On 30 Oct, our hearts were warmed by the arrival of a team of 16 trippers from Bay City Church, Sydney who embarked on a powerful mission trip to Cambodia for 5 days. Their purpose was clear: to interact with the children and university students, and share God’s love with them.
The team ministered to the members of Run Ta Ek Church, the children at Peam Sunday School and the university students at SONOKO University Ministry.
Take a look at the photos and captions below to find out what they did for ministry!
Heart-to-Heart Connection: One of the most important parts of the mission is simply listening. The team was deeply moved by the stories of the community, fostering genuine relationships built on mutual respect and love.
Practical Support: Recognizing the physical needs of the community, the team helped distribute essential supplies, including heavy rice packs, directly benefiting church members and helping to ease their daily burdens.
Building Bridges: Through an interaction activity called “What Counts,” the team engaged Cambodian university students in conversations about what matters to them, fostering cross-cultural understanding and providing a natural platform to share the eternal hope found in the Gospel.
Foundational Teaching: Sharing the wonder of God’s creation, the team brought the Bible to life for the children, sowing seeds of faith and introducing them to the foundational truths of the Gospel.
Joy and Fellowship: Amidst the teaching, there was plenty of time for fun! The station games brought bursts of laughter, energy, and fellowship, creating unforgettable memories for both the children and the team.
Reflections from the Team:
The BCC trippers came to serve, but they left having received an immeasurable gift: a clearer vision of God’s faithfulness and priorities. Here are some reflections from the team:
Question: How did God reveal Himself to you?
“God revealed Himself to us by showing us how full He can make these children’s hearts even with the lack of resources. The joy on their faces, despite their circumstances, was a powerful reminder that true happiness comes only from Him. Their simple faith and abundant gratitude showed us that spiritual richness is far more valuable than material wealth.”
“God revealed what is truly important in life, that our worries are so small and different to what the Cambodian people might worry about. In Sydney, we worry about deadlines or traffic; here, people worry about the next meal or clean water. It was incredibly humbling to realize how much we have and how much we take for granted. This experience has shifted our perspective on what constitutes a ‘real’ problem.”
Question: When you return to Sydney, and normal life resumes, how will you ensure you don’t forget what you have experienced here? What is one thing you will do?
The team felt a strong call to make this trip more than just a memory, but a life-long change:
Be More Appreciative of What We Have: We will consciously practice gratitude for the simple necessities we often overlook—clean water, stable housing, and abundant food.
Serve the Lord in Whatever Area Possible: We are inspired to actively seek opportunities to serve, recognizing that mission starts at home, whether in church, the local community, or in our daily jobs.
Be a Leader to Help and Encourage Others: We will use our stories and experiences to inspire our friends and family to volunteer, pray, and financially support the ongoing Cambodia Mission efforts.
Spread the Gospel to Everyone: We commit to boldly sharing the light of God, both in Australia and internationally, ensuring the message of hope we saw here continues to reach others.
Reflections from SONOKO University:
The students from SONOKO were touched by the efforts of the Bay City Church mission team and the leaders shared their reflections:
“The program was really beneficial in helping SONOKO further. At first, some of their questions were a bit deep for our students to understand, but after Janice simplified the questions, I can see that the students had fun and they had learnt from Australian team a lot as well. It helped both groups know each other better and get better in cross-cultural communication. Even the new students were interested in the interaction.
This was a useful way of reaching out to new students and evangelizing to make disciples. Both Christian and non-Christian students learned humility and care from the Australian team and were appreciative of it.”
The life-changing impact shared by the Bay City Church team is only possible because of your faithful prayers and generous financial support. You are directly enabling the spread of the gospel and the improvement of Cambodian lives. Thank you.
Blessings,
LAV team