A team of six, led by team leader Loy, left Phnom Penh on Saturday
morning to catch the 10:45 flight to Siem Reap to spend the weekend
there. Loy was able to take advantage of a special promotion offered by
Cambodia Air to purchase some cheap tickets for the trip, which allowed
some sisters from Phnom Penh to join us without having to take time off
work. We were all looking forward to two days of fellowship with
isolated brothers and sisters in the north. Our aims were to support the
new ecclesia in Siem Reap, to add to the list of contacts and to
investigate the availability of rental properties for a modified BEC
following up on the guidelines provided by the BEC Executive Committee.
For three of the sisters it was their first experience
of flying. Various comments included “scared”, “happy and scared”
ranging to feelings of “just okay”. The girls looked glamorous in their
best clothes, as we sat waiting for our flight. We boarded the plane and
found our seats. Three excited faces listened to the safety
instructions and then it was time for take-off. I offered my hand to one
of them for reassurance. Big mistake! Fingers held on to me like a vice
as the plane accelerated. I asked the girls if they could see the dorm
but they laughed and said that it was too small.
Our
party arrived at Siem Reap International Airport 6 hours and 45 minutes
faster than the bus trip would have taken. Others arrived by bus, mini
van or by moto. Brother Sophea brought his fiance and a friend. Loy’s
sister and cousin, as well as her stepsister, also joined us. Loy is
keeping a register of brothers, sisters and contacts including phone
numbers and email addresses. This will be available from Loy for
administration purposes, to all future visitors, and members of the Siem
Reap Ecclesia to facilitate good organisation and communication.
We
met in our hotel room where Loy gave everyone a copy of the program for
the weekend that she had prepared earlier. It included a study on
Saturday night and short business meeting and worship service at Bro. So
Veasna and Lin’s house on Sunday morning. Two meals together were also
organised including dinner on Saturday night followed by lunch together
at So Veasna’s. The sisters all stayed at Daran’s house, free of charge,
but until the rental property is secured the brothers will have to stay
at a guesthouse.
If you missed the last blog about Siem
Reap, just go back a few blog entries to see some background information
about the Siem Reap initiative. The BEC executive have decided upon the
option to rent a small, low cost property to enable this northern group
to meet together and to provide a place for lessons and fieldwork. We
discussed a plan to start looking for a suitable place this weekend and
also consulted with the members of the newly formed Siem Reap Ecclesia.
Loy will liaise with Vitou and the BEC Executive to make a final
decision. God willing, brothers and sisters from Phnom Penh will be able
to assist with fieldwork and also provide them with an opportunity for
shepherding.
It was truly heart warming to see some of
our Cambodian brothers and sisters responding powerfully to this
opportunity to meet together to discuss the future in positive ways and
to feel God’s blessings reaching out to the remote Cambodian Provinces.
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