After seven silent years, I've decided to reopen this blog to archive my reflections on the field. This missions team consisted of three in the 70s and three in the 50s. There is a local Khmer pastor who joined us because the team leader was his mentor.
Thank God for the balanced mix of veteran missions trippers and brand new trippers! The veterans were so inspiring in demonstrating the ways of evangelism and God's love to the locals tangibly and sharing their wisdom. The newbies were ever so willing to learn and absorb as well. There were good team dynamics and unity within the team.
At first, we were shocked by the extreme heat of 39 degrees when we landed at the airport. We thought that 34 degrees in SG was hot enough. The heat exhausted the team. We made sure everyone was well-hydrated and well-rested. I also boiled chrysanthemum tea for the team to cool down the heat. As days passed, we took it in its stride and focused on our tasks at hand -- to be a blessing to the new house church and the community!
The team fell in love with the children and the villagers. Sis L's genuine love and welcoming smiles inspired the rest of the team to approach and invite the villagers to our cooking outreach event the following day. They felt our sincerity and love for them. There were moments when her legs were strained and she needed to sit down. Hence the rest of the team took over so that she could rest. After every salvation prayer, she taught the team to end it with a happy praise song to celebrate God's work with the villagers. Her courageous and positive attitude towards every local was contagious. Very soon, every team member hesitated no longer to approach new faces and welcome them to church. She was a very effective teacher.
Bro W can be long-winded and preachy, however, his patience to share God's love one-to-one was amazing. He would zero in on one man and witness to him with the help of our Khmer volunteer. Whoever he conversed with would be touched by his sincerity. The team appreciates his words of wisdom and sense of humor. Our journeys in the van were always peppered with laughter due to his quirky remarks. His love for the Khmers started about a decade ago and it's contagious too.
This was Sis M's first missions trip. Her one and only testimony of God's healing power in her life gave her the confidence to share it in season and out of season. Whenever we sensed there was a need to testify on the reality of God, we would tap her shoulder to prepare her in advance. The most memorable moment was the home visit of the 60 year old nun. She told us she won't be able to take the plane to visit us in SG because of her giddiness and body illness. We grabbed Sis M to share her testimony. When the nun knew that M was in her 70s and healthy to "fly all the way from SG to SR to share God's love" with her, she was very surprised! This trip has opened the eyes of Sis M to realize that God can use her to be a blessing in the nations.
Our team leader was Sis E. Her heart to mentor new leaders and sharing God's love to the Khmers was evident throughout the trip. She requested to invite her disciple, Ps D from PP to join the team so that he could learn how to lead future teams and also to allow him to serve as the interpreter and musician. I granted her request and I was glad I did. He was truly a great help to the team. Her courageous spirit to share the gospel and do the landing was also inspiring. I appreciated her ability to adapt and adjust to the situation without challenging it as she's a seasoned missions tripper who understands the fluidity of the missions field. Not every missions team leader could do this without complaints.
We have a married couple D & A who are both first-timers. They are such a blessing to the team. They gave physical support and help to the silver folks and contributed much joy to the team. One has a heart for children while the other took the photography role to heart. We were touched by D's salvation testimony every time he shared it to the locals. Other than his family, we were privileged to be the first ones who heard it in this trip. The Holy Spirit has touched his heart and he also experienced God answering his prayer during times of difficulty. That was why he joined this team to share what he has experienced to the locals. A was an eager learner who absorbs as much as she could and applies them immediately. I was encouraged by her positive attitude in every situation as well.
This team is a Laughing Dynamite who laughs heartily and explodes periodically around SR daily. Once infected by their presence, the victims would encounter God's love, peace and joy simultaneously. They would leave their tangible traces behind in the form of friendship bands, chicken curry, pre-loved clothes, sponge cakes, handmade cross key chains and freshly developed photographs. Their intangible traces were undeniably the love, joy and peace of God because they prayed for every household they visited and every villager they spoke to.
And I will miss you because I'm one of those victims who had the privilege of spending five days with you. May you pass on the spark of missions to the next person after you've landed and allow this spark to grow into a burning flame within you, Laughing Dynamite!
"And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns." Philippians 1:6
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