Many thanks to our God; He is so good to the team members:

1. The weather -- although it was very hot in the daytime, around 40 degrees Celsius in the afternoon, it rained in the evenings and it was cooler so that we could sleep well. We were in the village all the time and there was no electricity except when the generator ran from 6 p.m. - 10 p.m. 
2. The work -- because it was around the Khmer New Year, people were busy in the preparation for the New Year and there were not so many people who came for the clinic. It was too hot in the afternoon so that people preferred to stay at home to take naps. Altogether, there were about 650 patients. Although our team members were used to working in air-conditioned rooms, they enjoyed going out for home visitation with the local Christians in the afternoons. It was exciting to see people accepting Jesus as their personal Savior.
3. Beautiful boat trips -- when we went to the island, we had to take the boat for an hour. It was so delightful to bathe in the soft breeze, with beautiful sunsets, homecoming fishing boats, and green grass on both banks of the river. We were surrounded by the peaceful and fascinating nature created by the magnificent hand of God. God was so close.
4. "Moon rising" and starry sky -- We all shouted out loud to see the "orange" moon as it came up slowly from the east. Then it changed to a bright, silver full moon. The children were shocked to see us shouting out to see the moon and taking pictures. In Hong Kong, the sky "is hidden" in the high rise buildings and we can rarely see the moon and stars.
5. Using the new kitchen and dining room -- A work team from the Wenatchee Free Methodist Church in the US helped to start the building of the kitchen and dining room in January. It was totally completed a week before the 12th medical mission team came. We were the first team to use it, although the church had been using the dining room for adult Sunday school classes for a month. 

Khmer New Year--Pouring Water

On April 13-15 was the Khmer New Year, and at the same time it was Easter too. During the Khmer New Year, people enjoy pouring water on you. It means to give you blessings, and also helps to cool you down on such hot days, about 40 degrees Celsius or more in the afternoon. We all enjoyed pouring water on one another because it was so hot and fun too. We have a well on the church property. We took turns to pump water from the well. All the children, young people and adults used whatever containers they found, such as buckets, bottles, cups, bowls, cooking pots, coconut shells... to carry the water to pour on others. It was fun. It is also their culture to put white powder on your face. But the boys were so naughty they put charcoal on our faces! The people in the village use wood for cooking. The boys went into the kitchen to take the charcoal to put on the faces as well as pouring water on people. It made it so awkward to clean our faces. We hated this but it was not appropriate for us to be angry.

"Merry-go-round" dancing

It is the culture for the Khmer people to dance in festivals, with loud music or somebody singing. They do need not any dance partners. Men and women line up one by one and then walk in a big circle, round and round and round many times, with different traditional dancing hand gestures and steps. Sometimes they put a table, a chair or a big pot of flowers in the middle of the room. They can walk round and round and round in circle, non-stop for one, two or three hours. On New Year's Eve, the local Christians brought their friends to the church to celebrate their New Year. The church hired a band and some of our young people sang the Christian hymns. The medical team members joined them walking (dancing) round and round in the circle for 3 hours. To us it was so boring. But to them, it was fun, and also was a kind of evangelism to their Buddhist friends. To me, it was too noisy and tiring. I chose to go to bed early!

Illness and rest

I had diarrhea on Saturday evening and throughout the whole night. I was so tired. The team prayed for me and the doctor gave me some medicine. I had to preach on Easter Sunday morning. Praise the Lord that the diarrhea was less after breakfast on Sunday morning. I had no appetite and was so weak. The Lord sustained me to preach in the morning. While all the people went out to see the baptism in the river in the afternoon, I rested to regain my strength. I rested for two whole days. Then I woke up and was hungry and looked for biscuits and something delicious to eat. Praise the Lord for healing.

A growing church

The churches and the young people are growing, both in size and spiritual life. Those who were once young kids have now grown into handsome young teenaged boys and pretty girls. Some of them are studying in the last year in high school. We were so amazed to see they were helping in the translation for the registration, medical doctors, pharmacy, children's group and home visitation. They had training for the translation for the medical team by the missionary before we came. We could communicate better with our limited English, since to all of us, English was our second or third language.

Isaac has changed a lot. Once he was very shy and quiet. Now he is the leader among the young teens. His English has improved a lot and he could help in the translation for the Bible Training Center. We had to give him the text some time ahead for preparation and had to speak very slowly and in simple English. For this medical mission team, he helped a lot in the translation for the children's group. He is in the last year in the high school. His wish is to study in the university, majoring in education, language or law. He is planning to take the entrance examination in August. 

Jonathan can be quiet and active. He also helps in the translation with simple English. His wish is also to study in the university for computer and language (English). He is planning to take the entrance examination in July.

The academic standard of the young people in the village is a little lower than those in the city, so it will be a great challenge to our young people. Moreover, studying in the university is very expensive for the people from the village. If the university will accept them, we have to find sponsors for them. It is a very good investment for leadership training. The young people are the future of the church and the nation too. Isaac and Jonathan know that if they are accepted by the university, they will have a mission -- to start campus evangelism. This is one of their goals for studying in the university. May God grant this wish to these two fine young teens.

Shedding tears at the airport

Some young teens came with the team to the airport to see them off. Two young teens helped the medical team for the first time. Although they were boys, they shed tears in the airport when they said goodbye. 

See you again for the 13th medical mission team

Anyway, we will see them again when the 13th medical mission team goes November 3-13, 2001. Take care till then.
¡@