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 w<strong>it</strong>h so<strong>me</strong> foundation grant money. Next year we will print 250,000 of them. They were a h<strong>it</strong>. It explains the entire Christmas story as God s plan for the salvation of man from creation to the resurrection. We printed <strong>it</strong> in comic book fashion. Of the thous<strong>and</strong>s 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 ca<strong>me</strong> out of the Don Bosco Technical School <strong>and</strong> had a hard ti<strong>me</strong> finding jobs. I had purchased an antique tractor in the States, as <strong>it</strong> was like the one I learned to farm on 50 years ago, <strong>and</strong> I figured, I ll bring <strong>it</strong> to Cambodia <strong>and</strong> pay the boys to restore <strong>it</strong>. Well, they dissembled every bolt <strong>and</strong> part, put <strong>it</strong> back together, <strong>and</strong> <strong>it</strong> looked like new. I got to looking at the tractor <strong>and</strong> I realized that the simple technology of <strong>it</strong> was much more su<strong>it</strong>ed to Cambodia than sophisticated modern machines. Then, I noticed an abundance of junked Korean army truck front ends, scrapped out Japanese diesel truck engines, <strong>and</strong> ca<strong>me</strong> up w<strong>it</strong>h an idea. I went to <strong>Pa</strong>ul Mok, our chief <strong>me</strong>chanic <strong>and</strong> church elder, Do you think we could adapt these diesel engines <strong>and</strong> put on a 4X4 front end to build a rice tractor? His eyes l<strong>it</strong> up <strong>and</strong> a big grin covered his face. Sure! Well, today we are working on our 20 th tractor. The boys earn a decent living, <strong>and</strong> the tractors produce a good inco<strong>me</strong> for orphan support. Bob Holl<strong>and</strong>sworth, of Seeds Ministries, has donated a large steel building that is being erected to house the production. I ve got another 20 tractors s<strong>it</strong>ting in A<strong>me</strong>rica wa<strong>it</strong>ing to make the trip. If anyone knows of any Case Model 930 tractors s<strong>it</strong>ting around, we give donation cred<strong>it</strong>. (Hint) http://www.missionreports.com/tractors_jan07 Our Training all <strong>Pa</strong>stors program keeps growing. Six months ago we had 83 participants. Last month 190 showed up. These pastors are district <strong>and</strong> divisional leaders <strong>and</strong> they go back <strong>and</strong> train 10-60 more leaders. We had to hire a special assistant just to gather data on what is happening. I feel a l<strong>it</strong>tle 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 <strong>and</strong> re-doubled from one year ago. There are no unemployed brick layers. We are building a Medical Clinic, a Gar<strong>me</strong>nt Factory Worker s Dorm for 360 wo<strong>me</strong>n, a Tractor Factory, 14 Church/Orphan ho<strong>me</strong>s, new office facil<strong>it</strong>ies, <strong>and</strong> nu<strong>me</strong>rous cafeteria buildings. Plus, w<strong>it</strong>h money from a loan, <strong>and</strong> inher<strong>it</strong>ance from my mother, Sou <strong>and</strong> I are building a ho<strong>me</strong>, complete w<strong>it</strong>h a small orchard, so I can play far<strong>me</strong>r in my spare ti<strong>me</strong> :>) http://www.missionreports.com/ho<strong>me</strong>s_construction_jan07/index.htm Hannah, our youngest daughter, ca<strong>me</strong> back from college for Christmas. We shed the usual tears as we thought of our children <strong>and</strong> gr<strong>and</strong> children left behind, but Sou <strong>and</strong> I spent the entire month of December in Cambodia. Our staff took much needed breaks w<strong>it</strong>h Anna <strong>and</strong> Emily returning to the States <strong>and</strong> Jamie going to Israel. They
are all back <strong>and</strong> slaving away. We have several <strong>me</strong>dical <strong>and</strong> construction teams for January, so <strong>it</strong> will be an, All h<strong>and</strong>s on deck month. Be blessed w<strong>it</strong>h a Happy New Year! <strong>Ted</strong>, Sou <strong>and</strong> Hannah <strong>Olbrich</strong>, Anna Blake, Jamie Gonzalez, Emily Plater
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