In 2018 Monte LeLaCheur, lead pastor of Turning Point Open\nBible Church in Spokane, Washington, felt inspired to help support the ministry\nefforts of Ly and Sarin Mak, missionaries in Cambodia. The Maks are directors\nof the Lifesong Learning Center, a ministry base that offers a safe environment\nfor children to receive an education and to experience the love of Jesus. In\nCambodia women and children are susceptible to human trafficking, many lured by\nfalse promises of good jobs. The Maks are finding creative ways to respond to\nthis horrific evil, using sewing machines and technology in learning labs to\nteach legitimate job skills. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
One obstacle to this vision was workable electrical power. The\nCenter had been operating on roughly 30 amps of power, which was intermittent\nat best. The Center also needed a way to respond to the villagers\u2019 dental and\nmedical issues as well as a ministry team to teach children about the love of\nJesus Christ. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
When Monte and others at Turning Point heard of the need,\nthey took on the challenge of raising $25,000 to purchase and install new solar\npanels that could help create sustainable power for all the learning programs\nthat Lifesong facilitates. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Turning Point church family exceeded their original goal\nby raising nearly $55,520 (more than double the goal) for the solar panels, a medical\nresponse, and other ministry efforts in Cambodia! I was asked to coordinate a\nteam that had the expertise and passion to go. Twenty-four people including\nelectricians, grandparents, pastors, schoolteachers, teenagers, and medical\nprofessionals said yes<\/em> to going. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our team landed in Phnom Penh just prior to monsoon season.\nWe were immediately captivated by the heart and vision of Ly and Sarin, who\nhave a deep love for the children of Cambodia. Upon arrival at the Center, our\nteam began to work feverishly on installing the solar panels, treating medical\nconditions, extracting teeth, and praying with people to receive Christ. The\nteam did this for several days, serving with joy, tears, and laughter. Seeing\nthe children come to the evening classes and Sunday morning service filled our\nemotional tanks and reminded us of our mission. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
One\nof the young people we were blessed to work closely with was Sok Mabbman (known\nto us as \u201cMab\u201d). Mab was a graduate of Lifesong and went on to university to\nlearn English. Mab is now on staff at Lifesong, and his love for his people and\nsurrounding villages is contagious. He did a wonderful job translating for our\nteam. Mab was often pulled in multiple directions with many different people\nneeding his help, yet he remained unwavering as he worked with our medical and\nministry teams. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A sobering and heart-wrenching experience was the team\u2019s visit\nto the Killing Fields of the Choeung Ek Genocidal Center, the site of a mass\ngrave of victims of the Khmer Rouge. As we walked, seeing and hearing the\nstories of atrocity and evil that ended the lives of nearly two million people,\nour team gained an unparalleled appreciation for the Cambodian people and all\nthey have gone through. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
At one point I asked Pastor Ly, \u201c<\/em>Tell me about your smile.\u201d <\/em>(Pastor Ly\nhas an infectious smile!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He responded by sharing that one time he asked God, \u201cHow do I reach these people?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
God asked him to demonstrate his joy through his\ncountenance because this would be the only way to appeal to people. They would\nask him, \u201c<\/em>Why do you have so\nmuch joy?\u201d<\/em> and Ly would answer, \u201c<\/em>Let me tell you why . . . \u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
With the help of the Lord and so many people who said yes,<\/em>\nthe team was able to see over 200 patients, share the gospel of Jesus with\nhundreds of children, and complete the solar panel project. The crew installed\n82 panels and ran over 10,000 feet of cords that fed 5 inverters. The night\nbefore we left Cambodia, we were able to completely switch over the electrical system\nto the new solar panel system. Now the lights are running, and the Center has\nmore than enough power to support their current and future needs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
God has mobilized people throughout history to make a\ndifference wherever He has called them. \u201cI [Paul] planted the seed, Apollos\nwatered it, but God has been making it grow\u201d (1 Corinthians 3:6). Our job is to\nplant and water and then trust God with the increase! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
How an individual responds to God\u2019s call varies depending\non the role God calls them to. Someone may be asked to give financially, pray,\nor provide a resource or expertise \u2013 or they may be the one who physically\ngoes. Regardless of the role, the key is to say yes!<\/em> \n\nI encourage you to\nsay yes<\/em> to planting and watering the gospel! \n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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