Phnom Penh Gospel proclamation - January update

I arrived in Phnom Penh at the respectable hour of 9:30am on January 16, after a bumpy flight from Melbourne to Singapore. The usual hustle and bustle of tuk tuk drivers greeted me – always a fun thing when one is completely worn out. The typical driver is purely interested in securing your person on their bike. Getting you to your correct destination at a reasonable price? Well, they are often a lot less interested in that. It is amusing that tuk tuk drivers expect utmost faithfulness (akin to that in a marriage); if you choose another tuk tuk when your usual driver is within view, this is a fate worse than death! Unfaithfulness to your normal tuk tuk driver is a crime, irrespective of whether the legislation says so!! When I arrived, the P2P trips to the provinces had only just finished, and most P2P-ers had departed back to their home towns. Nonetheless, Tom and Zach from Sydney, as well as Simon from the UK and Robin from NZ were still onboard. Tom and Zach departed a few days following my arrival; Simon stayed another week or so before returning to snow-covered, “white on the satellite” London. We said goodbye to Robin on Saturday also, prior to him flying back to Christchurch. It is now Michael and Miriam, Gary Gonzales from California, Loy (the ever-trusty backbone of the BEC) and myself holding the fort. There will be approximately one week between my departure and the arrival of David and Anna Todd from NZ, God willing. A very busy week lay ahead for the few remaining labourers.

When I first saw our Khmer brothers and sisters, as well as numerous other friends living at the dorm, it was great to see them all happily wearing their t-shirts from the bible school. I was slightly sad that I had decided to come just after but the multitude of existing work (still increasing) was certainly good grounds to delay things a few weeks. The truth really is alive here. Some contacts are hearing it for the first time ever, what a fantastic privilege to teach such good-spirited people the things that are truly valuable in this life. I have found it interesting that the passage from Acts 17 – recording Paul’s speech to the Athenians – is very fitting for teaching new Cambodian contacts who have never really heard anything about God or Jesus Christ. The worship of idols with mens’ hands is much like that found in 1st-century Greece. Other new contacts I have dealt with are employed by a welfare organization called “Transform;” they have been around for a few years and do good things for children. They are heavily affiliated with New Life church so this provides some basis for Christian teaching, with some obvious differences to be handled carefully. The number of people in this class has gone from 1 (last week) to 2 (Saturday) then 3 on Sunday so they might just keep coming to hear. Their enthusiasm is great and I very much have enjoyed the small opportunity to teach them. I hope their interest continues.

Most of our days begin at 5:30am. Quite early for us but morning tea time for more than a handful of the Khmer people! Our classes start at 6:00 and we have a number of them before 10:30. A few visit during the day, including an enthusiastic group of five from the dorms. The amount of record-keeping has increased since last time. This is a good thing, as it prevents the chance of the same material being covered numerous times, with the obvious consequence of kindling boredom and disinterest. It certainly does keep us (and Loy in particular) on our toes. The dormers are getting some good exposure to God’s word. Michael visits each morning for the dorm service and I head over each night at 9pm to teach for half an hour before the students hit the hay (or the hammock) for the night. I’ve been covering a range of topics, ranging from the reason why good people suffer, all the way to the nature of God. We have done Q & A sessions this week, as the unbaptised question session on Sunday went overtime, with still more questions to come our way from them. I was impressed by the level of some of the questions. For example, why did Christ die by crucifixion and not some other method?

It has been evident that the ecclesia is starting to mature. I heard a number of exhorts this time from the local brothers, and it is great to see them beginning to driving things themselves. Further, some are teaching their own classes at the BEC, which is fantastic.

We all enjoyed a nice trip out to Kampong Speu province on the Sunday before last. We went to a nice little retreat in Kirrirom National Park. Brother Veasna exhorted on this occasion. As we crossed into the national park, those of us from abroad paid our fee to get in. It is free for the locals, and we were informed by one of the local sisters that we needed black hair next time if we wanted to get through free! Hmmm...maybe it’s worth it.

Other positive news was the locating of Cadbury chocolate that tastes just like the stuff at home. My herbalist friend once told me that eating chocolate is a “positive stress”- that’s what I keep telling myself! Any justification is good justification in this case. Further, Nescafe gold is available. I was relieved to see that. :)

Well, after nearly a month, it is time for me to go back home – I fly out at 6pm, God willing. This is always a sad reality but to have any opportunity to assist is a blessing. I will return as soon as possible – if the Lord’s return does not occur first.

Please pray for God’s continued blessing and guidance upon the work of preaching the Gospel here in Cambodia.

Dan Maluga