I
was talking to my friend Chad right before coming to Kampot, Cambodia and I
said, “I just want to fast forward
through Cambodia and get to Africa.”
Little
did I know, the Lord had a lot for me in Cambodia.
Little
did I know, I would fall in love with the people of Cambodia.
Little
did I know, I would fall in love with the ministry in Cambodia.
Little
did I know, I would fall in love with everything about Cambodia.
A country I admittedly was wishing away,
the Lord showed up big in.
It’s
not even about the things that are here in Cambodia like my living situation or
the food, but it’s about the people.
Literally
some days it feels like I have a sign on my forehead that says, “Hey Cambodians, my name is Brandi and you
can mess with me.”
I
have definitely brought it upon myself from joking around with our ministry
contact Vuthy from the very first day we arrived, to wrestling with the guys
before I even knew their names, to feeling instantly connected to all of the
Cambodian women.
I
have to be honest, I love every minute of joking around with the nationals.
It’s
like I don’t have to say anything to someone before I can just walk up to them
and they instantly become my friend.
The
joy radiates from my face when I am around the children in our village.
I
teach only one class a day, but the students in the other two classes joke
around with me and say “Gangnam Style” to me. The first week in the village I
was on a Gangnam Style kick and I was singing it to all the kids in the
village.
It’s
not about where I am living.
It’s
not about what I am doing.
It’s
not about me.
I
have just fallen in love with the people of Cambodia.
Coming
on the race I told everyone I was coming on the race to see if I was called to
a certain people group, culture, or nation.
I
don’t want to speak too soon and say that this is it that this is the country
God is calling me to, but I know that this is a place I could see myself coming
back to.
Vuthy,
my ministry contact has a vision for the people of Cambodia and it is that all
of them would come to know the Lord.
Looking
at his property, you can see the visible steps that he is taking to get there.
Looking
at how his family has been changed by the Gospel shows you that the Lord is
making an impact here.
Looking
at the teams that come from World Race and YWAM and seeing the impact they are
making.
There’s
a vision.
I
can see it.
Other
months on the race, I couldn’t tell you that I saw the purpose of the ministry
I was at or how they were taking steps to reach their goal.
Vuthy
is running the ministry solely by himself and he needs an assistant.
The
building projects…
The
classes on property…
The
classes in the village…
The
youth Bible studies…
The
church services…
The
administrative side…
The
overseeing of teams…
ALL
of that is on him.
He’s
doing a mighty fine job right now through the strength of the Lord.
I
can see a need.
He
knows of the need.
We
have talked about the potential of me being able to come here and be his
assistant.
God
only knows where I will be led.
Be
praying for discernment for me as I finish the race and the future He has for
me.
Wherever
He calls I am ready to say, “Here am I, Send me!”
Cambodia was the country I was wishing
away, but now I just want to pause, rewind, and repeat this month.
