God is doing something crazy in my heart for the people here in Cambodia. I am not really sure what He is up to…..all I know is that I have God’s supernatural LOVE for Cambodia! The kids in the youth group are amazing and each one has a different story. Some of them really break my heart.
I want to tell you about Piseth.
Piseth is the first person we met when we arrived to English class. I wouldn’t have guessed he would be shy because he immediately welcomed us. But he is so shy, especially around girls.
This is what Piseth does almost every time a camera is pointed at him…
He is sixteen years old and has been studying English at the church for almost two years. He has been a Christian for about a year now. He is hungry to learn English and anything about the Bible. He is always asking questions, “Teacher, what is ark? Teacher, what is flood?”
Piseth is a servant. He is always helping the pastor with things around the church. When it rains, the bottom room of the church gets flooded with water. Piseth spent his morning helping the pastor get the water out of the classroom. He also helps Jeff (the English teacher) carry a big sign out to the road every day in return for free English books needed for class. His family doesn’t have a whole lot of money. But you wouldn’t know that just by hanging out with Piseth.
Piseth told me that his father passed away, and his mother started working in another province a few months ago. The province, Siem Reap, is about five hours away from Phnom Penh. Piseth doesn’t get to see her very much. He told me he has only seen her once since she started work because the bus tickets are too expensive (between $7-$10). He lives with his sister and brother-in-law. He told me he misses his mom a lot.
Piseth walks a long way to school everyday, but he told me he doesn’t mind walking. When I asked if he had a bicycle (like many kids do), he said that he used to but gave it away. He had given his bike to his brother-in-law because his brother-in-law had further to walk.
So I thought to myself, “Wow God, this kid who doesn’t have a whole lot gave away his bicycle because he put someone else’s needs before his own.”
Over the past three weeks, I have noticed time and time again how Piseth prefers others before himself. The best part is that it's not something he even has to work at. It's who he is. It's Jesus shining inside of him.
So I told God that I really wanted to buy him a bike!
Sunday at church we told Piseth that God put it on my heart to buy him a bike. I told him that God sees all the little things that he does for Him, and He is proud to call Him son! Piseth seemed surprised. It looked like the beginning of tears in his eyes. Jeff had to reassure me that he was really excited, but it’s not Khmer culture to show a lot of emotions or for guys to give girls hugs. I was way excited and really had to refrain myself from hugging my little bro in Christ.
We piled in the pastor’s car and headed down to the market. After twenty minutes or so we found the perfect bike. Piseth even took it for a test drive! We had to continue to reassure Piseth to pick the exact bike that he wanted. He tends to please everyone else, and I really wanted him to get something he liked.
That’s when Piseth told me that he had been asking God for a bike for the past two months (which I had no idea, how cool is God?). He said that right after English class he goes to learn music with some of the other students, but he is always really late because it’s such a long walk. So he had been asking God for a bike so he could go practice guitar for church. Piseth has come out of his shell SO much since we have been here. He talks so much more now! Pray God continues to mold him into a bold and confident man of God.
God just rocks! My heart was so happy! God answered his prayer!
It’s so important to be obedient to what God asks you to do. God could be wanting to use you to answer a sweet, Cambodian boy's prayer. You just never know what will come of the things the Holy Spirit is prompting you to do! I know that Piseth believes even more in a Father God who really loves him as a son. And I am honored that God gave me the opportunity to be a part of it!
