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God’s Better Plan

2010 Cambodia Mission Trip

I was able to join the 2010 ASAP Mission team to go to Cambodia by faith.  I didn't know how God would provide the finances and also have my work covered in order for me to go.  I knew that it would be difficult to have my different shifts covered while I was gone.  So I prayed to God and asked Him, "If you want me to go to Cambodia, have the other nurses cover my shift at work."  Amazingly in less than a week, my shifts were taken by the other nurses who heard that I was going on a mission trip.  Our young people from church decided to help James Kim and me in raising funds.  We did a benefit concert with the musical talents of the young people, slide presentations, silent auction of baskets the Saturday night before the week we left.  With only less than 50 people who attended, I thought we wouldn't be able to make much funds.  But to our surprise, God blessed us with more than $3000!

When we arrived to  Phnom Penh, Cambodia, I knew we had to be flexible with the different situations that would come our way.  But I never thought God would really test our patience.  After the medical and dental teams got their clinics set up, we had to change our location to the church. “Why would you allow this to happen?” I quietly questioned God. He soon answered. When we were about to start the medical screening for patients, we heard lots of yelling and noise from the neighboring house. They rushed a man in who was bleeding from a deep cut on his cheek a few centimeters from his eye.  If the cut would have gone a few centimeters closer to his eye, the eye ball would have fallen out.  We placed pressure on the deep cut that went into his cheek bone and took his vital signs while on the floor. We placed him on the table as we cleaned out the wound with normal saline. The only sutures we had were ones from the dental team. So Dr. Steve Chang and Dr. Eduardo Nam placed stitches on him. We gave him antibiotics and pain medications to take. On his way out, he kept bowing his head with hands folded thanking us for our help.

We later heard that his son was addicted to drugs and was threatening him with a knife to give him money. He was able to dodge the knife, grab it, and throw it away. In retaliation, his son angrily picked up a glass and threw it at his father's face. I thank God for changing our site because we were able to help this man, our neighbor. It opened my eyes to see that God's plan is always the best plan.

Of all that I learned on this trip, what sticks out the most?  Is it the children?  Is it helping the poor?  No.  I learned what it really means to be in unity in Christ and work to bring souls to heaven.  In our team of 22, we had as young as a 7-year-old to as old as 76 years of age that did the work.  No matter the age, no matter what occupation or school one was in, all had a willing heart and helped those who were in need.

Our early morning worship and prayer bonded us to God's plan for the day even though we were split up to three different locations.  Like what Paul says in Ephesians 4:3-4, "Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling."  I thank God for giving me the opportunity to see unity put into action.