Hey all!
We've officially completed a week's worth of our mission here in Cambodia. We're halfway through :)! This past week, we spent roughly 6 hours a day (Mon - Fri) teaching English to the children that Pastor Hung and his wife ministers to here at Sen Sok. We have been teaching the kids about God's character, the story of Adam and Eve, and the ten commandments. Originally, our team was preparing for months on teaching the kids the Creation to Christ story but Pastor Hung specifically needed us to teach the kids of the ten commandments. Although we weren't sure why, we adjusted our lesson plans and came up with some really great ideas to keep the kids engaged while maximizing their learning.
Today during Sunday service... I think I understood why Pastor Hung instructed us to teach the kids the ten commandments. He preached to the congregation (composed mostly of the children, our team, and his family) on Mark 10:17-27. This famous passage is about the wealthy man, who had motives of boasting his righteousness, asking Jesus what must he do to inherit eternal life. Jesus responds to him by listing some of the ten commandments as to which the rich man answers that he have kept the spoken commandments since the days of his youth. Jesus then, knowing the man's heart and what he lacks, asks him that in order to inherit eternal life... the man must sell all his possessions to give to the poor and to follow Him. It is very hard for the rich to enter the kingdom of God than a camel passing through the eye of a needle. Pastor Hung wanted to make sure the kids really understand the ten commandments before sharing the importance of how following Christ triumphs the law as He is the way to eternal life. For these kids to just hear "follow Christ" without knowing what the commandments were would have left many of them confused.
This leads me to my next reflection. Through the many translation-assisted conversations that I've had with Pastor Hung, one thing he said really challenged me as a Christian. It is extremely crucial for us as Christians to know all of the Old Testament so that we may wholly grasp the fullness of the Gospel. Pastor Hung warned that reading the New Testament without knowing the history and background leading up to Christ is very dangerous. I have been convicted to renew my understanding of the Old Testament by reading more of it rather than just New Testament scripture for my devotions.
Lastly on Saturday, our team traveled with Pastor Hung along with three of his daughters to share the Gospel at three different ministries within the Kampong Chhnang province (literally an hour or so away from Pastor Hoang's ministry with the boat village people a year prior). Our team performed a skit on the book of Jonah. Our intention was to help those that we encounter to acknowledge their sins and repent just as Jonah shared God's message to the Ninevites. After the skit, we had a period of Q&A to make sure the children understood the story. Following a time of prayer and repentance, we then proceeded to gift each and every child a bag of snacks, each containing a gospel animation booklet serving to further proclaim Jesus Christ as the savior. I truly pray that God soften the hearts of the children we've encountered and make known to them the mystery of His Gospel. I'm very encouraged that our team was able to enthusiastically and boldly share His word this weekend!
I want to thank everybody back at home for praying for our team's health and well-being. I've had a lingering cough, perhaps a respiratory infection, for about 6 weeks now but through your prayers and God's grace... I'm feeling a lot better! I remember earlier this week as I was receiving some medication for my sickness, I was doubtful that I'd be cured... Strangely, I've somehow recovered tremendously this past week! Some of our other team members were sick early during the week but have begun feeling better as well!
Please continue to pray for:
- Our team to trust in the Holy Spirit as we teach and love on the kids this upcoming week.
- Strength for Pastor Hung and his family to continue sharing the Gospel and doing ministry.
- God to break down the hardened hearts of the parents of the children whom Pastor Hung ministers to so that they may receive Christ.
- For the seeds to be firmly planted and grow fruitfully in the hearts of the children we witnessed to yesterday as well as the children whom we are currently teaching English at Sen Sok so that they may be the future generation of Christians in Cambodia.
Thanks for taking the time to read up and follow what God is doing through our team in Cambodia this year. I'll post another update next week! Soli deo gloria!
- Jerry