That sounds so cliché right? Count your blessings blah blah blah. Let me be honest, before I started this trip I thought it was a cliché saying. I mean I’d seen pictures of people living in impoverish conditions in third world countries before. I knew it was real. But now I’m actually here. And it actually is real. 24/7 all year round, rain or shine, young or old it is real.
A couple days ago (I seem to be loosing track lol. Still trying to get over jetlag.) when we first arrived in Cambodia we landed in the Capitol city Phnom Phen. When I think capitol city I think of a city that is developed with lots of buildings and businessmen and cars and street lights. Well, it came as a surprise to me that that is not always the case. When we stepped outside of the airport I was shocked. There were no buildings like we have in America, I didn’t see any businessmen walking around with briefcases, and they do have cars, but not clean fancy cars or stop lights.
(This is the capital city of Phnom Penh)
I certainly thought I prepared myself for what I was going to see, but can you actually prepare to see children covered in dirt? No. Can you actually prepare yourself to see people living in houses made of sticks and garbage? No. Can you ever prepare yourself to see sick old women sitting in mud and dirty water? Never. As I am walking through the villages, or riding the tuk tuks through town, I find myself continuously counting my blessings and thanking Jesus for everything I have. It is no longer a cliché saying to me, it is as real as can be. This 11 months is temporary for me. I get to go back to America and sleep in my bed. I get to go back and live in air conditioning. After these 11 months I will be able to have access to medical care and take gloriously long hot showers. This is just a blip of time in my life. But this is not temporary for these people in Cambodia. This is all that they know. This is their reality.
After a week in Cambodia I feel foolish. I feel stupid for complaining that my iPhone 5s is taking too long to load, when some don’t even have electricity. I feel ridiculous for complaining that the air conditioner is not cool enough, when they live in perpetual heat and humidity. I feel dumb for not always being grateful for my own bedroom, when their homes are the size of my closets combined.
But let me tell you what I am grateful for. I am grateful for grace. I am grateful that even in the midst of my foolishness and complaining, God’s grace is sufficient for me. I am grateful that He knows me and that He forgives me for my ignorance. I am blessed to have this opportunity and to reflect on all of the blessings that I do have in my life. It’s not always going to be easy, and I’m sure there will be times where I’m going to want to give up, but God’s grace, mercy and love will be enough.
