From Missionary to Tentmaker

20 July 2013 by Esther Ding-

 

Serving God with the talents He gave

 

Goodbye to church planting

I went back to Cambodia in 2002  for my 3^rd term as a missionary sent by Damansara Utama Methodist Church, Malaysia. My work was to continue church planting, take care of ten pastors and train church leaders. To plant churches we usually started with medical and dental services in the community.  When the locals welcomed us we returned to continue these services. After building relationships with the people we tell them we bring more than medical and dental treatment, we also want to introduce them to The Great Healer. For those interested we formed a small group.  Gradually the small group became a church. That’s how eventually 25 churches were planted in Baray district. Eventually the local Cambodians took over the leadership of these churches.

 

 

Taking root

After another year in Cambodia, I felt God was directing me to another phase –‘ to take root’ which to me meant  growing to know Jesus and dig deep into His Words.  I spent one month at the Station of Life in Lahad Datu to strengthen my spiritual life. ‘Take root’ also meant that unless I uprooted myself from what I had been doing previously, I cannot really take root in the country where God had called me. I felt that my work there was to provide jobs for the local women and students. I discussed with DUMC to start a handicraft business called Khmer Life  in Phnom Penh. The shop was also used as a students hostel because many students who graduated from high school needed a place to stay and further their education in Phnom Penh. We catered to about 30 graduates and undergraduates there from Baray District.

 

 

Tentmaker

2008 was the transitional year for me from being a missionary to become a tent maker. Many people commented that business is in my blood. I am an entrepreneur and a risk taker. I believe this is God’s given talents and I must multiply His investment in me.

After living with the locals for many years in the rural areas I felt that what they needed is to have skills so that they can make a living,  a sustainable livelihood. They must feed themselves and not depend on handouts.

One day a young Cambodian  lady asked me, “ how can I use my sewing to put food on the table?”  This made me to start thinking. That’s how we started the sewing projects – finding sponsors to buy materials for the women to sew trousers for children and blankets to be distributed to the elderly poor. To do this we bought 1000 kg of material remnants  from factories. Christine Ling our church member  from DUMC trained them in embroidery, card-making, t-shirt printing to produce beautiful bags and applique T shirts. We owe much to her kindness and generosity to help launch what we called the Songkhem project in the early years.

 

 

To create more jobs for the locals to serve in hospitality, I started Khmer Homestay. It all started when my godmother from Malaysia visited me. To entertain her I organized a cultural dance with student dancers, arranged pony carts to bring guests around the villages, putting them on ox cart rides to watch the sunset, allow them to fish by the pond, etc. Godma commented that these type of activities were better than any tour organized by tour companies because they experienced  the real life of the local people

So I started to build and expand the place with chalets to accommodate friends and guests from overseas. The following year I was full time involved in marketing Khmer Homestay. We added a restaurant where we provide meals for our guests. Located half way between Phomn Penh and Siem Reap where the famous Angkor Wat is many tourists pass by Baray so we make Khmer Homestay a place where they would stop or stay overnight. We are improving our infrastructure to make it better for travelers to enjoy an interesting stopover. We have altogether 23 staff working as a team for Khmer Homestay and Solar Café. Each month is a good month with enough business to carry us through. Our busiest months are May, June, November and December.

 

 

In my busy lifestyle I neglected to take care of my health. I was taken very ill at end of December 2011 because of high blood pressure and diabetes. I started to vomit,  felt tired and listless. I could not walk straight, wobbling, shivering. Blood tests showed that my sugar level was skyrocketing to 375 (normal reading is between 70 to 117).  My liver was also badly affected. Another check diagnosed that I had dengue the past month which I did not know. God was good to provide a caring doctor.  She not only cared for me she even gave me a big discount on her bill. A godly brother who was once my office superior came to visit me at the hospital. He prayed for me and blessed me with a financial gift that covered my medical bill. I was thankful that after two weeks all the blood tests showed normal. To manage and to run a sole proprietorship often stressed me out, e.g. not enough funds to pay salaries. I am learning to depend on God for physical , mental, financial and spiritual help. I’m glad God taught me a lesson through my illness –  reminding me to take care of myself  – for when I have good health then will I be able to help others.

 

 

For more info:

www.khmerhomestaybaray.com
www.solarcafebaray.com

 

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Reference for pictures:

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RPL6dp2C01I/UITEXtcZCLI/AAAAAAAAATc/yY6ncMISLkA/s320/TreeRoot.jpg

http://theurbanwire.com/2009/12/22/villageworks/

http://khmerhomestaybaray.wordpress.com/

http://khmerhomestaybaray.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/auntyesther.jpg