27 March 2025.
It was like a normal day. I woke up to the sound of birds chirping, frogs croaking and neighbour’s geese honking. As the sun beamed through our windows, the quiet morning was abruptly broken by gleeful greetings and hungry calls. Then, it was followed by the dragging of chairs. Soon, everyone was seated on their chair. After a short prayer of thanksgiving, the cling-clang of cutlery and utensils filled the room as everyone happily munched their food.
Minutes later, breakfast was over. Sophealin was off to work and Elisabeth to kindergarten at our church. Ezekiel and I stayed home. After a short playtime, it was morning nap for Ezekiel and silence engulfed our living room once more.
Then, I gently let myself out of the house through our creaking doors and took our laundry outside. Placing my phone on the car hood and playing the audio Bible, I started handwashing our clothes. My hands and eyes focused on the clothes while my ears and mind on the reading of the Scripture. When prompted to say a prayer for someone or some needs, I would do so quietly. Then, I was prompted to pray, “God, we are planning to go to Singapore next year. Do you want us to sell the house, rent the house or bless someone to stay and keep watch over it?”
After hanging the clothes to dry, I stealthily entered the house, not wanting to wake Ezekiel from his morning nap. Before I put down my phone on the dining table, the phone beeped with a message notification from my wife. I clicked on it and saw a picture of a pregnancy test kit with two strips on it. I immediately knew what it was. And my first reaction was that was the answer to my prayer. Keep the house! I just knew!
Then I sat down beside sleeping Ezekiel and started thinking how to break this news. Those nearer to us physically must know to prevent unnecessary physical stress on my wife. It was not straight forward for you who are far away from us. If it is just, “Congratulations!” we would be glad. But we were not ready to answer any questions to be followed, if there were, pertaining to our coming to Singapore. We would like a bit more time to wrestle in prayer and discern what the Lord is doing, uninterrupted and undisturbed by emotional comments and practical suggestions.
Planning Failure or Promise Fulfilled?
Initially, it was as much a shock to us as to everyone around us and all who knew our upcoming plan. Some rejoiced with us and relieved knowing that we would not leave them so soon as to our initial date. Others were not so excited, but more disappointed at the prospect of not having me at the Trinity Theological College (TTC) so soon. Still, some spoke with wisdom and understanding. Some questioned our family planning. We too, initially! But as we sat down and prayerfully reflected on our 3-children family, God is fulfilling it without us knowing when it was at our fearful time. So, we are amazed and grateful.
Decision Reached
A few options were considered. First option was that I would come to Singapore first, and sometime later, Sophealin and our children would join me in Singapore. Another option was to delay my TTC enrolment and thus our coming to Singapore by one or two years. The third was to not come to TTC at all and look for local training alternatives.
After a careful deliberation, we chose the third option. We will stay put in Cambodia, maintaining our connection with our local church community and continuing to serve at our current capacity. I would apply for a full-time teaching position and, later, enrol in a local theological school as a part-time student. This is going back to a tent-making model or bi-vocational model.
Well, you may ask why a change of decision. The main reason, we thought, was coming to Singapore was making a lot of sense for me. Many of you thought it was making a lot of sense too. I thought I could be in TTC full-time while my wife would be staying home to care for our children. But it took us a third child to deeply reflect upon it, to hear the hearts of the people and to recognize the need to stay in Cambodia. And it made Kingdom sense.
Decision Affirmed
And I believe this is the affirmation we received from God for our decision.
Firstly, a few weeks after we had made our decision, we heard that one of the Sophealin’s nieces had to quit school to work. She is 16 years old. Her mother forced her to stop schooling and to start working to help with the family’s finance. It was a labour work, sleep-deprived and no rest day. We believe that she would be better off staying with us. We spoke to her over the phone. She was glad that we reached out to her. She agreed without hesitation to come and stay with us to help around the house and resume schooling at the next academic year. Our decision to stay in Cambodia made our decision to take her under our wings simple.
Secondly, I started checking on the internet for job openings in schools within a few kilometres from where we live. My choice of school must have a swimming pool, a soccer field and sheltered multi-purpose court. Strategically, I can take my children, and church groups, for sports and games there without having to pay rental fees for venues. I found Logos International School (LIS) and the related school, Asian Hope International School (AHIS). LIS had posted a job opportunity for a PE/Swim teacher on its website. I wrote in with my cover letter and resume. Two weeks later, I was called to attend an interview. Two days after the interview, I was called to discuss the salary and benefits. Because of my Singapore qualifications, I was offered the expats pay and our two older children can attend any of the two schools for free of charge.
We believe that this is the Lord’s provision for our family, and our decision is according to His plan.
