When I came into Cambodia I was not expecting much. I had never really heard much about this country. To be honest it was just another one in route to Thailand (the one I have been most excited about). However, this month the Lord surprised me. He changed our plans day one. We were supposed to be with a different ministry in Kampong Speu, but we switched with the male team. Then that ministry host could not have us so the day of we switched again to YDC, Youth Development Center. The family that runs this center are from northern India and 4 months ago followed the call they heard from the Lord and left everything they knew to come run this facility.
This family is such a blessing. MeMa cooks like my mom, Iris shows us what a nurturing mother should act like. Rocky leads us with such grace and strength while making us laugh everyday. Three days a week we go to a slum to teach English to 20-30 children. Their ages rang from babies who just come to hang out to 12. We get to give them a bath every morning we go. This has been the best ministry I have done so far!! Getting to bath those children is such a joy. I have never seen children yearn for love so intensely before. They crave it like they crave food or water. From the time we drive up to the time we leave they want to be held, to be kissed, to be touched, to be loved.
The Father has taught me something this month, His love for us. He has shown me that we are all His beloved. While I held those children He would tell me that He loved them. He would tell me that He knows each one of their names. That He knows the number of hairs on their heads. He cares for them so dearly. If all I did for them this month was show them what love is then that is ok. His love for us is so great and yet we still doubt the measure of it. I still doubt the measure of it. The Lord has been calling me this month to experience His love; to dive into the endless ocean.
I have been saying all month that I haven’t been hearing from the Lord. I have not read my Bible every single day. There were days when I had no desire to pray. That was the enemy keeping me from my Father, and all that time He was still with me. He is always with me, even when I stray. My Father loves me so deeply I cannot begin to comprehend it, but I am starting to scratch the surface. I am dipping a toe into the endless ocean that is His love. Getting to show that love to those children this month helped me realize just how vast His love is. Falling so deeply in love with those children this month has been a blessing. I got to be God’s eyes and see them the way He sees them, I got to see myself the way He sees me. Beloved. I got to love them and tell them my love was from Jesus. I so desperately pray that I get to come back here soon and continue to show them that love. I want them to know and understand that the Father loves and cares for them so deeply. These children taught me so many lessons this month and I thank God for that ministry change at the beginning of the month. I thank God for YDC and I thank God for His love for me.
Dearest, sweet, precious, darling, adored, much loved, cherished, prized, treasured. BELOVED.
