Mission to Cambodia 2012
Erin Pettefer

Wow! What an amazing day today has been. We started our day off with an early breakfast and a tuk tuk ride to Emergency Hospital in Battambang. After receiving a tour and learning about several patients on rounds, we split into three groups. One group went to the operating room, one group went to ward A (men), and one group went to ward C (women and children). To our surprise everyone received the opportunity to work in each area, and we all got to sit in on two surgeries! We learned that the majority of the trauma seen in this hospital results from moto accidents and land minds. It was shocking to me personally to see that so many innocent individuals are still experiencing trauma from the Khmer Rouge.

After our day at the hospital, we decided to go on an adventure and ride on the bamboo trains! It was a chance for us to ride through the jungle, but also see the life in the villages outside the big cities of Cambodia. It was a chance for some of us to see true poverty that exists all over this country and around the world. The children in the villages were so excited to have us passing through and they really opened my eyes up to see how beautiful all of God’s children really are.

Speaking for the group, I believe that we all thoroughly enjoyed working at Emergency Hospital today. Some of us saw our first surgeries today, some of us really connected with the patients, and some of us had amazing conversations with the nurses. But I think what is most important, is that as a group we shared the love of Christ through our smiles, our touch, and our presence.

I personally have been struggling with the thought process of how poor the individuals of Cambodia are in material possessions, but how overflowing and abundant their love for Christ is. This love that they have for Christ amazes me and is really teaching me that I don’t need material things to be rich in HIM. My prayer for this group as we begin to head into our final week is to truely be present in God’s kingdom. I pray that we allow him to work through our smiles, our hands, and our presence. As well as remind us that he loves us no matter where we are on our faith journey.

I hope to be filled with as much joy and love as each Cambodian I have had the privilege to meet. Majority of the group, is beginning to get homesick, so please say a prayer for our group for Christ to open our eyes and remind us why we are here. But parents know that we miss you, and are excited to see you in a little over a week. We all love and miss you guys!   Love you Mom and Dad.