Greetings to all!
How long it's been! We're so sorry that we haven't been very active in updating this blog in almost a year--even though we have sent out some updates which did not get published on this blog. Please forgive us for our inefficiency. I (Christina) tend to put more information and photos on Facebook (which can be found by entering our e-mail address), but will try to do better to also post here.
As you can see in the recent post of pictures, a lot has been happening here at Gateway since our move to the capitol in August 2012. We have somehow shrunk in number, now caring for 19 children. We have a part-time staff, Srey Mom who cooks for us 6 days a week. And recently added to our humble family is Jelbany, a wonderful lady from India who has been actively praying for Cambodia and specifically an opportunity to work with children in Cambodia over the past 10 years. We have been blessed by her willingness to live in humble standards here at Gateway and contribute much to the teaching and educating our children in English, God's Word as well as songs and games. Though we still don't know the future of this relationship, we continue working together in Christ. Please pray for all of us here--especially with regards to fixing a more concrete weekly schedule and being consistent in following through!
As you can see in the photos of the previous post, we have been blessed by our good friends to come and teach Korean to our children one morning and one afternoon each week. We have also been trying (and sometimes failing) to teach English to our children at least 4 days a week. Aside from studies, we also continue to teach Christ and His Word to our children. We hold 2 Bible Studies during the week, offer morning prayer and quiet Bible reading to those interested as well as Sunday Church which comprises a Sunday school lesson and craft followed by a more traditional Sunday service of worship and hearing of God's Word. We are hoping and working towards welcoming members of our community to join our times of worship, but thus far we continue on with our Gateway family. Though some of the children have invited their friends, none have accepted the offer due to various reasons (i.e. already attending another church, not interested, will only come if we offer some kind of "giveaway", etc). Please pray with us for our community and our ability to be Christ to them.
We are still eager to receive any and all volunteers. We have been blessed by short-term partners and by visiting teams and friends and family. Our place is still kind of "unconventional" in that it is not under any known "agency", but we are continuing in faith and God is continuing to bless and guide us. Our hope is to be an open door to the community to hear God's Word and to guide and welcome more into His Kingdom. We want all who come to Gateway who desire to work with us to utilize their God-given gifts. We want people to explore all that God has for them and to allow them to use and expand and to perfect the use of their gifts for His glory. Allow Gateway to help "kindle afresh the gift of God which is already in you (2 Tim 1:6)."
If anyone thinks that they may be interested in exploring an option of working alongside us, please feel free to contact us via e-mail or Facebook. We are open--after all, God opened the way for us when seemingly all other doors were closed. Who are we to stand in the way of someone who has been called to work. We are especially keen due to the fact that it was with such openness in 2000 that allowed Taka (then an unbeliever) to gain some experience working in Cambodia and through the love of Christ and others he witnessed in his colleagues, God softened his heart to receive Christ as his personal Savior. God is at work, even if we can't "see" the results. God is the builder of all (Heb 3:4) and He is the builder of Gateway. We seek to be lights in this place and covet your prayers to help our lights to shine in such a way that others may see and glorify God (Matt 5:16)!
Thank you all for your continued prayers! Please write to us so that we can partner TOGETHER for His glory! We want to pray for you also--let this be a 2-way relationship! We can bridge the gap together through the power of prayer!
Blessings on you all!
Christina Miyano
On behalf of the Miyano family and all of us here at Gateway