I grew up knowing about insulators. My parents were amateur collectors. I remember one vacation where my dad rigged up a makeshift pulley and hoisted me up a telephone pole to snag a few unconnected pieces of colored glass.

Many years later, after becoming a missionary and moving to Cambodia, I met Howard Banks. His insulator collection fascinated me. It was after that that I started noticing the insulators sitting atop pole after pole along the highway, many of them with no power lines attached. I sent Howard a few pictures and the rest is history. He put an article in his magazine and people started emailing and writing with requests for different pieces. Many have since bought insulators from me through Howard specifically because we are doing it for a cause, and not for our own benefit.

Left to right Kris, Luke, and Marianne Young

From the beginning I committed any money that came in from the sale of insulators to Cambodian Christian workers and related ministry.

Last year over $4,000 came into the project as "profit" and $2500 of that was given to 6 Cambodian and one Indonesian Christian pastors and leaders to help support them in their work. In this short time we've seen their living conditions improve (having enough to eat and 4 major home improvements). Some of this money has also been used to further their training through a program called TEE (Theological Education by Extension). The fund has helped to pay for materials, travel expenses, and financial support for these workers. There were also 14 Bibles purchased.

We've also used the money to purchase over 50 study books and five teachers' guides for the TEE introductory course called "Abundant Life". 5 of my TEE students are now teaching, or soon will be teaching, "Abundant Life" to approximately 50 students. These students will be learning some of the most foundational teachings of our faith once a week for about 12 weeks.

We'd like to thank those of you who have purchased insulators from Cambodia. We have a remaining balance of $1500 dollars that will go to future projects. The funds raised are a true blessing for the lives of the 6 Cambodian leaders and their families and for the many others who will be studying under them. We thank you on their behalf.

His for Cambodia,

Kris and Mary Ann Young 
Our (not yet updated) web site address is: www.ministryincambodia.com