Muriel Macleod
How long have you served with OMF?
I served with OMF in Cambodia from 1995 to 2007 and returned there in 2015.
What is your current ministry?
Since September 2020, I have been based in Ratanakiri province in Northeast Cambodia. It’s an area with many minority groups, and the OMF ministry focuses on two in particular - the Krung and the Brao. I have been teaching English at the government high school in the Krung district centre. The students are from villages throughout the district. I also have the privilege of sharing a house in the provincial town with Christian girls from different tribal villages who are students at a high school in town. This discipleship ministry was set up by a fellow OMF (UK) worker, Joelle Kenny.* It’s been a blessing to be part of it.
Can you share a highlight from the last four years?
Being able to return to church and worship with the believers again. During about six months of restrictions on meeting together, the church divided into small neighbourhood groups. As a result of these small, local meetings, new people came to faith which was a great joy.
What are you most looking forward to about being back in the UK?
I returned to Cambodia in September 2020 when Covid-19 restrictions were still in place at home, so I’m looking forward to meeting up with family, friends and prayer partners in person again.
What have you learnt from East Asians?
I have truly enjoyed being part of the church here. Whenever they have any activity from outreach, youth camp, Christmas, weddings and even just cleaning up or repairing the church building – they announce it after worship on Sunday. Lots of people show up and everyone, from the children to the old grannies, is given a job. They are like an extended family - working, laughing, and eating together.
What can we pray for your future and where you serve?
Pray for a refreshing home assignment. I then plan to return to the same ministry. Pray for the Christian students at the high school; that they would be bold in their witness.
Joelle shared this story in her book The Life I Now Live (10ofthose, 2021).