Joy.
Unspeakable joy surged through my body.
I had made it to the Promised Land.
My soul was rejoicing.
Alas, this is what I had been unknowingly longing for the entire race.
Kampot, Cambodia.
We were driven to the Middle of Nowhere, Cambodia and I could not have been happier.
Debrief ended two days beforehand and ever since then, I had been riding on a joy high.
I was finding Jesus in every and anything and I could not have been anymore content to sleep on the floor of a church in the boondocks of Cambodia.
I sat outside on a plastic red chair and read my Kindle every evening and watched the sunset.
I played my guitar up in a treehouse.
I pumped water from a well and bathed in a small tub.
We neighbored next to a pig and volunteered to help out the pastor with harvesting his rice.
I would wake up early in the morning before everyone else and shower and sit outside and read my Bible and listen to worship music on my iPod, soaking in words of adoration and praise to my Beloved.
Yes, joy overflowed and abounded.
I got to clean the outhouses and it was one of my most fun experiences on the Race.
I wrenched my arm in a well-pumping contest and it was so worth it.
I finished Voice in the Wind by Francine Rivers in 3 days.
I began to write songs again, which is something that I had not done in a few months.
We were in charge of preparing the kids for the Christmas service, so every night we rehearsed drama and dance and I had a ball.
I stepped in poop during our prayer walk, a baby’s throw-up splattered on me during our beach trip, and I totally bathed with the toilet water, but nothing could stop my joy.
Then, it was over as quick as it started. We had to leave Kampot after being there for a week. Bye bye, Kampot.
Without diving into it, our time in Cambodia was cut short because of unfortunate circumstances with our contact and I was angry. I asked God why He would let me experience such joy and such peace and such breakthrough, just to take it all away.
But in the midst of my complaining, gratitude overwhelmed me.
I was suddenly overwhelmed by the graciousness and kindness of my God that He would let me experience a week of such abundant joy and peace at all. Some people will never experience joy and peace like that and I did and what’s even better is that I have the opportunity to live in that joy and peace daily.
It is true that the joy of the Lord is our strength.
We left Cambodia a week and a half ago and are currently in Thailand, but the joyous week that the Lord gave me in Cambodia was just what I needed to push through to the end of the year.
God is such a good God. I just need to give Him honor and glory because He really is the best thing that has ever happened to me and I am still baffled that He delights in me.
If you want to experience this kind of peace and joy, just ask. God is a good God who gives good gifts. Seek Him first and all these things will be added to you. Pinky Promise!
And Cambodia, no circumstance can steal my joy; I will keep only fond memories of you, my dear.
