EMI Team On Remember Nhu Project

It had been a great pleasure and privilege to have joined the Engineering Ministries International (EMI) who helped the Remember Nhu Organization prepare a master plan for a self sustaining community that would support at least two Children’s home in Takeo, Cambodia.

Remember Nhu is an organization that is “committed to preventing the exploitation of children in the sex trade industry throughout the world by meeting the physical, educational, emotional, and spiritual needs of at-risk children before the nightmare of the sex trade ever becomes reality. Remember Nhu's approach is to help one child at a time, one family and in doing so, one village at a time. Over 90% of their children have become Christians.”

When I received the EMI Newsletter some time in middle of December 2012, I thought that it was already one of the best times to join an engineering-related mission team to bless other nations. I emailed the team leader – Matt Hood – telling him that I was interested to join the team to go to Cambodia. After a few email exchanges, my inclusion to the team was formally finalized.
 

While my trip to Cambodia was full of surprises and provisions from God, my experience as a member of the EMI team has given me joy and fulfilment inasmuch as I become part of a very understanding and cooperative team.

Standing Left to Right-- Jim, Jackie, Brittney, Matt, Dave, Dan, Jennifer; Bent forward-- Ashley; Kneeling: Sophal, John, Todd, and Me (Raul)

Matt Hood – our team leader is a very soft spoken architect and well organized whose experience and expertise in leading an EMI team was acknowledged by all of us.

John Pries – a pastor and the ministry representative of the Remember Nhu Project; a straightforward person who shared to us wonderful reflections every time we had our team devotions. He also made sure to support our needs as we worked together in Takeo.

Brittany Williams – an EMI Architecture Intern whom I called – “my sister from another mother”—is a person whom everyone loves. Her smile and sweet voice... and the occasional giggles made everyone happy. One of my friends had mistakenly identified her as Venus Williams in one of the photos that was posted in Facebook.

Ashley Rose – the closest buddy of Brittany who can also sing sweetly, praising and worshipping God in our team devotions. Pastor John told her that she has a heart for missions. She was one of the Civil Volunteers who took care of the various testing, sampling and surveying in the site.

Jim Bushee – another Civil Volunteer who partnered with Ashley in the civil engineering tasks of the team. He was always ready to crack some jokes that made our mood became light and easy despite the hectic schedule we had.  Jim told me he treasured some of the points I shared in our team devotions.

Dan Wells – my architect partner who did a wonderful and sensible space planning for the Children’s Home. He is good and fast even if he did not feel physically well during his stay in Cambodia. I love the way he managed the 3D presentation using Sketch Up software. I would love to work with him again if ever we still have a chance to work together in one of EMI mission trips.

Jennifer Wells – the wife of Dan was so helpful even if she has no technical expertise in the preparation of the master plan. She did well in the compilation of our final presentation report. I appreciated on the way she talks and elaborates point of discussion very clearly.

Dave Onstad – my roommate who always assured me that my snoring didn’t bother him. As an experienced Electrical Engineer he knew very well how to fit in the electrical power requirements of the project with the existing utilities and facilities in the site.

Jackie Branberg – the Aquaponics volunteer who shared her heart and concern to the needs of the so many children in Cambodia. She was so good in helping the team prepare the its final PowerPoint presentation.

Todd Dee Futhey – an Aquaponics expert from Florida, USA, who amazed us with his devotion and boldness to share the gospel to others wherever he went. Most of the group appreciated his resourcefulness and loved to listen to his testimonies of faith.

Sophal – our Cambodian driver and interpreter. He was so very kind and humble. He was our connection to the Khmer community where we cannot do more of sign language. With him around, we were comfortable to ask him interpret what we would like to communicate with the locals.

Most of us have only known each other for the first time when we met at the 9 Dragon Hotel at Phnom Penh, Cambodia. But God was so good and gracious for giving us an understanding spirit. From day 1 up to the moment we finished our presentation to the Remember Nhu Ministry Representative, the team worked together trying their best to accomplish each others’ task so that we could come up with a better and comprehensive presentation of the project. We could not have finished working together the way we did apart from the direction and empowerment of the Holy Spirit.

The Manila - Ho Chi Min - Phnom Phen Route

My angel from HCM to PP

My first trip to Cambodia was full of excitement and surprises. Months before I traveled I received God's assurance that He will be with me all the way. And indeed in every step of my way, His provision and guidance was so wonderful beyond my human mind could imagine.

I contacted a friend who is based in Phnom Penh, Cambodia and I also did a lot of research in the net on how to get to Cambodia via Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam. As I sat in the NAIA terminal together with other passengers, one thing I realized in my notes was that I needed someone to help me in order to avoid communication breakdown both with the Vietnamese and the Cambodians.

While waiting for our flight schedule at the NAIA terminal, I scouted from among the passengers bound for Ho Chi Minh if I could find one who can assist me in my travel up to Phnom Penh. I noticed that the passengers were busy on their own that I found it awkward to ask for help or assistance.

So, I prayed again, “Lord, I entrust to You my trip to Cambodia.”

As we boarded the plane at around 11:30PM, I saw this young man walking beside me and I casually asked him where his destination was. He politely told me that he’s going to Cambodia. After that we went to our assigned seats.

When we landed at the Ho Chi Minh International Airport in Vietnam at around 1AM (Vietnam Time is an hour behind the Philippines) we were greeted with taxi drivers offering to take us downtown for about US$20.  I looked around for another offer as I read in the various reviews that the reasonable charge from HCM airport to the downtown area should only be around US$6-US$7. As I turned around to look for another offer, I again met the young man (his name is Chris) whom I asked earlier in our flight.

At the center is Chris-- my angel from HCM Airport to the Bus Terminal and the other guy is the Indonesian guy who offered to change our US$ to Vietnamese Dong

So, I asked him if we could go ride together in a taxi and share the charge. He advised that we stay and leave by 5:30AM because it was still too early to go to the bus terminal. As we chatted together, an Indonesian national joined us and was the one who offered to exchange our dollar to Vietnamese Dong so that we can pay Dong to the taxi driver instead of US$.

Silently, I thanked God for providing me these two gentlemen. We left the airport together at 5:30AM up to the bus terminal and then we parted our ways. The Indonesian went to look for a hotel and Chris went to ride another bus company.

I bought a bus ticket and left HCM at exactly 7AM with no other familiar face anywhere. I noticed that the roaming TM number I brought did not work in Vietnam. Deep in my thoughts I wonder how I could communicate with my friend in Phnom Penh. I ventured to chat with my seat mate if he can understand and speak English. And God provided me a seat mate who was able to communicate with me and even lend me his cell phone so that I could contact my friend in Phnom Penh.

God is so good!... and His provision is boundless. Until now, I kept on thanking and praising God for the wonderful ways He did in ordering every step of my way on my first trip to Cambodia.