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Fellowship in Siem Reap

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A large plastic inflatable swimming pool and bulky black hand pump are not usually items I choose to travel with, but as we load them onto the bus destined for Siem Reap I wouldn’t want it any other way. A bunch of us are travelling from Sihanoukville and Phnom Penh for a weekend with the little Siem Reap ecclesia. A weekend which will necessitate the use of said  blow up pool. A weekend with a baptism :)

Thon stands outside the BEC, young daughter in his arms and wife and older daughter  nearby. The pool is almost full and the witnesses are gathered around. We have just  enjoyed a comprehensive seminar on baptism by brother Sophorn and now the much  awaited time has come. Thon is about to become our brother. A former colleague of  Sophorn’ Thon has been learning the truth for five years now and after recent Skype  baptism preparation sessions he has requested to join the global family of Christ.

As he emerges from the water a new man in Christ we joyfully sing together ‘This is the day that the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it!’. What a blessing to be here and  witness this public confession. We finish the day with a memorial meeting together and  soccer in the rain.

The following day is somewhat of a contrast to the joy of new life. We head to the province  to visit the families of various dormers and brothers and sisters and also more specifically  brother Sorphea and family. Another of Sophorn's former colleagues, he has been  baptized for a couple of years now and lives 4 hours from the ecclesial house. Once a month  he travels this long journey to Siem Reap for the meeting, but this time we are going to visit  him as his mother is desperately unwell.

We crowd into the room where she lays, the air is thick with the smell of incense and she  lies on a mattress on the floor with her husband by her side. She is semi-unconscious and  unable to speak. Holding hands for support, a prayer is said, asking for Gods strength, help  and support.


The reality of the fragility of human life is brought to the fore. I am reminded of the words  of the psalmist ‘Teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom’.  Truly every day is a gift and the events of this weekend highlight what a gift it is for us to be  able to take on Christ’s name and be a part of Gods family which will one day ultimately see  eternity.

Tabby Ryan

 Lunch at brother Sorphea's house L-R Narath, Srey Pav, Srey Pi
L-R Samnang and Sisters Sokhorn and Tabby Ryan
 Home-made fence
 Brother Sorphea's house in Preh Vihear province
L-R Brothers Thon and Sophorn 
 Sister Tabby, Samnang, Supdah, sister Sokhorn, Sokhin
 Sister Tabby, sister Kimsrean, sister Sally, Narath, Srey Pi, Supdah's mother

 Group photo after brother Thon's baptism
Brother Sophorn presenting a wide margin ESV Bible from the ecclesia to brother Thon at the memorial meeting after his baptism

 Brother Veasna and his daughter

Sisters and friends of the Siem Reap ecclesia after the Saturday night memorial meeting 
Brothers Sophorn and Thon
 Post baptism flood (front of Siem Reap fw flat/hall)
 Pre-baptism outside SR fw flat L-R: brother Daran, soon to be brother Thon, Sokin, brother Thon's daughter, brother Sophorn, Srey Pi, sister Sokhorn, Supdah (b. Thon's wife) holding her daughter and brother Veasna
Province views 
Sister Tabby Ryan

 Narath and Srey Pi
Brother Sophorn's baptism class before brother Thon's baptism
L-R brothers Daran and Veasna
L-R sister Sally Russell, sister Tabby Ryan and brother Dustin Elsea
 Brothers Thon and Sophorn sharing some Bible study

Lunch at the Siem Reap fw flat L-R sisters Tabby Ryan, Sally Russell and Loy Rorn
 A walk through/up the forrest after visiting Preh Vihear province...



 Brother Sorphea's Grandmother
 View from brother Punleu's (Bethezer Dormer) house
 Khmer generosity - guava and chilli
 Khmer custom
 L-R sister Tabby Ryan, brother Punleu holding his nephew, sister Sally Russell, brother Punleu's mother, sister Sokhorn, sister Kimsrean, brother Punleu's sister, sister Loy Saraum, brother Veasna, brother Dustin Elsea, brother Thon
At sister Vichara's family's house L-R sister Tabby Ryan, sister Sally Russell, sister Vichara's sister, sister Kimsrean, sister Vichara's mother
 L-R brother Dustin, sister Sokhorn, sister Loy, Srey Pi
Innovation


Province house window



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