In the last 22 years, Dar and I have boarded an airplane to leave Cambodia many times. Each time, we knew we’d soon be back to carry on the relationships and activities that God had placed us in.
Tonight, five minutes before midnight, we’ll leave Cambodia with slightly different plans.
Darlene and I will make America our primary residence.
We will get to establish new friendships, enjoy our families, children and grandchildren. We will find and fellowship with a new church family. We will move to place we’ve never lived previously - Cape Coral, Florida. When we first visited that area a couple years ago, we were amazed at the similarities with our long experiences in southeast Asia, at least in terms of weather and environment. We expect we will fit in quite well.
But are we really leaving Cambodia, the village of Sobhan, the staff and children at Jumpah?
No.
We will continue to equip, train, motivate and encourage a growing team to strengthen their relationships with each other, with God, and with their neighbors.
In America, we will tell more people about what God is doing through the lives and actions of Jumpah. We will encourage new and existing friends to pray, to give and to volunteer their time and skills.
We will travel to Cambodia a couple times per year, hopefully with some of you — volunteers with skills in business, wood working, gardening, or some other expertise needed by Jumpah. We will provide training and support that will enable Jumpah staff to meet the needs of poor, rural families.
Basically, life and ministry for Jumpah will continue without missing a beat.
Children who lost their parents to the impact of the HIV virus are part of a loving family. Village families with issues of domestic violence, alcoholism, disease, and poverty receive opportunities to turn their situations around. Men and women with very little hope receive vocational training and, even more important, a job that provides money. Ultimately, that is the key ingredient that fuels real hope… A hope that will begin to slowly transform the life of the individual and the family.
Jumpah serves neighbors in the name of Jesus, because Jesus first loved and served us.
Finances have been a real challenge this year. Giving by the many friends of Jumpah has dropped rather significantly. At the same time, Jumpah has implemented a plan that will help…but it will take a while to be effective.
Social enterprises will provide jobs for more rural Cambodians and provide income to Jumpah, income that will reduce the requirement for outside funding.
The Jumpah School, the Farm and Demonstration Center, the Wood Shop, and the Wood & Things retail store in Phnom Penh are all in the startup phase of businesses. All of these businesses require financial investment and skilled volunteers to become profitable.
As I hit the button to post this update on the blog, I will also publish the link to our long overdue update to the Jumpah website. In addition, you can follow our social enterprise activities on Facebook. And you can now donate online - easily, quickly and securely.
http://timratzloff.wixsite.com/jumpah (this address is temporary)
https://www.facebook.com/adventurecambodia/
https://e-giving.org/jumpah (online giving)
Please continue to support Jumpah. View the sites above and share the links with friends.
Together, we can continue to offer Hope and Opportunity to families who currently have very little of either.
