I have been backspacing and deleting on this newsletter so long that I am in danger of busting those keys right off my laptop.  Nothing that I have typed pleases me or sounds "right." However, the heartbeat of this update needs to be transparency and honesty so here goes...

The children of Bykota House are thriving and the ministry is going well. The Lord has blessed us with four new children since the beginning of the year. We are humbled to be trusted with these sweet children.  I want to thank you for being a part of this harvest.  The Kingdom of God is advancing because of your investment.   I walk in the understanding each day that I am carried on the shoulders of friends and family that may never see the country or hug the children that I speak of.  I am overwhelmed with thankfulness to the Father.

However, in the area of finances we have a constant balancing act of taking care of "this" and letting "that" wait until funds have arrived. This Tetris game with the budget has become more and more intense with each passing month. 

This is a difficult situation to address because yes, our needs are being met with some creative juggling. Still the fact is our budget is so small that we must be honest enough to share that we are having a great deal of difficulty. 

We have enough troubles working in Cambodia. The day to day joy of raising and educating 22 BH children and our own is enough.  Living in a country full of corruption and danger is enough. Dealing with the discomforts and limits of a Third World country is enough.  We are fervently seeking relief from the Father so that at least paying the necessary monthly bills is not one more trouble.

So the plea from this Mother's Heart is to ask for prayer for this burden to be lifted.  I understand that most of you reading this letter are already giving...many are giving each month sacrificially. I am convinced that prayer is our greatest need. Please remember to pray!  If you are receiving this update and the Lord has been leading you to begin giving financially...now certainly is the day!  Now is the time to step into "pure and undefiled religion" and to "care for orphans...in their time of need."  James 1:27

In addition to the monthly budget shortfalls that are continually arising, I would like to share some very specific areas of need:

1. Immunizations:  Those of you who have been with us for some time have seen and read about the project of bringing the BH children up to recommended international levels of protection.  However, since completing that task, we have added more children over the last three years. In fact, because of financial strain, we have several children that have not had the initial blood work that we typically do for new arrivals.

The cost for blood work and immunizations per child...approximately $352

We have need for ten children.

Total cost of the task:  Approx. $3,520

2. Dental care:  Ironically, one of the first major projects that we did almost 6 years ago was providing dental care for an orphanage we were working with. At present, we find our own Bykota House has serious dental needs as none of the children have been to the dentist for more than two years.  Because of multiple reasons, the children have very poor dental health.

The cost for a general assessment and cleaning per child...$25

We have need for 26 children...Benz children included.

Total cost of the task:  $650 + additional for follow-up visits.

3. Clothing:  Due to a large influx of actual gifts of clothing and then the blessing of a $500 clothing fund that was raised by a VBS in Akron, Ohio, we have not had to budget anything for clothing for some time.  The last of that clothing fund was exhausted in December. 

Like all children, our bunch is growing like a patch of weeds.  Nineteen of the Bykota Kids and also the five youngest Benz children have needs in this area.

Estimated $50 per child to replace, refresh and repair for the rest of this year.

Desire for the clothing fund: $1,200

4. Furlough:  We came back to Cambodia after our first/last/only family furlough in 2008 with the thought that each month we would set a small amount aside out of our family support funds for our next furlough.  Due to monthly shortfalls, that has not come to pass.

I would like to ask you to pray for the need of our family's next furlough, God willing, in 2011.

Furlough requires basically four major components:

There may be other needs that arise but at this time, these are the four main pieces of the "furlough puzzle."

Perhaps one of the needs listed here is something that your church, VBS, business, or corporation might be interested in tackling.  Please email me at rhonda@hightowerministries.net if you have any questions.

As always, we so desire to stay in touch and we are so blessed to be living in this age of technology.  Please add me and add Bykota House as friends on Facebook or subscribe to my blog at www.hightowerministries.wordpress.com to hear more about our daily life in SE Asia.  We would love to hear from you.

I hope that you have received this message from my heart...a mother's heart for her children.  I know they cannot all be my children legally and fully...but I am the one that God has in place at this time for them.  I want to do my very best in their care.

I trust that this email has found you well and prospering in every way. 

"Preah Bo Team Bo" Literally translated:

"May God carry you on His hip,"

Rhonda in Cambodia