I know we have moved on from
Cambodia and are now in Kenya but I really can’t stress enough what an awesome
month it was in Phnom Penh.
We made some incredible relationships and even were
able to build a friendship with our tuk tuk driver! His name is Mr. Kim. He is
such a cool guy. We were able to witness to him and even pray for his family!
It was awesome!
God really moved in a big way in our hearts and we feel Him
calling us back there in the future. I know what you are thinking…and believe me, Bri and I felt the same way…we couldn’t believe it when God put this vision on both of our hearts. I said “really God…Cambodia?” We admit that Cambodia was a wild card for us in this race. Nevertheless God used this place and it’s people to crumble our hearts.
It’s just one of those things that only God could do!!!!
Now we believe it will be more of a short term
project but there are some big needs in the area we had worked in that Bri and
I believe God wants us to do something about. We feel a personal responsibility
to this that we can’t ignore. We also know this is from God because we have
seen some serious needs around the world but God has seemed to highlight this
one in our hearts and minds. Bri and I are taking this to prayer constantly! We
ask you as family, friends, and supporters to join us in praying with us as we
seek what God has for us in Cambodia. We want to make an eternal impact for the
kingdom in a broken place. Cambodia is in need. This sign even reminded of us of the very recent and gruesome past of this country.
But there is hope. There is also hope in Christ. Hope for a future for this country almost destroyed by genocide. We believe in hope. Charles Spurgeon once said that “…when sin conquered the realm of manhood it slew all the minstrels, except those of HOPE.”
The area we believe God is
calling us to is just 10 minutes outside of Phnom Penh’s city center. It is a
poor area but is currently being developed. Housing is exploding in the area.
The specific area that we want to help seems to be forgotten in this process.
Their homes are in shambles, there is no good clean water source, and the
people are living in very unsanitary conditions.
We hope to join forces with
the local church in this area and begin to minister to the orphanage that Bri
and I visited (see Bri’s blog: A Piece of our hearts.) We see this orphanage as
a central hub in this community to be a light for the gospel and a place of
hope for the people.
We truly believe that God could use us with a small team
of people to transform not only this orphanage but also the surrounding
community as well. We are talking about everything from food and clothing to
education, evangelism, outreach and development.
The orphanage is currently
trying to finish its top floor and finally put on a roof. We are praying that
God would bring together the people, plans, and finances to see this vision
become a reality. Our ultimate goal would be to hand the care of this orphanage over to the local church and see the body of Christ in Cambodia take care of
it’s own.
We have learned so many things on this trip
but one thing stands out in my mind; missions is not glamorous, it is simply
loving people with Christ’s love, sharing the gospel in not only word but deed,
and meeting needs both spiritual and physical. I know in our culture it is so
“cool” or “relevant” to be causal but I’m going to be blunt…we have to push
past the “cool” and the “relevant” and get to Jesus. He is the whole reason we
do what we do. There is nothing cool or relevant about walking down the streets
of Cambodia and seeing girls selling themselves in the sex industry, or
traversing slums in Africa and seeing poverty that blows your mind. There is
nothing cool about walking through muddy water sources that are full of dead
flies and feces or seeing small children picking through trash heaps looking for food, plastic, or toys.
I’m genuinely glad that Bono from the band U2 made an impact
and raised some awareness for needs around the world but I have to keep my own
heart in check and remind myself in all of this….I am not a rock star! We are not rock stars
or celebrities. We are simply Christ followers. We are servants of His kingdom
simply doing what he has called us to do in this world. We see tangible
needs that could be met. We see open hearts. We see a place that is ripe for the gospel.
Bri and I
are asking you all to pray with us and also for yourselves to see if you would
want to partner with us when we return to Phnom Penh. There is still much
prayer and planning that needs to happen but we just wanted to plant this
vision in some of you, that God would begin to draw those that He wants to be
involved. We hope to give you all more details in the near future. To our God
be the glory for ever and ever!!!
Photo Credit due to: Jacinda Kozaira and Rachel Duff-Banks….and my awesome wife:)
