(So, the title is a quote from a Canadian heritage moment…and I am pretty sure only my friend Anne got it. But that’s okay!).
For the past two and a half weeks, we have been going to the village of Sra Sarong on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 
afternoons. Yesterday, when it was time to go, I felt like a small child being told we had to leave the playground. I was watching the boys (and Michael!) play a hysterical game that ends when someone goes flying into the dirt. My little shadow, Souet, was leaning against me and my arms were wrapped tightly around her. I am home here and when it’s time to leave I tell myself it’s okay because we will be back tomorrow. On Wednesdays, I think about how long it will be before I get to see the kids again. I’ve never fallen in love with a ministry like I have this one. I have fallen in love with specific people, I have enjoyed most of the ministry we’ve done and I’ve been sad to leave at the end of a month but when it comes to this village, it’s different. I really love these kids. It’s effortless.
The first moment we were there I knew I would love it. When our van pulls up, there is one little guy, maybe about 2, who chases it with the hugest, cutest grin ever. And then he spends our entire visit ignoring us. When we try to make him laugh, he looks at us like we are interrupting his day. I’m convinced that we are not the people he is expecting to get out of the van.
When we go, we usually teach a little bit of English, teach a Bible story, sing a few songs, pray and then we PLAY! The team that we are working with began going to this village a few months ago. A couple of weeks ago, they began introducing the Gospel. For the first time, these kids (and their parents!) are hearing about Jesus. The people of Cambodia are something like 90% Buddhist. It’s entrenched in the culture, in the school system, in the way of life here. But when we talk about Jesus, the kids listen! And they not only listen, they remember what we’ve said. They pray willingly and they love to sing the songs we teach them.
I have HOPE for this village. I’ve been claiming big things for God’s kingdom over this village, and it is not hard. There is hope, and joy and LIFE in these kids. They live in difficult circumstances. They have very little. Sometimes they don’t eat. Most of them own only one or two outfits. Their country is dealing with the aftermath of a genocide that destroyed 1/3 of its population less than 30 years ago. Honestly, you wouldn’t know these things from meeting these kids. They are incredible. I really feel like God has his hand on this village. The hope and joy that is on this village is tangible. It’s crazy, but I feel it when I’m there. I badly want those kids to meet Jesus. I believe they will, I believe the Holy Spirit is moving in big ways in Sra Sarong. I wish you could meet them all. I think it’s probably impossible not to love them. Please pray for Sra Sarong!
