As we ride around the city I begin regretting the decision we made that day. Each pothole we hit reverberates up my spine as the tuk-tuk careens through traffic. It’s hot, my stomach is curdling inside of me, and each vibration sends daggers of pain into my spine and head. My knees ache and I can barely sit in the small place that I called “seat” anymore.
As we pulled up to our destination we stepped out of the cramped vehicle that all seven of us were compressed into. Stepping into the hot sun elevated my discomfort as I felt its rays wrap its tendrils around my exposed skin.
Immediately after exiting the vehicle we were greeted by beggars imploring us for money. At that point I regretted spending our day off in Phnom Penh.
A man with his face literally melted away approached us with his hat extended towards me. The sun shadowed each grotesque peak and depression in his face. His eye was missing and his ear was melted into the side of his head. Half of his head possessed hair and the other half was too disturbing to describe.
I began to converse with this man to ask him what had caused such devastating scaring to his body. A young boy approached holding a basket full of goods for sale in order to help me translate what I was saying to this man. The disfigured man had been in a bad gasoline accident and, as a result, was unable to find work anywhere because of the way he looked.
Though this man’s story was interesting I am actually writing this blog to tell you the story of another: the young boy.
This 14 year old, round faced, dark skinned Cambodian boy was named Heng. He was an intelligent and resourceful young man who would spend his time selling small goods to tourists in order to pay for his schooling. In his free time he would delve deep into educating himself about Cambodia’s history in order to instruct tourists. This young man had a kind heart and a compassionate demeanor.
I invited this boy to join us for lunch and he was more than excited to join us. We talked about his family, about his life, about his schooling, and about his future. He spent over two hours with us partially because he thought we would buy his goods and partly because this may have been the first time someone on the street actually took real interest in knowing him.
God gave me the grace to love this young man with the same love that the Father has for him, and, as a result, I was able to love this boy as God called me to. This experience was so incredible because I was able to tell him about Jesus for the first time in his entire life and even though he did not fully comprehend it I know that God used me and my team to show him the Gospel.
I bought a simple bracelet from this young man so that I could not only support him financially but also that it would be a reminder for me to pray for this boy.
Heng is a child of God and I completely believe that the Holy Spirit is going to continue to pursue this young man’s heart so that one day he will know the love of the father intimately.
This whole experience is a reminder to me that loving others and sharing the love of the Father never takes a day off.
