Can I just tell you about a little bit of sweetness I experienced today? Maybe two bits?
We are currently living in Phnom Penh, Cambodia at a YWAM base. We are working with a ministry called Kaleb for the month. Kaleb (“Cambodia shall live” in German) is run by an amazing German woman, Ingrid, who has lived in Cambodia for 7 years. I love Ingrid! One way she and I connect is through laughter – such a good thing! Her ministry is to reach street children and shape their character and values through the love of Jesus. The current generation of parents in Cambodia are those who were young during the Khmer Rouge genocide, and there are many deep, deep wounds still remaining which shape their parenting. Ingrid’s heart reflects God’s heart of hope, healing, and restoration for Cambodia. It is a beautiful thing to see and hear.
This morning Heidi, Pam, Ashley and I had a blast teaching English, dance, and songs to the children. A highlight for all, I think, was singing….Father Abraham, has many sons, many sons has Father Abraham. I am one of them, and so are you, so let’s all praise the Lord….while spinning in a circle kicking our feet and swinging our arms. I love these precious moments with children!
Another ministry Kaleb facilitates is a school for midwives who commit to move to the rural provinces when finished with their education. The mortality rate for women in childbirth and infants is incredibly high in Cambodia, especially the rural areas. We have the privilege of teaching English to these women while we are here. I began visiting with one of the girls, Theary, who completed the first year of midwife training at Kaleb, and is now attending University. We visited about our families and then she went and pulled a book out of her bookshelf and said, “Can you help me.” The title, Human Anatomy and Physiology.
Yes, that’s right. Hands down my favorite class in all of college. No contest. And I had the privilege of explaining things like proximal and distal, and osteoporosis vs. osteosarcoma to her. I was on cloud nine. My mind was challenged as I came up with ways to communicate these concepts to her, and my heart was so very blessed, that God would send me to Phnom Penh and let me share one of my favorite topics with a precious Cambodian women who’s heart is to become an excellent midwife to save the lives of women and babies in her province. I started remembering forgotten dreams of my heart from years ago….dreaming about teaching overseas to promote health care. I never guessed it would look like this….
The goodness, kindness, love, and personalness of God just blows my mind!
