Cambodia in a Nutshell…

For all of April, we were sent to Phnom Penh, Cambodia. We stayed in the University of Nations building which is a branch of YWAM (Youth with a Mission) and we were finally in our first real month as a new team. We were the only team staying at U of N so, it was a great time to really dig in and get to know one another and become unified as a team.

 

 

We jumped into ministry with the Good News International Education School as soon as we got there. They had bible studies in the mornings, English class in the afternoon, cell group in different villages and an evening English class. We participated in all of their activities morning and night. I feel like it was definitely a month of growth for our entire team. We were daily put on the spot to speak God’s word and just really rely on Him to speak for us rather than us preparing something that came from ourselves. Sometimes, we had no clue what that might look like or what was about to come out of our mouths but we just went for it every day and everyone was really willing to put themselves out there and allow the Lord to use them as a vessel.

 

 

 

The morning bible studies were mainly with the staff but it was definitely a whole new experience for us to be using a translator and really have no clue what was going on for the most part. Learning to slow down and give your translator time to speak is also something I had to learn to do for the first time. Having praise and worship with them in two different languages was quite the beautiful experience though. Two totally different cultures praising the Lord and loving God together is something you have to experience for yourself at least once in your lifetime. 

 

 

The morning English classes were also with the staff so, we would just try to have conversation with them and help them practice their English skills on us. There was a children’s class that went on during this time as well so, sometimes one or two of us would step in and help during that class while the rest helped the older staff and got to know them a little better. It was a shorter month for us so, we really had to be intentional about creating relationships and getting to know the staff when we had the opportunity.

 

Cell groups in the afternoon were definitely a new experience but made us realize we were on the world race and doing this thing for real! It was blazing hot! I remember looking down one day with sweat dripping in my eyeballs while I was trying to speak a sermon and my pants being a completely different color because I had sweat so much that they were soaking wet. YUCK!! There was not a lot of air ventilation and it was a task to stay focused on why we were there and what we needed to accomplish. We would all take turns giving words to the people in these different villages and praying for them from day to day. It was a blessing to get to know them and hear their stories. A lot of them were women trying to raise multiple children on their own because their husbands had left somewhere along the line and never came back.  A lot of them were crushed at their situations and just trying to find hope in taking care of their families and learning about this God they had never really heard about that loves them so much.

 Angkor Wat.

 

The country is full of young people who are carrying a lot of the burdens of their families that are left over from the hurt and turmoil they experienced during the recent genocide. They do NOT show a lot of love and affection in their culture and I think the lack of that has caused pain to trickle down from generation to generation. Love is powerful and it goes a really long way. God asks us to love above all things and it is a huge way in which He shows himself in this world so, for them to not be able to tangibly touch and feel one another’s love helps allow wounds to continue growing and manifesting among the people. It was definitely a challenge for me to hold back in expressing God’s love through hugs. Although I know a smile can ease and comfort the heart, it was hard for me to only rely on that and not give more of myself when seeing them carrying these burdens daily.

 

 

The evening English class was packed! Kids flooded in from all over the place around the area and it was amazing. We each had our own class along with one of the staff members and they gave us free reign to go in and take over trusting that our English was more than likely a little better than theirs. I was elated with joy during these classes. Teaching English class was not something that was ever on my agenda or I had really ever thought about doing it but I got so much enjoyment out of teaching those children and helping them become better educated. Kids are awesome and getting to see their little hearts for learning spill out all over the classroom was such a blessing to experience. Listening to them try so hard to pronounce the words correctly and sometimes just barely getting it made me giggle just a little every time. They were so sweet and precious. I wanted to just grab them all up in my arms and carry them home with me!

 

English class.

This was the gist of our ministry in Cambodia but the most important ministry we could have had this month was fellowshipping and building the relationships we did with the staff at U of N! We met two of the most beautiful and amazing people you could ever imagine in your lifetime. They became a part of our team throughout the month. They went everywhere with us, whether it was dinner or taking a long hour road trip to Angkor Wat to see one of the seventh wonders of the world. The joy that both of them oozed was food for the soul! Bopha was loud and joyful. She was definitely a hugger which was refreshing since we were not allowed to hug much throughout the month. She was ready to express love in any possible way at all times. She was hilarious and happy to spend time with us all the time. The other one was our tuk tuk driver who became a best friend rather than a driver. He was so gentle and his smile could have eased anyone’s spirit or discomfort. He was quite possibly the cutest little thing you have ever seen and by far the sweetest. He would have done anything to help make our trip easier and wanted to show us around town all of the time. He made sure we got to have fun when we were not having ministry. They both had a major heart and passion for their country and it shined through them everywhere we went. They will be the change that their country needs. They are spreading God’s love with their presence alone every step they take throughout their country. They both ended up becoming a part of our ministry. We started inviting them along and they were really just a huge part of our team and it was a true blessing getting to know them. My heart will never be the same after learning how God works in them and seeing their beautiful spirits. I thank God for them and for what He is doing to use them to help change their country. 

 

Angkor Wat.

Cambodia was short and sweet with only a few weeks of ministry because of the Khmer New Year which lasts one whole week. Everything and I mean everything shuts down completely and they take the week off with their families to celebrate.  It was awesome for us because we got to learn more about our new team, spend good amounts of time with the Lord and take a little getaway trip to a beautiful place in the world called Angkor Wat. It was definitely a much needed month for growth and to focus not only on the ministry but one another and making sure to invest in each other. We built awesome relationships and met a lot of inspiring and encouraging people. A lot of things broke our hearts and a lot of other things taught us to really hear from God and learn to have discernment from Him on certain things before acting. I thank God for our time there and my heart is forever changed from being there!