Merry Christmas everyone! 

2011 has been a great year.  A very busy one but an amazing one in all what God has done.

In 2011 here at Words of Life/ Antioch Institute we trained more than 3,000 leaders in Cambodia, and nearly 3000 in the Philippines, with hundreds of new churches started by these leaders.

In 2011 we also had the opportunity to help leaders from other nations, including leaders from Nepal, Indonesia, and Vietnam, who learned how to expand their ministries with strategic training.  Training took us to many countries in the world including: Ethiopia, Turkey, Uganda, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines numerous times.  I also had other trips to the USA, Japan, and Australia. Basically, I (Steve) lived out of a suitcase for an entire year.

Equally busy back home in Cambodia we had about ten visiting teams doing everything from training police, to children’s VBS programs, to pastor’s seminars, and construction teams.  We just finished off by building a wind turbine in Kracheh at our Imparting Smiles children’s center which now gives them electricity for the first time in a decade!  The impact of these teams on the community was great with thousands of children coming to Christ and growing in their character.

2011 also had us re-building from last year’s flooding and coping with this year’s even worse flooding.  In 2011 we were able to help rehabilitate 3 local schools with more than 2,500 children attending.  We built paved sidewalks, painted buildings, installed permanent drainage and planted trees.  In all more than $60,000 was spent directly in helping the community.  The result of that is not only did we have the opportunity to share Christ with 2,500 children multiple times, but we also received even more favor with the government.  We hope to help rehabilitate 2-3 schools in 2012 as well.

In farming, thanks to the addition of a tractor, we were able to plant 22 hectares of rice and had a bumper crop of 48,000 kilos of rice (105,000 lbs).  That will feed all our 150 children for a good part of the year!   Also in partnership with good Australian friends are starting a plantation in northern Cambodia of nearly 5000 acres.  We will grow Mahogany trees and various vegetables and short-term crops.  This will significantly impact the community, create many jobs, and provide long-term sustainability of our work here.

The greatest addition in 2011 was our son Odom.  His story touched many people’s hearts, but especially Noit and I.  We count it a great joy to love him as our son.   Each night when we kiss him goodnight our hearts are full of love.

In 2011 we also started home schooling our kids.  It has been a great blessing and we are so happy with the level of education and time we get with our kids.  At times, they wish for more time with their friends, but we are certainly happy to have them on the road with us in ministry as much as possible. We are so grateful for Alyssa Walker who came out from Arizona to help teach the kids.

May you all have a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!  May your 2012 be full of the God’s favor and amazing blessings.