As Thanksgiving comes to a close and we look forward to Christmas, I’m very grateful for the experiences and connections that I made while in Cambodia on missions. I knew when I committed to the trip in March that October 2025 was going to be a very intense season, with a job transition earlier in the summer and Nicolas applying to colleges in the fall. But I also knew that I could be easily tempted to make work and school a priority rather than serving God, so when the opportunity came, I decided to let go of my worries and go. Come September, I regretted that decision many times as I juggled preparing for the trip with projects at work while supporting Nicolas in researching schools and writing essays. Despite my reservations, God truly gave me a sense of peace on the evening of our flight. I closed the laptop of my work computer and (hurriedly) packed the final supplies into my suitcase, knowing that God would care for my family, work could wait a week, and whatever items I might forget, I would not miss. 

One highlight from the trip was speaking to a group of entrepreneurs and professionals through a Business as Missions event on our first night in Phnom Penh. It was humbling to share about how I sought to model Jesus by being redemptive rather than transactional or extractive in my career, while also hearing about their struggles building businesses in an overwhelmingly Buddhist country. John Gim, the missionary running the program, warned us of these challenges, indicating that, for example, every storefront would have a Buddhist shrine at its entrance, and Christian business owners are faced with real financial losses if they choose not to do the same. Nonetheless, John also shared an exciting vision for an outreach and training center to equip Cambodian professionals as a way to bring people to God and build civil society. Pray for John and his wife Carol as they work to launch in spring 2026. In fact, Living Faith Community Church will be hosting a meal and visit with them in Fresh Meadows on Th 12/11, from 7-8:30p. Please let me know if you would like to join!

Another highlight included the time we spent in Ank’jeay village, a few hours drive from Phnom Penh. Luke and Sokha Smith were so kind and generous in hosting our entire team as we taught Bible stories to the village children, provided exercise classes to local women, and supported a day-long medical clinic for people of all ages. It was the fourth time our church visited this village since the first trip in 2017. It was amazing to see how faithful God has been. Some of the children team members met on that first trip are now in college in Phnom Penh, serving in their churches in the city. As I taught or helped with crafts, some faces stood out to me: a group of older boys that would answer questions despite giving off the perception that they were ‘too cool for school’, the auntie who was most enthusiastic about the Zumba moves, the sweet girl who sent us all off with small notes when we left. In many ways, these moments are not that different from those I might have with people in NYC. It gave me a hopeful picture of how rich and universal God’s family is.

There are so many stories from my time in Cambodia. I’m happy to share more. But I do encourage you to go and see for yourself, so that you might also have your own firsthand stories to tell. One of my biggest doubts was that I didn’t have a special skill or talent to bring to the team–I wasn’t a medical professional or an educator, I couldn’t play an instrument, and I didn’t speak Khmer. At one point on the day of the medical clinic, I sat at the prayer table, where a local pastor would share the gospel and pray for each individual or family after they received medical care. I could not understand anything that was said, but I would pray silently as each person listened politely, prayed with the pastor, and then left. It’s easy at that moment to think that there was no impact to our actions, but I trust that seeds were being planted that will bear fruit in mighty ways long after we are gone. In the end, that is the story: God doesn’t need your gifts. Jesus made it possible for broken, imperfect people to bring his good news to the world. He only needs you to be open to how he will use you. Take that first step and be surprised at where it will lead.

– Jamie

Many of you may recognize me as the “doorman” that stands in the back during Sunday service. When the announcement was made for Cambodia missions this year, I originally had no intention of going. I was busy with work, family, and life in general. Several members approached me and suggested for me to go to Cambodia. My response was, “I will pray about it.” I didn’t pray about it immediately, but it was one of those things that you put in the back of your mind as “I’ll get to it later.” Eventually, I did pray about it, and I can tell you for sure God listens and answers prayers. I suppose He motivated some of the church members as they “coincidentally” encouraged me to join missions on a random Sunday 1 by 1. With all that being said. I can tell you today it was a choice I’d gladly say yes to again.

Once I made the commitment to go, I made sure to set time aside to prepare my heart and to pray. Spending time together with the team praying, and preparing for the missions was a great in itself. Each team member was proactive and always offering to help.

When the time finally came to fly out to Cambodia, we were greeted with a care package and many prayers from our church family. We truly appreciated everyone’s prayers while we were overseas.

When we got there, we worked with several teams that were so dedicated to Cambodia. Luke & Sohka, Dr. Mark and his team, John and Carol, Paul, and John. We started in the city to work with different ministries and then made our way over to the village. We had so many great experiences from learning about the missionaries, the history of Cambodia and its tragic story of Khmer Rouge, working and having fellowship with locals, participating with the medical aid and fitness for the people of the city and the village, and teaching them about God at the same time. All the while we still had a joyous time with great food.

For me being able to share moments with God’s people on the other side of the world was a truly great experience. Seeing how He touches the lives of people in Cambodia and in different ways was amazing. As a follower of Christ, we want to put our faith into action and this was one of the ways we did it. To be a part of a bigger plan that God put together is humbling. I witnessed his restoration in people that suffered unspeakable difficulties. I saw how he brought people together to serve a unified purpose of love. And I saw the result of gathered prayers that brought hope and joy. I’m really thankful for the wonderful team that God brought together for this mission. Spending exclusive time with each member and getting to know them better was special to me. I also truly appreciate the support of our entire church family and want to say thank you to you all once again.

There were so many different experiences to share but too much for this testimony. I invite you all to read our blog below and enjoy the video above.

– Steve

Our church’s missions trip to Cambodia is short, yet the week is filled with so many faces, stories, and moments that it’s hard to capture fully in words. I hope you’ll watch the video that our teammate Andrew created that shows just some of these moments, but I also want to share about three women who especially impacted me this year.

Srey Kuch, a medical student, spent a day with our team as we taught medical lectures and saw patients together at the Family Clinic in Phnom Penh. She then joined us in Angk’jeay village later in the week, using her excellent English to help me as we saw patients together. Her compassion, care and eagerness to learn refreshed and motivated me. She took the time to listen to each person’s story and empathized with the difficult circumstances many faced—the lack of clean water, family separation due to parents working in the city, and limited access to healthcare. Her dedication reminded me what a privilege it is to care for patients as medical professionals. Though she isn’t a Christian, I told her I can clearly see how gifted she is and how God is using her to care for others. God placed her to be taught by Christian mentors in Family Clinic for a reason. I pray she will one day see that too.

Sokha, a Cambodian missionary with Mission to the World (MTW), has a life story that beautifully reflects God’s grace—from childhood hardship in an orphanage to coming to know Christ and dedicating her life to ministry. She and her husband Luke always welcome us into their home and ministries in Angk’jeay. Although we come to serve, they continually serve us through their incredible hospitality. Throughout the week—whether through youth lessons, Bible studies, health classes, exercise activities, or our ‘Annual Village Foot Race’—Sokha joyfully welcomed neighbors, translated and ceaselessly cared for everyone around her. She is a tangible example of God’s love pouring out of a person. Without a doubt, God placed her and her family in Angk’jeay village for His purposes. As Luke and Sohka build a new church in the village and to serve their community, I pray God continues to use the Smiths to raise up the next generation of believers.

Lastly, Konthea, the social worker at the Dahlia Dorm, once lived there herself after being rescued from trafficking. Through MTW’s Freedom Ministries, she completed university and earned a master’s in social work. She shared how she first understood love because missionaries, Mark and Laura, would always tell her they loved her. She couldn’t understand how they could love her knowing her past, but they love her because God loves them. Now she shares that same love with the girls she serves.

These women are just a small glimpse of how God is at work in Cambodia. He has placed each of us in His bigger story, one He has already written.

Thank you for supporting our missions team. It is a joy and privilege to witness God’s work around the world and to be inspired by His people. Please continue to pray for these women, the missionaries faithfully serving and the people of Cambodia!

– Joanne

When Pastor Phil strongly encouraged our team to post our testimonies from our recent missions trip to Cambodia, I thought of many reasons to postpone it. Writing reflections does not come naturally to me. However, now that it is done, I am grateful for this opportunity to remember and give thanks.

Our team was so blessed during our time in Cambodia. God was so good to us. Something that God showed me over and over again on this trip was hope in the midst of brokenness.

• We were privileged to spend time at Dahlia Dorm, the home for girls who were rescued from sex trafficking. They experienced violence that no one should go through. Some of them have literal scars on their bodies. Yet, missionaries Mark and Laura provided a safe home for them to get healing from their trauma, go to school, learn a trade and laugh. A highlight was participating in a game of Captain Ball with the girls. Seeing them run, compete, laugh, and enjoy life was unforgettable. 

• When we came to the Angk’jeay last year, missionary Luke shared his vision for a church in the village. Currently his house serves as residence for their family, English ministry site, church, youth hangout site. I don’t think that I would be as gracious as them to have so many people constantly in my personal space. This year we walked through the almost completed church compound. We were so impressed by the thoughtfulness of the new church buildings and short-term team dormitory.

• My least favorite part of the week has always been the medical outreach. It is mostly because it is where I feel most inadequate and least prepared. This year I supported Sothy as he saw patients. He and his family are from Angk’jeay Village. He went to Phnom Penh to study and is currently a resident doctor at Family Clinic. His goal is to return to Angk’jeay and serve as the doctor. I was so encouraged to see what the future of medical care in the village will be like with this kind, smart, young Christian doctor.

• We learned that there are less than 3% Christians in Cambodia. Buddhist temples are everywhere. In the midst of this darkness, we had the privilege of serving with the local Christians at Khmer Christian Church. Not only do they worship God on Sundays, two of the floors house students who come to study from the village. During the week they have various outreaches from English classes to the young kids, bible study for young adults and Business as Missions training for entrepreneurs. 

It was such an honor to witness God moving in Cambodia with such a loving team of servants from Living Faith Community Church. Thank you so much for your support. Truly without your support, this trip would not have been possible.

 – Ji Soo

Let us reflect on Psalm 117—Praise the Lord, all nations! Extol him, all peoples! For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord!

This was the psalm I was reflecting on while I was preparing to go to Cambodia to witness His work for His beloved people. I was amazed at how in a spiritually dark country where less than 3% of the people know Jesus as their Savior our loving Father is at work. In Cambodia, the spiritual warfare is obvious but you can see how bright the light of Jesus shines in the lives of Christians we met during our trip. This is only possible because of the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in them.

In the rural village, the missionaries Luke and Sokha open up their home to the local children and minister to them so faithfully and generously through English classes, music lessons and gym time. I was humbled at how they do this in obedience to their calling. In the village, their home is called the “Jesus house”. How amazing is that? That the entire village knows they will be loved at the “Jesus house”. It is no easy task hosting 50 kids on an almost daily basis and even feeding them snacks. At one praise and worship time I was sitting next to a little girl sharing the sheet music and she knew the English words by heart and we were singing the same song together. It was a glimpse of what heaven will be like. Praising our Lord with all nations and people in one voice in harmony. It was a moment to cherish for me. The village kids grow up and they go to college in the capital of Phnom Penh sponsored by the MTW Presbyterian churches. It was a blessing to meet these young people who were thriving in college and serving the local churches as well as translating for missions teams. It was encouraging to witness their desire to learn scripture and to grow spiritually. It was a blessing for me to even pray with one of the students as she was asking for prayer.

As a team, we tried to teach about physical and emotional wellbeing with lessons on nutrition, physical exercises and stretching as well as participate in a health fair for the village. We even organized a 1K race where the winners were running bare feet or in sandals! It was a joyous celebration! We also got to meet ladies who were human trafficked but by God’s grace were rescued and living in a dorm. We saw how God restored them to Jesus and how they have hope for the future ahead. They had such zeal and joy to live and also lots of energy to play a game called Captain Ball (cross between soccer and basketball) where our team was invited to play. These ladies even invited us to their devotion time after the game when we don’t understand their language. That’s how the gospel opened their hearts to what is good and to people again.

Despite being in Cambodia for only 7 full days God showed me His abundance for His people, His global church, our team and myself personally. The Lord reminded me once again of His love and faithfulness. It’s so easy to forget how much God loves us in the day to day. I’m so thankful to have had this humbling and uplifting experience knowing God does not forget His promises. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28). I have so many other stories and moments to share and would love to share with you in person. God has not forgotten the nations. He will work for His glory. I’m thankful to be included in the journey. Praise the Lord for His faithfulness endures forever!

– Sumin

This was my second trip to Cambodia in back-to-back years so needless to say, I had a blessed time previously, hence the encore. I hopped on last year with a “let me say ‘yes’ first and figure things out later” attitude, this year was no different initially, until I experienced a bit of “cold feet” in the months leading up. Many of you showed timely prayer and strong financial support (once again), so your affirmation really helped me press on with the knowledge that I was not doing it alone. Furthermore, with a team of seven this time around and everyone being a humble, communicative team player, all responsibilities were handled with ease, which also elevated my spirit over the pre-trip slumps.

I ended last year’s reflection with the words from a “wise man” advising Bono, singer of U2, “Get involved in what God is doing—because it’s already blessed.” So I went with a strong sense of confidence that God would show up, or more precisely, I would meet Him and witness His movements through the missionaries and Khmer locals. Once again, He did not disappoint.

I was awestruck and inspired by the tireless, ever-giving attitude of the local MTW team. Though definitely talented and equipped in their own ways, I could tell that our missionary friends were sustained not by human efforts, but by the guidance and protection of the Holy Spirit. From their incessant care and dedication in discipling the young and old, to the promising new outreach opportunities and upcoming church plant in the village to spread the gospel, the joy of God’s redemptive work was a common thread through all that we witnessed and heard—despite generational trauma, cyclical abuse/human trafficking, fragile political climate and 95% of the country adhering to Buddhism.

My desire since being back has been to preserve senses of wonder and gratitude from the trip as long as possible. I have caught myself in nostalgia rereading highlights below written by our team, and flipping through the many photos taken. However, my deeper longing is to be more sensitive to God’s movement in this city of New York we call home, as I believe He is as powerful, active and restorative locally as overseas. May our lives humbly reflect glimpses of heaven on earth:

“As Jesus walked, so I shall walk
Held by Your same unchanging love
Be still my soul, O lift your voice and pray
’Father, not my will but Yours be done.’”
CityAlight, “Your Will Be Done”

– Andrew

In today’s modern times, our attention is thought to be the most valuable commodity. In order to capture and keep our attention, companies spend millions on ads, algorithms. They know it and we know it. Seldom do we sit still and focus on a single task. Rarely do we perform a simple task without a smartphone in our hands, during which our thoughts and even our physical actions are interrupted by scrolling. The constant pinging of notifications and our own sense of fomo keeps us from being content, grateful, and still. Layered on top of this are our busy schedules; early morning drop offs, back-to-back work calls, ‘what’s for dinner,’ and the driving of our kids’ activities. I will be the first to admit that it is very difficult to find time and brain space for God.

The Scriptures constantly remind us to be still. Only in stillness of thought and in meditative mindset can we truly indulge in communion and fellowship with God. For me, it was difficult to reconcile the two realities; I felt exhausted and was yearning for deep fellowship with God and a mode of being ‘in prayer. But I could not exercise discipline to resist distraction and to turn away from that which made me cower to the demands of this world.

With the growth of the global church, availability of technology anywhere in the world, general global economic growth, and the presence of real needs in every community in my city, state, and country, no one should need to go halfway across the world to engage in fellowship with God, communicate with other believers, or give time to help and encourage those in need. All that being true, I had no doubt that placing myself physically in a short-term missions setting in a country that is foreign to me every way, as well as mentally in a less-distracted space would do me plenty of good.

And boy, was God gracious with blessing me with a jam-packed week full of encouragement, blessing, and worthwhile challenges! We were encouraged by the MTW’s Cambodia-based missionaries who are so dedicated and focused in their ministries. We were humbled by how they used all their skills, time, energy, and heart to show Christ’s love to the Cambodian people. Witnessing how these carefully-planned individual programs worked over the years to support an individual’s personal, spiritual, emotional, and even professional growth was stunning. Seeing that through these ministries, how a person can go from utterly broken and destitute to thriving and, in some cases, are now being used to serve as future ministry leaders of the Cambodian church was compelling. Only God can produce these miracles of the heart. And jointly processing all these experiences with a team of souls who love the Lord as they do and are hungry for the arrival of His Kingdom was nothing like anything I have ever experienced. I will yearn for deep fellowship such as this in the months and years to come.

Once I returned back home, as I reflected on my short but incredibly full week in Cambodia, all my meditations led me back to a slide show of the beautiful faces I met there, the morning devotionals I shared with my teammates, the details of the testimonies shared by our MTW missionaries that showed such a love for this country, and the note given to me by a 9-year old girl that said “I love you.”

The slide show also shows the inconsistencies of my feelings: how I felt so encouraged, yet in despair by the spiritual state of the country and its brutal history. It showed the discomfort that we sat in, that God wanted us to sit in, so that we can see how God takes even the most depraved acts of sins and turns them into lives full of redemption and hope. My only lasting hope and prayer is that more of our LFCC members will participate in a missions trip, and that we will teach our children and youth to consider missions to be a vital aspect of their Christian life.

– Hyojung

Sunday, October 12, 2025

Day Nine: Homeward Bound

Sunday marked our final day in Cambodia and we met as usual at 7am for breakfast/devotional. We knew John Lee (seminarian and missionary serving in the church’s dorm ministry) would meet us at the hotel to accompany us to the airport, but were surprised by Paul Lee (MTW's regional director for Southeast Asia), who stopped by to say a final farewell before heading to church. We were all encouraged by the care, hospitality and friendships of our missionary friends, as they truly exemplify the life of Christ in all they do.

After flying 3.5 hours from Techo (Phnom Penh) to Taoyuan (Taipei)—along with a 2-hour layover—we embarked on our 15-hour flight back to New York, and touched down safely at JFK shortly after 10pm.

Though our weeklong journey has concluded, God’s redemptive work continues in the nation of Cambodia and beyond. While we were all humbled by our service experience, every person we met, every smile we encountered, and every testimony we heard, also gave us the confidence to proceed with our lives back home with a sense of hope and renewal.

Please pray for our missionary friends’ physical, emotional and spiritual well-being. They are truly heroic servants in the missions field. May they continue to “rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances,” as they reflect God’s will through their work (1 Thess 5:16-18). Remember us also, as we are now back in the grind:

• Andrew – May his heart of wonder and gratitude from this trip be long-lasting.

• Hyojung – To remain prayerful in remembrance of this experience, and not despair.

• Jamie – Thankful to be able to take advantage of every moment of this trip; pray for quality rest.

• Ji Soo – To stop stressing about tasks, but focus on glorifying God.

• Joanne – To not be anxious about work, family and related tasks.

• Steve – Would like to carry on with this spiritual momentum.

• Sumin – To remain prayerful, and be inspired to be missional.

Thanks for your partnership and for journeying with us! 🫶

– Andrew

Saturday, October 11, 2025

Day Eight: Back in Phnom Penh

Today we woke up in Angk’jeay village with the rooster crowing and goats bleating. As we had done on previous days, we ate breakfast then few of us helped Luke’s son feed their three young goats Billy, Lily and Willy. It’s funny how things become routine after a few days.  

We were so touched that several women came to the Smith compound to send us off. We will miss the easy smiles followed by “hello teacher” from the young children, the delicious homemade Khmer foods made by Sokha, the women who came every day to exercise, and our dear Christian brothers and sisters—Luke, Sokha, Hanna and Asa. 

After our drive back to Phnom Penh, we took a quick stop at a large bustling market to buy souvenirs. Our lunch was hosted by Mark and his son Silas.  

Andrew taught music to girls from Dahlia Dorm at a local church while the women on the team spent the afternoon at the dorm. Dahlia Dorm is a safe warm home started by Mark Ambrose and his wife Laura for girls who were rescued from the sex trade. Hyojung led a warm, inspiring devotional on Psalm 139. One of the girls in the dorm shared that since she first met the Ambroses, they kept on telling her over and over that they loved her. She did not trust this and thought, how can someone who barely knows her love her? They told her, we love you because Jesus loved us first. She said that had such a profound impact on her life. Once she was able to accept that Jesus loved her, she was able to trust in Mark and Laura’s love too. Even after the unimaginable suffering she went through, God’s love was able to break through and wrap her in His transformative love. What a privilege to spend time with the girls and with Mark. Please pray for Laura who continues to struggle with debilitating physical impairments and could not join us today.

We took Polaroid pictures and decorated picture frames that reinforced Psalm 139 verse 14, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made: your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” We wanted them to know that they are beautiful in God’s eyes.

From the dorm, we went to an outdoor field to play “Captain Ball.” It’s something like basketball except you pass the ball and someone on a chair catches it. Do what we did, Google it for more information, it’s a lot of fun. The Captain Ball league was started by Pastor James as a sports outreach. We sweated, laughed at ourselves and had the perfect ending to our time in Cambodia.  

Our debrief with Mark was at a Jars of Clay Cafe, a place that employs former sex trade workers. Our hearts and bellies were full as we recounted how may times we were blessed by Him during our stay in Cambodia. Please pray for us as we leave tomorrow morning for our long journey back to New York.

– Ji Soo

Friday, October 10, 2025

Day Seven: Running the Race with Jesus

Today was our last full day in Angk’jeay village. We continued our wellness workouts with the ladies bright and early at 8am. Jamie led us in a balance and stretching session followed by JiSoo’s strength class using resistance bands. The ladies had so much fun laughing and realizing how strong their bodies can be. Then we had a brisk walking workout for 1 mile total. It was so nice to walk with the ladies and enjoy the views of green pastures and endless skies. Steve played basketball with the boys and missionary Luke. Andrew led guitar lessons for a group of teenage girls. What a busy and blessed morning we had!

After lunch, we led the English class and Bible study for about 60 students. Jamie led a Bible study on Jesus calming the storm with praise led by Andrew and Joanne. Our resident craft guru Jisoo led origami paper folding with the other half of the students. The students really enjoyed learning how to fold paper to make Jesus and a boat. Even the older boys were engaged!

Then it was time for the 2nd annual Angk’jeay village race! It was a culminating event to celebrate all that was learned during our wellness workshops. Hyojung organized, planned and executed the most amazing 1K race. There were winners for younger boys, girls, older boys and women. You could feel the excitement in the air as the kids lined up to race. Though the race was not too long all the participants had smiling faces as they crossed the finish line. The grandmother that won the ladies’ race last year won again! She also came to every one of our exercise classes and cheered us all up with her bright and energetic spirit. There was music, flags, medals and prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places. May God remind them to persevere and continue to run the race with Jesus.

The evening ended with worship songs led by Andrew with Joanne giving a talk on Jeremiah 17:7-8. She led a talk on how to thrive both physically and spiritually. All the kids were reminded of how much God loves them and desires them to have healthy bodies and to surround themselves with healthy friendships and communities. Joanne truly has the gift of teaching and making things easy to understand. As we said goodbye to the students, it was bittersweet. Some kids came to give us warm hugs and smiles and even homemade gifts! Though our time in the village was only a few days I was so encouraged that we are part of a greater family in Christ. Praise the Lord for revealing His work and His love for Angk’jeay village. We were so blessed by the love of everyone we met here! May God continue to bless this village with His abundant grace!

– Sumin

Thursday, October 9, 2025

Day Six: Serving the Locals

Day 6 began with a walk over to the new church being built by Pastor Luke. It was a good time to walk, as the temperature was bearable. Pastor Luke showed us each of the buildings, which included what will be the sanctuary, 2 classrooms, and personal quarters for future mission team members. We spent a few moments to capture the peace of the morning and the future to come.

After returning to the mission site, things were starting to get busy as there were patients already filling up the basketball court, which was converted to a medical clinic site, for the day. We would be working with Dr. Mark and his team from the Phnom Penh family clinic. We were split up and given responsibilities to support the clinic. Joanne, JiSoo, and Sumin would see patients while Andrew, Jaime, Hyojung, and Steve assisted with non-medical tasks. As the day went on, it got busier in the clinic with all stations being occupied. Jaime, Hyojung, and Andrew took in patients that were in need of reading glasses. With teamwork, patience, and kindness, they were able to control the traffic coming in while still delivering a great experience to the patients. Jaime also aided Pastor Samuth with praying for the patients as they came out of the pharmacy section. Meanwhile, Dr. Joanne, JiSoo, and Sumin worked vigorously non-stop to see patients and provide medical attention that was desperately needed. Some of the patients wait for opportunities like these for medical evaluation due to the difficulty with the healthcare system in Cambodia. Steve acted as a floater, guiding some patients to the next area or resuming a moment of his doorman duties from Sunday service for the glasses department. Steve and Andrew also ended up finding their calling for the medical clinic, as pharm techs filling up mini bags of pills for the pharmacy team.

For lunch, all teams enjoyed some delicious chicken and rice, with fresh coconut water to go along with it. The teams regrouped for the second session of the day shortly after. The amount of patients that arrived for the second session were not nearly as much as the morning, but it was enough to keep the clinic occupied. As the session came to a close, the teams gathered for some socializing and finished with a team photo. We said our goodbyes to those we would not be seeing the rest of the trip and discussed the highly anticipated Captain's Ball for Saturday with the others. The incoming heavy rain officially signified the end of the day as our team rushed back into the house. After some rest and with the rain coming to a halt, the team decided to go back out to survey the conditions for the annual race that would take place the next day. We got to see more of the neighborhood as well as Asa's school. With the day coming to a close, we enjoyed another one of Sokha's delicious meals for dinner and debriefed to prepare for the next day of serving our Gracious Lord and Savior.

– Steve

Wednesday, October 8, 2025

Day Five: God’s Faithfulness on Display

It was our first day in the village and what a fulfilling day it was! We have enjoyed the incredible hospitality of our church’s missionary partners, Luke and Sokha Smith, who have welcomed us into their home and to participate in their village ministry.  

We started the day with a time of exercise with men and women from the village.  Jisoo taught about the importance of building healthy bones and then we put words into action as Sumin led us in stretching, HyoJung got everyone laughing and dancing with her Zumba moves and Steve led us in several strengthening and aerobic exercises.  Boy did we all work up a sweat!  It was a joy to exercise together, encouraging each other toward better health.

In the afternoon, Andrew, Hyojung, Jamie, Steve and Sumin led the kids in songs, a Bible story and crafts.  Typically, on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays, Luke and Sokha hold English classes for kids. This time, the parents of the children were also invited to come.  Jisoo helped the parents create frames for photos that were printed before our trip and brought over.  The parents really enjoyed crafting and seeing beautiful photos of themselves and their families, a nice treasure to keep.  Joanne then gave a talk on “Raising Healthy Children” and shared the message of God’s love.   

Our team then headed over to the home of a church member for Bible study.  The woman whose house we met at was the same woman who was hospitalized last year due to life-threatening complications of liver cancer.  When our team was here last year, we prayed for her healing and asked our church to pray as well.  Amazingly, she has been in remission from her cancer!  What a privilege it is to witness God’s faithfulness and to praise, pray and study God’s Word together.  As we left, a rainbow appeared beyond the rice fields.

The evening ended with our team sharing our testimonies with the youth.  We started with a time of praise, we were surprised that they still knew the songs Andrew had taught last year!  Hearing the testimonies of my fellow team-members was a great reminder of God’s faithfulness and the incredible ways he has molded our lives, bringing us here to the country of Cambodia for these special moments.

– Joanne

Tuesday, October 7, 2025

Day Four: What does Cambodia teach us about the Gospel that is unique?

One of our hosts, Paul Lee posed this question while introducing his work supporting churches in Cambodia. As our team split up today to engage in different activities, we began to explore this question further.

We started our day at the Family clinic, where we heard from Dr. Mark Ambrose and his work providing medical care and training in Phnom Penh. The clinic includes both Christians and non-Christians on staff, most of whom are Cambodian nationals. Dr. Mark and his wife Laura also run the Dahlia Dorm, a ministry that works to rehabilitate girls who have overcome human trafficking and reintegrate them into loving community. 

Despite some misgivings on how to present their content in a Cambodia context, Joanne, Sumin, and Ji Soo provided medical lectures for students and residents, and helped with seeing patients during the day. Joanne remarked that one particular doctor has been on staff since before she starting coming to Cambodia in 2019, even though he is a non-believer. His continued presence is a testament not only the professional excellence at the clinic, but also the care and sense of belonging that he experiences there. 

Andrew enjoyed his time reconnecting with Orchea, who runs the Worship Institute for MTW Cambodia. They shared many things from music, recording, guitar playing to parenting, marriage, ministry, and even a bit of Photoshop tips.

Carol Gim, whose husband John we met on Monday, took Hyojung, Steve, and Jamie went on a somber visit to Tuol Sleng. The prison was one of the most notorious interrogation centers of the Cambodian genocide, where the Khmer Rogue killed nearly a quarter of the country’s population through execution and famine from 1975-1979. Carol shared that this brutal history still has far reaching impacts on Cambodian society today, where there are few elderly, social and physical infrastructure continues to rebuild, and unprocessed trauma can manifest in domestic violence or substance abuse. 

It was undoubtedly a difficult day, where we witnessed the depths of human depravity through stories from Dahlia Dorm and Tuol Sleng. Still, I felt it was important to sit in this discomfort. After touring the museum, we stopped to pray, looking towards to the hope of Christ’s redemption and restoration in the dark places we see around the world and in our lives. 

We also stopped at Brown Coffee, a Khmer-owned chain, to hear more about Carol and John’s ministry. It was inspiring to hear about their plans for a management training center geared towards Cambodia’s young professionals–as the first step towards starting a church to reach that demographic. We also prayed for some of the challenges they have been experiencing during their time here.

We saw a further glimpse of Christ’s restoration during our evening Bible study, where I was movd by one young woman from the Dahlia Dorm who carefully traced the words of the passage in her Khmer Bible. 

So what does Cambodia teach us about the Gospel? That story still continues, but I’ve learned in my short time here that through God’s grace, deep love and resilience persists despite profound challenges.

And what is your unique perspective on the Gospel? Wherever you may be in life or in the world, our collective picture of who God is would truly be incomplete without your voice. May our time here in Cambodia encourage you to reflect on and share your story as well. 

– Jamie

Monday, October 6, 2025

Day Three: God’s Enduring Love for Cambodia

Day 3 of our trip began with our orientation with Paul Lee, who has been serving as a missionary in Cambodia since 2010. He shared about he and his family’s work in Cambodia, emphasizing that this has always been and is God’s mission. We were very encouraged by his conviction for training and raising up church leaders in Cambodia.  

We continued our day with a visit to the Institute for Cambodia Church History, where we learned that the C&MA (Christian & MIssionary Alliance) entered Cambodia in 1923, thus starting the Christian movement and growth. We learned of God’s enduring love for Cambodia and the faithfulness of His followers, even in the midst of the horrific atrocities of the Khmer Rouge between 1975-1979. What a powerful reminder that God’s love for His people knows no bounds and barriers; He has, is, and will use people from all over the world to bring glory to himself.  

We enjoyed lunch and fellowship with Susan, Paul and Nate (their younger son), encouraged by their love for the youth and the pastors in their various ministries. In preparation for our English children’s outreach, the ladies of the team joined forces with the college-aged members of KCC to conduct a prayer walk/door-to-door invitation to the neighbors near KCC (Khmer Christian Church). What a unique opportunity to meet God’s people of Phnom Penh and to pray for them! God blew our expectation; whilst we had expected perhaps a dozen children, we learned quickly that God’s plan called for 33! What an energetic group! Joanne led the group through 2 worship songs and motions, Hyojung shared the beautiful story of the Book of Ruth, Ji Soo led the group through crafts, and Jamie wrapped up the session with some games that the kids enjoyed.

The ladies’ evening ended with a time of testimony and a workout session with the college/young adult group. Our team shared beautiful testimonies, encouraging the young believers to enjoy this life of walking with God, to guard and grow this beautiful community of believers, and to lean on prayer for all hardship and blessings of life that will surely come. Our intention was to share that our God who is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow created them and that He intends for them to have an enriching spiritual life of walking closely in His midst. Sumin led the group through a relaxing stretching routine and Hyojung took the group through a thoroughly entertaining session of Zumba. 

In another side of town, Andrew and Steve partnered with missionary John Lee, did conversational English lessons with 16 students aged 9-40. Everyone was eager to learn and got to know each other through their dialogues. Steve then ran a basketball clinic, did some drills with the participants, had some half- and full court action as well.

– Hyojung

Sunday, October 5, 2025

Day Two: Safe Arrival

We arrived right before noon at the brand new Techo International Airport and were greeted warmly by our missionary friends Susan Lee and John Gim. We got to rest briefly at our hotel, then headed out at 3pm to Khmer Christian Church (KCC) for our activities.

John first shared with us about his work in the area of BAM (Business As Missions). It was encouraging to hear that there has been growth both through the people they serve (bi-vocational pastors and believers who are business owners), as well as a potential ministry space right in the city center of Phnom Penh in the near future. We then “divided and conquered”—Jamie, Hyojung and Steve gave talks during the BAM weekly meeting (I provided tech support), while Ji Soo, Sumin and Joanne led the KCC Women's Fellowship.

Since I presented a year ago at BAM, I was mostly observing this time around. It was eye-opening to learn how my teammates have honored God and integrated faith in their respective professions, as they encouraged the Khmer locals to do the same. Meanwhile, I was told that heartfelt sharing, “stop and pray,” and much fun were experienced by the women right downstairs, PTL!

Before we parted ways in the evening, Susan thanked me (for the second time today) for being back again this year. I was shocked by her gratitude and replied, “What?! Thank YOU for inspiring us in the missions field!” Indeed, God is doing amazing things through them and I’m just glad to tag along for the ride.

We are expecting great things this week, please stay tuned.

– Andrew

Saturday, October 4, 2025

Day One: The Adventure Begins!

The Cambodia team, consisting of Andrew, Hyojung, Jamie, Ji Soo, Joanne, Steve and Sumin, started our journey at NYC JFK airport Friday night. Hyun Hee gifted us thoughtful travel survival gift bags for our flights.

After a 16 hour flight, we are currently resting at a 3 hour layover in Taiwan. Thankfully our second flight to the brand new airport in Phnom Penh is only 2 hours long. 

Thank you for going on this journey with us and covering us with prayers. Please lift up Sumin as she’s still feeling under the weather. May we point to our Lord and Savior as the source of all things good. 

– Ji Soo

Sunday, September 28, 2025

Commissioning & Final Team Meeting

Our church commissioned us during service today. Special thanks to Elder Ken Kurpiewski for his encouragement and prayer—wish he could actually join us on the trip!

In the afternoon, we had our final team meeting to go through itinerary, tasks, logistics, pack up supplies, etc. Pastor Philip Chung also blessed us with the last training session on “Spiritual Awareness” and prayed for us…thank you for equipping us with your insights the past few months.

Jamie had this to say in our Whatsapp chat tonight, “Really starting to get excited for our trip! Very grateful for all the ways that everyone is contributing.”

Five more days to go!

Saturday, September 13, 2025

Food Prep & Team Meeting

Thank you for your generous support, WE ARE FULLY FUNDED!

As a "thank you" to our church community, we prepared some Cambodian-inspired eats—Chicken Amok and Tapioca-Banana Pudding—for lunch after worship service tomorrow. Pastor Philip Chung then joined us remotely at our meeting, and continued with his part 3 of 4 training sessions. We are grateful for his heart for missions and insightful encouragement.

Hyojung, who opened up her home today, commented, “Thank you so much everyone! Great team work, indeed!” Big thanks to the Hasan family for hosting us!

Our trip is less than three weeks away and some of us are feeling overwhelmed. However, God’s faithfulness is evident as we continue to prepare physically, mentally and spiritually.