Ministry this month has been simple. We have a lot of time to rest and I have been using that time to seek out more of what God has in store for me. The more I read and pray the more I am sure that God is leading me into and through a path of aloneness where I must learn to depend and lean on him at all times. It is not in any way easy for me to do and it has been a source of great frustration for my team, but I know it’s what I must do. I have spent a lot of my time writing out what I am feeling and going through because it seems to help me process. I posted my latest writing up on a blog for all to see because YOU are just as much a part of this journey as I am. It is YOUR encouragement and prayers that help strengthen me and push me further into what Christ has for me. THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart.
However, ministry is not all rest. Sometimes people come over to practice English, but lately no one has come. Three girls, Sina, Parry, and Lyda, live in a room below our house and teach us Khmer as we teach them English. We go with Sina and Lyda to their village to help teach English and the bible to all ages there. Church is on Sunday night and it’s one of my favorite places to be. Why? The church is just an empty room on the upper level of a house. Pictures of bible stories and a cross hang on the walls. About 15 or 20 people come and sit on the edges of the room or out on the balcony and worship starts the service when everyone is there. I love the Khmer songs and the boys that sing and play are very talented. Jim, Joel, and Carolyn sit amongst us and whisper the translations of the “message” being given. Anyone and everyone is a preacher there. There is no time limit. This feels natural and normal to me now.
My favorite thing to do for ministry is to hang out with the guys and my new friend Malin who is my age, and play volleyball, soccer, or football at Joel‘s house. We have gotten to the point where we can joke around with each other and be goofy together. Thynak was even quick to laugh it off and forgive me when my serve for volleyball ended up being a line drive to the back of his head. Most of the guys speak English pretty well and they are trying to teach me Khmer. I can count to three. Ha ha ha. Malin doesn’t know a lot of English, but we still manage to communicate and laugh together. She is engaged to be married to Rothea, one of the guys, in November. How I wish I could come back to be here for their wedding. Malin has taught me the traditional dances and I am teaching her a little more English. The other day at the Mango/ Khmer New Year party Malin was my partner for all of the games. I love her dearly and will miss her terribly.
I can’t believe that we have only one week left in this beautiful country before heading to Nairobi, Kenya for our month 8 ministry. I don’t want to leave so soon. This may be the month where I cry when we have to leave. Our contacts this month have greatly blessed us and they will forever remain in my prayers. How am I ever going to say good-bye?
PS I hope to have pictures up soon!
