Life Project for Rural Cambodians

In May and June, Rev. Thysan Sam spent seven weeks in Cambodia, traveling alone this time on behalf of the Life Project for Rural Cambodians.

The Life Project had raised funds for water wells, school uniforms, and mobile medical clinics. While Thysanwas in Cambodia this year, he oversaw the building of four wells in rural villages in Provinces of Kampong Cham and Tbong Khmum, and a water pond in Battambang province. The Life Project also provided a community center and a toilet in Kampong Speu province and a basketball court and a water well in rural school in Svay Rieng province.

Thysan visited schools and delivered uniforms for children, along with rice and other food. He also went with mobile clinics to several villages, including a village in Kampong Cham where people live in a graveyard.

While he was in Cambodia this year, Thysan also cared for people on a spiritual level, preaching in church services in several rural areas. The people in Cambodia are in need of spiritual teaching. There is a seminary in Phnom Penh, but the teachers are mostly from other countries, such as Korea; they do not speak Khmer and they need interpreters as they lecture. This creates difficulty, because the interpretation may not be exact, and the lectures move forward slowly. For this reason, the seminary appealed to Thysan to come and teach.

The Life Project continues to work toward its three goals, providing clean water, health care, and education opportunities for poor people in rural areas of Cambodia. But now, Thysan has another dream, a fourth goal for the project. He hopes to be able to go to Cambodia and teach at the seminary for three years. He asks for your prayers while he considers this call, and for any support you may be able to provide in helping him achieve this dream.

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.