Cambodia Mission Trip | Tuesday, December 27, 2005
CAMBODIA MISSION TRIP
It has been quite some time since I last updated my blog. I just came back from a mission trip from Cambodia and I have very strong feelings over that place. When I went to the Resettlement area, where the people lived in huts where the huts could easily be collasped whenever there is a strong thunderstorm, my team mates and I went back to our accomodations, pretty depressed because even though we expected Cambodia to be pretty backward, never in our imagination and expectations that they could be so poor. We have nothing to offer them except Jesus and in my mind at that time, i felt depressed over their state of lives that they would probably continue to live in that way for the next two or three generations and that there was really nothing that we could do to better their lives. We could pray for them, bring a little joy to their lives and try to share Christ to them but really, what could we do really?
We did the best that we could do and give. If there was anything that we could rally the group to conduct a last minute puppet show or song item, the group did it without complaining and the results has been marvellous. People came to us, encouraging us that it has been a marvellous item and that they enjoyed themselves very much, and we thanked them politely even though we all knew it was a last minute thing but the effort we put in was definitely not last minute. We put in every effort and we prayed and we were tired and in the end, God blessed our efforts, though little it has been, to bless others. That is what touched my heart the most. It's not what we could do, not our intellect or talents but it is what God could use our efforts to magnify His Name and to glorify it. The children and adults liked it very much and the local pastor, pastor Sinai would like us to do the puppet show and song item for his church. I believe that we have performed the show to about 300-400 children in total and almost 80% of them have received Christ in their hearts and I believe fervently that it would make a great difference in their lives.
On our last day, we asked Ps Sinai about his needs and I thought that he would request financial needs for after all, he only received 20 USD every month where you need 150USD to survive in Cambodia and he has a family to take care of. He has opened 6 orphanages and 40 churches and so, his monthly expenditures could be USD 3500 every month and yet he didn't ask a single money from us. I was very impressed by this giant of faith and i wa very impacted by his requests. He simply asked us to pray for the people in Cambodia, the children and for the orphanages and that's all. He made an observation, saying that our team has made an impact on the lives of the people in Cambodia as we went through some of the provinces and villages, and that he would like us to come again and go to different provinces and villages to bring the love of Christ there. He prayed that his church would not be a church that received blessings but would also be a church that blessed others also. I think that there is something which all of us could learn. I was so encouraged by this man of faith and even now, i still could see him praying for the people and laboring for them and I believe fervently that God could use him mightily. The local workers, who have drove us unceasingly also enjoyed our fellowship and that they have asked us to come to their villages to share Christ to their fellow villagers. Such simple men of faith and that they yearned for Christ to be known in every way, that they were willing to pay any price really captivates my heart and we built strong friendships with them. They also told us that they enjoyed our time together and hope that we would be able to come back to Cambodia.
Lastly, from our very own missionaries, Alex and Kym whom I thank God for them, because they really love the people in Cambodia and that while we were there, they really took very good care of us. They were concerned when several of us fell sick and that they would do their utmost to make us feel comfortable. They brought us to the nice places to have dinner and ensure that we have clean hygiene food and water to drink, our basic needs to take care of which i myself have sometimes taken for granted. Their sharing have encouraged us a lot and that they felt good in the eyes of the local people through us and they thanked us for it even though we have only been there for 10 days. I felt this is what missions should be, to bring the love of Christ to the local people, pray for them, play with them, ministered to them, not afraid of hard work and most of all, share the love of Christ to them and have a strong friendship with them. By the end of the day, even if they may have forgotten us, but I believe that Christ has opened a door in their hearts and that is what matters most.
Created at 9:01 PM
|
|
Profile
Name: Joseph Chia
Age: 28
Friends
jerming
qiuyan
karin
Express
Jukebox
|
|