This month is the next to last month on the race. It also happens to be probably the toughest month of all. We are serving in a small village called Dork Por, Cambodia. Its literally in the middle of nowhere. When we came in to this month, we thought we would be working with Teen Challenge Cambodia, but when we got here, we found out that would not be our ministry.
When we got here, we got settled in to our legit tree house that is our home for the month. We walked up and put our stuff on the floor, because there are no beds. So we set up our sleeping pads under the fan because it is hotter than anything I have ever experienced in my life. Some days it has reached over 110 degrees and the humidity is so high that you sweat all the time. I have workout clothes sitting on the railing still soaked in sweat even after sitting there for a week trying to dry out. That is how hot and humid it is here.
After we settled in our tree house, we sat down with the sweet sweet family we are staying with. One of the sweetest families you will ever meet. They don’t speak any English, so we have a translator named Samuel, who is also one of the best, most quality people you will ever meet. We found out the pastor would like us to build relationships with his community, which suffers from a lot of spiritual warfare and demon possessions. It’s a spiritually heavy month, and almost everyone is physically ill from spiritual battles going on around us.
The spiritual background of Cambodia is not at all in the favor of Christianity. But the Christians you find here are on fire and passionate for His Kingdom. In a culture where Christians are persecuted, you cant fake Christianity. It has to be a deep deep passion, or else you would be crazy to follow it. Buddhism is the biggest and most popular religion here. A religion that believes in reincarnation and working on ridding yourself of any desires to reach the point of Nirvana. Its deeply rooted in the culture and people aren’t too concerned about holes in the theologies. They believe it because all other believe it and because its what has always been taught.
So how do you reach a country where the intellectual side of their religion can be questioned, but it doesn’t phase the people because that doesn’t matter to them? By God showing up and by loving on them. It’s the ONLY way.
And that’s exactly what has happened. So far, we have done a youth conference and taught a pastors seminar, but God and His Spirit have shown up big time in our house visits. We have seen one salvation and 6 or 7 healings in 5 days of ministry! All to the glory of Christ and His Spirit and power! We have prayed victory over any spiritual darkness in the village in Jesus name and that victory has begun in the physical healings we have seen. You cant say its not Christ when He shows up and heals someone! But, greater things have yet to come, greater things are still to be done here! Pray alongside me as we go out and build relationships with the community here!
***Please read and pass along my other recent blog Finding Lance! Its extremely important!***
