MISSION TRIP TO SIEM REAP

(2–7 SEPTEMBER 2016)
Dn Charles Kan

 

Pastor Jeffrey Khoo shared at prayer meeting on 8th July of his recent trip to Siem Reap, Cambodia in early July 2016. He was burdened for the work there after visiting Pr Tann Heng and proposed a mission trip to conduct a Vacation Bible School (VBS) for children and medical missions for the people in the nearby villages. He will also conduct the Lord’s Supper for the brethren in the Word of Life Bible-Presbyterian Church. By God’s grace and leading, a team of ten was readily formed that very night. We thank God for providing affordable tickets ($258 with Malaysia Airlines and 30kg of luggage space).

Lessons from the life of Christ were taught to the children from the age of 12 and below, and for the teens they were given lessons from the book of Joshua and Judges. Medicines were generously provided by Dr Maurice Chew and Dr Sim Tiong Peng. Brand new children’s clothes donated by a company for needy children were also packed by Mrs Jemima Khoo to be distributed over there. Tray and cups for Holy Communion were also bought for the church.

The team comprised Pastor, Mrs Jemima Khoo, Bun Kouy (a Cambodian FEBC student, brother of Pr Tann Heng), Dr Chan Kay Heem, Mrs Tan Chew Ying, Jason Lim, Katherine Go, Clara Lim, Jenny Kan and me. We gathered at Changi International Airport, Terminal 2 at 7.50am on 2nd September where Pastor prayed and committed the team and the mission work to the Lord before we checked-in a total of 17 pieces of luggage. By 9.50am, we were in the plane waiting for take-off to Kuala Lumpur, transiting for an hour and a half for our flight to Siem Reap, which took us another two hours.

We were warmly greeted and received at the airport by Pr Tann Heng as well as Mr You Ann the Front Office Manager of Central Suite Residence. While all the luggage containing materials and medicine for the mission work were transported to the church, we were fetched to our hotel in an air-conditioned coach.

Without much delay after checking into the hotel, Pr Tann Heng with two tuk-tuks brought us to the church to view and prepare the place for our work. We gathered in the church and Pastor gave thanks to God for the safety in travel and requested Pr Tann Heng to share his testimony on how God has been good to him and the ministry under his care. He shared how he was prevented to preach and teach the Verbal Plenary Preservation (VPP) of God’s Word by the leaders of the church which had originally supported him. He understood and knew that VPP is a biblical doctrine which he must declare and teach. The good old Khmer Bible is based on the traditional Hebrew Masoretic Text and Greek Textus Receptus. For not wanting to sign a statement against VPP, the former church decided to remove him from ministry and withdraw financial support for him. By trusting in God and with some members of the same conviction, he started a new outreach nearby. He thanked God for the official approval he received recently for Word of Life Bible-Presbyterian Church to be established as a house church.

The new mission house has three levels. Worship hall, office and kitchen on the first level, his bedroom and a guest room on the second level and a sheltered hall on the third level. It was adequate for the mission work. For the VBS, we used the ground floor for the children’s class, and the sheltered hall at the top for the teens’ class. The air-conditioned office was used for medical consultation/treatment.

We planned to conduct the VBS from 9am to 4pm each day with singspiration, Bible lessons, art and craft, games, with lunch in between and clothes distribution at the end of the day. On Day One (Saturday), we arrived early at about 8.20am and found the children to be even earlier than we were, eager and ready to participate. Lessons commenced soon after Pastor prayed for the team and for the Lord’s blessing upon the children that through the lessons taught, they might believe and find salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ.

On Day Two (Lord’s Day), at 6.30am, a congregation of more than 30 people gathered for worship service. Pastor ministered God’s Word to encourage and edify the saints and the Lord’s Supper was served. His message was interpreted by Pr Tann Heng. We had local snacks for refreshment, and as soon as the children were ready, we commenced our VBS programme without delay. A special ice-cream treat was given to the children that day. It was such a delightful sight to see them enjoying themselves.

Day Three went as planned. Singspiration was conducted in Khmer language by Bun Kouy with Mrs Jemima Khoo on the keyboard. New songs and memory verses were taught and repeated over the three days and the children sang heartily and made good effort to recite memory verses.

We thank God for bringing the children and teens each day (children/teens 1st day: 49/27, 2nd day: 70/28, 3rd day: 75/27). Pastor reminded Pr Tann Heng to be careful to follow up on the children and teens through the Sunday school each week. Dr Chan Kay Heem saw a total of 36 patients and dispensed the necessary medicine and supplements. Pr William Goh who joined us on Sunday night brought in more iron tablets because we were running low on supply.

We were blessed with cheap accommodations in a new hotel at Sok San Road just 20 minutes away from the church. The hotel we stayed in was superb with breakfast provided, and conveniently located near the eateries. Dinners were inexpensive and we enjoyed sweet fellowship. On one of the nights out, some of us ate deep fried insects at the local night market. It was quite an experience. After the three-day VBS, we spent a day sightseeing at Angkor Wat and the floating village in Tonlesap.

Expenses for the trip (air-tickets, hotel, tuk-tuks, dinners, tour) were borne personally by each member of the team. The VBS itself was funded by certain designated offerings for overseas children’s ministry and a love gift from the Adults Fellowship.

Thank God for the privilege of service. Indeed it was a wonderful, pleasant and fulfilling trip because God has been good to us to grant us safety in travel and good health and strength to serve Him. All praise and glory be unto our faithful God to bless the work for His own glory.