The Color of Hope

A few weeks ago, we were invited to do a pilot project in partnership with Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC). Our theme was “Come let us rebuild” from the book of Nehemiah. Nehemiah is about the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem and also about the renewal and restoration of the hearts of the people to worship and serve the Lord after years of Babylonian captivity. Four CRWRC national workers and our whole family went to a remote village Poom Thmey “New Village” where about 40 leaders including 15 women leaders had gathered.
They came from the surrounding area of Svay Rieng province, some from as far as 50 km away. The group was eager to listen and learn. They also shared their concerns for their communities and for their churches. CRWRC spent one day teaching about their community organizing process in which the community identifies needs and develops a locally-owned and -controlled vision for development. Then we spent a day on Biblical leadership and how spiritual and physical restoration go hand-in-hand. It is God who has a plan and we seek to follow his plans for our church and community.


We realize that we have a long way to go to learn to communicate effectively. It is one thing to get around Phnom Penh. It is another to really speak to the heart of someone in the village (where 80% of Cambodians live). We also need to learn more about the people and what is in their hearts. We were encouraged at the commitment of the leaders and their genuine desire to serve the Lord and reach out to their communities in spite of persecution and other hardships.


Our kids had a great time in the village. They were able to go into the rice fields and search for frogs, crabs and fish. They got to fish in a stocked pond. They played with new puppies and baby chicks. Mary was instantly adopted and loved by the village girls and women. We could tell that the villagers were very happy that someone was delighted with their world. It was refreshing to be among the fields. The farmers were transferring the seedling rice from the nursery plots to the fields. The new rice is such a beautiful bright green that it was refreshing just to look at it. It was a picture of the potential that we felt was present. Like the new green rice, there is growth, ripening and fruitfulness ahead. There is much that the Lord plans to do here for the sake of his church and his people.