Eliot Presbyterian Church | Lowell, MA

Presbyterian Church in Lowell, MA

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Life Project Trip 2015

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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.

An Advent Worth Waiting For

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o you know what November 29 is?  No, it is not Black Friday.  It does mean there are only 26 shopping days until Christmas.  But more importantly, November 29 is the first Sunday in Advent. Advent is a strange time for Christians in the United States.  Our parties, celebrations, and gift exchanges begin early.  By the time December 26 rolls around, we have eaten too much turkey, tired of hearing Christmas music, and spent too much money.  In many ways, we have lost the sense of nervous excitement that should accompany the birth of the Christ child.  We have ceased to expect the coming of Christ to complete the redemption of the world.

As contrary as it might seem in our culture that has Christmas decorations on the shelf in October, Advent creates space for people of faith to ponder the meaning of the incarnation (Jesus’ first coming) and the eschaton (Jesus’ second coming).  The mystery of the incarnation is this: “God doesn’t come, as we might expect, to wipe away the muck of this world and lift us up in angelic robes to a cleaner, truer place.  Rather, God comes down to us, down and dirty, into the fray, into the civil wars and demonstrations, the conspiracies and the petty fights, into a body, frail and intricately knit, just like mine or yours.  Jesus will be a refugee, a working man; he will live under occupation . . . .  His feet will be dusty, and probably sometimes his breath will stink” (Julie Polter. “Say, Say the Light.” Sojourners. Dec 2010). What a mysterious blessing that our God would become one of us, even amid all the trouble of our world! This same Jesus who was born in Bethlehem has promised to come back again and set the world right. Amid wars and demonstrations, petty fights and frail bodies, we wait and watch and prepare our world for his return.

This year, I invite you to reclaim the expectant spirit of Advent.  In Luke’s version of the Christmas story, Mary took pause to “ponder in her heart” the news that she would bear the Son of God.  She sang a song of thanksgiving, wonder, and excitement about the strange mercies of the Lord.  She left Joseph to spend three months resting in the company of her relative, Elizabeth. I wouldn’t suggest that you decline all party invitations and refuse to go to the mall in the 26 days of Advent.  However, I hope that you and your family will pause to remember the mystery of Christ’s birth and ponder in your hearts how you might prepare for Christ’s return.  

Purchase an Advent devotion book and read it together as a family each night.  Place an Advent wreath on your table and light the candles each evening.  Participate in one of the Advent Bible studies at church.  Commit to buying one less gift and giving one more contribution to a local charity.  Decline one party invitation and volunteer, or simply rest, instead. Invite someone who might be lonely to join your family celebration. When Christmas lights and garland are on the shelves after Halloween, it can be difficult to pause for Advent.  We are so tempted to rush on to Christmas without pondering the mystery and the miracle before us – a mystery and miracle worth waiting for.  May your Advent be a time of wonder, worship, and yes, even rest.