“So when you can take
them back to your home?”
“Huh? I cannot take
them.”
them.”
I stutter, shocked at the notion that these villagers would
want me to just take a family of three children recently orphaned
when both of their parents died of AIDS. Currently, their mother’s
sister-in-law’s mother is taking care of them, but because they were
moved from one village to another, they cannot continue school and
have to wait until October to begin school again, another year
behind. It breaks my heart considering how dark they must experience
their world to willing give their children to a stranger from a
foreign country in hopes that this foreigner would be able to give
them a better life, a brighter future, and hope.
want me to just take a family of three children recently orphaned
when both of their parents died of AIDS. Currently, their mother’s
sister-in-law’s mother is taking care of them, but because they were
moved from one village to another, they cannot continue school and
have to wait until October to begin school again, another year
behind. It breaks my heart considering how dark they must experience
their world to willing give their children to a stranger from a
foreign country in hopes that this foreigner would be able to give
them a better life, a brighter future, and hope.
Recently, Leakhana, Pastor
Porly’s eldest daughter, took Monica and I to “the mountain,” a
Buddhist temple, monastery, and cemetery, the closest thing to a
tourist attraction in these parts. Although I have visited many
Buddhist temples, shrines, and places of worship from many other
religions, I have not felt such spiritual darkness as I experienced
at the mountain. Although I initially dismissed those feelings, I
slept restlessly with nightmares about running away from evil, abuse,
betrayal,and unfaithfulness. While I realize that these dreams are
not reality and cannot be taken literally, I do believe there was a
message of warning for me in them. Especially because of the Holy
Spirit’s active work in me, I know that other spirits are not happy
with my presence and are angered by my attitude of unbelief towards
their gods. Because of the power and authority that I have in Jesus
Christ, if I do not guard myself and put on the full armor of God
everyday (Ephesians 6), I may be allowing other spiritual influences
to have a foothold or even a stronghold in my life. Every morning
and every night, I must choose to fully clothe myself, equipping
myself for the spiritual battle that lies ahead, whether in my waking
activity or in my dreams. I cannot afford to let my guard down. I
must be ready at all times to be the torch bearer to a dark world.
Philippians 2 says that I must “shine like stars in the universe
as you hold out the word of life.”
Porly’s eldest daughter, took Monica and I to “the mountain,” a
Buddhist temple, monastery, and cemetery, the closest thing to a
tourist attraction in these parts. Although I have visited many
Buddhist temples, shrines, and places of worship from many other
religions, I have not felt such spiritual darkness as I experienced
at the mountain. Although I initially dismissed those feelings, I
slept restlessly with nightmares about running away from evil, abuse,
betrayal,and unfaithfulness. While I realize that these dreams are
not reality and cannot be taken literally, I do believe there was a
message of warning for me in them. Especially because of the Holy
Spirit’s active work in me, I know that other spirits are not happy
with my presence and are angered by my attitude of unbelief towards
their gods. Because of the power and authority that I have in Jesus
Christ, if I do not guard myself and put on the full armor of God
everyday (Ephesians 6), I may be allowing other spiritual influences
to have a foothold or even a stronghold in my life. Every morning
and every night, I must choose to fully clothe myself, equipping
myself for the spiritual battle that lies ahead, whether in my waking
activity or in my dreams. I cannot afford to let my guard down. I
must be ready at all times to be the torch bearer to a dark world.
Philippians 2 says that I must “shine like stars in the universe
as you hold out the word of life.”
As we’ve been traveling
between villages, preaching the word of God, praying healing over
villagers, and anointing homes, we’ve walked into some spiritually
dark places. Pastor Porly says that the prevailing belief in Arng
village is that each person has a master spirit, who has the power to
bless their friends and curse their enemies, inflicting illness and
disease upon them and their families. Consequently, villagers have
mistakenly believed that a demonic power is at work when we pray
healing over another villager, rather than attributing the healing to
God. A few homes we’ve entered are overshadowed by misinformed
beliefs and a lack of understanding about the power of the Holy
Spirit and authority of Jesus Christ that has been given to every
Christian believer. It is commonly believed that only the pastor or
missionaries effectively pray for healing and so the pastor becomes
exhausted running from one spiritual need to another, rather than the
church body playing its role and part in blessing, encouraging,
healing, and affirming each other in faith. Although cell groups
meet weekly, they rely on the pastor to feed and shepherd the church
members and few have taken ownership of the church as their own,
sharing in community and living the gospel to their neighbors.
between villages, preaching the word of God, praying healing over
villagers, and anointing homes, we’ve walked into some spiritually
dark places. Pastor Porly says that the prevailing belief in Arng
village is that each person has a master spirit, who has the power to
bless their friends and curse their enemies, inflicting illness and
disease upon them and their families. Consequently, villagers have
mistakenly believed that a demonic power is at work when we pray
healing over another villager, rather than attributing the healing to
God. A few homes we’ve entered are overshadowed by misinformed
beliefs and a lack of understanding about the power of the Holy
Spirit and authority of Jesus Christ that has been given to every
Christian believer. It is commonly believed that only the pastor or
missionaries effectively pray for healing and so the pastor becomes
exhausted running from one spiritual need to another, rather than the
church body playing its role and part in blessing, encouraging,
healing, and affirming each other in faith. Although cell groups
meet weekly, they rely on the pastor to feed and shepherd the church
members and few have taken ownership of the church as their own,
sharing in community and living the gospel to their neighbors.
Matthew 5:14, 16 “You
are the light of the world – like a city on a hill cannot be
hidden… In the same way, let your light shine before men.”
are the light of the world – like a city on a hill cannot be
hidden… In the same way, let your light shine before men.”
We, the church, represent
the kingdom of God here on earth. We are different, at times a
little quirky and even a little weird, but we stand out because we
are light to a spiritually dark world. Light exposes hidden things.
Light reveals the truth and dispels the lies. Light gives vision and
provides insight. Light guides you safely home. Light displaces
darkness. I am the light of the world, so I will let my light shine.
the kingdom of God here on earth. We are different, at times a
little quirky and even a little weird, but we stand out because we
are light to a spiritually dark world. Light exposes hidden things.
Light reveals the truth and dispels the lies. Light gives vision and
provides insight. Light guides you safely home. Light displaces
darkness. I am the light of the world, so I will let my light shine.
“This little light of
mine, I’m gonna let it shine… Shine all over Cambodia, I’m gonna
let it shine” we sing together with the children. My light may
be little but it is powerful, so I refuse to let Satan “whoo”
it out. I’m gonna let it shine.
