Month 8: Cambodia.
I’ve been looking forward to coming to Cambodia for a majority of the race, primarily because multiple World Race alumni I have spoken to, when asked the question “What was your favorite country on the race?� will respond “Oh, definitely Cambodia.� I’ve never really gotten a straight answer as to why Cambodia is such an overwhelming race favorite, but I entered the month with a sense of brimming anticipation, ready to experience the country that so many people recall fondly. A couple weeks ago, soon after arriving in Phnom Penh, I quickly realized why Cambodia is a frequent favorite on the World Race…the people.
I can’t really think of anything with which to compare the Cambodian people. As soon as we met our contact for the month (Pastor Keat Kove…a Cambodian who lived through the Killing Fields era before meeting Christ, going to Bible school and building a church and adjoined school from the ground up), I knew that there was something special in this country. It’s not even something I can put easily into words (which is why, I suppose, none of the World Race alumni I spoke to could easily articulate why they so loved Cambodia)…there is simply a beauty (best word I can think of for it) in the Cambodian people that is a rare find. The Cambodian people welcome with open arms and love with a unique enthusiasm.
Soon after my team arrived in Phnom Penh, we visited the site of the Killing Fields and the Genocide Museum, gaining a mere glimpse of this country’s dark history. The Cambodian people endured years of atrocities that bring me physical pain even to imagine, but they remain a people marked with love and acceptance. I think even for an individual to respond to such pain and hatred with anything other than bitterness is a beautiful thing; the resiliency with which the Cambodian people have responded is nothing short of miraculous. Although the majority of this country is classified as Buddhist, I truly believe that this is a country that is being claimed by the One True God. I see His thumbprints all over the lives of these people; lives marked with love and grace.
My team has spent our time in Cambodia working with Cambodian Mission Outreach, a ministry that encompasses New Life in Christ Church and New Hope School. We spend our days teaching English to Cambodians of all ages, ranging from pre-school to adults learning English in evening classes. While I definitely don’t consider teaching to be my natural gifting, it is hard not to genuinely enjoy the classes…the students are so eager both to learn and to love. Each morning, I teach a class of about twenty five second graders. One day this last week, this class was in rare form, causing more disruptions than my patience can handle (which, I suppose, isn’t unexpected with this age group). I spent the majority of the class yelling over the loud voices of children with the hope of disciplining. By the end of the period, my frustration had reached peak height and I was just ready to be done with the class. However, as soon as the class bell rang to signal the children to leave, the entire class ran up to the front of the room and a huge mass of children circled around me in a group hug and yelled “I love you Teacher Angela, really big!!!�. It’s just simply hard to be upset after that. The Cambodian people truly have a way of stealing your heart.
We have only three days left here in Phnom Penh before we head to Siem Reap, Cambodia for debrief and then on to our “ATL� (Ask the Lord) month. I have truly enjoyed our time in Cambodia and will never forget the relationships built in this country.
Also, at a youth service the other night, two teammates and I did a choreographed dance to Justin Bieber’s “Baby�. Doesn’t get much better than that☺
