Good Morning, Ladies and gentleman, fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, let me share with you what COSI has done to the kids' life, with the blessings from God through you.
These are the kids who have been clothed, fed and sheltered. Without you, they will be living on the streets, starving, unsheltered, abused and because of sickness and poor medication, some of them will be left to die.
During the mission trip, I was tasked to survey the schools for the COSI kids. It was my first time going there and I had totally no idea how Cambodia is like and where are the schools located? Only through the mouths of other missionaries, from the world wide web, yellow pages, and the best of all from the Ariel view by using the Google earth. In the military context, I have most of the information needed, and the map. So the next thing I have prepared was to conduct a ground reconnassies. On the ground, God has protected the team, and given us a lot of grace, that we were safe and sound, and also able to execute the tasks successfully.
Before the trip, I understood that Cambodia is a developing country, or I would say is at an industrial age where skills and education are very important. In order to break through poverty, one of the distinct way is by education. That is why we are developing the kids in COSI, after their grade 12, to be prepared to go for higher education. So that next time they can contribute to the society and with the character of Christ-likeness, they can be role models for the Cambodians.
My personal takeaway, "da pao", from the mission trip is that now we have done so much in taking care of them, clothing them, feeding them and sheltering them and providing the basic needs, but have we done our part to teach, cultivate and coach them how to survive in the society filled with temptations and worldly distractions. What they lack of is family, which is parents, brothers and sisters.
So I asked a question, just like a little kid. How nice that there will be a family, like brothers and sisters and parents to inspire me, encourage me, be with me, remember me, and care for me.
I have discerned and felt that God has used us to provide their physical needs, and bless them with material stuff, but this time God has called us to show love as a parent, as a parent as a family to love, encourage, nurture and to communicate and build a relationship with them, so that they know that even they are without their parents, they can experience the love from God, through COSI, through thousands of miles away, which is us.
Let me ask all the parents here, how marvelous is it when you see your children getting their PSLE results or O'level and A'level results? You are sad when they don't do so well, but you are happy when they have done well, promoting in levels and finally now in university. As a child how happy you felt when you have your hard work and results being recognized by someone you love. But for the kids in COSI, who will recognize them, show care to them, and encourage them when they are down or who will pick them up when they have not done well?
I, myself have 2 brothers, and I have to support them to complete their university, and for most parents here, know that it is not cheap. In many times, I have to sacrifice my material joy or have to postpone plans which I had for myself, which requires money. Despite of the material pain that I have to go through, but the relational and immeasurable gain which I have experienced when seeing the growth of someone is priceless, because that is just something fundamental which God and we have for them, which is love. The love of the Father and as for me the love as a brother to see them grow to become someone successful and glorify God. So how about the kids in COSI? Do they have such a person or family for them?
So after this mission trip, in the context of army, Is not "Mission Accomplished". There are many and many of "Charlie Mike" like what my CO has said, which means "Continuous Mission". So it means it is just the beginning.
Thank you for all your attention and allowing me to share this burden which I have and the joy which I have experienced with all of you.
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