6 minute read
There are Angels
It has been nine months since I started serving in Cambodia. It was a step of faith and an adventure that only became possible when I stepped out. Cambodia welcomed me with her blazing sunshine and natural sauna of 38°C to 40°C. Being a gung-ho and driven person, I went about my responsibilities at full force. I was not wise; I forgot to take into consideration the weather and the environment. Many people call it the “oppressive heat” season.
In the first four months, I lost 4 kg, and fell ill three times, lying flat on my bed with fever, gum infection and dehydration, and unable to eat or do anything. I visited three provinces: Kampong Cham, Kampong Spue and Svey Rieng for my ministry and work. I began journeying with two lady entrepreneurs who had won awards on Women’s Day! I attended my 1st Investment Seminar in Phnom Penh and met the ambassador from the United Kingdom. In addition, I hosted the 1st Business for Transformation Zoom Business Fellowship.
Advertisement
THERE ARE
ANGELS
In Cambodia, as at 31 October 2020, there have been less than 300 COVID-19 cases and no deaths. There were some travel restrictions for one week and a ban on gatherings of more than 10 people. The wearing of masks is the norm here for protection from the dust. Therefore, I do not know what it is like to go through an MCO or CMCO.
Despite the low number of infections, the Coronavirus pandemic brought economic devastation to the country. Many Khmers have been hit hard by the crisis. Almost 300,000 Khmers lost their jobs. This has caused many to return to their villages, with no money and no food. The vulnerable groups such as the poor, the elderly and young children are most affected. Amidst this scenario, I started a new project Farming God’s Way with Andre, a French missionary in Cambodia. Farming God’s Way uses biblical principles to equip and empower the poor to put food on the table while taking care of the land. Our pilot project was started in Somrong Church.
In the meantime, I met and spoke to many people who were trying to keep their business afloat or to re-define their business. I spent time praying, building friendships and providing consultations for their business.
Progressing on into my eighth month, it was time to move to a new place - somewhere that fitted my budget which had to be below market price, convenient for me to meet students and entrepreneurs and most importantly, it had to be clean. So, I sent word out.
A young Malaysian was returning home and she wanted to give up her studio apartment quickly or she would have had to pay a penalty for the unused contractual period. The apartment was at the location I wanted – Toul Tompung 1 near the famous old Russian market. It was a mixture of old and new buildings, safe, ideal for meeting people, with lots of cafes, local and foreign-run eateries, a Khmer market, banks, etc. So I prayed and decided to take it up.
The landlord only wanted a one-month deposit instead of two months. When I went to pay and collect the agreement, the landlord informed me that ‘my friend’ had paid for the deposit and I only had to pay the rent. So I did and he gave me a receipt for double the amount that I had paid. I then contacted my friend and asked if she had left her deposit behind. She said she had not done so. She had offset it with the last month’s rent. Someone had paid for my deposit! I had not given anyone the address. I did not even remember the address. I only knew it was behind Cafe Amazon. There is an Angel out there looking out for me!
I will declare that God is good and I am at peace here. I am sure of my calling to be in Cambodia. There is a joy and satisfaction that can only be found when you are in the centre of God’s purpose for your life and I pray for you and every Christian to have the opportunity to experience this. You do not have to be a missionary; you just have to be obedient to God’s call.
However, if God has called you to GO to a Nation, then GO. It has been so exciting to obey and serve God in the country He has called me to.
If you would like to receive regular updates and pray/partner/sow with Vera’s ministry in Cambodia please go to this link http://bit.ly/PrayGiveCareVera .
A Letter from Hope
Dear DUMC Family,
Greetings from Santiago City in the Philippines. My name is Hope B. Salvador, and I pray that all of you are safe. By God’s grace, we are all safe here as well. Although many things are affected here in the Philippines, I am thankful we are doing well.
I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour way back on 13 February 2008, when I was staying with the Kam family. In the beginning, I did not understand much about Jesus, but in the 10 years of staying in the Kam household, I learnt a lot about who He is. When I took my first vacation back to the Philippines in April 2010, I introduced Jesus to my family. My mom who was a very religious traditional Catholic cried as I led her to accept Jesus as her Lord and Saviour. I also had the privilege to lead both my husband and daughter to accept the Lord.
As I continued working in Malaysia, my niece and my daughter found a church called Cornerstone Church. Ever since then, they attended this church, and as I came back permanently to the Philippines on 8 February 2018, I also joined them to attend this church till today.
I am currently working at a health centre in our community and as I am writing this, we have just completed a round of polio and measles vaccinations for the children in our community.
This pandemic came into our lives unexpectedly. But for me, it has made me grow closer and deeper in the Lord. Although we still have our ups and downs, (i.e. problems, struggles in life) God reminds us that no matter what, He is always with us.
Recently, my daughter told us that her second choice of achieving her dream is to become a pastor; the first dream was to become a nurse in the military. This also came unexpectedly to us, but we would definitely support whatever she wants. Please also pray that we will all be baptised soon as a family.
I would like to take this opportunity to express my biggest thanks to Pastor Chris and family because without them, perhaps I would never know who Jesus is. Thank you to the Cornerstone CG and Filipino Group who helped me grow in my faith. A special thanks to Teresa Wong who would sit beside me during Sunday Celebrations in DUMC and share with me about Jesus. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Thank you and keep safe everyone.
Hope B. Salvador
