Cambodia Mission Trip
07.08.13
14.08.13
"When people describe their poverty they don't point to their circumstances, their health, or even their finances. They typically point to their sense of self worth.
For many, this sense of worthlessness just so happens to visibly manifest itself in their material poverty.
We feel a sense of pride because we feel like we're making a difference, unaware that at the same time, we might actually be making the other person feel less valuable." -Sam Roberts
The special thing about mission trip is you are on a spiritual warfare, you are ON A MISSION to impact and spread the good news.
Every single mission trip is a different experience, and it only gets better because we serve an Almighty God and we stand on His firm foundation.
During one of our Sunday devotion prior to the mission trip, one of the 'Talk It Over Discussion Questions' went something like this:
Brian Fikkert said, "It doesn't matter how well-intentioned we are - good intentions are not enough. It is possible to hurt people in the very process of trying to help them."
How does this statement make you feel?
We, a team of 31, then set out on the 7th of August, all packed with AAA batteries and a bag of love each that will eventually overflow to the Cambodians.
That evening we set foot on Cambodia grounds, we were squeezed into 2 vans and a taxi, on a 5 hour plus journey to Battambang. Eating hotdog on the go, entertaining ourselves all the way throughout.
The clock struck midnight and we FINALLY arrived at our hotel, and then,
the trip begun.
It was a 3 day camp LOHI School, partnered with Royal Rangers organised.
Sea of blue filled the hall, and it dawned upon us that this crowd of children are READY TO ROCK and their energy and excitement was wilder than our imagination!
We had 2 separate camps running concurrently: English camp and Vacation Bible School (VBS).
Myself, Janna, Hannah, Richard, June, Eric, Danielle, Jonah, Jordan were part of the VBS crew.
The 3 main stations: Story telling, Crafts and Games.
What warmed my heart was their eagerness to learn. Their eyes sparkle as new things were taught to them.
Only a child sees things with perfect clarity, because it hasn't developed all those filters which prevent us from seeing things that we don't expect to see.
Sunday, celebration day!
We split into smaller groups and vroom-ed off to separate villages on motorbikes.
An hour and a half journey, one way to enter into this village. The numb face from the harsh hit of wind automatically loosens into a big smile as the children started jumping up and down at the sight of us and the adults were beaming too.
Simple action songs were taught, crafts were done with the younger ones and I shared my personal testimony with the older ones, with Phallin (a local) as my translator, of course!
"For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them."
-Matthew 18:20
Because a Church is a congregation of people, not a beautiful building filled with nicely dressed Christians that does not portray love in their daily lifestyle.
Back to the question that disturbed me before the trip, and throughout the trip...
It is RESTORATION, not RELIEF.
"Restoration is a developmental approach that comes alongside people and walks with them. A restorative approach allows us to bring our gifts to the table, and the person being helped brings their gifts to the table.
The other person's situation is improved and both of us become more like what God wants us to be."
After so many mission trips, God's love still never fail to amaze me. His Grace and mercy is new each and every day.
The spiritual warfare is real. His presence is real.
My accident was one of the many testimony in this trip that proved that if our God is for us, who can ever be against us.
Read about my motorbike accident encounter here:
Another great thing about this trip is that I realized that a new generation has risen up to their calling.
It feels good to be at the back end of things sometimes as you pass on the baton for the younger ones to run the race as you cheer and guide them on.
And despite it all, God will still shower you with His abundant love and renew that servanthood spirit, allowing you to go further and further and further.
That's, the beauty of the Royal Rangers ministry.
This boy came up to me on our last day at Battambang and handed me a broken doll. So I took the doll from him, went on a hunt for the super glue and fixed the doll. Grinning inside cause I know he'll be elated. True enough, he gave the widest smile when I handed the doll. But he didn't take it from my hand. He said "teacher Renee, it's for you." And opened my other hand to give me a paper flower.
He then asked with the sweet innocent face, "See you tomorrow?" And I hugged him and cried. Saying a little prayer inside my heart that this boy will grow up and win souls, pursue his dream and change lives.
In the end, it's the relationships that matters. No amount of work done will account as much as the time spent with the people, the lives touched, the prayers and words spoken over their lives.
We all want to be a nation changer, the next Mother Theresa, the noble Bill Gates that donates it all to charity.
But the truth is, we're all blessed with different gifts, different capabilities, different talents. And if those are used properly, worth a whole lot more than you could possibly imagine.
#cambodiamissions13
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