From New Zealand to Cambodia
January-2025 |

The latest SIM NZ magazine briefly captured what Alan Murray experienced in Cambodia. Read his full story on their short-term trip last year.
Excitement, anticipation and nervousness were just some of the feelings I felt before embarking on a journey that was full of firsts for us. It was the first time we had travelled to Cambodia with our young children. The first time travelling with a team of people from International Needs. A first for our children to experience life outside a ‘western’ country and see one so different from our own.
Did we make the right choice to travel with them at age ten and twelve? Were they going to be safe? How would they respond to the heat, the food, the busyness of life and traffic that never seems to stop moving from morning to night? Some thought we were truly brave taking our children on a trip like this.
Surprisingly everything went smoothly at the beginning. Riding around in a ‘pimped-up’ van in Singapore lifted the spirits as we chatted about the new environment and learnt about the people we would be spending time with over the next two weeks. If you have ever been to Asia, you will understand the meaning behind sensory overload. Everywhere we looked, activity was happening; from the cars that found their way through a spaghetti web of travelers to the abundance of little shops selling everything from clothes to dried insects.
Our mission, so to speak, was multidimensional: to explore projects happening around Cambodia supported by International Needs and C3 church, to connect with an OMF family (the Collins) who work in Cambodia and are partially supported by our New Zealand church, and finally, to encourage our children in mission life and help open their eyes and hearts to see how beautiful our world is with its mix of culture and diversity.
Some of the projects were suitable for our children to be involved in, and where possible they helped out. From face painting to handing out schoolbooks to children, they became involved in small ways.
In one village I observed a boy who seemed very distant, and we encouraged him to get involved where he felt comfortable. At the end of our activities, he gave each of us a hug; a win for us in making a new connection. This story did not end, however, as we will see shortly and it opened up a new understanding of this culture for me.
Later that evening we were out at dinner in a riverside restaurant with the team, and I observed the same boy from the village being pushed around in a wheelchair by his mother. The boy was shaking and moving his arms around in ways to suggest some form of brain function issue. An offering plate was on his lap. He recognised me, but his mannerisms were unchanged by this.
I was a bit surprised, and my first thought was how deceitful, since I had clearly seen the same boy earlier playing some games and walking. I made a side comment only to be kindly corrected by someone more aware of the situation. My travelling friend from World Vision said this was not deceit as I saw it, but a method of survival. For a country with little to no social system or support, people would do anything to live; even if it meant putting on a show to help pay for what might be their next meal.
It made me think how we can be quick to judge. Unless we have lived in another’s shoes, how can we make a judgement on how others live or what they do? Even if it was to earn a little keep, making their lives a little bit more comfortable. Also, at what point does deceit become righteous when it saves or helps another? When we look in the Bible Jesus fed his disciples on the Sabbath day, putting the welfare of people rightly above an ‘enforced’ rule created by others. Are we too quick to impose rules when we see fit, but forget them when our own welfare is at risk?
A second experience (of many) I will share with you was a trip into the remote areas of upper Cambodia where we met survivors being looked after by an organisation called Chab Dai. They were able to come alongside the most broken and vulnerable people (sadly often children) who had experienced situations which would break the heart of most people. We were blessed to spend time with them.
One girl whom we visited had feet covered in sores. She stared blankly; the joy of life robbed from her by her own father who was now in jail thanks to the bravery of her family, and the work of Chab Dai. We surrounded her to pray. We covered her feet in healing cream. We cut jandals to fit her from spare ones we had, to provide her better footwear. Then she cried. A lot. Our interpreter told us they were tears of joy at the love she felt from our team. Experiences like this can never be learnt from books. They must be witnessed and are a true testimony to what love can do when offered freely.
I love Asia and the diversity it brings with it. I hope we have many more experiences like these as I look to the future. Perhaps God is slowly chipping away at a long-held heart’s desire of Fiona and I to serve in a part of the world we both love. Perhaps our children will pick up on what it means to love others, embrace experiences and know what it means to reach the lost.
Coming back to New Zealand it is easy to fall into reverse culture shock. Why do we get to live ‘comfortably’ while other people hurt? It’s easy to lose hope, but we know that is not the end of the story either. There is someone coming who will bring more healing than we can offer now; a complete healing for the body, heart and spirit and one who will wipe every tear from our eyes (Revelation 21:4).
Will you reach the lost and share the good news of Jesus wherever you go? I say Amen to that.