In the summer of 2014, Megan and I led a group of students to Cambodia for a Global Project with InterVarsity. We took 7 students with us for a month long trip, spending most of our time in Phnom Penh. Our mission was simple: offer as much help as we could to SONOKO, the growing IFES movement that had only just been planted just a few years prior. We went and our lives were changed forever.
My official role on the team was to take care of the finances and make sure that we were following all of the risk management rules as a team so no one got into any serious trouble. My unofficial role was to encourage Chamroeun, the soon to be lead staff, as he ventured forward into leadership. I spent as much time as I could with Chamroeun, encouraging him to take risks and congratulating him on risks well taken. Even though it was a short trip, the growth I saw in him was exponential.
Here's one of my favorite stories: On one of our first days on one of the campuses, the National University of Management (NUM), we knew that we needed permission from the administration to be on campus since we weren't students or staff. On some campuses, no one is allowed who isn't affiliated with the university. We wanted to make sure that we were doing things in a way that respected and honored the university. Chamroeun says, "wait right here," and walks right into the administrative building. He comes out 2 minutes later and says, "OK, let's do it." That began 2 weeks of English Club at NUM, where we met over 100 students and the staff team made a number of connections.
During one of our breaks on that first day, I was talking with Chamroeun and he said, "you know, I've never done that before." I said, "Done what?" He said that he'd never asked an administrator for permission to be on campus before. He was scared but he knew he had to lead so he did it. I was so proud of him.
That's the thing about Chamroeun. He was always willing to take risks for the kingdom. He was always smiling. I mean ALWAYS. Meg and I used to joke that the SONOKO staff application must be just to smile for the camera because every one of the staff had such a great smile. Chamroeun's may have been the best of them all. He was so full of joy and so willing to take risks. He was an understated leader but a leader nonetheless. In my month with him, he never yelled or really raised his voice but he led with a quiet dignity that was unmistakable. He was a constant learner and he was a great friend.
A few days ago, Chamroeun was with his brother and another staff when he slipped on the rocks, fell into a waterfall, and didn't come up until hours later. He wasn't quite 30 yet.
You don't prepare yourself for something like that. There's no way to hear that kind of news. My mind immediately swirled with question after question: How is the team doing? What does this mean for the ministry? How are his girlfriend and his brother doing? How about Steph, our coworker who had been training him for all these years? How can I help from here? Why did this happen? In the end, all I can do is cry out to God and lament.
Chamroeun, you will be missed. You will be missed as a leader of students and staff. You will be missed as a brother, both spiritually and biologically. You will be missed as a friend.
~Adam
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| Rest in peace Chamroeun (Center, to the right of Meg) |
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