Orphan Christmas

Orphan Tut Chan enjoys Christmas










Hi everyone! In the past, our orphans had the tremendous blessing of receiving an annual Christmas offering from Manna Worldwide. Manna Worldwide is a great ministry, based out of Fort Worth, Texas. Due to some personnel issues in Cambodia, we had to end our relationship with our former Cambodian associate who had partnered with us in a feeding center. Since we aren't with Manna anymore, our orphans no longer receive Christmas gifts from the annual offering. Times have been tough for a lot of people, we know. Tough for you and tough for us. We're not sure what we'll be able to do for the orphans' Christmas this year. If you would like to help provide Christmas gifts for the orphans this year, please send your offerings to us before December 15th at:

Billy and Cindy Haas
BBFI Missions
P.O. Box 191
Springfield, MO 65801

Make checks payable to: BBFI Missions.
Mention that the gift is for: "Haas/Orphans/Christmas"

Thank you and God bless you! The Lord will not forget your labor of love! Hebrews 6:10

Tornado

Thanks to a friend, we can show you this picture of a tornado seen near Phnom Penh in the last day or two. Awesome, huh? Thanks, Isaac, for letting us use the photo for the blog.

How's Cindy doing?

The doctors are still unsure about the exact nature of Cindy's problem. She had another CT scan yesterday and goes for an MRI today. Cindy has been having some terrible problems with her lower back and spine, near her tailbone. She has so much inflammation that they couldn't see the x-ray well, so they're doing the MRI today. We have learned that tuberculosis, histoplasmosis, and another disease called cestodic tuberculosis can spread and cause the kind of pain that she's having in her lower spinal region. She was hurting so badly yesterday that she was unable to get up out of a chair without considerable effort. We appreciate your prayers for Cindy and will keep you informed as we learn more.

Furlough Extended

I am, as the old song said, "Learning to Lean on Jesus." We've been frustrated at times. I have to just level with you, folks, it is frustrating at times. No one on earth, outside of Jesus Christ our Lord, was perfect. I feel sometimes like Simon Peter, who, when faced with a frustration, said, "Not so, Lord." Have you ever felt like that? But when faced with these matters, we must look to the Lord because he does everything right and good. He knows that we are simply dust. But who are we to question why things happen?

As you know, Cindy is being treated for a "TB-like" bacteria in her lungs. This treatment lasts a minimum of six months. So, we extended our furlough. Now, on top of all that, we've lost $500 a month support towards the orphanage support. Add to that, an incredible increase in our Social Security withholding and an increase in our mandatory health insurance premium. Then the icing on the cake is the news that the inflation rate in Cambodia is 24%. Between the loss in support for the orphanage, the increase in taxes and health insurance, and the increasing cost of living in Cambodia, it is a support value loss of minimum $1,100 per month!

We are in dire economic times, not only in America, but around the world. Financial support is becoming more difficult to raise. Funds for special projects and needs is becoming harder to obtain.

Our prayer is that God's people will be like the churches of Macedonia in 2 Corinthians 8. Please take the time to read the first several verses of the chapter. Even in times of trial and difficulty, may the Lord's people give sacricially from deep poverty but with abundant joy.

Family Things

Hi everyone,
Here's an update on how things are going around here. Cindy's still undergoing treatment for what seems to be a "tb-like bacteria" She is having some pains in her chest and will be going to the doctor to follow up on that.

Well, the girls are still trying to do whatever they can to raise some funds for their trips: Leah has an upcoming mission trip to a "Creative Access Nation" and Kayla to our nation's capitol. Pray for my girls as they see the Lord work in their lives. If you can help them, please let us know at our email address: haas4cambodia@yahoo.com

I just got back from Louisville, Kentucky. The mission conference was cancelled due to damages inflicted by Tropical Depression Ike. It was great to hear Bro. Trivette preach in person. I've listened to many of his messages on tape throughout the years.

Cindy met Fox News anchorwoman E.D. Hill recently and that was cool. She had her photo taken with her also.

Leah and Kayla

Our daughters Leah and Kayla are enrolled in a local Christian school here. Because of Cindy's health and ongoing treatment, we are staying in the US longer. As a result, we've enrolled them in school here. God really blessed in all this in that He provided a scholarship for our girls that drastically reduced their tuition at the school.

Part of the curriculum involves our girls making trips to different places. Kayla's class will be going to Washington, D.C. and seeing the museums and different monuments. Leah will be going on a mission trip. Because of the delicate nature of the trip, we won't be disclosing the location until after she is back and the trip is over. She is going to be doing different and creative ways of raising funds for the trip. Some of this is school-sponsored fundraising and then she'll be trying to raise some on her own. We appreciate all who helped her last time and prayed for her last trip back in 2008. She'll make this next trip in 2009. Please pray for both Leah and Kayla as they work hard to prepare for these school trips. Pray that the Lord will open doors for them to get the sponsors they need. God bless you all!

Report From Cambodia Trip

I had a wonderful trip to Cambodia, having just returned this past Saturday. There were a few problems that needed to be handled, but overall, the trip was really wonderful! We've made some changes and adjustments in ministries there, and are confident in the Lord that this will be a positive step.

It was good to see Brother Pilot and his family again also. Brother Pilot is a tremendous help to me in the Lord's work. He is faithful and dedicated to the Lord. He is helping me take care of our orphans. In addition, he is taking care of our Bible students and guiding them as they study the Bible in Phnom Penh. He also helps me with our mission churches throughout Cambodia.

We cooperated with other independent Baptist missionaries in the annual evangelistic camp. Over 8,000 youth attended camp over a three week period and about 2,200 young souls made professions of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ! To God be the glory! The picture at the beginning of this post shows the kids in their afternoon activities learning to work together as they work themselves across the water on ropes.

It was also such a thrill to be reunited again with our orphans. It has been several months since we left for furlough and so seeing them again was GREAT! They are growing up and changing so much it seems! I was able to help them be able to go on a trip to an island off the coast of Cambodia to do some swimming and fishing.

I want to thank the Stephens family for their kind hospitality, allowing me to stay with them during my trip. It was a great time of fellowship and I miss it already!

These are some of our youth in one of the village missions we've started.