Dear LCA sisters and brothers, Thanks to you for supporting me for the past six years in my mission work for the Lutheran Church in Cambodia (LCC). Next year, it will be my final year journey with them. It has been very difficult for the past two years due to the pandemic. Presently, my role […]

Dear LCA sisters and brothers,

Thanks to you for supporting me for the past six years in my mission work for the Lutheran Church in Cambodia (LCC). Next year, it will be my final year journey with them.

It has been very difficult for the past two years due to the pandemic. Presently, my role is mainly youth training for four congregations of the LCC. Youth leaders attend the small group leader training (1 day) which prepares them to facilitate small groups through active listening and providing effective feedback during discussions. They then do the Youth Alpha course with the pastors/leaders of their congregations (dubbed in Khmer language). They have each completed the twelve sessions of the Youth Alpha course with me by the ‘Tell, Show, Do’ process (tell them what to do, show them how to do it and then get them to do it). We then conduct a debrief session after completing sessions three or four of Youth Alpha. During the debrief, we will touch on how well we have done and what can we do better.

I managed to complete a book study (1 Corinthians) with the interns at City Church and ‘A-Z of Jesus’ Journey’ picture Bible study (which uses each of the letters of the alphabet to explain something along Jesus’ Journey. For example: A – angel that appeared in front of Mary, B – birth of Christ) with the working adults. I also teach the Ten Commandments, using the ‘Growing as God’s People’ book, which is based on the small catechism and is translated to Khmer.

A few times a year, I work with local church interns, who are trained in designing an eye medical mission program, delegating the responsibilities to church staff, the delivery and implementation. We organise eye surgeons and medical personnel to form a team who will conduct four days of eye operations in a local clinic for 70-80 patients. We work with the local not-for-profit organisation Khmer Sight Foundation, which gives free eye surgery mainly targeting old folks who have cataracts and pterygium. Before the four days of surgery, I formed a pre-operation team to help screen for potential patients. The church helps by organising the community for screening and providing care for the patients from their community, including a place to sleep and something to eat during their two-day stay. With the help of church interns, we them work with the Khmer Sight Foundation to provide post-surgery care.

Finally, I take care of high school students at Rainbow Hostel, where I am presently working part-time as deputy program director of the E2STEM program. The program provides free STEM education to potential students. There are currently 190 students in the program – half of the enrolment are from  the provinces and 16 of them are staying in the Rainbow Hostel.

With Sister Evelyn Chan (Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hong Kong) and Rev Berta Law (Chinese Rhenish Church, Hong Kong), we also provide school counselling services to the school, as an outreach to the youth. Interns from the LCC Rainbow Hostel are also involved in this service.

On 1 November 2021, Cambodia was declared fully open. I took this opportunity to take the high school residents from Rainbow Hostel to a resort near the hostel, which is run by a Christian brother. We had a time of simple sharing, swimming, enjoying lunch together, horse riding and we visited a farm. Seven of the students will complete their high school after the national exam.

I would like to express my thanks to you all for allowing me to minister to the young people and building up the future leaders of Lutheran Church in Cambodia.

May God use us mightily for His kingdom and His work.

Many of our partner churches are working in new territory for the kingdom of God; therefore, spiritual attack is their everyday reality. As a member of a congregation, school, or family, or a couple or individual, you are invited to commit to praying for our partners in mission. For regular prayer point updates, go to www.lca.org.au/international-mission/act-now/pray

Read more stories about our partner church in Cambodia at www.lcamission.org.au/category/stories/international-partners/cambodia/