Our ministry in Cambodia is finished, and below are the highlights of our time with Victory Church Cambodia & Overflow Guesthouse.
Each day we had an hour long tuk tuk ride to ministry.
We began with a beginner English class, where the students learned the alphabet.
And after the first English class, we led a Bible study! Sometimes we held it in the village church, and sometimes it was held at someone’s home.
I taught on the story of Mary & Martha. At this point in Jesus’s life, He was in full time ministry. Jesus entered into Martha’s home, where Mary was. During Jesus’s visit at the house, Mary just sat and listened to what He had to say while Martha was busy doing things around the house and serving. Martha got frustrated, and asked Jesus if he cared that she was doing things alone, when he replied,
“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
I taught the women this lesson because it’s something that I struggle with each day. I want constant control of things, and the busier I am, the better I feel.. because it feels like I’m doing something!
This is an urgent point to convey in communities like these. In Christianity, we don’t have to work, work, and work for status within religion. Instead, God wants a relationship. Christianity is unique, and for many (even those familiar with Christianity), the concept of God wanting an active relationship with us seems backwards. Its a unique aspect of what we believe – and an important point to convey. It’s life-saving!
We also made home visits and prayed for people.
The wood platform & tarp ceiling is this man’s home.
Praying for healing from diabetes complications. This woman had medication, but would not adhere to it.
This month, we got to know Sam, the village pastor, really well. He’s incredibly kind & invested in this community. He has 2 toddlers and a wife, and makes the hour drive to the village 6 days a week. He’s planning to move into the village soon so he can be closer to his ministry. He’s also been praying for a truck to haul world racers & other missionaries into the village. Right now, he only has a tuk tuk that only fits up to 4 people max. He also has to use it like a truck to haul things.
Sam is an incredible man of God – and getting to know him well was one of the highlights of our month!
When we weren’t in the village doing ministry with Sam – we helped at Overflow Guesthouse, the AIM base here in Cambodia. We rotated security duty, staying on call all night, waking up to send off sunrise tour groups, and cleaning the pool in the morning.
We also spent Christmas in Cambodia! We spent the majority of the day relaxing, and also did Secret Santa as a team.
As a part of Christmas celebrations, we helped with a feeding event in the village. Around 300 children were invited. We camped out at the village the night before, watched the women cook Khmer soup over an open fire, and helped with other prep work. The morning of the event, we put on a Christmas skit telling the story of Jesus’s birth for the kids.
Now that our formal ministry is over, we’re at a debriefing event in Battambang, Cambodia! There’s a volleyball court across the street from our hostel, so I went over and asked if anyone spoke English. Luckily, there was! I asked my new friend, Mai, if I could play with them sometime – so we went over and played a game yesterday!
I grew up playing volleyball competitively, and to this day, playing the sport competitively again makes me light up. It gives me a special kind of energy & happiness.
We also spent this time to thank & say goodbye to our alumni squad leaders, who have completed their leadership time with us! They are leaving the field, and have chosen three new leaders from our current squad to take over. We love you Danny, Carson, and Hope!
That’s all for now!
We leave for Bangkok, Thailand tomorrow morning, and then to Northern Thailand, Chiang Mai, to begin ministry next week.
