Post Mission Update, Reflection, Goals

Hi all,

I just wanted to take the time to thank each and every single one of you for your abundant love and support for allowing me to be a part of this year's missions in sharing the Gosepl in Sensok, Cambodia. I certainly had an amazing and blessed time teaching the children English, building a new playground, visiting the families in the nearby village, and hearing the remarkable testimonies of Pastor Hung and his wife Co Trang's ministry. 

As I am slowly adjusting to life back here in Southern California, I am constantly being reminded of what God is doing half a world away. Through these reminders, I am realizing just how much distractions are present in our first world nation (worldly possessions, career, money, etc). For some reason, I can't help but feel guilty when I seek to purchase things for myself and when materialistic ambitions arise. I believe that I am currently undergoing some spiritual warfare and Satan is placing doubts and worldly temptations in front of me to keep me away from God, so please continue to keep me in your prayers! It's not wrong to enjoy God's blessings but I believe there's a threshold to that enjoyment (to the point where it becomes an idol). As I have learned in Cambodia, idolatry is the root of many sins and I must make sure that I continue to reevaluate my intentions and walk with the Lord daily in order to stay attuned to his will for me. It has definitely been a bit harder acknowledging God's presence with all these distractions but I am encouraged to know that he will never fail me nor abandon me (Hebrews 13:5). Although I am weak... Christ has redeemed me and I pray he will continue to use me as a light to my family, friends, and co-workers. 

Coming back from Cambodia, I have been refreshed spiritually and God has placed some convictions in my heart to be faithful as a leader at AKPC. Although we are small in number, I believe God intends for our church to really persevere and develop character. Through suffering, we should continue to rely on Christ for strength. God desires for us to develop a strong foundation rooted in his word so that we may be able to bear fruit (not for ourselves but for him). Even though it may seem daunting and tough, I am determined to obey. I have learned that faith produces action but action without faith is nonsensical and ultimately destructive to the church. Thus, I know God is in control and I will not let my pride and feelings of inadequacy prevent him from moving our church. Please continue to pray for me as I go about my daily life here! 

With much love,

Jerry

 

TGC (The Gospel in Cambodia)

Chum reap suor, what a time to reflect on Cambodia! The time frame of returning back to Arizona has been 1 week. My body and mind is adjusting gradually but the Arizona heat is a doozy! I still think about the experience in Cambodia especially the gifts of blessings and struggles with my teammates and people. God is revealing himself to me daily and place a burden of a blessing to continuously pray for Cambodia, its people, and praying for my teammates as they are TOO adjusting to life and living radically for God.

 

Without God, the mission itself becomes impossible. I hope as the Spirit is leading me to share the running thoughts and revelations of this trip – may the Spirit who dwells in all of us, encourages you (the readers) to explore the challenges God has place you,, to prepare you spiritually and mentally, and to invest your precious time to consecrate for God's plans in state and out state missions. Whether the mission is short or long-term, amazingly, God has done the work, and we are his VESSELS and are called to be part of the GREAT COMMISSION. The victory of His work is and will be finish in His GLORIOUS name!

 

While I am meditating through the book of ACTS. The power of God is flourishing throughout wherever God sends the disciples and apostles. Through Peter's ministry, churches are established and expanding all over, while the torch is handed to Paul and the Gospel is progressing all over as he travels to various places. This faith is offering the hope of Jesus Christ to all humanity from the beginnings to Jerusalem to Rome and etc. The dynamic of Acts is growing and spreading the Gospel like a ripple effect/wildfire.

 

I start realizing the people in Acts are ordinary and decide to live boldly because they have the Holy Spirit and the resurrection of Christ revealing their purpose to share the Gospel. Confidence and boldness are two qualities they are gaining through Christ as their source of power. For myself, the experience of sharing the Gospel to the people was ineffective. Yet at times difficult because people's hearts are harden and stubborn to surrender change. Thankfully, I am glad God used our team by our actions and being the Christlikeness examples to live our faith by being a blessing to the people. If people are observing our actions, then, the evidence of God's presence will be a light to all the people in Cambodia and they will be known it is God's bidding!

 

I know the Gospel is being preach in Cambodia, in Vietnam, in America, and ALL nations. Time and patience is the key to open people's hearts. To LOVE people with empathy and relentlessly. But most importantly, I believe the church and the missionaries in Acts understand prayer was a huge part of sharing the Gospel because if prayer and preaching is not implement throughout the time of expansion, then the Gospel is literally dead. My meditating in Acts alone, God has place a gracious love and a heart of conviction to share the experiences to various people I meet daily and to plant the seeds for the Gospel to spurt out the ground. Just being able to witness how radical these disciples are with their faith to share and to understand they were chosen to be part of his plan to reach the world. He gives my brothers and sisters and I, the motivation, energy, and ability to get Gospel to the world. God is already victorious and we are victorious as well because of HIM. Thankfully we are saved in grace to give the same living hope to all the people we meet daily through the cross of Jesus Christ. Cambodia will know God, so please keep praying for all the men, women, and children. God is doing BIG things in Cambodia especially Love of Christ Church in Sen Sok 1!. God blessed everyone! 

 

- Jeremiah 

Goals

Hello for a second time from Peiran!  I wonder if people are still reading these… hopefully it is still encouraging and eye opening to those who are reading.  I write with no other purpose than to share what God has laid on my heart and I can only hope that it speaks to yours as well.  Missions to me has become not only a way of sharing our faith with new believers but also encouraging our brothers and sisters abroad and bridging the gap between churches across the globe much like Paul did in his missionary work. We can teach each other so much and learn from each other as well. 

But anyways, goals. So before we left for missions Pastor Tony had encouraged us to write down a goal that we would aim for.  We could try to remember all the kids names or serve our team in getting water for people every time or try to connect with the family… things like that.  My goal for myself was to make a connection with at least 3 of the local teachers so that I could continue to encourage them and support them even after I come home.  Especially because they will be the ones working with the children year round and making an even bigger impact, I really wanted to be there for them in that way.  But even as I penned that thought I was doubting in my heart.  I paused slightly after writing it out. How was this supposed to happen? I have no ability to communicate with them.  At most we would probably smile.  How will they see that I want to be there for them? How will they see my heart? And even when I am there I will be teaching the children… how will I spend time with the teachers? 

But God knows what He wants and what He lays on our hearts is always achievable.  Nothing is impossible with Him. Within the first day I found that one of the girls I shared a room with, also one of the pastor's daughters, was dreaming of being a teacher.  And her English was great! She even had the dream of going to college to learn more so she could teach more to these children.  What a beautiful and clear vision for her future.  It's funny because now that I think back she was the one I sat next to when they picked us up from the airport and the first one to truly try befriending me.  I appreciated that so much and was drawn to her right away. This is us on the first day! 

So in my heart during the first week I was really trying to find time to sit with her more but somehow our schedules did not always end up working out well. She is still in high school and had to go to class in the morning and I was so tired every night I ended up knocking out by 10.  That is still something that I wish I had been less selfish about. I wish I had sacrificed my sleep to talk to her more and if God allows for a next time I will definitely make that more of a priority. 

During the first week I also found out that one of my students was actually a teacher as well.  But she was young and was allowed to take advantage of the two weeks to learn for herself as well. My happiest moments with her, when we really felt a deeper connection, was most likely beach day. On the ride there she sat with me and Thia and fell asleep to me tapping her shoulder and humming worship songs. Then while at the beach I taught her a little bit of swimming and she was brave enough to try floating on her back by herself! It was so easy to get drawn in by the younger kids while teaching because they were never shy and always asked to be held or picked up or swung around but with Truc I honestly had to make more of a conscious effort to sit by her and encourage her more.  But to me it appeared that she was really used to taking care of the younger ones but it had been a while since she had been cared for and loved on and that is what drew me to her. 

                 

And as one week ended and our second week started and I was already at 2 out of 3. But God decided to overflow my cup.  The two assistant teachers we had also started to open up (one of them is now my girlfriend, Hau, on the left).  Despite their limited English and thanks to a few translations I found out that Em/Esther (on the right), who is now my younger sister, was apparently drawn to me from the beginning.  

                    

I had no idea because she had made no indication of it but this brought tears to my eyes.  My God was paving the way from the start, even before I met these girls. From the very beginning when the head pastor of TLC came to one of our group meetings and his wife shared about our need to be concerned for the teachers just as much as the students my heart was moved.  From the start God already planted the dream in my heart and of course He would bring it to fruition.  I did not need to know Vietnamese or Khmer and they did not need to know English.  I did not need to do anything but be present and obedient and God was going to use me as He willed. 

This is something I have continuously heard and learned and am slowly allowing to seep in.  God does not call me to be perfect and He does not require me to fix myself because I cannot. I am already a daughter of God and He has already planned the good works I am called to do and all I need to do is obey.  I just need to listen and obey.  One of the most simple to do yet simultaneously difficult to do.  May God complete the good work He has started in me and may I remember this lesson of obedience.  

For you as a supporter please continue to pray for these teachers/ future teachers. So many of them have difficult home situations.  Despite the smiles they wear on their faces there is so much brokenness in their lives and sometimes even opposition from family members to continue teaching at this school, yet they continue.  From them I have learned so much about faithfulness and obedience.  It is a day by day, step by step action.  My heart and prayers go out to them tonight.