So, lets be real, leaving Cambodia was hard and I’ve been trying to figure out how to put it into words for weeks but I can’t because it was that wonderful. So this is Cambodia in a nutshell.
“The World Race is full of “seasons”. We learn to come and go. We adapt more to the idea of becoming a part of a family for a month and then continuing on our journey. We refuse to say “goodbye” only “see you later.”
There are no words to describe my time here in Cambodia.
This month we were are Eli International School in Siem Reap. I taught a rowdy bunch of teenagers, who quickly stole my heart and had no regrets about it. They let me challenge them, speak truth into them, worship with them, be a friend, and then they offered the same thing in return. The Lord pushed me out of my comfort zone in this. He told me to go deeper and build relationships even though it would be hard. He said to love with my whole heart, even if it would break when it was time to go. What is the point of holding back? What am I really afraid of?
Here I am, at the end of the month, packing and feeling legitimate pain. This is EXACTLY what I was afraid of. I keep telling my host family that I’m not leaving because the more I say it, the more people believe it….including me.
But I was just hit with this revelation:
I am not leaving Cambodia.
I will be here in all of the words I have spoken. I will be here in the prayers I have cried out for my kids to know who they are in Christ. I will be here in the songs we sang on repeat about being more than conquerors. I will be here in the feedback and in the affirmation I freely dished. I will be here in the love I gave daily. I will be here in the notes. I will be here in memories of ice cream dates and zumba class. I will be here, and THEN, I will come back.
No place in this world has touched my heart the way that Eli School and the Dequito family has. Sorry, if I freaked you out, Mom. Don’t worry I am finishing the race. However, don’t be surprised when I quickly return to the place where the Lord set my soul on fire and filled my mind with endless possibilities of serving alongside some incredible people of God.
The FAM
The CLASS
LC3
The ICE CREAM
Much love
See you later,
Teacher Roni”
Thanks for reading a lovely blog my teamie Roni wrote. If the Cambodia goons are reading this, I miss you and love you to the moon and back!
Much love,
Teacher Liz
