Cambodia. A diverse country with joyful people and great food. The people of Cambodia have inspired me. From Siem Reap to Phnom Penh to Kampong Cham, I have seen so many smiling faces and friendly waves! In Kampong Cham, people would come out of their houses to wave at the “white people” in the villages as we drove past to work every morning. We were building a fence and a house, which would double as an English school and be used as a place to hold bible studies. This might not seem very important to you, but the land we were building it on used to be used for drug use, trade, and abuse. Most people are afraid to even drive down that road for fear of the “ghosts” on the land. This is one example of how the ground has such an evil connotation. However, God is completely turning it around and redeeming the land. The hosts we worked with in Kampong Cham were the most selfless and patient people I have ever met. Some girls on my team have used them as examples of how they strive to have more patience… “like Umong and Youtry!” They are brothers who have come to Christ through their older brother and since then have worked together starting Bible studies in different villages and English schools in their backyards. I was blessed enough to attend both of these and they were beautiful. The Bible studies were held in people’s villages, requiring a 20 min moto ride through some rice fields and rivers. One took place in a small one room home about 15ft x 10 ft I would say, if that. The owner of the home was blind and had been since she was 12 when she got a bacterial infection and didn’t have the healthcare to fix it. She lives in that hut with her 13 year old niece and 3 young granddaughters. That’s 5 people in that small shelter. Umong told us that the church found her and blessed her with building this house as a gift. (That is an example of pure, selfless community.) In the wall panels and ceiling panels she had stored everything very space- efficiently. At night they would unwrap their hammocks to sleep in and in the daytime they would hang them back up and take advantage of the space. My friend Taylor and I were able to go to her house and sing English and Khmer worship songs and introduce a story of Gods provisions to her and other neighbors who all crammed in the house. We spoke in English and Umong translated for us in Khmer. We also always brought sweet snacks, which the children loved. This month I have really seen in a tangible way the true joy of solely relying on God, and not on physical things or belongings. Happiness is conditional. Joy is not. Cambodians as a whole are the most joyful group of people I have met, and they love each other well. Today I am leaving my month one debrief in Bangkok to go to Ratchaburi, Thailand for two months. Please pray for safe travels and for God to work through us but also that we can learn from the people we meet there. If you have an prayer requests or want to email me, please email me. 🙂
I love you all, thank you so much for your support. ??
James 1:2-4
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Xo
Annie
