Coconut trees, rice fields, chickens, pigs, wooden houses on stilts, blue skies, green everywhere, and can’t forget the squatty potties. There is no electricity (except for a generator that comes on for 5 hours every night) and no running water. There’s just something about waiting for it to rain to allow enough water for a bucket shower. My first thought was, “uhh this is different,” but I’ve grown to actually love it. Simple living. It’s so peaceful out here. I’ve never been to a place like it.
Our ministry this month
We’re working with a Cambodian named Vuthy who works with YWAM (Youth With A Mission). He brought us to his hometown, Toch Village.
His vision
– 150 Youth in his village would come to know and accept the Lord as their savior.
– An orphanage built on his land given to him by his mother and father.
Team Segullah and Vuthy
Ministry
Four days a week from 8:30-10:30 am we go on house visits. This is our chance to get to know the culture, listen to the Khmer people, and hear their stories. We love on them the best way we know how and it’s amazing how welcoming they are. Led by Vuthy (who translates the whole conversation), they welcome us into their homes and sit us down on their bamboo tables and their hammocks. We greet them with a “Chom reap sur” – our hands held together, tips of our fingers to our nose, and a slight bow. This is the formal “how are you?” This is one of my favorite times throughout the day.
Last week we helped an old woman make a broom out of dried up palm tree leaves to sell (she sells them for a living but has slowed down because of her age). It took us a long time just to make one but we loved each others company.
Learning how to make the broom.
The completed broom 🙂
Grandmother
Most days we visit a woman in the village, named Con, and pray for her. She has mouth cancer and is in constant pain. Some of the times when we sing and pray over her she says her pain lessens and she feels joy. She doesn’t believe in Jesus and says she won’t unless He heals her, but she is open to receive prayer. So we will continue to pray. We will continue to speak life and truth into her life whether God decides to heal her or not, but believing He can.
My teammate Jasmin and Con
A majority of the people in Cambodia are Buddhist. We pass by houses and smell the incense burning and see the sacrifices at mini alters for there gods. The strange thing is when we ask these people why they believe in their gods, a lot of them cannot give us an answer. Then they ask us why we believe in Jesus and we’re like “YES” an open door. Sweet. Alright Lord lets rock their socks orrr flip flops. 🙂
More ministry
We stay in a stone building a couple feet from Vuthy’s home which is a couple feet from another stone building where church and classes are held. This is almost like a youth center for kids of all ages to come and learn English, learn Bible stories, and to be loved.
Our team has been taking on different classes through out the day. I teach a beginners English class four days a week for an hour in the mornings. I love love love walking into the classroom and hearing the kids say, “Hello teacher, how are you, I am fine?” Or my favorite, “Hello Leyna, What is your name?” (In a sweet little Khmer accent, so cute)
I also teach a girls hip hop class two days a week. This is rather difficult. One – I have no hip hop experience, and two – Cambodians have no rhythm (I say that with love :p). Oh bless there hearts for trying, besides we all have fun doing it.
Our team has been taking on different classes through out the day. I teach a beginners English class four days a week for an hour in the mornings. I love love love walking into the classroom and hearing the kids say, “Hello teacher, how are you, I am fine?” Or my favorite, “Hello Leyna, What is your name?” (In a sweet little Khmer accent, so cute)
I also teach a girls hip hop class two days a week. This is rather difficult. One – I have no hip hop experience, and two – Cambodians have no rhythm (I say that with love :p). Oh bless there hearts for trying, besides we all have fun doing it.
Stay tuned for more of Cambodia and all that God is doing!
On the left is Vuthy’s home and to the right is the church/school
Stone house – Where Team Segullah sleeps
Our Cambodian parents
