As I sit in Sihanoukville Cambodia, I pray that the Lord would overwhelm me with love and compassion for the Cambodian people and for our ministry. This month we will be leading small group for some of the girls, preaching at various churches and teaching English to children and young adults. This was not exactly a ministry that I was pumped about at first but after having my first class I am in love with my 13 year olds. They are so innocent and so willing to love me even though they don’t know me. They don’t know much English just a few keys phrases such as; my name is, where are you from and how old are you but God is still speaking even though we can not speak to each other. God is speaking love to them and value into their hearts. Their excitement to learn and get to know me is absolutely baffling.
This month we are living with YWAM, which is youth with a mission organization. We are staying at the YDC or youth development center doing the small groups in the morning and teaching the English classes in the afternoon. Throughout the day we do planning for our class and for preaching. This city is so beautiful and full of love. This month is a month where I feel that love will be taking over my heart for this place and these people. As we sat with them this morning and worshipped tears began to fall down my face as I couldn’t understand them but I felt and heard their love for the Lord in their words. I can’t wait to learn from them and learn their hearts for the Lord and their people. This morning they also spoke about how thankful they were to have freedom of religion and freedom of speech about the Lord but not many of their people love Jesus. I thought how crazy it is that supposedly 90% of people in the USA say they are Christian and we have complete freedom of speech and religion and we are not even thankful. How lucky we are in America to have the freedoms we have. I want the church to burn with a fire of love and thankfulness.
These people have given so much to us already and they have so little. I want to have that kind of heart of love and giving. I want to want to give more than I have and seek more than what is comfortable or enough. I want to be so unsatisfied with the current place of my walk with the Lord and the church that I can’t help but want to change and let that light shine to others. After just two months of this trip I assumed I would want to live overseas and move out of the USA but instead I have so much passion for the US and so much hope for where the church can go. I know the woman I am today will not be the woman I am in May 2014 when I return home and for that I am so excited. Only a trip like this could make you be a better version of yourself because being away from all your comforts you have to be refined into whom God has called you to be. We have about 2 and a half weeks here and I can’t wait to see what the Lord brings. This month is going to be one of love and brokenness for that I am sure. Bring it on Lord! We are ready for all you have for us!
