November 6, 2008
“The road to recovery is, in a word, slow,” said C&MA missionary David Rebok, referring to residents of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, who are still homeless after a fire last April. Recently, members of New Jerusalem (Alliance) Church in Phnom Penh distributed rations of food relief to nearly 800 families at the site of the tent city where they have been living since the fire. The outreach was made possible by funds that had been donated by members of the U.S. C&MA’s Western Great Lakes District. The Evangelical Fellowship of Cambodia, The Alliance’s umbrella organization in that country, has also been heavily involved in relief efforts.
“This was the first time that New Jerusalem Church members had ever done a project like this, so they were a bit nervous,” said Rebok. “But their desire to do so with genuine spirit of serving God was never in question.”
The village leader, Mr. Chanly, worked closely with the believers in organizing the event. “We thank him for his gift of management and for clearance to make the distribution possible,” said Rebok. “It is easy to see why there has been so much pain here. There hasn’t been any word yet on whether the government can provide land for these people to occupy. The monsoon season began in early June, making the land muddy and difficult to navigate on foot. The tent city is next to one of the busiest boulevards in Phnom Penh.
“In the midst of that sorrow, God took care of everyone on the day of the food distribution. Pastor David Bin spoke of God’s love and compassion for those who are suffering. We at the C&MA Cambodia mission and at New Jerusalem Church ask that you continue to pray for these people. We know Jesus loves them, and we wish to pass on that love however and wherever we can.”