By Buzz Ball
Benz Family
For the first time in more than three years, the Mark Benz family has returned to Carthage from its High Tower Ministries work in Cambodia.
But they have returned with a lot more than what they had when they left in 2004.
• Established is the Cambodian Orphan Aid;
• The Bykota House, a Christian Children’s Home, is in full operation with 16 kids;
• Shepherd’s Crook is an “at Risk” ministry vehicle through which a large variety of needs have been met for individuals and families who otherwise would be at great risk;
• The School of the Nation is a private Christian school to the reach of High Tower Ministry to specifically meet the educational needs of the children of Bykota House and dependants of High Tower Ministries staff.
• And most significantly, the Benz family has grown from seven when they left – two are married and still living in the states – to 10.
“We have five homemade kids and five adopted,” said Rhonda Benz. “We adopted two (Cambodian children) while we were still in the states, and we adopted three more since we have been there.”
Still residing and married in the States are Rebekah, 24, and Steven, 22. They both live in Carthage.
Benz children living in Cambodia are Kathleen, 19, Danielle, 18, and Isaac, 17. Adopted children who also went with Mark and Rhonda are Seth, 9 and Chantal, 7. The three children whom the Benzes adopted while in Cambodia are Christopher, 7, Mary, 6, and Madeline, almost two.
For Kathleen, Danielle and Isaac, moving to Cambodia to live for three years produced some mixed feelings.
“I really didn’t want to go,” confessed Isaac. “But now, I really enjoy it. I feel much differently now.”
Danielle had the same feelings, but really not about the present but about the future.
“I was really upset, wondering where my future was going to go,” she said. “I thought that We would be living in a jungle and in tree houses. But once moving there and I found out differently, I adopted to it.”
But Kathleen was looking forward to the challenge.
“I was looking forward to moving there,” she said. “I have always had a heart for missions and I felt really at home there. Sure it was hard to move away from home, but I really love it in Cambodia.”
The Benz children are not just a part of the family, but they are part of the missionary team.
Kathleen works in the office, teaches and helps train the cooks.
Danielle is more fluent in Khmer (the Cambodian language) than the other members of the family.
‘Before we started the school, I taught English for a year or a year and a half,” said Danielle. “After that, I would help around and would translate. I’m also the worship leader at church on Tuesdays and you have to be fluent in the language to do that.”
Isaac teaches art, guitar and drums.
“He brings a lot of life into the party,” said Rhonda. “But he also is our handy man. He is more skilled than a native adult plumber is. He has been a tremendous asset.”
Often times, a different environment and culture tests a family so much that it tends to grow apart. The opposite is the case for the Benz family.
“I think we have grown closer as a family, but it has been a struggle,” said Mark. “This different lifestyle has brought out different things in our personalities that we have had to deal with. We have had to rely upon each other to basically survive. We’ve had challenges, but those challenges have taught us that we need to rely upon each other, but more importantly, the Lord.”
Rhonda said she wondered if “we had made a big mistake right after we moved there. Learning the language was a big adjustment and living on the Equator was different and being in the minority. But we are Christians in a Buddhist country. That is very difficult. But we have survived.”
Being back for the first time in more than three years brings joy to Rhonda.
“We are very happy to be back in Carthage,” said Rhonda. “It is nice for our kids to see clean streets. They are all signed up for the Summer Reading Program at the library and we’ve already been to George Washington Carver and will go several other places while we are here.”
High Tower Ministries is based upon three foundational beliefs:
• We are Christ-Centered;
• We care for those most vulnerable;
• We seek to make disciples.
High Tower Ministry is sported by friends and family.
“We have a home team and that team faithfully sends us support each month,” said Rhonda. “Our home church is the Bykota Church, but we are not support by any actual church.”
The Benzes hope to take back some laptop computers for use in the school.
“We are not asking for new computers but just some used laptops,” said Mark. “We can’t take the towers because of the weight restrictions on the airplane.”
Those who want to be a part of the “home team” may contact High Tower Ministries, P.O. Box 535, Carthage, Mo., 64836, or visit www.hightowerministries.net.
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