“The cries of children were everywhere…”

In the early morning hours of January 24th the families fitfully dozed in desperate attempt to get some final moments of rest before a new day in the Dey Krahom community began. Just the day before, all the families had been asked to show the ownership documents for their homes because a large corporate developer desired the land they were living on. They left these meetings with a promise that no eviction action would be taken until all was considered and reviewed.

The still quiet of the morning was soon broken with cries of children and the calls of frantic mothers when at 6 15 AM hundreds of Cambodian security forces and hired demolition workers stormed the sleeping community with tear gas, riot shields, bull dozers, and diggers. Tear gas and riot shields…against what was mainly women and sleeping children?

Most of the families were unable to retrieve their belongings as they were lucky to escape unharmed. The Phnom Penh municipality has provided less than 30 of the 152 families with shelter at a designated resettlement site some 16 kilometers from the city centre. Most of the structures at the site are incomplete, and there is no clean water, no electricity, sewage or basic services. Earlier, most of the affected community rejected being resettled there because it was too far from Phnom Penh, where they work, mostly as street vendors.

This is a sad example of the injustices that happen daily in Cambodia. It is in this atmosphere that High Tower Ministries is, by the grace of God, raising the 17 children we are blessed to have in Bykota House.

Additions to High Tower Ministries

We are blessed to have the addition of a new little girl, Linda. Linda, age 3, suffers from hydrocephalus which in basic terms is water on the brain. She was abandoned as an infant in Krochet Province. The village chief asked a family without children to care for her and that was adequate until the family did have children of their own. They then couldn’t continue to care for Linda because of the expense of transporting her back and forth to Phnom Penh where she is patient at a local children’s hospital. She presently has a shunt to aid in the draining of excess fluid. The village chief knows of our ministry and sent the child into us where we have received custody and established her as a Bykota Kid.

Also…our prayers have been answered! We have been earnestly seeking the Father for additional workers for the ministry field. He has blessed us with Elaine and Nick Hayden, a retired couple from the UK. They are coming on recommendation of Moved With Compassion Ministries of Singapore which High Tower has relationship with. Nick and Elaine are coming as self-supported workers with a heart for the Bykota Kids. Please rejoice with us and welcome them as they join in the work here.

Thank You for Feedback!!!

We received much positive responses to the plan to update monthly for the year 2009. Many of our home team expressed that they were printing out the Prayer points to mount in a central location to prompt daily prayers. This is very encouraging to us to hear! Thank you so muc

February Prayer/Praise Points

~~Bykota House rent-February 1st came and with it came the rent due date. We were very blessed that we had $325 given specifically towards the rent prayer request of $3600 and we sold five little dachshund puppies. However, we were still short on the rent, and a balance of $600 is remaining. We give praise for that which is paid and lift up the remaining balance.

~~Peter-additional tests and additional opinions have been sought. We are now being told that Peter is suffering from Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. He spent three days this last month in the hospital. While he is home now, Peter is still in such pain that he cannot walk most days. Please continue to lift Peter up in prayer. We also are seeking a sponsor for Peter. Thus far, his clinic bills have totaled to more than $600 in the month of January alone.

~~Kati’s college interview went just fine! Thank you for your prayers. She did lose the phone connection but the college was very understanding and pressed through. We are now trusting that her acceptance will be forthcoming and in addition, we are praying for a room/board scholarship for Kati.

Need: As most of you know, when we moved over to Cambodia, we sold all we owned and invested that into the ministry. Kati is now returning to the States and she has need for transportation. We are seeking the donation of a vehicle for Kati’s use. If you would like to donate towards this need, please contact Rhonda by email or Judi at the church.

~~This last week, the children of Bykota House went on a field trip to the National Museum. These young Christians had their eyes opened even more to the reality of the idol worship that permeates Cambodian culture and is entwined through Cambodia’s entire history. Many of them have made comment on that fact and have expressed remorse and regret over this sin. This is a major Praise the Lord! This was not something taught by Mom or Dad…this was not preached by a Christian preacher…this was revelation from the Holy Spirit Himself. We rejoice with them as they begin to mature in Christ to become mighty warriors in His kingdom.

~~Dachshunds-we have sold six puppies and they have gone on to their new homes. One more is sold with a cash deposit given and he will be taken home around Valentine’s Day. We are still seeking homes for 2 female and 1 male short hair dachshund. Prayers appreciated!

February Birthdays

February 3rd-Chatreah, 17 years

February 15th-Peroom, 16 years

February 21st-Christopher Benz, 8 ye

Happy Valentine’s Day,

The Benz Family Serving in Cambodia

PS Another easy way to support Bykota House is by using Good Search and Good Shop. More than 900 of the top Internet retailers and travel sites including Amazon, eBay, Target, Apple, Expedia and more have joined forces with GoodShop.com to donate part of every purchase to Bykota House (more than 72,000 nonprofits are now on-board)!

It takes just a few seconds to go to http://www.goodshop.com/?charityid=897810 , select your charity, and then click through to your favorite store and shop as usual.

Also, Yahoo has teamed up with GoodShop’s sister site, GoodSearch.com, to donate a penny to your cause every time you search the web. This is totally free as the money comes from advertisers.

Searching with http://www.goodsearch.com/?charityid=897810 is so easy, and each web search benefits Bykota House! Getting started couldn’t be easier!

Just go to http://www.goodsearch.com/?charityid=897810 and be sure to enter Bykota House as the charity you want to support. And, be sure to spread the word!

To give you a sense of how the money can add up, the ASPCA has already earned more than $23,000!

GoodSearch: http://www.goodsearch.com/?charityid=897810

GoodShop: http://www.goodshop.com/?charityid=897810