JOURNEY OF TRANSFORMATION: EMBRACING INADEQUACIES FOR EXTRAORDINARY GROWTH

by Cez Krol. A globetrotter from Poland with 71 countries under his belt, Cez shares a transformative tale of faith in Cambodia, alongside his equally well-travelled wife, Lydia Yang. From conferences in Ireland to Everest Base Camp, their shared mission led them to serve. Their first date started in France and ended in Portugal. You can read more about them on their travel blogs: lydiascapes.com and etramping.com.

Cez and Lydia

As Lydia, my wife, and I stepped off the plane in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, we were filled with eagerness. Leading up to this three to four-month mission trip, we were guided by a verse from James 2:26 (NKJV): “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” Little did we know that the path ahead was not as we envisioned; it was destined to be so much more.

We came to Cambodia with the idea of using our professional skills in the area of digital marketing, to equip local people with digital tools and skillset to grow their business or personal online presence.

But the business and digital landscape here in Cambodia was different. Our expertise in helping businesses with online awareness, specifically Search Engine Optimization (SEO), did not fit the needs of the Khmers here that relied little on websites but more on social media to promote their businesses.

Lydia adapted quickly and moulded her training to fit the needs of the Khmers.

Lydia, with her vast experience in teaching digitisation and personal development skills, quickly adapted, moulding her training to focus on personal branding, content creation, and resume writing. She also got herself involved in the Girls Brigade in the Methodist School of Cambodia, a Christian uniform group and club that helps to equip young ladies with team building, leadership and personal development skills through activities, education and camps. I, however, was left grappling with a void. My SEO and web design skills seemed irrelevant here in Cambodia. But then, a moment of divine guidance struck me.

A conversation with Timothy, our neighbour, principal of the Methodist School of Cambodia, and eventually a dear friend, led to an opportunity to teach computer programming. Still, the abstract nature of computer language and coding was a barrier, especially given the limited IT literacy here.

An Arduino inspiration!

That’s when a “coincidence” – a meme about Arduino –sparked a memory. I recalled my days running a 3D printer store in China, and how Arduino microcontrollers were used there. And then I remembered that Arduino can be used to build inexpensive robots. The idea of using robotics to teach programming started to blossom.

Starting from scratch, with no Arduino components and almost no prior knowledge, I embarked on a journey of learning and exploration. I dived into YouTube videos, educated myself, and found a local shop selling Arduino sets, just 156 metres away from where we were staying! If that’s not a “coincidence” then what is?!

Thus, the Robotics Club was born - an avenue for young people to learn critical thinking, problem solving, and teamwork through creating robots. STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) skills were further developed through the learning process.

The journey was not without its challenges. I learnt the hard way that a freestyle setup would not work. I needed structure and individual sets for each participant. The Khmer New Year break gave me time to reflect and plan, and soon I had devised a 5-week Robotics Workshop Series, complete with a finale team competition.

We had 30 participants, ranging from 10 to 40 years old, all coming together to learn, explore, and have fun. They built robots, programmed them, and engaged in teamwork, all while I stood back in awe of what God had guided us to create.

The participants had fun at the Robotics Workshop.

What began as a short mission trip to teach digital marketing turned into a humbling, transformative experience. I learnt to trust in God’s plans, to adapt, and to find purpose in unexpected places. Our persistent efforts and actions have left a visible impact, and the Robotics project continues to be run in the school till this date with dedicated pro bono local and expat trainers/teachers and sufficient funding to help subsidise the club for the kids in the coming months. This is a testament to God’s foresight and a bigger plan.

As Lydia and I left Cambodia, the verse from Romans 12:2 was inscribed in our hearts: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

I arrived with a plan but left with an inner transformation.

I arrived with a plan but left with an inner transformation. The experience taught me that sometimes our human inadequacies are simply opportunities for growth, and that by surrendering to a higher calling, we can be part of something truly extraordinary for His glory.

About MITE
MMS Missions Internship Training and Exposure (MITE) is a programme designed to send believers to the mission fields for 1 to 6 months. It is an opportunity to give your best to God! To find out more, visit https://www.mms.org.sg/mite or email mms@methodist.org.sg