Hisar - a special encounter

Before my trip, Pastor Ng has introduced me to Hisar, an Indonesia missionary in Cambodia. He said he'll be able to show me around and help me out in Phnom Penh. We exchanged a few emails and I found out he has a kid center in Phnom Penh. He also teaches people in need to drive tuk-tuk or sell other stuff so they can help themselves get out of poverty. He's 2 years younger than me, and already he's doing so much. I was fascinated about his work and was quite looking forward to meet with him.

First day in Phnom Penh, after my walking tour around the city, I called his number from my hotel room. He immediately said he'll meet with me. He came to my hotel in 15 minutes and picked me up to have some coffee. He was extremely friendly, and showed much appreciation when I gave him the gifts for the kid center. He started telling me his stories, one after another. Soon I realize this person is really no ordinary person. God has done so much in his life, and he's really surrounded by miracles. He's the kind of person you'd read in books and see in movies. I've never dreamed of actually meeting someone in person like him, and hear the story first handed!

Before I've arrived in Cambodia, the Lord has spoke to me clearly that I need to finish the GFA book. After half way through the book, I know that God wants me to support either the GFA or someone directly. As I talked more and more with Hisar, I felt, perhaps God wants me to help him, and support his ministries, financially. However in a place like Cambodia, you don't just give away money like that, there are scams everywhere. For a careful person like me, this is just too wild for me.

Right before the trip, I've started to read about a very small country called Bhutan. Because of its first election, it was on the news, briefly. And I remembered this country from the documentary "The Other Final". For some reason this country fascinated me and I started to read more about this country. The peaceful and simple people, the beautiful highland landscape, it's isolation from materials and technologies, have caught my attention over the fact that I was about to leave for a trip I've been planning for months. I thought to myself, it would be so cool if someday I can go to this country!

As me and Hisar continued to chat, out of the blue he mentioned this country. I thought I heard wrong. But he continued, that when his work is finished in Cambodia, he wants to go to this country, and do exactly what he's doing in Cambodia! Although this is just in his very early stage of planning, the fact that he has this tiny little unknown country in his mind, and at the same time in mine, I knew God has been planning for this!

Later on, God through different ways told me the amount I need to give, and the way I need to send the money. It's just an incredible feeling that suddenly God spoke to me so clearly and directly.

As extraordinary as Hisar is, he's still a person, and he has his down time. When I met him, he was just about to run dry and stressed out by all the hard works surrounding him, as he later shared with me. When he heard that I was going to Kampot, he immediately offered to accompany me. In the following 2 days, our friendship grew as we traveled together. In our adventure together, we had our tough times, and we had our fun times. We had times of worries and frustration, and we had incredible times laughing our butts off!

We went back to Phnom Penh late Wednesday, and I missed his English class in the kid center. I still regret it, but at least I know what God wants me to do now.

My Cambodian trip continued as we parted. As he went back to his normal life, and I continued on my adventure, this special encounter with Hisar seems to have ended for now. However, it is not for God. Incredibly, on my last day in Cambodia, as I flew back from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh, ready to take the flight back to HK, I bumped into him in the airport! He was just picking a friend up from the airport! We were so happy to see each other! It seems like as if God wants to remind me that I need to remember this person as I go back.

Phnom Penh - the first encounter

I know many people are very eager to know what happened in my trip to Cambodia, but so much has happened in the trip that I really don't know how to begin. I guess I'll tell it bit by bit.

No matter how much I've read about Cambodia before, Phnom Penh is still quite shocking to me at first. Thanks to Pastor Ng who picked me up from the airport and shown me around the city a little bit, I was able to settle in with a boost.

After a few instructions about the traffic from Pastor Ng, I've learned how to cross the road the Cambodian way: "Walk calmly, don't run, even if cars are charging toward you, the bikes will see you and steer away." Sometimes I find I have to walk toward the oncoming traffic so that they can make a way for you, otherwise you'll never be able to cross! On the first day, I can't believe I actually walked around the city all by myself!

Knowing the country has gone through such a terrible history, I find that Cambodians are surprisngly friendly. People always smile at you, and not everyone are trying to squeeze money out of your pocket. Yes, in the Cambodian point of view, when you don't speak Khmer, you are rich. There's a big possibility that people being friendly to you just because they want something from you, but in most cases, Khmer people are just very simple people, the only barrier is the language.

However, the country has a very deep root in their idolism. For hundreds of years, it has been the same way. In front of many homes, you'd see miniature temples posted up, which supposedly housed a god who would protect their home. When you see Angkor Wat, it is just a super scaled up version of these little temples.

Before my trip, I felt very clearly that the Lord wanted me to finish the Gospel For Asia (GFA) book. As the book says, I know that the gospel can bring these people out of their hardship and poverties. However, there are still lots of work to be done in this place, as I discovered later on.

When I went to the national museum, there are lots of sculptures of different gods, some have missing body parts. However, whether the sculptures are intact or not, they are still continued to be worshiped. It is hard to understand why they would worship a god with missing head or arms, ..etc. Sometimes people would sell offerings to give to the gods. When I was walking around the national museum slowly, trying to appreciate the marvelous hand work on these ancient sculptures, an old lady with a very kind face smiled at me, and spoke to me with a very soft voice, wanted to sell little flowers to me to offer to the god. When I see her innocent face, suddenly I remembered what I've read in the GFA book, it suddenly made me feel really sad. Because despite her kindness, her soul is trapped unknowingly by the darkness.

Departure

Well, this is it. 4 hrs to lifting, and 14 hrs of brutal long hour flight ahead.
I can't believe I caught a cold right before I leave. I took a day off yesterday, seems like it was meant for me to have a day of quietness and rest before my trip.

Anyway, so long, see you all in a bit. Hopefully the next update gonna be an exciting one!

mission scariest

After many turns, my trip to Palin seems to be 80% finalized now. But now I'm faced with a very difficult task. Beside fixing computers, one of the tasks would be to "bring encouragement" to another short term missionary there! A person (me) who has never done any missionary work, or even brought anyone to Christ on my own, to bring encouragement to one of Lord's soldiers in the front line, this is really scary! Perhaps Raymond has spoken too highly of me! Anyhow, I've accepted the task.

I really need you guy's prayer!

This trip has really become much more spiritual than I anticipated!

1 week count down

At exactly one week from now this time, I'll be on the air, heading for one of my most ambitious trip ever! The fact that I'm heading to what used to be one of the most hostile places on earth hasn't quite catch on with me yet, 'cause I've been just crazily busy lately. With 3 P&W's coming up on the weekend, I don't think I've ever been so involved before!

Lots of people say that I'd experience God greatly in this trip, I guess that has boost up my expectation, even though I don't really know what to expect, since my itinerary has not even been finalized! I still haven't got a confirmation whether they would need me to setup computers in Palin, and another missionary has asked me to visit a kids camp in Phnom Pehn... As Wai Ho said, God's plan is always hidden until the very last minute!

I still can't imagine in a couple more days, I'd be in a totally different environment, dust everywhere, broken roads, poor neighborhood, hostile people, mosquitoes, language and signs I don't understand, ... etc.

decision decision...

Just finished talking with Raymond today about Cambodia,... Like all other people I've talked to, including my travel agency, he urged me not to go there alone! I was very disappointed because if going there in a guided tour, I'd rather go somewhere else on my own... But I really have to decide now 'cause I have to pay for the ticket in a few days or it'd be more expensive.
Reading Lonely Planet forum, seems many people go there by themselves, including females, they all had no problems... So who should I trust? Someone I know? or hundreds of comments on the net? I know people I've talked to are relatively more conservative...
I hope God can help me decide soon...

Bby -> Van bike trip

Somehow I always end up doing stuff on my own. I was planning to auto-x with my friend today, but decided it was too expensive, plus I feel I really need some exercise... So I decided to do some biking on one of my favorite routes from Burnaby to Downtown, which I've always wanted to do again. I know most people don't have their own bikes, but if you do, maybe you can join me next time! Anyway, biking from home to Downtown is always fun. It's really not as big of a deal as some of you might think! Driving takes 1/2 hour, but biking takes only 1 hour because we don't have long waits in traffic lights.

While I can't really describe exactly how the route goes, I can try to give you some idea here.

From home I rode up to Burnaby North Secondary School. There's an entrance point for part of the Trans Canada bike route right across Hastings. It's very easy to miss 'cause it's dark and you're riding into the woods. But, once you're in it, you'd just follow the gravel trail and the Trans-Canada bike trail sign. You'd have to ride on the road on some part, but eventually you'd go back onto gravel. The gravel trail is right beside the water North of Hastings, so it's not as hot, with some view points. At the end of the gravel trail you'd go under the Second Narrow bridge, and continue on some small paved back road, shared with cars, but traffic is really minimal. And then somehow you'd turn to a park and go back south until you reach Adanac Road where the Adanac trail starts. Then you can follow the Adanac trail sign until you reach China Town! Quite easy hey? Going to Vancouver is more fun than going back because it's mostly down hill going out. You might not notice when you're driving but Burnaby is actually higher altitude than Downtown.

When going back, you just have to take it easy. If you're too tired already you can always take transit back. But if you can conserve your energy, it won't be too hard. I chose an easier route going back 'cause I know I'm not in the best shape. I went Adanac all the way instead, then Union street / Fransis Street in Burnaby. Less interesting route, but need less energy since it's one straight road and all paved.

You don't really need a fancy bike to do these trails. My bike is like 20 years old, bought from the Bay or something. Just make sure your brake is good, 'cause there are some steep hills on the Trans Canada Trail. And lube your chain too.

So here you go, the cheapest, healthiest, greenest entertainment you can find!

In the picture is my favorite bench. It's right after the second narrow bridge. It's on a little hill, looking out to the Burrard Inlet. Somehow I always like sitting there. The memorial plate on the bench describes someone who loved nature. She died in the age of 40 something, and the plate was dedicated by her parents. Tragedies happen every moment, but I guess if we can enjoy and live the fullest every God given moment, that is a good life.