Sur sdey (hello) from Cambodia!
This month my team and I are in a small village 40 minutes from the city of Kampot on the South West part of Cambodia near the coast. It's very beautiful here, and VERY hot! We are with another team this month as well. We are thankful for more familiar faces and more people to laugh and have fun with!
We are living with a man named Vuthy. He is 30 years old and truly an amazing man of God who follows God's call for his life no matter what it is. Vuthy grew up in this village and all his life he couldn't wait to get out and move to the big city about two hours away. He couldn't wait to get away and experience life outside of the village and get away from his family. Once he arrived in the city it was only a short time until God specifically told him to move back to his village and teach english. God gave him no other direction than that, but promised it would be fruitful. Vuthy was not happy that God was taking away his dream of moving to the big city and bringing him back to the place he couldn't wait to get away from.
He moved back to his village with his parents and started a school, exactly what God had told him to do. He has 3 "classrooms." Two of them are in grass huts that he constructed, and one of them is on the porch of where we sleep. He packs as many kids into each classroom as he can and he teaches english classes from 8am to 630pm. When World Race teams are not here he has older children from the village who know english act as teachers. He really relies on World Race teams to come because it give him a break. He doesn't have an income. He could be working in the big city and starting a life with his girlfriend who he will soon marry, but he listened to God's call and gives the children in his village a chance at an education……. with no pay.
Where are we staying? Right in the middle of the village! If I said I was comfortable here I would be lying. I'm not. At all. But God is teaching me a lot through it. We sleep on sketchy bunk beds in a big room to fit all of us. We have to use mosquito nets because there are openings and holes in the wall. We shower out of a bucket filled with dirty rain water. When it rains, the water falls from the roof into big containers that store water. Last night we ran out of water. Vuthy was able to pump the water from the pond next to us. We use that to bath, clean our dishes, cook, wash our clothes…. ect. It's not clean, but its water and it does the job. We use squatty potties. For those of you who don't know what that is let me fill you in. It's a toilet that is a hole in the ground. You squat over the top of it and do your thing. It's not always comfortable, or clean. We eat rice and vegetables for every single meal. It's no surprise what lunch and dinner each day will be! A lot of people on my team are having some digestive issues with ALL the rice we have been eating. There really is no other option, so praying for a visit to the squatty potty is our team prayer these days!! 🙂
In all honesty, it's been a rough first week for me in particular. Last month I gave my life to the Lord. I said, "Jesus you lead, i'll follow." Well friends, be careful what you pray for! 😉 Jesus led me to the middle of no where in a village with only the things I needed to survive. He's absolutely teaching me a lesson while I'm here. I'm learning to sit in his presence, and be content with that…. For a whole MONTH.
Earlier this week I woke up very sick. I was in so much pain that Vuthy and two of my team mates had to take me to the "hospital." I'm not really even sure if you can call it that, but there was a doctor and a nurse there and for that I am thankful. After an IV and testing of my blood, they were able to determine that I had a new virus that was making it's way through Cambodia. I couldn't make out the name of it, but all I know was that it was painful!!! It's a virus that attacks ALL of your muscles. From the tips of my toes to the very top of my head I was throbbing and aching in pain. I wasn't able to sleep because getting my body comfortable was near impossible. Vuthy was so sweet and gave me his room to rest in these last few days. It had a mosquito net and a fan to keep me as cool as possible. I was feeling bad that I was taking over his room for so long and he replied with, "Betany do not worry. It is not my bed. It is God's bed. He needs you to use it right now to get better." Sigh……….
I'm finally starting to feel better. But I can tell you this……. being on the other side of the world, in the middle of no where, in a remote village, with no way to connect to home, when your very sick REALLY makes you want your momma. Jesus really did mean business when I said "you lead, i'll follow." I'm learning to be comfortable with absolutely nothing, but the love of my teammates and the love of the children here. I'm learning the lengths that people go to receive an education…. even if that only means being able to speak English. I'm learning to trust the Lord with every fiber of my being…… even if it's the HARDEST thing I've ever had to do.
This month will be challenging for me and I pray that I grow immensely. We already have one week down, and three more to go. Please join in prayer with me that my head and my heart would remain strong. This week I found out the news of a family friend passing away, went through a sickness that left me paralyzed for days, and at the same time gave up everything that ever made me comfortable. It's a lot to deal with all at once, and my heart is sad and hurting.
I was upset with God a few days ago. I went out for a walk by myself. I stopped at the edge of a rice field, dropped down to me knees, and cried like I never have before. I was upset that my heart had to deal with all this pain, all at once. I was upset that God would give me all these emotions and no internet to connect back home. I was upset that I was dirty, smelly, hot, tired, emotional, and SO over being out here…. even though it had ONLY been a few days. After I got done crying and yelling at God, I had an overwhelming feeling to tell him Thank You. What!?! WHY am I THANKING him right now!? He doesn't DESERVE it!
But he does…..
…because in my pain and brokenness, he's making me new. He's making me new even when I don't feel it. He's making me new even when I'm pushing him away. He never left my side, and he never will. As I walked back to our home on the dirt road with the cows and the dogs following behind me, I wiped the tears from my eyes, swallowed the golf ball in my throat, and gave God thanks. I didn't FEEL like saying it….. but I did. I didn't WANT to walk in faith……. but I did…. and he promised me It would be worth it.
Yesterday I was sitting with God and I wanted to be sure to let him know that I NEVER want to live like this again. I wanted him to know that I was extremely uncomfortable here, and that I couldn't wait to leave. He knows….. I've made it clear 😉 I started feeling bad for how materialistic I was sounding…… even though I've never ever considered myself one of those people. I was starting to feel bad for how desperate and needy I was sounding…… even though I've never considered myself one of those people. Should I feel bad for being comfortable with the things that aren't necessary? You know, I've been on a lot of mission trips to different third world countries and I've seen A LOT of poverty. I always came home from those trips changed and even more thankful for what I had. It wasn't until yesterday when I realized HOW blessed I am. I guess I've always had the attitude that I was entitled to have the things I had…. even things as simple as a couch to sit on or a CLEAN shower. I made a promise to God yesterday that because I'm actually LIVING the minimalistic life this month and LIVING in poverty, I'll never get up another day of my life without thanking him. If this is the lesson that God had to teach me this month, I've heard it loud and clear! I'm no longer going to feel guilty for what I have and the gifts God overflows me with, but instead I'll be SO thankful…. and share my blessings until I can't share them anymore.
Well there you have it. My internet time is running out. We are thankful that our Vuthy brought us to town today so we could grab some internet. What a treasure these little wifi signals are…… a direct connection to HOME! 🙂 I miss you all more than ever this month. I have a lot of time to sit here and think about how I miss you and how much I LOVE you. I'm incredibly blessed. I could just cry right now…….. So maybe I just will 🙂
Som Rip Sou (Bye friends),
Bethany
ps. My amazing friend Adam Parker who is on the race with me is in need of funding to meet our next financial deadline that is fast approaching. He's $2,000 short and we're praying for a miracle that we KNOW God can work. I can't imagine this trip without him….. heck my LIFE without him. God has orchestrated our friendship so beautifully and I'm SO grateful for it. If you would like to read Adam's incredible story and donate to our trip visit www.adamparker.theworldrace.org – A gift to him is a gift to ME! Keeping him on this trip with me and our squad would be one of the greatest gifts you could give me. We're all in this together as a squad. It's God's money that's being used to support ALL of us. Thanks everyone!
