Saturday, 11/22, by Gary Adams

Saturday, 11/22, by Gary Adams. I am eternally grateful to God and my team for this incredible experience. We have had the opportunity to observe and experience what God is doing in this beautiful and vibrant community. As the team has posted some amazing observations about our encounters throughout the trip, I was fortunate to have my best adventure on the last day. I will attempt to share the experience with you in a way that will hopefully bless you in the same way as it did me.

We started the day by rising early (after 4 days I am still waking up at 4am), and encountered God by some quiet reflection in his Word and in prayer. This has been an unexpected blessing to be wide awake before others and have the time and resources to dedicate two hours to reading and meditation in God's word. We jumped in the car at 7am to make a prayer and praise meeting at the Phnom Phen church at 7:30. The spirit of the Cambodian Church led by Pastor Sokha was joyful and encouraging. We celebrated as a group the amazing unity that believer's share being children of God. We departed from the prayer meeting about 8:30 and went to breakfast as a group. I was blessed to hear Lois Kuffel, one of our Friend's missionaries, describe the many ways families have been changed by hearing the gospel and accepting Christ in their lives. Lois also translated the testimony of a local church member that has been through the trials of the Pol Pot massacre. Pastor Sokha then drove a carload of us about 40 miles to a remote farming village to worship and share the scripture with a community of believers. We were in an extremely poor environment materialistically, dirt floors, open fires, farm animals everywhere, and no public utilities of any kind. It turned out to be one of the richest moments I have ever experienced spiritually. The smiles and laughter were contagious, the singing was joyfully offered to God, and the scripture was shared with passion as all listening were clinging to every word. There was no nationality, language, or social/economic concerns as unity was celebrated in all being part of the family of God. The worship ended with Tuian, a PP church member, sharing his testimony of how coming to know Jesus Christ as Lord radically changed his focus on life.

On the ride back, I was blessed to get to know the heart and passion of Pastor Sokha for the ministry in PP. His enthusiasm and energy is enduring, and his desire to serve his God, his family, and his church was inspiring and encouraging. There are times when one can sense without a doubt in the anointing of the Spirit in an incredible work. I was blessed to participate in the outreach ministry and to meet this amazing man that God has selected to be used to further the Kingdom. To add to an already fantastic day, Pastor Sokha invited me to join him at this house for a Khmer lunch. His wife Semake made an incredible meal and we enjoyed sharing about our families, our hopes, and our dreams for the future. After lunch, I was offered a ride back to the mission home by Sokha's son, Vysal. This was a chance to get to know a sincere and talented young man of 22 years old. He is graduating from IT school and wants to use all his talents to serve God. He is a musician, a leader in the youth group, and a talented communicator. We even shared the biblical plan to find and select a partner for marriage. Can you imagine what God has in store for the Church in PP with this kind of commitment and passion to serve? I will leave Cambodia knowing that God is alive and moving in the hearts of his people. We can all pray for protection and blessing for this amazing family. Will God put it on my heart to come back – how can we support the ministry – who else will be called to participate? Great questions to ponder and seek God's will.