Volume. XVIII, No. 38
Sunday, 21 March 2004
The Lord has changed me in ways that I never knew possible. I thank our God for his strength, unfailing love and protection over the short week that I helped out in Cambodia. I do not see myself as an expert in the matters of Cambodia or her people simply because I have had 1 week of experience, but in just this short week it has changed my life. I hope to share this blessing with others.
I am constantly reminded through family and friends and through the conviction of the Holy Spirit that at any and every opportunity that we have to serve we should eagerly and whole-heartedly grasp it no matter how small or big the task at hand is. Isn’t our purpose in life to ‘love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might’? Isn’t it also to make disciples of all nations?
I am reminded in Joshua 24:14-15 when Joshua addressed Israel one last time on his deathbed. Basically reminding his children not to take God’s blessings for granted and therefore forgetting the Lord our God who blesses us.
Joshua’s words continued on to one of conclusion, a demand for action, and of choice and commitment. Serve God and worship Him, or serve the foreign gods!
God asks for action not just prayers. Although prayer is important and paramount in all that we do, we should seek out every opportunity to serve God and each other.
When the Disciples were wondering who was the greatest, Jesus showed them through example by washing their feet. It is a humbling and eye-opening passage that reminds us that God constantly works in paradox. To be the greatest in God’s Kingdom we should be like little children. To be the greatest in God’s Kingdom we must be the least and the servant.
Summarised accounts of Cambodia trip 2004
The Lord blessed us greatly on this short trip.
Cambodia's an amazing country. The mountainsides are beautifully peaceful, tranquil and serene, it is hard to imagine what had happened here 30 years ago. In the early mornings you can see the mist rising over the trees, and it just reminds you of how perfect God’s creations are. The people are so bright and resourceful despite the adversities of the 1970s genocide and the aftermath of poverty, sickness and disease.
Although I didn't get to go to the touristy area (didn't even get to see Ang Kor wat) I thank God that I was able to live with the bible college students and understand their lives a little better in the short stay that I had.
We were based at Kampong Som Bible School/church.
Our days were spent:
· Giving daily devotional messages to the Bible College Students
· Teaching local children English at this church
· Teaching comprehension to the bible college students.
· Sunday preaching and Sunday School
· Visiting villages where;
· For the children we conveyed stories from the Bible through various means including singing and puppet shows.
· For the adults, brief gospel messages were given along with an altar call, and prayers for the sick.
· We gave out food and lollies to the kids (medicine was given to the church to distribute)
· We visited various churches (that our church currently support through missions fund) and give testimonies/messages to the congregation when we were asked to.
· Pastor Ki taught doctrines to the Bible College Students.
·
We shared meals and fellowshipped with the Bible College Students (…and the congregation on Sunday).
Detailed Account - Passage into Phnom Phen
After 14 days in Kuala Lumpur and Penang staying in 4 star hotels with all the luxuries including spa, gym, room service and continental breakfast, my previous eagerness and expectancy of the Cambodia trip dwindled somewhat to a feeling of slight anxiety. Moving from such extreme living standards to another and the general lack of amenities in Cambodia made me wonder what it would do to my already luxury-accustomed system. I even thought of cutting my stay in KL/Penang short to accustom myself away from hotels but it was not to be. That’s another story.
I kept a daily journal of the Cambodia trip. The following is a summary of that journal which I have spared the reader the less relevant details.
Well, having lugged the 18kg of stationery and children panadol all around KL/Penang, I was glad to finally deposit these in Cambodia. I had only brought 2kg of personal belongings this trip. I found out much later after I returned to Adelaide that we could have some kind of Missionary concession on luggage. Live and learn.
Immigration at Phnom Penh was surprisingly efficient in its own way. There were periods when I was deprived of my passport completely and made to stand in a different line but there seemed to be a system no matter how confusing it was, and I eventually received my passport back after a few minutes.
Pastor Chai and his wife and daughter Irene met us at the airport in their van. The driver was a previous bible school student. We were transported to our hotel where we dropped our luggage and shortly after regrouped for dinner out in town with Pastor Chai and his family. We ate more than we should and then even went for dessert.
The next few days gave us a reality check reminding us that we were here to do God’s work and not to enjoy and gorge on the local food. I believe strongly that Pastor Ki and I were both convicted by the Holy Spirit as we both felt the same thing. Two days later when we were at Kampong Som, Pastor Ki made an announcement to the team that we will be eating less for the rest of the trip, I recall the word “sensibly” somewhere in his short speech.
Continued in next weeks article
More Lively Hope
