Eric H. Doss

Suon Chan, Rev. Thysan Sam, Cendy Som, Nga (Mary) Uy and I left Lowell on Nov. 4, 2013, to go to Cambodia to teach and provide basic health assistance to families in rural Cambodia.

Thysan used money from contributions to buy supplies of hygiene packets (toothpaste, shampoo, combs, nail clippers, and toothbrushes), along with children’s Bible books and a lot of medicine. He was also able to hire a doctor and rent two vans for the mission trip. He recruited three nursing students from Battambong University, a high school teacher from Phnom Penh and three volunteers to assist our medical clinics and basic health education.

More than half our accommodations were graciously provided at the home of Suon Chan in Phnom Penh. We each paid our own way for hotel accommodations the other days.

We started with a large meeting in Phnom Penh on Nov. 6. Twenty people were in attendance including church pastors and leaders from rural areas; Rev. Mei-hui Lai (Presbyterian Mission Agency) and her husband, Rev. Dr. Barry; RN Shelly Dawson (PCUSA); World Mission regional liaisons for Southeast Asia; Sitha Dourng (Cross Cultures International); Mr. Lu, a prominent Taiwanese businessman and philanthropist; and the five of us from Lowell.

It was a great opportunity to plan and network for the church at large in Southeast Asia. Many connections were made and our trips’ agenda was confirmed. Each site we visited during our trip was very organized and respectfully run.

Our first visit was to Otavorn village, Prey Kpop commune, Battambang Province. The first stop was a church where we were able to minister about 350 people (mostly children and women). Basic health care was taught and demonstrated as an interpreter assisted with the language. The doctor and nurses treated people and gave out medicine and instructions. Our next stop was at an orphanage/church and school compound in Knach Romeas village, Roung Chrey commune, Battambong province. We brought our mission to 148 people there.

On Sunday we returned to the church where 200 people came to worship and participate in their first Holy Communion. The church held its second Baptism service; 32 people received confirmation of their faith (by Rev. Thysan Sam) and were baptized. Certificates were given out by their local pastor after Thysan baptized each one. What a service!

The next stop, after the church service, was at a small village, Okampot, the hometown of Lowell’s Cendy Som. She had previously purchased 38 large bags of rice for the families there. When we arrived, the rice was waiting for distribution. One by one each family came to receive their rice and some beautiful cloth. About 50 people came to the giving.

Our last designated mission stop was in Toeuk Laork village, Kraing Leav commune, Rolea Pa Ear district, Kampong Chhnang province, where we were met by 194 people who were eager to hear about health care and women’s health, and receive treatment from our doctor and nurses.

Our trip ended with a wonderful surprise: an authentic beautiful two-day wedding of one of our own. The groom was Thysan’s brother! After such hard work and such full hearts our trip couldn’t have ended better!

On Nov. 16, Cendy and I returned home. Thysan bought more hygiene supplies and medicine and the team continued their mission trip to two more places. Their first stop was at Tro Paing Krorlok village, Bor Set district, Kampong Speu province, where they served 174 people. In addition to providing health education and medical treatment, 750 kg. of rice was given to the needy families there. The final stop was at Beng Tor Tear village, Reay Paiy commune, Korng Meas District, Kampong Cham province. The team provided health care education, medical treatment and educational supplies to 717 people in those surrounding villages and a local school.

This was a very successful trip with many people receptive to not only the hygiene supplies and lessons but to our love of Christ openly shared. We made friends, we made connections and we made a difference.

In 2012, my wife and I planned to take a three-week vacation to spend time with our families and travel for our own pleasure in Cambodia. But finally we decided to participate in providing mobile medical ministries and water wells with support from our Eliot Cambodians and other Buddhist friends in the Lowell area. During our trip to Cambodia in November, I also performed baptisms in a remote church in Battambong Province.

In the pictures, my wife Saneth is helping with a mobile clinic in a remote village in Kompong Cham Province, a woman is being baptized in a worship service at a remote church, and children are praying at a worship service in Battambong Province.

For the medical ministry, we served two rounds for each clinic and there were about 1,600 people who came to receive treatment from our doctor. We witnessed the Lord’s blessings pouring upon those suffering people. For example, a woman, who had not been able to sleep or talk and had not taken care of her six children for many months became a nourishing mother again. During our second round clinic in Battambong province, she was carried in by a sister as we were ready to leave. Her face looked very pale like a dead person. Her eyes sometimes moved slowly. I asked the doctor to treat her, and he gave her a one-month supply of medicine. The doctor told me that she had severe mental illness.

After we left that place, the woman’s face was in mind my mind all the time. Later, after we finished a second round at other places, we came back to Phnom Penh city. My mind still carried the woman’s face, the dead and pale face. I prayed to God, “God, I do enough and have enough. Please let me have peace.”

During my vacation/missionary trip in Cambodian, I could not get the woman’s health condition out of mind. I then called a local pastor asking him to visit her and let me know about her condition. The pastor did visit her, even though she is not a Christian. He told me that she now could talk and sleep and was making food for her children again. After hearing this good news, I thanked God for the miracle of healing the woman and sparing her children. I also called the doctor to tell him about the woman’s condition.

When I came back home after the trip, I called the pastor to find out how the woman was doing. He said she had run out of medicine, and she was not talking or and sleeping much. It was about two weeks, not a month yet, and I found out that she had taken twice the amount of medicine she should have taken; therefore, it ran out so quickly.

When I heard about the woman’s situation, I sent money to Ms. Bopha, Rin Chan’s fiancée. (Rin is a newly baptized member of Eliot Church.) I asked her to buy a cell phone for the woman’s family. Now, the woman’s sister can contact the doctor directly, and the doctor has sent more medicine to her at Ms. Bopha’s request. Recently, I talked with the woman and her sister on the phone, and they thanked God for the medical ministry. They have started attending church weekly with their children!

Please remember this woman’s family and other suffering people in your prayer.