I'm back!
Hey y'all, I want to apologize for the hiatus I took from blogging! It's been a while since my last blog and God is moving in incredible ways here in month 4. My team and I are currently in Kampot, Cambodia, a small remote village. We arrived here around the first of this month, after team changes happened in Phnom Penh. I am now apart of a wonderful, new team; Team Uncompromising Love. I think by now our blogs have updated to reflect the new members of my team, so please take time to go check out my AMAZING new teammates!
This month we are living in what I would call a 'bunkhouse'. There is a bunkhouse for the girls and one for the guys. We are living without AC this month (my first month to do so on the race) and it is HOT, y'all! I live for the evenings, because then it is cool enough to lay in my bed without sweating to death. 🙂 We have full access to a wonderful squatty potty, as well as a shower. We were told by previous racers who were here that ignorance is bliss this month. We quickly came to realize what this meant…showering with water that is from the pond right outside–the color of chocolate milk. I have never been so thankful for clean water in my life. We are blessed with cold showers though, so I can't complain! It's good for a midday cooldown, or in the evenings before bed. I have been sleeping so well here because I'm SO exhausted from our days.
Our ministry this month is primarily teaching English. This ministry is really teaching me how to better myself for when I am actually a teacher in the future. Thanks, God! We have 3 English classes Tuesday-Friday: 11:30-12:30, 2:00-4:30, and 5:30-6:30. Our days are packed! Before we start teaching everyday, we go out into the village and do house visits. I have met some beautiful people here in Kampot. The children that come to our English classes are so hungry for English and to be taught by Americans. The 2:00-4:30 (or Awkward Chunk as our team affectionately refers to it as) is a preschool class. There are 4 of us from my team that teach it. Those kids have more energy than the preschool class I taught in Conway! WOW. I definitely have to pray for supernatural energy through that class.
On Saturday and Sunday we head to another small village and teach English ALL day! Good thing English is my first language, right dad? 🙂 Also on Sunday we are responsible for teaching a 'kids club' from 7:30-8:30AM, which just means a bible story, some songs, a memory verse, and games/crafts. Then we worship with the believers of Kampot. It's so awesome to worship in another language, knowing that God hears it all, even if I can't understand it! (listen to How Great is Our God — the multi-language version from Passion Conference!)
We are having a Christmas party with our English classes here on the 23rd. We are responsible for teaching them a dance, and presenting one as well. I'm excited for the party! On the 19th we get to enjoy a Christmas 'family dinner' with our contacts, and they are letting us cook western food! Woop!
I am missing home during this holiday season, but I know that it will be that much more dear to my heart next holiday season. I don't want you all to be sad because I'm 'missing Christmas', but rejoice with me in the fact that I get to show 300+ Cambodians (that's how many come to the party) the reason why we celebrate Christmas! How many people can say they spent Christmas in Cambodia?! I have to chose joy everyday over not getting to spend Christmas with my family in the states…but God keeps reaffirming that this is where I'm supposed to be.
Thank you again to ALL MY SUPPORTERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! By the grace of God, and your generous hearts I reached my December 1st deadline of 11,000$! Next up: FULLY FUNDED by March 1st (which means 4,000$)! God's timing should never be doubted. Praise the Lord I serve a God who knew I was going to be funded before I was even born!
ps, Happy early birthday to my favorite 14 (soon to be 15 year old!) — my littlest sis, Cassie! Happy Birthday on the 17th, Tass! Another bday shoutout to mi padre! Happy Birthday on the 22nd!! I love you both to the moon and back! 🙂 xoxo
Please keep my team in your prayers as we come up on Christmas. As much as we all know this is where we're supposed to be, the 25th will most likely be hard on us all. Prayers for peace and comfort, as well as prayers for our families too!
Miss you all,
Caitlin
