounds. We enjoyed a couple of days as we recouped from our long journey.

Part 3 – Cambodia

On March 6th, we finally arrived in the city of Phnom Penh.

We received a warm welcome from FEBC Voice of Love.

It’s nice to reconnect with the staff and workers of Voice of Love Cambodia (FEBC Cambodia). We are touched by their warm welcome, as they presented us with a nice gift of a purple shawl with the official logo of the ministry and with matching white flower-garlands.

Again, we praise and thank the Lord for His faithfulness, for His love and kindness He has shown through our families, friends, neighbors, and church family. We are grateful also for each and everyone who prays and supports our ministry so we can serve Him.

In a recent message we heard, we were reminded that Mission is worship. It’s all about God, His heart for people from every nation and every tongue, to know Him and His love for them. And for them to worship Him.

We would appreciate your prayers as we adjust to a new culture, as we apply for a visa extension, and as we look for housing. Please pray also for wisdom and fruitfulness as we share the love of Christ in Cambodia. Thank you all, and our Lord Jesus bless you all!