So I kept debating on what to post about my trip, because nothing has really stood out… because everything has been amazing. I’ve been gone now for a three 3 weeks and things have become very real, this is my life now. It doesn’t even seem abnormal now to hand wash my clothes, eat every part of the chicken (bones and all), and sleep in a 90º room with 5 other girls. My lifestyle has changed, but it is something I’ve begun to fall in love with. In America we have so many luxuries we take advantage of and don’t even realize are luxuries! But here, I am living my life at the simplest. I have given up so much for the Lord but he has replaced all of it with love, joy, and the people of Cambodia, which is so much better than an air conditioner or wifi.
For the first week we spent our time living in Siem Reap as an entire squad of 55 girls. Our ministry was not set in stone for the majority of the time so we did a lot of ATL (ask the Lord) ministry. This consisted of prayer walks, worship, and street ministry. I met so many different people and was able to see their hearts and the purity inside of them. Siem Reap is a very touristy city because of Angkor Wat (which we visited and is BEAUTIFUL). Almost everyone spoke English and their we truly felt at home. I spent a lot of time meditating by myself and the word of the Lord, learning and growing with him. The deeper I can create our relationship the deeper I am able to share with others.
After that week, we left Siem Reap for Phnom Penh, the capital, to have orientation because we, and a few other teams, are staying at a YWAM base. The two cities are drastically different: in Phnom Penh no one speaks English and everyone is hustling and running around. I did not feel very safe and the entire environment was very different, but this was a place that needed God. It was similar to New York City but with more danger. I wished we would have been able to stay longer but we only went for 2 days… so other than prayer we were unable to accomplish much. On one of the days, we went to the Killing Fields in Phnom Penh. This was something very heavy on my heart. The Khmer Rouge, lead by Pol Pot, were in charge of Cambodia in the 1970’s. In the late 70’s, they were responsible for one of the largest genocides in all history. They killed 1/4 of the population, in extremely inhumane ways, and killed anyone who was even slightly educated in attempts to create a “perfect” society. This genocide was very recent and many people either lived through it or lost family members because of it. It still remains to have an immense impact on their lives and their way of life. They do not care about the future or about living life, it is only about surviving in the moment. They no longer value life as it has so easily been ripped away from them.
After Phnom Penh we left on bus to Kampong Cham, where we live now! Our host’s name is Rocky, and he rocks, and he has a wife Iris, a 1 year 10 month old son, and a good friend of theirs Canaan living with them. They are all so amazing and have truly welcomed us and excepted us into our home. Our ministry has consisted of a variety of things, but mornings we either do children ministry, prayer walks in temples (around 95% of the population is Buddhist), or visit a near by Muslim Island. In the afternoon we teach English to the local kids around which I love to do. Especially after teaching all summer, teaching has become a passion of mine so now that I have been given the opportunity to teach Cambodian English, it is amazing! They are all sooooo funny and they probably speak better grammar than I do sooooooo sometimes they show me up in class and it’s only a little bit embarrassing. All of our meals consist of rice and a mystery meat. Our free time is limited but everything we do is really amazing. My heart is just full of love 24/7.
One ministry I’ve had the opportunity to do is sports ministry which is just soccer at night. This has been the most fun thing I have every done. It is rainy season here and so each night we play it is not only raining but thundering and lightning. It’s dangerous in the US but here it just makes it so much more epic. You score a goal and then the Lord blasts thunders as a job well done. Looking up to see the world around me while playing my favorite sport every with some of the most amazing people ever is undesirably amazing. This soccer has made me feel truly at home and have LOVED being able to play soccer, especially with the Cambodians. Out of all..alllll… of the teams, I am the only girl who plays and so to begin with I thought I would just make a fool of myself and everyone would laugh at the white girl attempting to play soccer, but the Lord has used me in so many ways in soccer alone. I used to never have foot skills and could rarely score but he has brought me to the level of these incredible Cambodians as a source of ministry. They come up and it is conversation and a wonderful way to be able to bring Christ’s love to these people.
I love it here in Cambodia. Originally, when I heard we were going to Cambodia for a month instead of 3 full months in Thailand, I was very upset. But as I always think, the Lord knows our desires before we do, and I could not be more happy to be here. It’s been 2 weeks but Cambodia has stolen my heart. I can’t wait for more adventure and more love!
Side note — If you want to keep reading blog posts, subscribe, but also donate! I can’t finish the race and keep blogging if I do not reach my fundraising goal of $13,805! Please continue praying and thank you so much for everyones support and care! It means the world to me and is allowing me to do one of the most amazing experiences ever!
