Siem Reap Adventure

The trip to Siem Reap was short, leaving Phnom Penh by bus at 1:00 pm on Tuesday and arriving back at 6:40 pm on Wednesday (also by bus). The first bus ride was about 5.5 hours, the second was longer due to a flat tire, though we did get on another bus after waiting an hour.

The time in Siem Reap was truly God ordained. I spent time with friends I had made 3 years ago, encouraging them and learning about what God was doing in their lives. I also learned about what God is doing in the churches in Siem Reap and around Cambodia and how field workers are partnering with churches to help them in multiplying and planting more churches.  The field worker I was able to spend time with shared how he and the church leaders get together and evaluate church plants that are thriving and those that have not been successful to determine what things are working. He is also involved in discipleship and leader development.  It is exciting to see how some of the students from English camp in 2007 are now involved in leadership positions in the church as well as planting churches in provinces around Siem Reap.

One of the friends I spent time with has a job driving a moto and is a leader in his church.  He enjoys studying the scripture and learning what he can to be a better leader.  Another friend also has a job but travels many times during the month to church plants in different provinces many hours away.  It challenged me to see the sacrifice these men make and how they are being used by God.  They have jobs and family just like I do and want to see their country come to know Christ. That encourages me to think about how much I want to see my neighbors come to know Christ.

The three short-termers that had participated in the English camp in Phnom Penh volunteered to attempt leading an English camp in Siem Reap along with three Cambodians who speak English well. So part of my time in Siem Reap was helping them brainstorm how they would pull this off. Though I left before it started, the first evening of English camp went extremely well with students playing volleyball during registration followed by worship and playing games.  I am confident that God will do good things during this English camp as he did in Phnom Penh.  Please pray for the three short-termers, they are tired and susceptible to illness. Pray for strength, health and the energy necessary to engage the students in English camp.  It takes a lot of energy and there are only three foreigners.  Pray that God would encourage them and sustain them!