Recently, Kenneth led a team of liked-minded people on an overseas service learning trip to Cambodia from 1-8 Dec 06. I was in this team together with 3 other of my G12 brothers (Joel, Jachin, Luke). It was a privilege to share in the passion which Kenneth has in serving the nations through such trips and embarking on this trip really broadens my perspective of life and enriches me with valuable experiences. I want to share with everyone part of our reflections on this trip and hope our reflections will bless you in a unique way..
" My strongest impression about the children in Cambodia, more impactful than the small, malnourished bodies or the hair bleached by unclean water, was their limited choices...there were very tight material and social constraints on the future of the Cambodian children. It affected me because of the way I get confused over the choices that I have to make in life, how I worry over which subject to study at which university, fearing that I will make the wrong choice and regret it for life. It never occurred to me that choice itself is a luxury: even the choice to spend money to live in rural Cambodia, it is a choice that I can make believing that it is the best for me. One student asked me what subject I would take in university if I could choose any, and it really drove home the message that for these students, they are driven more by needs than wants, by possibility rather than ambition. I’m starting to appreciate the many crossroads that appear in my life, because I know that for others, life is a one way path, and the horizon is a lot bleaker than mine..." - Joel Han
" My strongest impression about the children in Cambodia, more impactful than the small, malnourished bodies or the hair bleached by unclean water, was their limited choices...there were very tight material and social constraints on the future of the Cambodian children. It affected me because of the way I get confused over the choices that I have to make in life, how I worry over which subject to study at which university, fearing that I will make the wrong choice and regret it for life. It never occurred to me that choice itself is a luxury: even the choice to spend money to live in rural Cambodia, it is a choice that I can make believing that it is the best for me. One student asked me what subject I would take in university if I could choose any, and it really drove home the message that for these students, they are driven more by needs than wants, by possibility rather than ambition. I’m starting to appreciate the many crossroads that appear in my life, because I know that for others, life is a one way path, and the horizon is a lot bleaker than mine..." - Joel Han
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"There was much to learn about our interactions with the Cambodians during the first few days when we were there. However, ultimately, what I learnt, which is the most important, was that the core of this service learning is the Lord’s love. To truly allow the Lord’s love to guide me through with my actions and behavior was a challenge which I had learnt to embrace throughout this trip. It is this unconditional love which never fails that will render our service fruitful and purposeful. My service to the Cambodians was no longer one which fulfills my own selfish gains but one which is a reflection of His love, that my every actions will glorify His name...This love is so simple that it doesn’t require any need to think about anything else. His love is what I needed most and is all I needed at that moment in time. Amazingly, there is no need for answers to any questions. His love and grace are enough for me. To simply settle for His love as the answer for everything is not being shallow but understanding how much and how deep His love comprises that nothing else is needed anymore. From that moment, it is not an issue of whether I’m good enough, but it’s a matter of my dependence on His love to grow in Christ-likeness. I could not describe how care-free I was in those next few days, and indeed, I would credit it to His love which had brought this joy in me..." - Jelvin Lee
"There was much to learn about our interactions with the Cambodians during the first few days when we were there. However, ultimately, what I learnt, which is the most important, was that the core of this service learning is the Lord’s love. To truly allow the Lord’s love to guide me through with my actions and behavior was a challenge which I had learnt to embrace throughout this trip. It is this unconditional love which never fails that will render our service fruitful and purposeful. My service to the Cambodians was no longer one which fulfills my own selfish gains but one which is a reflection of His love, that my every actions will glorify His name...This love is so simple that it doesn’t require any need to think about anything else. His love is what I needed most and is all I needed at that moment in time. Amazingly, there is no need for answers to any questions. His love and grace are enough for me. To simply settle for His love as the answer for everything is not being shallow but understanding how much and how deep His love comprises that nothing else is needed anymore. From that moment, it is not an issue of whether I’m good enough, but it’s a matter of my dependence on His love to grow in Christ-likeness. I could not describe how care-free I was in those next few days, and indeed, I would credit it to His love which had brought this joy in me..." - Jelvin Lee
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"I learnt that city life robbed us of a forth-coming sincerity that I see pour forth from the village students. There was this guy who intentionally came up to me more than 5 times in the course of an hour to remind me of his name, wanting me to remember him forever. I am greatly touched at how desperate he was in wanting me to remember him, to never forget him when my total interaction with him was just a little over 2 hours. The little that I offered meant so much to all of them. I learnt that touching and building lives is a meaningful direction in life. It makes others feel good, makes you feel good. And I have a genuine fear that once back home to my comfort zone, I would forget how lucky I am and take everything for granted and forget what is really valuable in life- to live it meaningfully. I learnt how blessed I am to be born in a well-off picture perfect family. I am so blessed in many ways that its really hard to attribute all to chance. I learned that I have been myopic with the issues in my life. Small setbacks magnified a thousand fold, and the "troubles" i think I have wouldn’t even equate to a day in their lifes. I am ashamed even of my own troubles...while they are worrying whether they would have food to fill their stomachs for the next meal. What a joke that is. A joke that is laughed with tears of irony and tragic comedy..." - Jachin Chng KC
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"The most obvious lesson that I have received from this service learning trip was to realize how blessed I am to have limitless opportunities in life. In Singapore, I could almost get anything that I wish for and could seek continual advancement in education as long as I am willing to. These opportunities are not available to my Cambodians counterparts. Many of them, as bright as they may be, are unable to receive tertiary education despite twelve years of schooling from primary to high school as a result of their impoverishment. As a result, they continue to be trapped in the cycle of poverty despite having the brain capacity to be move forward in life. Sadly, these students are not the worse off in Cambodia. My heart goes out to the kids who did not even get a chance to attend school and have to resort to begging for their “boss” in order to sustain themselves. Life is never fair I guess. This experience has taught me to cherish all the blessings that God has poured into my life and not just to use them for my own selfish gains, but be good stewards over them and use them to bless the less fortunate...." - Luke Lim KY
Feel free to approach anyone of us to share more about our experiences and reflections on this trip. Indeed, the Lord has blessed the entire team throughout this trip, guiding us with each step we took and showing us the way out in the challenges we met along the way. Each of us has been touched in special ways and we are thankful for the learning we had.
The Lord has planted the passion in serving the nations in our hearts and we hope to be able to embark and lead teams for future OSL trips. There is a team from Ps Roland & Lai Fun's tribe who is going to Cambodia from 19-25 Dec for a Christmas outreach programme and I really do pray that the Lord will continue to do His good work in Cambodia and indeed the hearts of the people there will continue to be touched by the Lord's love.
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Jelvin Lee
Kenneth's Subtribe
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