I wanted to use this blog to summarize what was accomplished during my time overseas and it's kingdom significance. I also want to highlight what I have learned or my take-aways from this time.
How does one summarize the trip of a lifetime? Well this Tower of Babel is going to try..... (I'll give you a minute... haha)
First, I want to address why I went. I went to teach accounting. There may be folks out there who don't think that teaching accounting qualifies as a mission trip. Prior to this trip, I was one of them. And I was wrong. In Exodus 31:3, God is speaking about an individual and He says: "I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and with all kinds of skills." If God is the One Who creates us with these skills, it makes sense that He would have a plan to use them. During my time in Cambodia, I not only taught accounting, I reinforced why it was important. First, Southeast Asia Prayer Center is a nonprofit organization based in the US. These types of organizations are subject to audits. The more detailed and well-kept their financial records are, the better the rating they receive. Often, when people are choosing where to donate money, they will look to systems such as Charity Navigator to investigate the financial integrity or rating of the organization. By improving the accounting and financial records, the door is open for more donors and sponsors for the orphans of Cambodia. Additionally, a detailed report of income vs expenses, allows SEAPC to be wise stewards of the funds they receive.
In addition to teaching accounting and its importance, I was able to encourage the SEAPC Cambodia staff. I know from experience how easy it is to get caught up in the day to day mundane tasks and forget why you're doing the work. In my own office, it does not take long for me to begin drowning in the minutia of data and soon forget my higher level goals and the mission of the company. In my office, this is remedied by having 30 minute meetings with my supervisor twice a month. He is an excellent encourager and our chats help me to stay focused and aware of goals.
I was able to encourage the staff and remind them that even though they are not working directly with the children, their work has a direct impact on the help the children receive. The better their accounting, the more funds can be brought in, the more methods can be improved, and more children benefit from the ministry.
The rest of my time in Cambodia offered multiple ways to bless the people. I was able to give gifts to my sponsored children and they now know that there is a real person behind the letters they receive. On Sunday afternoon, a group of us purchased soap and food to distribute to an impoverished area of Phnom Penh. Lastly, I was able to encourage and bless the hotel workers and our tuk-tuk driver. The driver works 7 days a week. He only takes a day off for national holidays. He was helpful and cheerful and served us well for a week. After my last ride, I was able to bless him with a little extra tip and demonstrate the Biblical principle that a workman is worthy of his hire. 1 Timothy 5:18.
Similarly, in Thailand, Bill and I worked together to streamline the accounting. Tomorrow, I will have the opportunity to meet his bookkeeper here in the States and show her a few tweaks that we made. Like SEAPC, this can open the door for more donors as financial records are improved. In Thailand, it served two more purposes. Bill and Susie are in Thailand to minister to the kids under their care. I still am awed by the sweet relationships they have with the kids. Bill does not need to spend time swimming through financial data. By cleaning it up it frees him to focus on the kids and on higher level financial decisions. Additionally, by standardizing procedures, we began to create a legacy plan for when the ministry is passed on to others.
During my time in Thailand, I was able to encourage some of the kids in the home.
Ages ago, in Bible College, I took the Spiritual Gifts test. It revealed that my two most dominant gifts were encouragement and intercession.
During this trip, I was able to use my gift of encouragement several times. The trip also equipped me to be a better intercessor. During the time spent in both places, I was able to see more closely where the needs are and I know better how to pray specifically for both places and people groups.
I have spent the above paragraphs summarizing the work that God allowed me to do in Asia. However, I want to be very clear. I received a million times more than I gave. The time with precious friends, the new friendships made, the learning, the experiences, the fun ... was all more than I could ever have asked for or imagined. From learning about the evil genocide that ravaged the nation of Cambodia and seeing the demonic temple painted white in Thailand to all the fun places I visited and activities I did (I rode an elephant!). Most precious to me is the time I spent worshiping Jesus in both Khmer and Thai.
I've already rambled too long and I've yet to discuss my take aways. To be brief, I will say that I have learned to trust God more, to have more peace about His plan for my life, and to really know in my heart what Pastor Kent shared in December: What God initiates, He permeates.
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