Hi my name is Kyndal. I love binge watching Grey’s Anatomy episodes and random videos on Youtube. I love isolating myself in coffee shops and closing off from the world. (Hardcore introvert over here!!) I LOVE schedules… Like, strangely love schedules. I also really love turning off my brain and walking through the streets and markets of Cambodia in a daze- looking either at the ground so I don’t fall over (I’m also a hardcore clutz), looking at the thousands of items for sale in the markets, or just skimming my eyes over the hundreds of people my path crosses each day in this major tourist city.
It is so easy for me to spend an entire day without having meaningful conversation with a single person. Whether that be in America, Guatemala, Southern Africa, or Cambodia. And this is why it is so incredibly important for me to be intentional. If the World Race has taught me anything it’s that I have to be intentional with every minute of my day.
When I forget to be intentional, I can go into ministry and not show Christ’s love to anyone. I can not make intimate or lasting friendships with any of my teammates. I can go into the market and look at all of the items for sale but never look at the sales person. I can go into a coffee shop, put my ear buds in, and not say a word to a single person other than the barista I ordered my coffee from. I can cross paths with souls ready to hear about Christ but not acknowledge them. I can make a minute by minute schedule of my day and leave no room for spontaneous, life-giving conversation. I can easily live a completely mundane life, even if I am living in the amazing country of Cambodia, and I can also live a completely mundane life in America…
When I am intentional with the time and the people God has given me, lives have the opportunity to be changed.
Throughout our time here on Earth, we have a choice to make. We can either press in and be intentional or we can choose to live a mundane life.
For me, intentionality over the past month has looked like this:
Buying a $1 smoothie from my friend Awi nearly every time I’m on Pub Street so that I can talk to her about the real reason why I’m in Cambodia.
Asking the main preschool teacher I work with out to lunch. We had been working together for a week and I barely knew her name, much less her story. I invited her to lunch and we ended up talking for 3 hours about the work God has done in our lives. Sokah is one of my new best friends and I know that I will treasure our relationship for an eternity. I left lunch with a new friend and feeling the encouragement from a sister.
Stopping to give my sweet friend Douk a huge hug whenever I see him in town. This may seem like a small thing, but Douk is someone that so many people overlook. He lost both of his arms during an army explosion and currently walks around Siem Reap trying to sell books to tourists. Whenever me and my teammates give him our time and attention, I can see love in action. I look around and see people perplexed and shocked that we even greeted him. I only hope that by us loving on him that he feels Christ’s love for him and that the people overlooking our greeting will be more encouraged to love people.
Finding time to spend with God each day. Whether that be during the 15 minute bike ride to preschool in the mornings or sitting in a coffee shop for hours. These are the times that fill me up and give me the strength and motivation to be intentional with the people around me.
What does intentionality look like to you?
Who are the people that God has put in your path to love radically?
Today I was reading in Nehemiah about the wall of Jerusalem that was to be rebuilt. This was tough work but it was the work of God! In Nehemiah 3, he goes through a list of people that helped in building the wall. EVERYONE was called to take part in this work. There were fishermen, perfumers, goldsmiths, merchants, sons, daughters, and big shot leaders.
God has called ALL of us to use the bricks that He has put in our hands to make disciples and spread his name and his radical love.
We must take every opportunity and as any seasoned traveler would say, “Seize the Day!” God has called us all to live purposeful lives. He has given us the responsibility of spreading his name across our country and across the world. What an honor it is to take part in the work of the Lord.
Wherever you are in life, use your brick to take part in the work that God has put in your hands.
Your work for the Lord is seen no matter how big or small it may seem to you.
Love boldly right where you are or halfway across the world.
WE have the ability to transform our broken and hurting world because we carry the hope and the light of the Lord of the universe!
Show love in a radical way today and seize the day!
