What is ACTS
ACTS has a holistic program which involves not only the mission participants but also try to involve locals from all strata of society and religious persuasions to empower them so that they can eventually undertake the running of the different projects which includes medical clinics, clean water supply, food for village children and the poorest of the communities with a particular emphasis on education.
Focus
Our focus is on education especially of the children. Towards this end, we have engaged with our partners in Cambodia in particular the Salesian nuns and local parishes to improve the education by developing infrastructure facilities, providing scholarships, upgrading trainers’ knowledge, involving volunteers for vocational training in food management and secretarial skills, training of Cambodian medical students amongst many other year round projects.
Commendations
For assisting in the up-grading of the Don Bosco school at Phum Chreh, the re-building of the vocational school cum boarding home at Tuol Kork, and the perceived effectiveness of our annual outreach programs has not only been lauded by religious groups but also recognised by the Cambodian government which has awarded ACTS three honours including the prestigious Royal Order of Moniseraphon.
For tremendrous collaboration efforts in raising funds to complete the building of a US$1.3 million secondary school for Don Dosco Vocational Training Centre for Girls, the government of Cambodia awarded ACTS the Golden National Construction Medal in 2014.
In Cambodia, we continue to work with many other groups including the Missionaries of Charity, Jesuits Mission and Yarrumal Missionaries of Columbia.
In recognition of its philosophy of emphasis on education and comprehensive development of communities by focusing on the individual, ACTS has been invited to replicate its program in many countries. We have started projects and missions in Myanmar, Philippines and Vietnam and are exploring the possibilities of bringing God’s love to Indonesia and India. In line with this articulated focus, ACTS which initially stood for Advent Cambodia TripS was renamed A Call To Share in 2011.
Miracles
We realize that the success of our program is entirely due to God the author of all that is goodness and love. There have been so many incidences of God’s providence and we could not have achieved anything without Him.
In the early years, ACTS has also been consecrated to Mother Mary (hence our distinct Marian blue T-shirt). There were numerous occasions when she has intervened on our behalf as demonstrated by an incident which happened during the building of a grotto at the Church of the Assumption at Battambang in November 2012.
Fr. Totet, the parish priest tried for one year to collect money to build a grotto but could only raise US$100. ACTS found a sponsor who donated US$12,000 but towards the completion of the building they ran out of money. They needed one final truckload of rocks to complete the grotto. A Buddhist monk donated the rocks but the ACTS team needed US$200 to transport the rocks.
While Sr Larkhana and Zenn (a Singapore volunteer) were discussing how to raise the money, a lady came up to them and enquired if they were building a home for Mother Mary. Unprompted, she took out the exact amount needed and handed it to them. Curious about the lady’s origin because they have never seen her before, they asked her where she was from but all she revealed was that she often visits the Church. They have never seen her since.
ACTS represents
The acronym, A C T S was chosen because of its significance in the Bible – Acts of the Apostles. Participants of ACTS missions like modern day Apostles are called to wherever they are needed to bring God’s love to those of His children who are suffering or in need.
ACTS has impacted the lives of thousands which is best illustrated in the poignant question which a Cambodian child raised to Sr Ophriini, “Why do these strangers come from so far away to love us?” Over the years we are no longer strangers but accepted as part of the family in Cambodia. The most profound changes however have occurred in the lives of the very mission participants who return year after year to continue this mission.
The “joy of service” cannot be narrated - only experienced. Indeed it is “more blessed to give than to receive” Acts 20:35. We invite you to join us in this life-changing experience and become part of the ACTS family. The harvest is plentiful but the labourers are few. Are you ready to become an Apostle?
