Annual Youth Leaders' Camp

Great to hear that the 11th Annual Youth Leaders' Camp is going well (finishing today). This camp is organized every year by the Youth Commission of the Evangelical Fellowship of Cambodia. Over 300 Christian youth from all over Cambodia head to the beach for the week where most of them not only see the ocean for the first time but also see so many Christians gathered together for the first time.

The worship time and speakers are inspiring and the workshops touch on key issues of discipleship and leadership. In addition to the EFC Youth Commission staff, dozens of pastors and other church leaders, both Cambodian and expatriate, work together to lead the camp and teach the sessions. It is exciting to see how God is using this event to strengthen the next generation of the Church in Cambodia.

Over the years my husband and I volunteered at the camp, it was interesting to observe the funny cultural clashes when you not only mix Cambodian with expats to organized something of this size, but also the funny episodes when Cambodian rural meets Cambodian urban. For example, teaching provincial youth how to use a Western toilet found at the hotel where the youth stayed (it's NOT a washing machine or a squat toilet!) Also, the never ending debates between Cambodian and expat leaders over terminology . . . is this a "youth conference" or a "youth camp?" Only pastors go to conferences . . . kids go to camps . . . why, then do the youth stay in a hotel if it is a camp??? . . . "you foreigners don't understand!" . . . you like to GO camping to a place that is more primitive . . . we Cambodians LIVE camping every day of our lives . . . when we go to a conference or camp, we want to rest comfortably for once so we can focus on what we are learning!" How our cultural lenses cloud our understanding. But thank the Lord unity is possible despite our human differences and limitations! May God receive glory for the lives that are changed through this annual event and may His church continue to grow in the Kingdom of Cambodia.