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Everyone was in high spirits. The morning group of 35 excited young people flew to Cambodia without incident. Questioned at the customs about the huge boxes of computers, medicine and other stuff they were carrying, but there was very little trouble. They finally piled into the vans for the anticipated four to five-hour ride to Koh Kong. They looked forward to reaching their destination by 3pm.
All was well until about 30 km from Koh Kong. One of the vans had a steering mechanism problem… Brother Sary could not continue! Stalled in the middle of nowhere and under the hot sun, they were stuck for more than an hour, but our youth team nonetheless remained cheerful and enthusiastic.
A five-hour journey to Koh Kong dragged to TEN long hours as the broken-down van was finally towed at snail’s pace to the city. The group was tired and hungry, but their journey was not over. Another obstacle met them… the hotel that was apparently booked for them did not reserve the rooms! Everyone was in danger of having No Accomodation for the night!
It was a Saturday night i.e weekend peak period, and all the rooms were booked solid. Not one was available. Our hosts scrambled to find alternative and acceptable accomodation for the whole group, and this they finally found at a guesthouse with more basic facilities a short distance away.
The night wasn’t over yet as the team had now to make their way in the remaining two vans to Baklang for a seafood dinner long prepared for them. Bumping over holey roads for half an hour, they blinked in the darkness at the seafood place, and were presented with a feast of crabs and big prawns.
After such a long journey for the whole day, what else was there to surprise our Singaporean youth team? They looked up at the clear skies, and gasped. There were no clouds that night. A million billion stars spanned the entire night skies, big ones, small ones, an awesome sight which none of us could ever hope to see back at home.
And it reminded our team, that despite all the little hiccups of that long day, the breakdown and delays, and the hotel mixed up, that God is still on the throne, everything had ended well and they could look forward to the best missions trip and youth camp they could ever have!
Positioning to live within a community – Tim is a tentmaker. For prudent reasons, we cannot divulge his real name or citizenship. He did not go to another country but had to make a cross cultural leap within his own country.
Tim has had a growing burden for the majority people group in his country. In this country, it is against the law for this mainstream people group to… Read More....
A few weeks ago, a co-worker of mine who is married to a Korean Christian worker told me something interesting. She said “Korean missionaries unite around the Gospel but we bring our differences to the mission field and fight over them!”
Koreans are basically a strong militant race. They do not shun a fight. The Korean Christian population is also clearly divided into conservative Presbyterians and exuberant Charismatics. In… Read More.... | 1 Comment
Going back to the Philippines for winter break is something I truly looked forward to. After a not so normal Christmas and New Year/birthday celebration in China, I was more than ready to hibernate and enjoy the sun in my home country alone. But as usual, plans change every minute. As Hudson Taylor said, “ Man proposes, God disposes.” Being at the center of His will though is still the… Read More.... | 1 Comment
What a testimony to inspire those outside of the kingdom of God. I too have my share of such incidents, however, at the end of the day, I realised too that the Almighty is in full control and He will not inflict undue suffering that we mortals are unable to bear. PTL