Cambodia surprised me. I didn’t expect for it to steal my heart. I didn’t expect to fall in love with a little girl named Ya. I didn’t expect to be happy with rice and pork for every meal. I didn’t expect to look forward to my next opportunity for carrying bushels of rice across a rice field. I didn’t expect to discover such a beautiful and rare sense of community and sisterhood with the team I was serving alongside. I definitely didn’t expect to be passionate about teaching English to 32 rambunctious children every day. But there I go with my expectations.
We lived and did ministry in Kampong Speu, a small community about an hour away from Phnom Penh, with a big heart for each other and for God. They became like a second family to us and showered us with love. We celebrated the birth of Jesus together with a big party that our team planned. It included a Nativity skit acted out by the youth and teens in the community, crafts, games, the Gospel message, buffet style dinner, and it brought many laughs and tears!
We were without many comforts this month of December, but that caused us to dig deeper as a team and into what the Lord had for us. On Christmas night, I spoke on the reason we celebrate Christmas and why Jesus had to come in the first place, which was to die for the sins of the world so we can have a personal intimate relationship with God our Father. Then, I shared my own personal testimony and the freedom that Christ has brought me and wants to bring each one of them, as well. Before the race, I did not have the courage to share my story with a group, but that just goes to show how the Lord has been transforming my heart and rooting my confidence and boldness in Him.
When I was in Cambodia in December, I had to let go of my expectations and grasp that God exceeds expectations and I never want to put limits on Him again.
Ephesians 3:20, “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.”
Ya and I at the community celebration of Jesus’ birth and resurrection!
