Later that day we were told that we were all going into a village to help repair a widows house. After about a twenty minute bus ride we all got out and started walking the ten to fifteen minute walk down the dirt road that would take us to her. On the way there I was thinking how great it would be to get to talk to a Cambodian native on a personal level, maybe she could share some insight on the area with us, maybe I could even find out her story or maybe just maybe we would be able to talk about Christ.
Quickly after arriving I realized my hopes for our conversation were dashed. Silly American me forgot not everyone speaks English. Actually as far as I can tell here- very few people can speak or understand English. We had a translator/local with us so even though the conversation was null the house reconstruction was still a go. My team mates and myself were either part of the “demolish crew” or the “clean up crew”. We tore down the palm leaf siding and roof so that it could be replaced with new leaf siding and a nice zinc roof and then helped clean up the mess of leaves that then covered the ground. As for my part in all that, well honestly I spent more time jumping on and trying to kill cockroaches during our time there then actually cleaning up the leaves. With every chunk of leaf they cut off her house it came tumbling to the ground with about five or so cockroaches that then came scurrying out and on to me and my team mates.
It was then that the translator informed us that the ladies has gone and gotten a coconut for each and every one of us. Keep in mind that it was my team of six plus five Singapore students, also keep in mind that the only coconuts I saw were hanging from tall tall trees! He told us that they were very grateful and being the only way for them to tangibly show us that they collected coconuts and served us. Here I was thinking I was going to serve and bless someone and instead I was served and blessed…God never fails to amaze me.
Even though I felt like I hadn’t tangibly done much I still got to see God everywhere. He was in the laughter and giggles of the children in the school, in the willingness to serve by my team mates and Singapore group. More then anything though, I saw Him in the eyes of a stranger; a beautiful woman that I know nothing about-except that she was the widows neighbor and the sweet lady that brought us coconuts. She stood by me at the widows house. As we stood there-unable to verbally communicate we held hands, smiled and laughed together like old friends, we even hug good-bye. Even though we couldn’t talk and like I said I knew nothing about her I knew that as we stood there we were both praising our Heavenly Father and thanking him for His beautiful blessings that day. It was also so great to see God work in the lives of dozens of children, in the life of the widow and her community, I can’t wait the ways He continues to work in this amazing country while we are here!
