“What can Cambodian church teach us?” One of the participants of vision trip asked a Cambodian senior leader. “There’s no glory without suffering!” His answer was simple, but it had a weight and authority. For it came out of personal experience and conviction that represents the testimony of hundreds of Cambodian believers. The group of church leaders from North America and a few missionaries in Cambodia had a rare opportunity of listening to Cambodian senior leaders sharing their stories of how God saved and shaped Cambodian believers through unbelievable suffering and persecution.
The same question was asked to a younger Cambodian leader at a different place. “What can Cambodian church teach the church in the West or elsewhere?” He looked surprised and struggled to answer. I think it’s because he didn’t expect such a question from an American pastor. His church receives a number of mission teams and visitors every year. Most of them come with an attitude, explicit or implicit, of “What can we do for you? What help do you need?” Most have good intentions. But, short-term missions often reinforce Cambodians’ self-perception of being poor and powerless. Not many outsiders come with humble attitudes and questions, “What is God already doing here? What can we learn? How can we empower Cambodian church?”
I (Gil) had been reluctant to host short term teams. I am not against short-term mission. It can serve many great purposes. I have myself received confirmations for overseas mission calling through short-term mission trips during my college years. But in the Cambodian context, I recognized that the negative consequences of short-term mission trips can overwhelm the positive aspects.
This year, however, I felt it’s about time to give it a try. In partnership with Mission Innovation Team of Resonate, I and my colleagues were able to host a group of 19 people from Christian Reformed Church of North America for two weeks at the end of May. We organized it as a “vision” trip to emphasize its purpose of mission learning and spiritual growth.
The group was diverse. The participants were multi-ethnic and multi-generational and came from different churches in different states. Traveling and getting involved in different activities together provided ample opportunities to have fellowship and get to know each other. And I believe it was a blessing for Cambodians to see and interact with such a diverse group of people which was also a new experience for them. A young Cambodia leader asked to join and participate with the team.
I felt blessed and affirmed through hosting the vision trip. I realized the years of mentoring and training young leaders resulted in a wide network of trusting relationships. I was able to introduce the group to various ministries and leaders without worrying about the negative consequences of short-term missions. I felt proud of these Cambodian leaders and their work and thankful for the way in which I made impact in their lives. It was rather an affirming experience. I think we will host another vision trip next year.
Vision Trip Team With Pastors Sophea & Jenny Sem of NLF Phnom Penh Thmey
Encountering Spiritual Warfare At Work
One of the vision trip participants had a first-hand experience of realities of spiritual warfare in Cambodia. The group went to visit Angkor Wat, a world-famous temple complex. Before they went, Joyce warned them of the fact that it’s an active temple, not just a tourist attraction, and urged them to be prayerful.
At the site, one of the participants had a chance to talk with a couple of tourists. He introduced himself and started sharing the gospel with them. He pointed out rather casually that the Buddhist statues near them were nothing but carved stones and human idols. He didn’t realize he was engaging a spiritual warfare. That night, he couldn’t sleep. At his hotel room, he was tormented by an evil spirit. The next day, he shared that sobering experience with the group.
Thankfully, he was spared and protected by Jesus, but it was a vivid reminder of the reality of dark forces and the need to be vigilant. I remember what a senior missionary told me before he left the field when I asked him for an advice for missionary life in Cambodia. He warned to me to take spiritual warfare more seriously. The manifestation of spiritual forces of darkness and evil spirits is manifold. We all need to put a full armor of God.
Praying For Rural Church Leaders, Kea Tol and Lann Sao, In Kandal Province
Spending a Year In North America
We will be working out of US for the next year (July 2019-June 2020). That is, we are starting our home service sooner than we originally planned starting in June 2020. There are several reasons. One is to be near our children for a season as the transition to life in North America has been more difficult than we thought. We have some work assignments that will benefit from being in North America. Also, we need to increase our financial support level so we hope to connect with new and existing supporters.
As a regional mission leader, one of Joyce’s projects is to work to develop a different ministry and fundraising model for one of the persecuted countries in her region. She is looking for churches and individuals interested in learning how they can contribute to this exciting church and leadership development opportunity (country unnamed for security reasons).
We are grateful to Resonate Global Mission for helping us develop a flexible plan that will allow us to continue projects in Cambodia and SSE Asia with some travel to the field and region. We will be based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and visit supporters and churches from here. Gil will also serve at Calvin Seminary for part of his work plan. Please pray for a fruitful year for our family and ministry out of North America. You can contact us through gsuh@crcna.org or 616-930-1465. We would love to hear from you and meet with you.
Praise and Prayer items
Praise God for the completion of vision trip with safe travels and great opportunities to learn from and pray for Cambodia church. Pray for the participants to take the learning and apply to their lives and work.
God answered our prayers for healing in His grace and providence. We were both suffering pain on our leg and foot for awhile. For Gil's leg, it was due to a motorcycle accident last year. And for Joyce's foot, it was chronic pain on her Achilles tendon. Recently, we were prompted to pray for healing and obeyed. Praise God we are both healed!
Praise God for the new country leader of World Renew Cambodia. Pray for Sovann Neth and his team to continue serve as the light of Christ through community development work.
Pray for Joyce's nephew Matthew and his wife Melissa. Sadly, their child Ariel (age 2) suddenly died while receiving a treatment for leukemia. Joyce was able to visit them and pray with them. Pray also for Joyce's older brother, Randall, who has been struggling to recover from major work accident last year. He has gone through a series of surgeries and infections.
Pray for our work/family balance as we would be working out of US and doing home service. Pray for our children. Mary will finish her senior year in high school in Grand Rapids. Isaac will continue his study at Calvin University. David will be working before resuming his studies.
Thanks to generous and faithful giving of our partner churches and individual supporters. Please continue your prayers and giving for our mission work for Cambodia and beyond even as we would spend a year in US. For online giving, click HERE
Praying for Healing of Cambodians During the Vision Trip
The same question was asked to a younger Cambodian leader at a different place. “What can Cambodian church teach the church in the West or elsewhere?” He looked surprised and struggled to answer. I think it’s because he didn’t expect such a question from an American pastor. His church receives a number of mission teams and visitors every year. Most of them come with an attitude, explicit or implicit, of “What can we do for you? What help do you need?” Most have good intentions. But, short-term missions often reinforce Cambodians’ self-perception of being poor and powerless. Not many outsiders come with humble attitudes and questions, “What is God already doing here? What can we learn? How can we empower Cambodian church?”
it a try. In partnership with Mission Innovation Team of Resonate, I and my colleagues were able to host a group of 19 people from Christian Reformed Church of North America for two weeks at the end of May. We organized it as a “vision” trip to emphasize its purpose of mission learning and spiritual growth. 
I felt blessed and affirmed through hosting the vision trip. I realized the years of mentoring and training young leaders resulted in a wide network of trusting relationships. I was able to introduce the group to various ministries and leaders without worrying about the negative consequences of short-term missions. I felt proud of these Cambodian leaders and their work and thankful for the way in which I made impact in their lives. It was rather an affirming experience. I think we will host another vision trip next year. 
to talk with a couple of tourists. He introduced himself and started sharing the gospel with them. He pointed out rather casually that the Buddhist statues near them were nothing but carved stones and human idols. He didn’t realize he was engaging a spiritual warfare. That night, he couldn’t sleep. At his hotel room, he was tormented by an evil spirit. The next day, he shared that sobering experience with the group.
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