David and Ruth Craig are not your ordinary couple. Since retirement they have given large amounts of their time as volunteer teachers of English through the LCA Board for Mission’s volunteer program. Read what they said about their latest experience. We were privileged to go as volunteers to Phnom Penh, Cambodia, for two months in […]

David and Ruth Craig are not your ordinary couple. Since retirement they have given large amounts of their time as volunteer teachers of English through the LCA Board for Mission’s volunteer program. Read what they said about their latest experience.

We were privileged to go as volunteers to Phnom Penh, Cambodia, for two months in 2012 to teach English to eager university students living in the three student hostels of Lutheran World Mission (LWM). Our focus was to teach basic conversational English.

Living in a small unit in one of the hostels gave us many opportunities to chat informally. We—Lok ta (grandpa) and Lok yey (grandma)—shared a bathroom and washing facilities with twelve young men!
The students impressed us with their dedication to study, willingness to share their knowledge with each other, cooperation with domestic duties, and their initiation of development projects in the Cambodian provinces.

They attended Bible studies on two evenings under the guidance of Pastor Vibol, planned worship and practised songs in preparation for Sunday.

It was sad to say goodbye. But we knew we had so much to share with our home congregation (Dernancourt, SA), who have enthusiastically supported the program in Cambodia.
These Cambodian Christians are moved and encouraged by the prayers, financial support, love and care shown to them by people they don’t even know—encouraged by you through the gospel partnership of the LCA.

God’s spirit is moving in that place!

This story was also published in the April 2013 edition of Border Crossings, the magazine of LCA International Mission.

If you would like to consider the opportunity to serve as a volunteer in mission, serving in practical ways, teaching English, teaching in the seminaries and institutions of our partner churches, or in local churches, you are invited to phone Nevin on (08) 8267 7300 or email nevin.nitschke@lca.org.au. For more information, go to https://www.lcamission.org.au/join-gods-mission/volunteer/

Read more stories about volunteering at https://www.lcamission.org.au/category/join-gods-mission/volunteers/