By the evening I was able to keep down drugs and to sleep, both of which I indulged in. The next morning I tottered to breakfast and started the day with half an eternal roll. These bread rolls are made from some wonderful stuff in a magic way that enables the seller to always tell you they’re fresh, because never actually go stale. Marvellous invention this UHT bread.

Our original brief for this trip was that we would help out by labouring on the house-cum-community centre. A week before we left however, the local people decided that they were quite able to build houses thank you very much, but they would like some theological instruction if you don’t mind, and by the way we’re inviting 150 people from outer regions too. Most of us were utterly unprepared for this, and certainly not overly qualified. But this is how it was to be done, as the community wanted it.

The previous day while I was going on the psychological journey of every ill person left to their own devices, the rest of the team divided themselves into which groups they would take: World Vision Staff, pastors & lay-leaders, younger people, and fence builders. The fence builders did actually build a good long fence; the only ones who did any real work. . The rest of the groups had fun answering questions like “Who is God anyway?”, “What is Grace?”, “Why does God love sinners?”, “Why did God make Satan?” and many more.

I slotted in with the younger crowd on the Friday when I’d returned to health. I was disappointed to see the sessions seemed to take on a school-teacher sort of vibe on the part of our team leading, but the participants didn’t seem too bothered.

I had the chance to lead a session in the afternoon and I took on quite an ambitious, but I thought very important passage on freedom. Gal 5:1-13 is a beautiful piece of writing where Paul tells the good people of Galatia that Christ set them spiritually free entirely, from sin and death, but also from The Law (of the Israelites; circumcision is the symbol of The Law, as mentioned in the passage) and any regulations. There are zero requirements for becoming and staying a Christian of freedom. The key observation is that if this freedom is used to sin then we are once again slaves; rather our freedom is to server others. I thought this was pertinent because during the earlier sessions a few things were said by the participants that suggested that they felt pressured to do or not do some things in order to be “right with God”. Anyway, it took some slog, including a brief history of Israel and some doubling back (the interpreter saying “yes we understand: we must go to church”. Slap head. OK let’s try another angle) but hopefully some good seed was planted. They related well to the encouragement given from the fact that Paul was imprisoned and being persecuted at the time for preaching such radical freedom.

Our good mate the interpreter later told me that it wasn’t too advanced for some, and one of our group’s pastors who has experience here said it was worth tackling because of the legalism being taught everywhere here.

Certainly the sessions were integral in both our experience and that of the local people. Even those dis-interested in the content took the opportunity to practice their English.

We did a session on the Christian creed that unites all denominations around the world and across time also. We gave encouragement to those struggling with faith – both to continue with struggles in an honest way no matter the outcome (you should be sure, whatever you believe), and to not feel at all ashamed that you want to ask questions – in fact that should be encouraged of all people always.

Lunches and dinners have been provided for us here – provided for all people who came for the few days. After dinner is always an hour or more of full-on church. These Cambodians get into their singing and clapping and stuff, and good on them. Kind of wears out us Westerners who have already had long days trying to not act as gurus while trying to cover hundreds of questions.

Today was a big day. There was a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the Community Centre, followed by a big Holy Communion service, followed by a wedding! The wedding was a happy shamozzle all over. Many things about it were Western, but there was also a nice Khmer flavour that the photos show nicely.

Room 23, "Prum Tep Guest House"
Tbeng Meanchey, Preah Vihear province
Cambodia