Esther Gitobu.... Missionary Assigned to Cambodia
Esther Karimi Gitobu is a missionary with the General Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church assigned to Cambodia.
"I mostly will deal with writing grants and fundraising for projects," Esther explains. "My vision of Cambodia is to see hope in the midst of pain and despair...hope is when in the midst of uncertainty one keeps making the effort. I just want to be there as an agent of hope."
Previously, Esther and her husband, Nicholas Gitobu Kithinji, also a GBGM missionary, served in the Southern Congo Annual Conference in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Even though they are living and working in a different culture, Esther and Nicholas say "The uncertainties and anxieties associated with moving to another country have been laid to rest by our discovery that God is already where we are going."
In the DRC, Esther was involved with peace and reconciliation efforts, experience that will serve her well in Cambodia, a country still recovering from the brutal Khmer Rouge regime. "The longer I am involved in peacemaking work, the more I am aware of the Spirit’s presence and of the many ways that God is at work in and through people’s conflicts," Esther observes. "Even in times when sin and evil are clearly present, I find the Spirit breaking in amazing ways."
Esther says she has often experienced God moving through her ministry
A native of Meru, Kenya, Esther is a member of Chimwemwe United Methodist Church in Kitwe, Zambia. She holds a diploma in business administration from Kenya Polytechnic Institute, and was chief cashier at the Central Bank of Kenya in Nairobi before entering the mission field in 1999. 
Esther and Nicholas have three daughters: Jeannette, Nicole and Michelle.
Esther Karimi Gitobu is available for Covenant Relationship support in Louisiana Annual Conference , Oregon/Idaho Annual Conference , Texas Annual Conference , West Ohio Annual Conference , Western North Carolina Annual Conference .
I know you all are blessing the folks of Cambodia who are I'm sure returning those blessings to you as only the Lord's works can. Know that the Gathering of Men at 1st Baptist BR lifted you all in prayer earlier today. May you sense the Lord's presence every step during your journey.
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Where does all that trash come from? I just think that's terrible. I wish someone would come in there and clean it up. Who allows them to dump all that stuff in the town?
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Hi Patio Dining,
The picture is of the public landfill for the City of Phnom Penh, which in many ways is similar to landfills in the US. What is different in this desperately poor country is that families including children are permitted to enter the landfill and scavenge for recyclable items. You can contribute to help better the lives of these children by designating a gift to a United Methodist Church for Advance #000230 for the work of missionary Clara Biswas. -- Howard Parker
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