Heart of a Missionary

As we conclude this section, we speak to Rev Annie Yeo, a missionary in Cambodia who shares her heartfelt thoughts on mission work with us.

WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO EMBARK ON THIS JOURNEY?
It began with a need to base someone temporarily at a Cambodia work under our church’s missions support. At first, I struggled because Cambodia was not the country in my heart. However, after God showed me clearly He wanted me to go there, I obeyed.

However, after God showed me clearly He wanted me to go there, I obeyed.

A sudden turn of event led to a new proposal: start Eternal Life Assembly’s own pioneering work in Cambodia.

God knows me. I would have said “No” if initially I were asked to pioneer a new work there. God first got me to say “Yes” to Cambodia, then He changed the assignment.

WHAT WAS THE MOST MEANINGFUL EXPERIENCE FOR YOU AS A MISSIONARY?
Sometimes, the most meaningful and memorable experiences on a mission are the most unexpected ones.

The process of buying a tuk-tuk for our ministry has been so challenging that I’d wanted to give up. On the first day we used our new tuk-tuk, I witnessed God’s compassionate providence for a grieving family. That made the difficulties I’d undergone worthwhile.

We were fetching some Singaporean visitors in our new tuk-tuk to our place of ministry. A family asked for a lift to a place about four kilometres away, where there was transport for hire. The couple’s daughter had passed away in another province. They were bringing the deceased baby back to their own home after the funeral.

In His providential care for this bereaved family, God went the extra mile. He sent us to give them a lift not just to the place to hire a transport but to the entrance of their village (it was along the way to our destination)! He has spared them from the long walk in the hot sun, carrying an infant and their bags.

This incident motivated me to be willing to face whatever challenges that might come my way, to reach people with God’s love.

This incident motivated me to be willing to face whatever challenges that might come my way, to reach people with God’s love.

HOW DOES ONE PREPARE FOR THE MISSION FIELD?
a) Maintain good spiritual, emotional and physical health.

b) Learn to be adaptable and flexible.

c) Go for short mission trips, preferably to your intended destination, before you venture into longer-term mission work.

d) Hear and learn from other missionaries, especially Singaporeans, preferably in the mission field you intend to go. Their experiences will be useful to you and they can give you some helpful advice on how to cope with the challenges you would face.

e) Above all, pray and seek the Lord.

WHAT HAS GOD BEEN SHOWING YOU RECENTLY?
a) God is the One who causes the increase (1 Corinthians 3:6)

He can grow the ministry even without me being there physically in the missions field. In the two years I was away in Singapore due to the pandemic, God’s hand remained on the local team and the ministry continued to grow.

b) As the ministry grows, the way things are done has to evolve

When I returned to Cambodia, I realized that some of the things I used to do in the past were no longer necessary. I’ve had to see how I could continue to contribute meaningfully to enhance the ministry, and not be a hindrance to the local team as they continued what they had been doing in my absence.

In the two years I was away in Singapore due to the pandemic, God’s hand remained on the local team and the ministry continued to grow.

HOW CAN WE PRAY FOR YOU?
Please pray:
a) That I will continue to be faithful.

b) God’s wisdom be upon me as I adjust my involvement in the mission field after the pandemic.

c) The process of handing over this ministry to the local co-workers is smooth.

d) God to show me His direction for what’s next for me after the hand-over.