11th Medical Team to Cambodia,
 November 4-14 
by Rev. Derek Ho

By God's grace

• The 11th medical team was able to go as planned. At first we did not have any medical doctors, but finally we had 2 medical doctors, 2 dentists, 1 chiropractic doctor, and 8 nurses, as well as 2 pastors and other personnel.
• When the missionaries applied for the medical service permit and tax clearance permit, there was a lot of hindrance from the government officers. After a lot of persistence and prayer, and with the help of some Christian friends in Cambodia, at the last moment we got the permits. God is in control of man's heart.
• Two weeks before we started, the flooding in Cambodia came back again. We suggested to the team members that they could withdraw if they found it too dangerous for them to go. No one withdrew, because they all took this as a good chance to minister to people in need. We also all prayed for the rain to stop
• At the same time, the team leader Rev. Polly Ho was found to have a tumor. The doctor advised her to stay in Hong Kong to have an operation immediately. Therefore, the Conference Superintendent had to take up her job at this critical moment.
• And a few days before the team left, we got emails that the missionaries in Cambodia, Pol Guazon and Joel Margin were not feeling well. Pol was sent to the hospital and was under observation. Joel could not walk because of pain in his pelvic area

By God's grace, we put our trust in the Lord and set out for Cambodia as planned.

Setting out for Cambodia
On Nov. 4, all the members arrived Cheong Wah Church for prayer at 8:00 AM. We booked a bus to take the 29 bags of supplies plus 24 pieces of personal luggage to the airport. Dragon Air gave an extra 200 kilos graciously so that our medical baggage were not overweight. God is so good to us. 

In the airport in Phnom Penh, we had no problem getting our visas with only US$20. The customs officers did not ask for more, and we went through customs smoothly. They were very kind to us. Praise the Lord. 

Sunny days 
During the first eight days, we had sunshine and no rainfall at all; the roads were also dry. But the last three days, we had rain at night. Thus, the weather did not interfere with our services at all. Before we arrived, all the land was flooded. Our House of Love Children's Hostel lost the fish in their fish pond and the coconuts trees. The team members donated some money to buy fish fingerlings so that they may have fish again next April. We pray that all the homes can be rebuilt with the grace of God. As a team leader, I appreciated all the members' good cooperation. I enjoyed working with them. 

(Later I learnt that, after the team left, it rained so hard that some low places were flooded again. The Lord is really very merciful to the team.)

Medical service 
At the present, we have seven preaching points in Cambodia. During this trip, we held medical clinics in five villages. Each day 150 patients were seen by two medical doctors, and 25 dental patients by two dentists. The dentists had most difficult working situation because of a lack of suitable facilities. It was hot and they had to bend down to work. At the same time, we had a children's story time in the mornings and visitation for outreach in the afternoons. We visited over 40 families and brought 6 people to the Lord.

Boat sunk, tire flat
The meals were excellent. We ate French bread in the mornings with coffee or tea, had 2 main dishes each for lunch and dinner. The washroom was clean (4 stars), and the weather was around 27¢X C. We had no problems taking cold showers, especially the girls. No body got sick in the first eight days, and there were only three members with small health problem the last three days. 

On the third day, when the church members sent lunch to us on the island by boat, the boat sank and we lost the spoons, forks and plates. Too bad! However, they saved the rice so that we could still have the meal. Hallelujah! As we began to return from the island to Prek Thai Church by motorcycle towing a wooden wagon, one motorcycle's chain was broken (maybe we were too heavy), and the other one had a flat tire. No one got hurt. Praise the Lord for His wonderful protection. 

We are in one piece when we returned to Hong Kong. After the mission trip, the hearts of all are fired up by the Holy Spirit to do more mission work for the Lord. I hope more people can be a full time missionaries in the future. 

Spiritual growth of the young people 
In Cambodia, I am so happy to see that the young people are growing physically and spiritually. They serve the Lord in the Sunday Worship as chairman and song leader, as well as being helpers or translators for the clinics. If they continue to serve the Lord, the Free Methodist Church will have a bright future in Cambodia. Please continue to pray for them. 

The health and language study of our missionaries 
Please continue to for Pastor Pol's kidneys that they will not get worse. Pastor Pol will visit her parents in the Philippines in December. Missionary Pastor Joel's pelvis has caused much pain and he needs to rest more. Joel and Grace Margin and VISA missionary Rebecca Chung are having a hard time studying the Cambodian language. 

The LORD has done great things 
By faith, we rented a three storey apartment for urban ministry. Thus, in the near future, Pol will put more time in the city, and Joel and Grace Margin will concentrate on the village ministry. Please pray for them to have a team spirit. May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy! He that goes forth weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him. (Ps 126:2, 5-6)