A team of 13 mission trippers from Faith Methodist Church took time to serve the Lord and His people in Siem Reap from 5 to 10 June. It was a faith building experience for the team as they served alongside our Cambodian brothers and sisters to bless the villagers. Read more about their experience through their collective reflections below:
Dear Church Family,
Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
As part of Faith Methodist Church’s M25 initiative, the team partnered with Love-A-Village to organize an introductory mission trip to Siem Reap, Cambodia. On June 5, our team—comprising 11 adults, 1 teenager, and 2 young children—set out with excitement and a measure of uncertainty. Many of us began the trip feeling unsure of what we could offer. Would we be able to make any meaningful contribution? What could we offer to the people who have already endured so much, with so little? These questions weighed on our hearts.
But as we started engaging and interacting with the Cambodians, observing and listening to their testimonies, our doubts turned into wonder. Despite limited resources, the believers radiated joy, passion, and unwavering hope—teaching us the power of spiritual richness. They embodied Paul’s message in Philippians 4:11–13 on finding contentment through Christ. Thanks be to God that the experience was deeply joyful and filled with gratitude. While we had hoped to be a blessing to others, it was us who were richly blessed through the people we interacted with and the experiences we had over the 5 days in Siem Reap.
With guidance from Janice, we were privileged to:
- Visit relocated village families and learn about their daily challenges.
- Enjoy warm hospitality and a home-cooked meal at Run Ta Ek Church, with the opportunity to worship alongside Pastor Da’s dynamic church family and bless about 60 village families with 20 kg rice pack each.
- Engage with students at Thansure School and witness Principal Yoo’s inspiring vision for a new campus building.
- Attend worship at Siem Reap Methodist Church, hear its early history from Pastor Sopheak, and connect with enthusiastic Sunday school children.
The village home visits were particularly poignant. At one of the home visits, we came across 2 sisters, Tear-ry and Sombra.
Tear-ry, the younger sister, is a believer who found hope and healing in Christ after a life-changing stroke at age 30 left her unable to walk and with impaired vision.
In her darkest moments, she searched for spiritual comfort—first in Buddhism, but her blurred vision made the texts unreadable. Miraculously, when she turned to the Bible, the words became clear, and she received healing for her eyes. This experience deepened her faith and brought her closer to God.
Despite her faith, life remains challenging for Tear-ry and her older sister Sombra. Sombra, who is not a Christian and has resisted Tear-ry’s beliefs, tends to their small vegetable garden, helping to put food on the table. The sisters survive on dwindling savings and the kindness of friends and neighbors who bring them meals.
One of their greatest daily struggles is the lack of having a toilet in their home. Also, their bathroom lacked a roof. Both sisters had to rely on their neighbors’ toilets which was a situation that is not only inconvenient but also undignified. Moved by their situation, the team and members of our Life group contributed to fund the building of a private toilet and bathroom with a roof. Construction is now underway, offering Tear-ry and Sombra hope for improved living conditions and restored dignity.
In the midst of our service, the following Bible verse came to mind: Isaiah 58:11 (NIV)
“The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.”
អេសាយ ៥៨:១១ (Khmer Standard Version)
ព្រះអម្ចាស់ នឹងដឹកនាំអ្នកជានិច្ច ទោះបីអ្នកដើរនៅក្នុងវាលហួតហែងក្តី ក៏ព្រះអង្គប្រទានអាហារដ៏បរិបូណ៌អោយអ្នក និងប្រទានអោយអ្នកមានកម្លាំងមាំមួន។ អ្នកនឹងប្រៀបដូចជាសួនច្បារ ដែលសម្បូណ៌ទៅដោយទឹក ឬដូចជាប្រភពទឹកដែលមិនចេះរីង។
This wasn’t merely a trip — we returned with cherished experiences, new relationships, opened hearts, and broadened perspectives. Now that we are back in Singapore, we will continue to prayerfully consider how we can be a blessing—through financial contributions, future mission trips, or simply sharing the stories of God’s work in Siem Reap.
May the seeds planted from this trip blossom into a harvest beyond our imagination.
With love and blessings,
June 5-10 Siem Reap M25 Mission trippers,
Faith Methodist Church
If your church is looking for mission partnership opportunities, email Janice (Janicetay23@hotmail.com) to find out more.
Prayer Update: We are thankful that a ceasefire deal was agreed between both countries. Do continue to keep both countries in prayer that they may seek peace amidst their negotiations. Pray also for our brothers and sisters that they may be able to bless the villagers who are displaced, injured and brokenhearted.
Blessing,
LAV