Firstly, I would like to greet you all with a wish for a fruitful Lunar Chinese New Year in which God' s protection and guidance will be present with you always. There are no public holidays for the Chinese New Year, but I was pleased to have some fellowship with other Chinese missionaries during the evenings. In Cambodia, most students skip school, even for the whole week, for fun and thus teachers decide not to show up either. I think this would be absurd and unacceptable in Hong Kong - parents might be upset or even complain to the Government for letting this happen. Anyway, relationships seem more important than the tasks that have to be fulfilled here.

On Feb. 6, I had an opportunity for outreach to the neighborhood at the Phnom Penh Thmei property in the afternoon. The burning sun was really a test of our durability and patience. We had separated into groups of 4 to 5 people, and I went with a young member and 2 other young girls. We did home visitation from place to place. If they were interested to know more, they would invite us into their house to chat; otherwise, they just took the gospel tract and said 'Chum Reap Lea (Good-bye)' . In the area where we visited, the people did not show great interest in the gospel. However, we did manage to reach out to a family where there were 4 young girls, 2 boys aged about 18 to 20, and the housewife. Firstly our young member started to share the gospel tracts with them, but they seemed not very interested. Then he asked me if I could share my testimony with them. Since this young member could only speak little English, and my Khmer was so limited too, I felt a bit shocked about what to do and say. However, God was gracious to me so that I was able to use Khmer with some English (translated by the young member) to share the gospel and my personal testimony with them. They were very attentive to listen, maybe due to the fact that I am a foreigner with my strange pronunciations of Khmer. They were also friendly to us and we hope to visit them again soon. During the process, I have experienced some things about outreach:

Good health and the right spirit are necessary to serve

It is quite an exhausting journey to approach people, especially when there is not much shade around. We may need to take a long walk to reach out to families in remote areas under the burning sun. I remember the song that says "Give of your best to the Master, Give of the strength of your youth," which really reminds me to serve the Lord while we still have strength, before it' s too late.

Praying for the team

It' s not only a personal business to serve, but we work together with the different gifts that God has given us. No matter how good my skill is in presentation, I need my brothers and sisters to approach people and remind me of the taboos in Cambodian culture. They may alert me that some groups of people are drinkers or busy in selling things, so that we may not 'irritate' them. On the other hand, I may also help them to get the attention of the people. We need to encourage and remind each other with a prayerful heart, instead of solely asking people to follow my way.

The field is big but workers are few

Most of the people we visited had never heard about Jesus. They are usually Buddhists or traditional worshippers in the villages. According to their character, Cambodians are quick to believe. Actually, some of them are ready to accept the gospel when someone comes to them to tell the good news. God has already prepared them, and it depends on how we respond to the calling. May God strengthen His church to bear the yoke and may we become the messengers of the Good News.

Always be prepared

I Peter 3:15 tells us "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect" . We never know at what time the opportunities will come, we need to equip ourselves ahead of time or we will feel inadequate to witness about the grace of God.

Prayer points

• 3 units of our missionary team will have home assignment this year, may God grant us strength and wisdom for how to continue the ministries properly
• I will receive 2 weeks of training about development in March. May God help us to apply what we learn
• The preparation for the Youth camp in April (after Khmer new year); may God speak to the youth via His Word
• This is the last term of my Khmer study in the University, may God help me to concentrate without lots of distractions
• May God give His Word for me to preach in worship and prayer meetings

Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.
Colossians 4:2-4