Hello friends! My team and I have been in Cambodia for 3 weeks. We are staying with a pastor and his wife. We are sleeping in a church in our tents. Our hosts speak very little English and we don’t have a consistent translator this month. I can’t believe it is November and God has brought me to my 5th month of the World Race. The heat here is brutal. It is unlike anything I have ever felt before and feels like we are living in a sauna. The bugs are huge and plentiful. The children are precious. The neighborhood kids are very curious about the American visitors. They often run by the house and yell “hello!” and run away. My team and I are teaching English to children this month as well as doing home visitations.
My team and I visited a man named “T”–at least, that is what his name sounds like in Cambodian. I have affectionately named him Mr. T. We met Mr. T during our first week here in Cambodia. Through bits and pieces of translation we learned that Mr. T is 40 years old, has young children and that there is no hope for his life. We were told that Mr. T was sent home by a doctor to die.
One of my teammates, Megan, is a registered nurse. From the first few moments that we met Mr. T, I could see the wheels turning in her head, trying to figure out what could be causing his symptoms. Mr. T has a huge, distended belly, very swollen ankles, and a gaunt face.
Regardless of his diagnosis, anyone could tell that Mr. T is very ill and very uncomfortable. It was painful to watch him. His breathing is shallow, and he has very little room in his hammock due to his very swollen belly.
My team and I prayed for Mr. T. The pastors that we are connected with spoke with him in Cambodian and prayed for him as well. We were told that Mr. T accepted Jesus into his heart. I should have been overjoyed by that, but I was not. I was sad and angry. Sad because this man is in such distress and angry because this is something that could be treated in the U.S. I didn’t want to accept the answer that there was no hope and that this man was just going to die. I convinced myself that God would heal Mr. T.
My teammate Megan and I took special interest in Mr. T. We actually returned later that day with another translator so we could learn more details about his condition. We were again told that he already went to the doctor and the doctor says “it’s cancer and there is nothing they can do.” They sent him home with some roots to make some sort of tea but nothing else. I felt so mad. Why couldn’t he be helped? I see people in the hospital at home come into the ER for a hang nail that get more treatment. Why could nothing be done for this young man?
Yesterday we went back to see Mr. T for the third time. As soon as we entered his home, the Lord allowed me to sense an angelic presence. I walked into his room and felt almost a forcefield of something. Something not of this world. Something heavenly and peaceful. Something certain. I felt in my spirit that Mr. T was dying. This time his eyes were closed and he could hardly stay awake in our presence. He looked even worse than the first time we met him. I cried. We prayed for him and sang worship songs. The anger I felt started to fizzle. My protest became acceptance. Maybe God will heal Mr. T by taking him into his arms. I don’t know why Mr. T was not healed. I know that God could heal him instantly or God could heal him with the help of medical technology. God has not done either of those things for Mr. T. thus far. However, I felt such solace knowing that Jesus was in that room. I also see what a privilege it is for me to be a part of Mr. T’s life.
Something I have continually prayed for on the World Race is for God to show me my passion. I feel like He has highlighted a passion and tenderness for sick and dying people. Each month the things that move my heart the most are when we encounter sick people. Meeting Mr. T was more evidence of the gifts and passion the Lord has given me. I hope for more opportunities to minister to sick people on this journey. I’m praying a lot about the future direction of my life when I return home from the Race.
As I have been praying about what to do when I return home, I feel drawn toward possibly returning to a hospital Social Work. I’m trying to stay present while I am here, but it is difficult not to think about the future. Please pray for me that God would continue to reveal His calling to me. Please also pray about my finances to finish this journey. I am about $1,800 short of being fully funded. So for you non math whiz’s like myself that means I still need 1,800 dollars. I need to be fully funded by January 1. Please pray for my finances and please consider a donation. I want to finish this journey that God began. I’m in awe that God has brought me this far. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: it would not be possible without you. Thank you! Love from Cambodia, Megs.
