Bridges of Light
Tim and Grace Hatch met on the mission field (Peoples' Republic of China, 1991) and have devoted their lives to building bridges that will shine Christ's light at home and abroad.
The call to service in Cambodia (Spring 2006) was primarily to replace long-time CrossWorld staff Ken and Donna Rudy as Advanced English instructors at the Royal University of Law & Economics. That they did, revising the existing TOEFL curriculum to more adequately prepare students for computer-based testing, supplementing Dynamics of Leadership with 
John Maxwell's "21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership", and updating Business Communications, particularly as relating to job interviews. New exams were developed and the 12-week program was divided into four-week modules. Nearly 200 students enrolled in the program. During Fall 2007, Darryl Record joined the Advanced English staff, student handbooks were developed and promotional materials improved..
One means of transitioning into active ministry was getting to know the Christian community by hosting a Saturday night Bible study and prayer fellowship. The event, passed on to the Hatches by a Nigerian neighbor forced to leave Phnom Penh, grew to include 35-50 individuals, many Khmer. Friendships developed with several young teachers and invitations were given to visit the countryside.
During the first two years, Tim and Grace studied at the Khmer Language Center and hired personal tutors for home instruction. Significant progress was made in reading, writing, listening and speaking. Short trips were made to villages in Kumpung Cham and Banteay Meanchey Provinces and to Mekong River villages bordering Vietnam. Tim attended weddings and funerals, distri-buted medicines, reading glasses, food supplies and Bibles, provided spiritual support for Christian Khmer
teachers, and
taught a Sunday afternoon children's Bible club. In three visits to an unevangelized region, people responded to the Gospel and home Bible studies were begun by Khmer and Vietnamese speaking Christians.
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Grace taught English and Bible at HOPE Inter-national School where Christi, Daniel & Josiah enrolled full-time for the 2006-2007 academic year, before combining home schooling with limited attendance at HOPE School in 2007-2008. Along with home schooling, Grace taught Precepts to women from Cambodia, Madagascar and Singapore. Tim developed relationships with five young Khmer teachers --Vutha, James Sothea, Samneang, Vuthuoen and Sinath - investing considerabl time with each for future ministry. Working closely with these five and Luy Um, (in white t-shirt at left) much progress was realized, particularly in the area of discipleship. Measures were taken to support and resource a local hou se church, supplying Bibles and chairs, and mobilizing Christians for missionary service within and without their community. |
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In Phnom Penh, the Hatches attended International Baptist Church, assisting Pastor Wayne and Dee Snyder with the Christmas program, where Christi and Daniel played their violins. Christi also played her violin at two weddings.
Returning to the States and Canada in June 2008 to raise funds for continuing their work, Tim, Grace and the children attended mission conferences, visited family, and completed a year of schooling. When offered teaching positions at HOPE International School (Tim in 5th grade, Grace in English), they accepted believing that the investment of themselves in the lives of missionary kids would enable their parents better to fulfill God's calling, thus extending the light of God's Kingdom into places of darkness.
Times are tough, but God is good! The Hatches and all of Cambodia depend upon His complete and timely provision.
Thank you in advance for your assistance!
Tim, Grace, Christi, Daniel & Josiah Hatch, on mission with God to the people of Cambodia
"A light to the nations so that His salvation may reach to the ends of the earth"
Isaiah 49:6b
