Stretching and Growing
Looking around at a hall bursting with people singing their hearts out to ‘Our God is an Awesome God’ was one of my favourite moments of the Cambodian Bible School. The guitar and drum were played so enthusiastically many people were dancing as they sang.
Over the six days we were at the Bible School I was reminded again just how amazing our God is. We get to be part of something that is so much bigger than ourselves, and the gospel is just as powerful and relevant here in Cambodia as it is anywhere else in the world!
Cambodian Christadelphian Bible School 2025
One of the greatest joys for me of being in Cambodia has been getting to know the local brothers and sisters. The Khmer culture is polite and gentle, while knowing how to have a good laugh. They love a tease, value family time, and love music. Karaoke and dancing is a common ecclesial activity after Friday night readings!
The biggest challenge for me has been teaching English classes, which is the main form of outreach work at the BEC (Bible Education Centre). I never saw myself as a teacher, much less of English! I started out nervous and feeling very out of my depth, but with practice it has become something I absolutely love. The students who are really invested and ask great questions provide the most rewarding experience - I often leave those classes buzzing and wanting to do it all again, straight away!
One thing that surprised me is just how easy preaching the gospel is here - Cambodia is a secular country, and although the main religion is Buddhism, converting to Christianity is not uncommon. The BEC offers free English classes taught using the Bible, and there are so many people interested that they don’t have enough teachers for all the students who want lessons! It is as Jesus says in Matthew 9:
‘The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few’.
The dorm project in Phnom Penh is also a very successful preaching method - free Christadelphian-funded accommodation available to poor students in exchange for them attending ecclesial activities and Bible lessons.
Phnom Penh ecclesia sisters’ class
Spending nearly three months in Cambodia has helped me so much spiritually! I never knew just how blessed I have been to grow up reading the Bible every day and having a community that lives out the principles of the truth.
It has been a real ‘stretching and growing’ experience for me here; I’ve done a lot of things I never thought I could - such as teaching English classes, helping lead discussion groups and worship with 5 minutes notice, even eating barbecued frog!
It has also been such a helpful perspective reset to realise that living and sharing the gospel is really the only thing that is important in this life. And yes, mission work is all about helping others toward God’s kingdom, but there is also huge personal and spiritual growth that comes from doing it - I have felt so blessed and looked after while being here!
If you’re considering doing mission work, I couldn’t recommend it highly enough. It’s not just for ‘special’ people, everyone can contribute in some way and the blessing and growth that comes from doing it is so rewarding.
Mark 14:8‘She has done what she could’.
If you’d like to know more about mission work in Cambodia, or find out how you can help, I’d love to hear from you! Here are my contact details:
+64 20 4035 2269
A special thanks to WCF for your support to fieldworkers in Cambodia! I’m already looking forward to when I can come back.
Love in the precious hope we share,
Asha