"Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth." –Genesis 9:16
This was my second trip to Cambodia. I had wanted to go back there after my trip last June, remembering that there was work to be continued, people to reach out to, teachers to encourage. However, when the advertisements for this year’s June trip came round, I just could not bring myself to do anything about it. I started to question God about whether I was really to go. I went through a phase of questioning my motives for going to Cambodia- was it just to meet the two Primary 6 students Srey Liak and Srey Noch, whom I met last year? Was it just because I told myself I wanted to go and it was another item on my agenda? Was it simply because my leave was approved? I just could not hear the calling.
Strangely, I was later assigned to be the prayer co-ordinater for the Puppetry team going up to Cambodia in April. It was through the relaying of messages that memories of last year’s trip flooded my mind again. This and some other confirmatory signs from God made me commit to going to Cambodia a second time.
The preparation part for the Mission trip still did not put me very much at home with my team. When I first saw my team-mates, they seemed like they came from all walks of life! I was not sure how I could gel with them- some of them seemed like worlds apart from me. It wasn’t until the week before we left for Cambodia that there were signs of team-work and support surfacing through preparation of craftwork and praying for one another. And pray we did! I have never encountered another team that was attacked and battered so badly. Almost everyone was down with some form of physical ailment or illness. I had rash, then gastric flu which lasted to the night before I flew off. I was on tenterhooks as to whether I could even make it for this trip.
Our main spiritual lesson was really about putting on the armour of God. Our team-leader, Hwee Chin had noticed the signs and symptoms of spiritual attack early and prepared for us prayer booklets to bring to Cambodia, as the Evil One was going all out to stop us on our tracks. Team-members were dropping like flies, succumbing to various forms of illness ranging from bursitis to hives, our Primary school programme was scraped as the Ministry of Education in Cambodia suddenly declared the week that we were going for the trip the first week of Primary School exams!
Even through all these, we know that God had His good intentions for doing all these. He did not lead us to where He did not provide for us; or stretch us beyond what we can bear. During the trip, many of the team-members were affected by the heat, came down with flu and felt tired easily. We could only look back and marvel at God’s Providence at that point of time! How could we have coped with Pri school programme as well?!?!
When we touched down at Cambodia, it felt like home-coming. There was just a strange familiar feeling that came over me. At that moment, I could not be more glad to return. We had an enriching time at Pastor Hongly’s church in the city on Sunday. The church was pretty established with a proper band and facilities. It was encouraging to hear the testimonies of the congregation. They shared about their struggles with persecution in their daily lives and encouraged others to press on in the faith.
On the first day of school at MMS, Srey Noch met me at the breakfast table with a huge hug. That was such a reward to me! I realized that my role during this trip was to give prayer support to the 2 girls whom I have returned to visit. I soon realized that I could also extend this support to the rest of the Primary 6 class. They were sitting for one of the most important examinations of their school life- the primary school leaving examinations. Also, I was not sure if I would meet them again next year, as they will be leaving MMS to attend public secondary schools.
My involvement with the Kinders Vacation Bible School was minimal as I was mainly playing the keyboard for worship and occasionally doing role-playing or facilitating games. Kudos goes to the Puppet team who put up a riveting performance of Joseph’s story in a Khmer-dubbed script!
Besides this, I also found the experience of going to the Bible College with Hwee Chin and John an enriching one. It was thrilling to participate in the demo puppet performance, being such a novice in puppetry. The eager faces and enthusiasm of the Bible College students simply spurred us to teach with passion as well.
It was also good to see the teachers again. I was pleasantly surprised that some of them remembered me and also kept the photographs which I sent to them. This was another important task which God called me to do there- to encourage. Some of the teachers had improved in their English, and stepped forward to serve more confidently.
All in all, it was a blessed trip. As marked by the rainbow which God revealed to us at the beginning of the trip, His blessings were with us all the way. His Grace is sufficient for us.
