Dear Friends and Family, Poor Pa Tom (That s me, Ted Olbrich, it ...

Five hundred of them received Christ. I was surprised to realize how few of the
average Cambodians had connected the dots relating the Christmas story to God s
plan of redemption. For them Christmas is a neat story about God coming to earth as
a baby. So, we threw together a book with some foundation grant money. Next year
we will print 250,000 of them. They were a hit. It explains the entire Christmas story
as God s plan for the salvation of man from creation to the resurrection. We printed it
in comic book fashion. Of the thousands given out few were discarded.
http://www.missionreports.com/christmas_dec06/index0002.htm
No one seems to know much about our Tractor Factory . Almost two years ago our
first graduates came out of the Don Bosco Technical School and had a hard time
finding jobs. I had purchased an antique tractor in the States, as it was like the one I
learned to farm on 50 years ago, and I figured, I ll bring it to Cambodia and pay the
boys to restore it. Well, they dissembled every bolt and part, put it back together, and
it looked like new. I got to looking at the tractor and I realized that the simple
technology of it was much more suited to Cambodia than sophisticated modern
machines. Then, I noticed an abundance of junked Korean army truck front ends,
scrapped out Japanese diesel truck engines, and came up with an idea. I went to
Paul Mok, our chief mechanic and church elder, Do you think we could adapt these
diesel engines and put on a 4X4 front end to build a rice tractor? His eyes lit up and
a big grin covered his face. Sure! Well, today we are working on our 20 th tractor.
The boys earn a decent living, and the tractors produce a good income for orphan
support. Bob Hollandsworth, of Seeds Ministries, has donated a large steel building
that is being erected to house the production. I ve got another 20 tractors sitting in
America waiting to make the trip. If anyone knows of any Case Model 930 tractors
sitting around, we give donation credit. (Hint)
http://www.missionreports.com/tractors_jan07
Our Training all Pastors program keeps growing. Six months ago we had 83
participants. Last month 190 showed up. These pastors are district and divisional
leaders and they go back and train 10-60 more leaders. We had to hire a special
assistant just to gather data on what is happening. I feel a little like David counting
the children of Israel, but the foundation wants numbers. I hope God s not mad.
http://www.missionreports.com/pastoral_training2006/december
We participated in several dramatic rescues of trafficked young people this past
month. We give no details, unlike the organizations that make all the noise. Why? We
want to be effective!
Cambodia is one big construction zone. Brick prices have doubled and re-doubled
from one year ago. There are no unemployed brick layers. We are building a Medical
Clinic, a Garment Factory Worker s Dorm for 360 women, a Tractor Factory, 14
Church/Orphan homes, new office facilities, and numerous cafeteria buildings. Plus,
with money from a loan, and inheritance from my mother, Sou and I are building a
home, complete with a small orchard, so I can play farmer in my spare time :>)
http://www.missionreports.com/homes_construction_jan07/index.htm
Hannah, our youngest daughter, came back from college for Christmas. We shed the
usual tears as we thought of our children and grand children left behind, but Sou and
I spent the entire month of December in Cambodia. Our staff took much needed
breaks with Anna and Emily returning to the States and Jamie going to Israel. They