Missionary conference in Phnom Penh

We returned from a fellowship with about 40 other United Methodist missionaries from the Asia/Pacific region during a conference in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Sponsored by GBGM, we gathered at the Goldiana Hotel from Thursday to Sunday (20-24 November 2008).

Besides hearing from all the different countries and projects from Tonga to Mongolia and Japan to Thailand, we shared worship together, visited several project sites in Phnom Penh, and worshipped at the Tuol Kauk Methodist Church and school, an initiative of The Methodist Church in Singapore.

Like so many developing countries, the mission effort in Cambodia has been divided between different international and sectarian interests. Missionaries from different agencies (UMC, Korean Methodist, Chinese Federation Methodist, and Singapore Methodist, had been working separately in Cambodia, often to the confusion of the local populace. At least now the Methodist mission has been coordinated into a single national effort - the Methodist Mission in Cambodia.

There are now growing Methodist churches in every province of Cambodia, along with schools and social services. We will have poignant memories of the children's day care center at the dump in Phnom Penh. Driving to the edge of the dump site, we were enthusiastically greeted by at least 80 singing and cheering children, who might otherwise be assisting their parents to collect recyclables among the mountains of smelly trash. Afterward, the boys poured out and wanted to give us "high-fives" .

It was good to hear of both the struggles and success stories of colleague missionaries, especially from those who are retiring, such as Bob and Hazel Terhune in Japan, and the confident faith of newer colleagues.

"The joy of the Lord is [my] strength" - Nehemiah 8:10

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