As spring break hit campus a couple of weeks ago, many Oklahoma Christian University students used it as an opportunity to serve in various parts of the country, one group traveled a bit farther — to Cambodia.
Accompanied by Director of the Center for Global Missions Ben Langford, a group of 13 students aided a local congregation with outreach efforts by hosting a Vacation Bible School and various children’s events at Angkor of Faith 9 in Siem Reap, Cambodia.
“One day, we did a hygiene clinic, where we gave kids a toothbrush and taught them how to brush their teeth,” Langford said. “We de-liced all their hair, which was a big event in itself. They washed their hair, lice literally jumping out of their hair, which was somewhat an embarrassing thing for the kids. The love that our students showed…they made them feel like they are valued.”
The team partnered with various church groups throughout the world to make the week successful, including groups from Japan, China, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Thailand, Cambodia, New Zealand, Australia, England and Albania.
“It is just this conglomeration of cultures coming together and we would spend a couple of hours worshiping,” junior Elijah Weaver said. “Then, we would gather in smaller international groups within the group and spend time getting to know each other… We all came together for one reason and we all share this faith in Jesus.”
The VBS had various activities for the children, such as Bible skits, stories and songs.
“We were strengthening relationships across borders,” sophomore Mikayla Bezner said. “I think it benefited the people there to know that there are people that really care for them.”
Bezner has visited Cambodia four times previously and said she has tried to be an active part of the peoples’ lives while there.
“I never know if I’ll see them again or if I’ll go back,” Bezner said. “Always on the last day they’ll look at me through tears, ‘Are you coming back next year?’ And I think that’s the most important thing is to be consistent — not just going back. But they all have Facebook so I’ll go check up on them on Facebook and just maintain those very special relationships.”
The team gathered in the mornings and evenings to worship with the Christians there and to encourage each other, according to Langford.
“They want to be faithful followers of Jesus and they are looking around and they are the only ones,” Langford said. “I consider that to be a huge part of the works that our OC students got to go share their lives, hear stories, be encouraged and encourage them. Our students lives, whether we knew it or not, were encouragements to the Christians around the world.”
The group had to overcome challenges of jet lag and travel sickness, but due to the short nature of the trip, the team was focused on being effective and efficient.
“I was very impressed with the OC students that went,” Langford said. “I have never been to Cambodia, but we tried to prepare them the best that we could for what was going to be and of course it never is exactly like you think it is. …They were just champions. They jumped in there, they adapted and they were excited, even in spite of jet lag.”
Langford said he believes this trip has been an encouragement to the Christians throughout the world and the children that attended the VBS, while also being transformative for everyone involved.
“You cannot be the same after seeing a different culture and seeing people live differently and have a lot less,” Langford said. “You cannot be the same after experiencing the love of God through these children… It is not one way in going to love children, those children love you back and you are like, ‘I feel the love of God in these kids.’ They serve me as much as I serve them. It is transformative but it is [about] opening up enough to receive it.”
The team worked in the village by planting a garden, cleaning out houses and spending a day going to a hospital, an orphanage and a school. The trip focused on involvement in the children’s lives, according to Weaver.
“I feel like I got a broader picture of what the Kingdom is like,” Weaver said. “It is easy to view the Kingdom within my context that is within my local sphere here, but God’s mission is a lot bigger than OC, it is a lot bigger than Oklahoma and it is a heck of a lot bigger than the United States. It’s happening everywhere. It was cool to see how big His Kingdom is and how it is working.”
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