If you read my last update you will know that I hit a hard spot on the race. All month I have been tired mentally and physically. Many times I wonder how I’m going to complete this trip and then I feel guilty because I love this journey and I am so thankful for everyone’s help to get here. I think it’s okay to go through a season like this as long as you address it and don’t allow yourself to sulk in it or set up camp.
After I wrote the last blog I asked the Lord to remind me why I’m on this trip, if I’m making a difference, and does any of this actually matter?
Meet 10 year old Strinoit and 13 year old Sinae.
These two beauties are sisters that my team and I met through the English classes we taught in the evenings. When they aren’t in school or at our English class, they help their parents out at a family restaurant we often frequented.
Like many businessess, the business is in the front and the living quarters is directly in the back, many times with open walls so you can clearly see the living area from your table. Like many homes, an idol is set in the main area of the home, to be worshiped with the hope of getting good karma. Everytime we ate at this place, the statue was in my direct line of vision, a constant reminder they didn’t know Jesus.
One Sunday afternoon a team mate and I stopped by the restaurant to grab some food. When Sinae brought us our food, Dani my team mate said “come to church today!”, held up two fingers to show her the time and waved in the direction of the team center. I have no idea if she understood what church was but she nodded with a big smile and an hour later showed up at the team center!
Y’all I was SO excited to see her there. She is secretly one of my favorites :). After the service I grabbed someone to translate for me so that Sinae and I could actually have a clear conversation. It was a short convo but through it I learned that not only was it her first time to church, but THE FIRST TIME SHE HAD EVER HEARD ABOUT JESUS!!
Because of Sinae I was reminded that I’m on the race to point people to Jesus.
Because of Sinae I was reminded that one more person has heard a little about Jesus, a seed has been planted, and that will make a difference in her life.
Because of Sinae I was reminded that it all matters, because Sinae matters, Strinoit matters, and every other person I have encountered since day one of the race, MATTERS.
We are currently at debrief in Siem Reap, preparing to travel to Thailand on Monday. Saying goodbye to my English class was the hardest goodbyes I’ve had yet, and I am extra sad to leave Sinae. If only I had more time to spend with her. I can only pray that she will continue to go to church and that God will place someone in her life that can influence her and tell her more about Jesus. If Sinae finds Jesus, her whole family could find him!
I may never see Sinae again in this world, but I have a strong hope that someday we can have a conversation in heaven, without a translator. If there’s even the smallest possibility of that, I would do the race 10x over for her.
Xoxo from Cambodia
