Is Jesus simple?
That’s a thought I’ve been pondering recently. In the mornings, I volunteer as a teacher’s assistant at an elite school. Most of the kids there are fluent in English, which has given such a unique opportunity to share the gospel in Cambodia. I’ve been talking to a few students about Jesus during recesses the last couple weeks.
There’s an adorable student in my 3rd grade class named Sok Huy. I’ve bonded with her a lot, and a couple weeks ago I asked Sok Huy if she knew who Jesus was. She looked at me with a confused expression and told me she didn’t. My heart cracked a little, and the Spirit told me, “Tell her who I am. Tell her how much I love her.” And so I told her. I told her that Jesus died to save her and that He loves her SO much and wants her to be with Him in Heaven forever. That all she has to do is believe in Him. I’ve never seen a child’s face light up the way hers did. She treated it as the most amazing thing she had ever heard…and isn’t it?? She asked me if I was going to be in Heaven, and I said that I was, and that if she believed in Jesus too we could be sisters forever in Heaven.
Since then she’s been asking me questions about Jesus everyday, and I’ve struggled somewhat on how to explain things in a way she can understand. Most terminology in the Bible is completely foreign to her, as she comes from a strong Buddhist background along with a different first language. I just keep praying that my words will be the Lords and will get through to her precious heart.
Today I found Bible stories on my phone in simple language with pictures, and read them with her for an hour while the rest of the class went swimming. Her excitement about these Jesus stories was so pure. As we read about Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, tears started streaming down my face. Something about the simplistic language was so beautiful. Sometimes I get so caught up in theology and fancy words that I forget how simple the gospel is. So simple that even little children can grasp it. As we were reading, I was praying so hard that Sok Huy will have faith in the truth she was hearing–that she would receive salvation. She is amazed by it, but is so concerned about her mom and grandfather that don’t believe. She said she doesn’t want to go to Heaven without them.
As we were reading another story about Heaven and the Book of Life, my favorite little second grader, Gee Gee, came and joined us. She told me she believes in Jesus and wants her name to be written in the Book of Life too. So I explained to her the simple gospel again. She told me that she believes and wants to pray to Jesus and follow Him. My heart rejoicing, I lead her in a prayer to accept Jesus into her heart. My favorite part was that Sok Huy interjected things she had just learned for Gee Gee to repeat during the prayer. After the prayer, Sok Huy told Gee Gee–”Now you’re going to be sister’s with Teacher Maggie in Heaven FOREVER!” My heart exploded.
I only have two days left at the school–only two days left to talk to Sok Huy. I am praying so hard that she will come to Salvation, whether that be me leading her in prayer while I’m still here or her making that decision a little later.
I want more than anything to be sister’s with her in Heaven forever. She asked me before if I could have one wish, what it would be, and that’s what I told her. And I meant it with everything in me. No matter what happens in the next couple days, I’m praising God that He let me be the first one to ever tell her of His love for her. That He let me plant that seed in heart. And I’m trusting that I won’t be the last.
Those of you reading, please join me in prayer for these precious kiddos. For Sok Huy, that she would make the decision to follow Jesus. For Gee Gee, that she would be given people in her life to answer the questions she still has. And for the rest of the kids that have been part of these conversations here and there. Pray that God would use the couple students in the school that believe in Him to start a growing fire in the school. That not one of the students there would go without hearing about the simple, yet extravagant love of Jesus.
