OPPORTUNITY OF THE WEEK
November 5, 2001
CAMBODIA
Freeing the Indebted
In a local practice called pracam, Cambodian farmers who suffer food shortages or family medical disasters lease their land to wealthy farmers for indefinite periods of time. The indigent farmer receives an immediate but minimal one-time loan for every acre of land, which is usually spent on food or medical bills. The wealthy farmer is then allowed to farm that land indefinitely until the owner repays the loan.
Through this very inexpensive method of renting land, wealthy farmers are able to take advantage of those in unfortunate situations. Because the poor farmers cannot farm the land, their most important source of food and income is gone, their ability to repay the loan is slim and their poverty deepens. This often forces the indebted farmer to sell the land permanently.
Debbie and John Coats are working to establish a small fund to assist these indebted farmers. The fund will be reserved for families that demonstrate an ability to recover from their debt, and will allow the farmers to farm their land immediately. The land will then be held in trust until the farmer repays the loan.
By forming a credible and honest relationship with these farmers, Debbie and John will help them become self supportive again, while also modeling for them the love and support that Christ gives to us all. The Coats write, "We want to restore the land and living to families with very few other options. Pray that these families will find hope and strength for the future through Jesus Christ.
A total of $1000 is needed for us at ABC to fully meet our commitment to support this project.
Monetary resources are in demand around the world, but only energy and effort are required from the Christians of Juneau County to make God’s difference in meeting needs in our area. At First Baptist we’d love to join with you to get this done.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
201 Oak St.
Mauston, WI 53948-1333 608-8474555
Past Weeks Thoughts: