Together There Is Hope

in Cambodia
Together WE Can Make A Difference

THEN I HEARD THE VOICE OF THE LORD, SAYING, W HOM SHALL

I SEND, AND WHO WILL GO FOR

US? THEN I SAID, HERE AM I.

SEND ME!

ISAIAH 6:8
FALL, 2013

The missionary team members we have assembled here in Cambodia are ready! We are about to embark on an ambitious project to bring hope, stability, and Jesus Christ to the poorest of the 5,394 people within the Baku Commune and Village of the Kondalsteng District, Kondal Province, Cambodia.
With your prayers and financial support we are planning to buy a piece of property which measures one hectare. (In the USA that would be the equivalent of 2 acres.) On that prop-erty we will place three buildings during our first year of operation followed by two additional buildings before our first three year budget cycle is concluded. Our budget goal for the three year period of 2013-2016 is $551,240.00.
Yes, that sounds like a lot of money, but I am convinced that the Lord will provide these funds somehow, especially with your help. We will begin our fund raising project by asking friends, family and acquaintances to consider giving us a jump start by donating $50.00 for our first year of operation which will start us out with $150,000.00. From there we are going to ask you to spread the word to people you might know who could provide us with the remaining $401,000.00. Talk to your friends on our behalf. The donation is USA tax deductible, and tell people we will name individual buildings, and even the compound after them if they want to buy one of our major building projects.

WHAT ABOUT THE AMERICAN POOR?

Friends and family back in the United States have asked me, Why are you working with the poor in Cambodia, when there are so many people of poverty in America? The answer is quite simple. In America, all human beings are in some way covered, with regard especially to food, by the government, churches, family, friends, and/or neighbors. In Cambodia there is no safety net available of any kind. If a family or a person does not have money, they cannot eat for that day. There is no government support, not even for the people starving to death. There are no food shelves; there are no churches or shelters available to provide food to the population.

Cambodia is a vast country of contrasts. There are many wealthy people living in man-sions comparable to American movie stars, but what we see most is the profound poverty of the majority. People in Cambodia die each day because of starvation. That does not happen in America.
Cambodia is what is referred to as a Third World country. Thats just a phrase that identi-fies this land as primitive, and for the most part, lacking industrialization. The only hope for succeeding generations is to insure that children are educated as a strategy to break out of this life threatening poverty. The irony in this land is that education is compulsory and free theoretically, but the reality is that most families of extreme poverty cannot afford the uniforms, the supplies, and the required teacher enhancement fees. School is four hours a day and six days a week, but we are told that school is often shortened so that teachers can go someplace else to earn a living wage themselves, which they cant do on their teachers salary.

ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS Our administrative costs are anticipated to run about 12% for the first year, and remem-ber that the Executive Director (me) of this project works without compensation. I have been in Cambodia for one year getting acquainted with the culture, and have received no funding for transportation or living expenses during that time. That status will continue for the rest of my life.

THE BAKU VILLAGE COMPOUND OF STS

We plan to build three buildings for this project in our first year, and this is what it looks like.

Purchase of 1 Hectare of land...$50,000.00

Build a Reception Center ................ $75,000.00 a. Dining Room and Kitchen for breakfast, lunch, and din-ner b. Recreation Facility (Basketball/Volleyball) c. Student Lounge for Homework d. Student Lounge for Television/Board Games e. English classrooms f. Computer Lab g. Bathroom stalls h. Shower facilities i. Individual storage for regular participants j. Medical/Nurses Station k. Dental Office l. Administration Office m. Chapel Transitional Housing Unit Girls ...$17,000.00 a. Temporary residential housing for ten girls. b. Apartment for House Mother c. Bathroom shower facility d. Small kitchen and refrigerator

Transitional Housing Unit Boys ... $17,000.00 a. Temporary residential housing for ten boys. b. Apartment for House Mother c. Bathroom shower facility d. Small kitchen and refrigerator FUTURE PLANS WITHIN THIS BUDGET PERIOD In the second half of year two and into year three of this budget period we will be adding two buildings directed to Vocational Training. Promised Land #1 .................................... $45,000.00 a. Vocational Training Classroom b. Library facility Promised Land #2 .................................... $46,000.00 a. Vocational - Hands on Experience b. Training Lab

This is an ambitious project, but we are convinced that with your prayers, your financial support, and referrals to philanthropist type people that we will see this project develop as planned. To make a donation, see the bottom of this page for giving options.

THANKS FOR CARING

Dick Erickson Sharing The Son

Sponsor A Child for $50.00 a Month
This is Song Khoy Ma, and we call him Daniel. He is six years old and was born on November 13, 2006. He is one of three siblings who live with us at the orphanage. If you would be interested in sponsoring him (or any of the others), we will send you quarterly reports on his activities as well as forward pictures so that you can see his growth.

TO GIVE Give by PayPal or credit card at: www.i-m-f.org ~ Missions ~ IMF Agency Missionaries ~ Richard Erickson dba: Sharing the Son
Call IMF Accounting at 952-346-2464 to set up ACH or credit card payment(s) Make the check out to IMF and mail tax-deductible financial support to: IMF, PO Box 100, Navarre, MN 55932-0100 (Do not write Richard Ericksons name on the check ~ write Acct #1087 on the Memo line.)

IMF is registered with the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, donations are tax-deductible. Contributions are requested with the understanding that IMF has complete discretion and control over the use of all donated funds. In order for supporters to receive a tax deduction, checks must be made payable to IMF and NOT contain the name of a specific mis-sionary. Checks made for individual missionaries are not tax-deductible. On a separate piece of paper note who the donation is for or send this bottom portion along with your donation.