E-Note 7/2: Letter from Cambodia

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Here is an important and timely letter from our missionary in Cambodia, Susan Kana. It will deepen your appreciation for the quote of the week.

Greetings from Preah Vihear Province (PV). Temps are not as hot but with the rainy season, it is quite humid. Joel and I continue to serve alone in PV but Jim and Carolyn stay involved through phone and visits. I have stayed busy here but have also made trips to Phnom Penh (PP) - bringing patients to the MMC (Mercy Medical Clinic). You may have heard me refer to it as CSI which was started several years ago by the Southern Baptist Mission to treat the poor.

I would like to tell you a bit about MMC and some of the changes from the original CSI. First of all - they continue to serve the poor of Cambodia. MMC is not a mission. It is a group of missionaries from several mission organizations - CMA (Christian and Missionary Alliance, World Team, Pioneers, OMF (Overseas Missionary Fellowship), Southern Baptist, and MTW (Missions to the World). I am not sure of any others.

I have been involved with CSI for several years while I lived in PP. If you remember our Neak Lueng village ministry - it involved Bible teaching, bringing ways of clean water as well as medical clinics with Dr. Modich from the CSI Clinic. The clinic rented a small place at the military hospital in PP but it was not an ideal situation. With the work of Dr. Tim Benadum (WT) and others they were able to acquire a piece of land from a Christian Khmer General...for free. We serve an awesome God!

Building has begun in a site just outside the city. God has provided through some very generous donations and they hope to be completed by April next year. A few years back a new US Embassy was built in PP. The contractor for that facility is a Christian and his kids went to the International School where Marjie Benadum taught. The families became friends but then moved off to a country in South America to build another US Embassy. Well, time came for MMC to find a builder for our Clinic. Tim called Kurt, the builder and said "Hey, how about . . . " Well, you get it. He and his wife left their well paying jobs to come to Cambodia as missionaries and are building the clinic. There is a reason for my excitement and sharing about this with you....

I would like to share with you a portion of a letter I sent out to all of WT Cambodia as well as Asia Leaders and Directors.

I have been in PV for just over 2 years and I have to say it is nice living in the province. I came to Cambodia just before I turned 49 and still had not lost my heart for adventure but it took 8 years for me to make my way out of the city. Although I lived in PP, I had great opportunities for adventure outside the city - - especially with the Cottle's and Dr. Modich in Neak Lueng. Because that ministry was partly medical, I learned a lot about village ministry with Dr. Modich and how his ministry in PP at CSI (now MMC)is connected with what we are doing with the poor in the provinces.

Back in January I told my team, Jim and Carolyn and Joel, that on my 60th birthday which would be November of 2011, I would be re evaluating where I thought God would want me to continue to serve. During these last couple of months, I feel that God is moving that time up. I have a lot of time for reflection and I have really asked God to show me what it is He would want me to do and when.

I feel that God is leading me back to be involved somehow in medical work. I miss it. Most of my relationships have been made that way. You know I am not a nurse, I am not a doctor - - just a simple lab tech. But with that experience and my involvement in the clinic in Irian, I feel I have something to offer. I have talked with Tim and Marjie Benadum and they feel there could be a place for me with their team, MMC. Phnom Penh is the last place I want to be but I feel a call to the work, not the place. MMC is more that just treating patients. It is Bible study with the staff, discipleship, mentoring . . . But still being involved with the poor from the villages.

Poor timing? No, God's timing is never poor. Jim and Carolyn are planning to move back up to PV early August. Joel has been wonderful in allowing me the freedom to explore options. I am thankful to the 3 of them for giving me the time to go to PP and see what is going on here at the MMC. God's timing was perfect for me to ask questions. I would never even consider making any kind of move now but I wanted to put it out in the open for all of you to know. I am not sure of God's timing on when to make any kind of change. I ask for your prayers and I welcome any input from you. I have enough going on in PV. I have promised the team I would work until I felt God say it is time to move on. "I am willing" to be there until I feel sure He says otherwise.

I got positive feedback from leadership. As I wrote, Jim and Carolyn will be moving up early August so I feel now is not the time to make a move. I will be moving out of Jim and Carolyn's house when they return so needed to rent something else. Joel has promised me he can make the place I found free of rats by early August. The contract is for 6 months.

I do love PV and the missionaries I work with but I really feel it is from God that I make this change. As I sought counsel, I felt confirmation from others as well.

Please be praying for all of us as we seek God for His timing. None of this has brought about any loss of love for the Khmer of PV. But please pray that I will continue to pour out the Love of Christ to them as they draw closer to Him. Pray that I, too will draw closer to Jesus every day.

With love,
Susan
susan.kana [at] worldteam.org