Before the race began, there were thoughts that processed in my mind of how the World Race would play out. I envisioned the time we spent in our countries to be roughing it wherever we went. Partaking in the use of some squatty potties, taking some bucket showers, sleeping in a tent, and just absolutely be cut off from society with no internet or electricity. This World Race dream came true this month.
This month in Cambodia we spent our time in Po Peyl village (about an hour outside Siem Reap). I got to say, we didn’t quite take the most ideal way into the village. Our contact arrived at our hostile to take us into Po Peyl with his cart attached to his scooter. We went World Race style by piling 4 grown men in a cart that was only capable of holding approximately 200 pounds. Got a little frightening at times, but it was all good.
Upon arriving to the village on a dry dirt road, we were quickly greeted by the village kids from every home. They would run down to the road and wave hello to us and wouldn’t stop until we were out of sight. They quickly grew comfortable with us and would come to us everyday as we walked by asking what our names were and how we were doing. Every chance they could get they would always speak as much English as they could with us.
We finally arrived at our ministry site and got settled into our new home for the month at a small center that our contacts had built. The center featured a sewing room, classroom, and a small kitchen area. We pitched our tents and quickly got to work with our ministry. Our ministry this month has been a chance to really work with the community in the village. We spent the days giving English classes, some guitar classes, bible studies, weekly feeding programs, and weekly hygiene days where we would help give the kids in the village baths and lice treatments.
This month has revealed a little bit about ministry where God leads us and just being in communities that are so isolated from a lot of the world.
The importance of reaching out to remote places
Being in a remote village, the Lord has revealed something to me that I felt hasn’t really been a challenge until this month. In Po Peyl village, it was obvious our contacts have shown the greatest impact in the village, as far as sharing the Gospel, because there weren’t any churches in the area. By participating in the men’s bible study at one family’s house with a man and his son, we quickly learned how difficult it is to share the concept of God with people that have only known the local religion their entire life. Coming from the bible-belt back at home, it’s hard to grasp that people can go an entire lifetime without hearing the name of Jesus Christ. It’s amazing to think if our contacts never reacted to the calling God put on them to start a ministry site in Po Peyl, the people would have never heard of the Gospel or even the name Jesus.
“Your Stereotypical Missionary”
This is something that has played in my head for a while, but just haven’t felt lead to share until now. As mentioned before, I imagined the World Race being this dramatic journey where we will be HAVING to live in a hut or tent and we will be always be HAVING to eat weird nasty things that we can’t identify and we will be HAVING to always live in remote villages. But I was wrong for creating this stereotype of what a ministry should be like. There have been ministry opportunities everywhere we have been outside of remote areas and outside our village. Both this month and past months, we have been in nice restaurants, hostiles, and other wealthier areas where we have had the chance to share the Gospel with people unexpectedly. Yes people in remote areas need to be ministered to, but it shouldn’t stop there. When people from the village hear and accept the word of God, it is music to their ears. As soon as they hear the message, it brings life and light into their lives. As the kids in the village sing and rejoice in worship songs, it creates those unforgettable moments. It is important to reach out to the remote places, but the stereotype should be broken. There is rejoicing in remote places when villagers hear the message, but there is also people who have been exposed to the Lord’s name and there was never rejoicing. There is never that same acceptance and passion you would see in a village similar to Po Peyl. It is important not to limit ourselves to this stereotypical ministry standard, but the ministry should continue to shine in our daily lives no matter where God leads us.
Clay
