Here is an email I just sent to a dear friend. It summarizes what I’ve been doing in the last few months in a quick and easy fashion. Let me know if you have any questions <3 This may be my last blog in Cambodia so check it out!!
Hey there!! Its Cindy Swenson. I wanted to send you a quick update on how I’m doing, what I’m doing, and where I’m at with fundraising. Right now I am finishing up my last two weeks in Cambodia before going to Ethiopia for three months. My trip is already a third of the way done. How crazy is that!! During my first month I was living in Battambang, Cambodia. Its the second largest populated city in Cambodia so we lived in a crazy environment. My team’s ministry was to teach students English at a local Buddhist private school. Since the teachers knew more English than my students, it was a great opportunity for me to speak about Jesus to the teachers and to show the students Jesus’s love. I am still in contact with those teachers through social media and I have enjoyed growing relationships with them. The Lord taught me a lot in Battambang about speaking up and being bold in His truth. He gave me the courage to speak up for my needs, even when they aren’t convenient or important to the people around me. I also learned a lot about having peace in the mist of chaos (especially since I shared a house with over forty other girls, and I had to bike through the crazy streets of Cambodia to go anywhere).
Then, after one month my team of nine was moved about twelve hours away to the providence of Kampot to serve at Light of Hope church (aka the University of the Nations, aka the Youth Development Center). Our current home is about a five minute truck ride to the nearest “city”, but we’ve been living the village life. Every morning two of my teammates ride to the local market to buy our breakfast (we’ve built some great relationships with the local waffle lady) in the back of a pick up truck. Its a much more rustic lifestyle of chickens in the kitchen and unpredictable power, but I have come to love it. At this ministry I teach two English classes- a preschool class in the afternoon and a middle/high school class in the evening. These classes are night and day to each other, but I have come to treasure both for their unique qualities. I have learned that I have a deep love for the English language and will probably come back to the states to become a teacher in the public school system, both as a way to bring an appreciation of English to today’s youth and as a ministry to kids who need Jesus. Anyways, I have also participated in a number of construction projects- whether its tearing down structures, putting dirt on a mucky road, transporting desks from different schools (in ways that would make my mother worry), and painting murals. Whatever Vuthy (my ministry host) wants, thats what I and my team do. We’ve also done a lot of house visits throughout the community. Cambodia is the kind of place where uninvited guests are welcome, so sometimes we go to people’s houses and tell them about Jesus. Our local translator So Phea (or Vuthy) always come with to make sure that we can explain Jesus to these people clearly, and it has been a blessing to pray over and encourage these people. I have sen prayer work through the people in miraculous ways, and I want to ask that you lift these community members up in prayer as we leave this country. There is holy fruit here ready to be picked. As of right now, my team is preparing for a Christmas on December 1st (my tomorrow). It is a time for the elders of the community to come together and hear the word of God. Since we live inside a giant Buddhist temple this night is a huge deal!! Please be praying for the people who are coming, that they will come to accept Jesus as their Savior, and that Light of Hope church will continue to grow in the Lord. He’s doing a mighty work here.
On December 9th my team will be leaving Cambodia to go to Ethiopia. Please be praying for us as we make this transition. Right now we are walking through a grieving process for what we are about to leave, as well as a celebration for what we have gone through. Its been a rollercoaster three months, and I am excited for whats the Lord will do next. As of right now, I am about $1,500 away from being fully funded, so please let me know if the church can help me in that way. Also please shoot me an email if you have any questions about what I’m doing over here or about anything you need from me. I check my emails about once a week and would love to keep in contact with you.
Thank you for your time, I look forward to sharing more of this journey with you in the future!!
~CLS
