We all made it to Cambodia without any problems! Two teams were dropped off about an hour after crossing the border. The other two teams continued another 2-3hrs to Siem Reap. We stayed there for two nights there before Team Overcome took one last bus to Kampong Thom on Feb 3rd.
My team had a day off on the 2nd and we went to Angkor Wat. It was beautiful! We got up at 4:30 to make it in time for the sunrise. And then we just toured the different sites all day. We took a break to head into town for breakfast and then came back to keep touring. We hired our Tuk Tuk (motorbike taxi) drivers for the whole day. It was fun getting to know them throughout the day.
On the 3rd we had a 3 hour bus ride. We made it to our ministry site mid-afternoon. We are working with Evangelical Mission Organization for Development. Here is a list of what they do.
CHILDREN’S PROGRAM
– Children’s Home (Orphanage Center)
– Community Children Feeding Program
– Children Sponsorship
– Wings Home (Home for Students)
– Wings Scholarship
HEALTH PROGRAM
– Water Filters
– Water Wells– Toilet Installation
EDUCATION PROGRAM
– Vocational Training
– Free English Classes
– Hygiene
– Beauty Salon
– Health care training for villagers
CHURCH PROGRAM
– Church Planting
– New Generation Leadership Training
– Worship Services
– Evangelical Mission Trips
– Youth Fellowship
– Women Fellowship
– Christmas outreach
We been here for 4 days and so far we’ve done some cleaning, went to the Wings Home and played volleyball with them and were able to get to know them. And We taught English classes. Half of the team goes into town to teach the adult classes while the other half stays here and teach the kids. It was difficult for me at first cause I wasn’t sure how I would be able to help. But the younger kids like yell out their answer so it hasn’t been too hard. And the kids are quick learners.
We are staying in the house of “Hope for Children.” We have a room, bathroom, a shower with no hot water and a lounge area with a kitchen. We are making our own food. We’re learning how to gut and prepare a whole chicken (head, legs and organs.) It has been interesting. 🙂 We pretty much have eggs and toast for breakfast and rice or noodle with veggie stir fry lunch and dinner. And we have peanut butter! Also, we have Jack Fruit which taste like the banana Laffy Taffy. 🙂
The kids were so excited to see us and all eager to help us carry our stuff to our room. Then we hung out with them till we could get to the market to get food for dinner and the next couple of days.
But I didn’t want to do anything. I was tired and grumpy from the travel days and the only thing I could think about was getting alone, relaxing and having a quiet time. I felt like I had no love to give the kids, no joy, and zero energy. I thought that if I got a quiet time right now, I’d be able to better love and serve. As we were waiting for the Tuk Tuk, we were with the adults (the kids were eating dinner.) One of them invited us to eat with them. My first thought was “no way.” First- I needed my quiet alone time and Secondly- I could see that they were cooking fish (eyes, guts and everything.) They had just fished them from the pond. They were also cooking eel. For those who don’t know, I really, really, REALLY DISLIKE eating anything that lived in the water.
But 2 of us had to stay behind as there wasn’t enough room in the tuk tuk. So one of my teammates said she would stay and eat whatever they gave her. She asked if I would stay too. I hesitantly said sure, but that I couldn’t eat the fish or the eel. So we walked back to their cooking porch and waited. As I’m standing there waiting, one of the little boys came up and stood next to me and held my hand.
It was at that moment that I realized that I didn’t need quiet time “right now” as I thought I did. I saw a little boy who just wanted to be loved. I saw a willing heart and attitude in my teammate when she volunteered to stay back even when she doesn’t like fish either. That was what I needed. I needed willingness, I needed to be willing to embrace the culture. I needed to press in even when it was the last thing I wanted to do. I needed to get rid of my selfishness and let God’s love work in me every moment of the day.
I was feeling better and was actually excited to try the fish and eel. I was getting excited to embrace the Cambodian culture. To understand how they lived their everyday life. Excited to love on the kids.
Dinner was a blast. We all sat on floor and my teammate and I shared a plate and we just did what they did. After watching and learning how to break apart and eat the fish I tried it. It was really gross seeing the organs but the fish tasted pretty good (for a fish.) And the eel was surprisingly good! We had rice, 2 kinds of sauce, this flowers/plant and some green veggie that looked like green onions to go with it. One of the 3 translators was there and we sat there talking about Cambodia, America and some other stuff. Then the beetles started falling down from the ceiling…..
All in all, that night is one of my favorite moments on this trip. And I would have missed it had God not shown me His love through that little boy. I would have missed an opportunity to embrace the culture if God didn’t show me the selfless willingness of my teammate.
I’m learning that as God continues to grow and stretch me that I need to be open to and willing for whatever He brings my way. He’s teaching me to make every effort to keep pressing in even when I’m tired of all the changes. I thought I knew what I needed, but God showed me what I really needed, a change of heart and an attitude of willingness. God is continuing to teach me to trust Him and obey when He tells me to press in.
I’m excited to see what God will continue to do in me, in my team, and the kids and adults at our ministry site! And I want to have a willing heart through it all. Even if it means eating a fish with eyes looking at me.
