The more I see and experience, the less I know. I thought I knew what it looked like to love, to serve, to have joy, and to do so many other things. Jesus has shown me that I hardly knew, well, anything really. I thought I knew what it looked like to choose joy and love others, until I met Thearah. He’s a little boy who runs the streets alone, or with his little brother Lihang and hangs out with me. He comes over to play soccer, to study English, and to just hang out in general. He is always so excited to be with us and has a consistent smile on his face. One day while we were playing in the rain he took his shirt off because it was soaked. I noticed a bunch of scars on his back but thought nothing of it. Eventually, some of the girls saw his back and were wondering if he is abused at home. They asked our host Chaddi and it turns out that a lot of parents in Cambodia discipline with some pretty intense physical actions. He told me multiple times that he loved his mom and family so much. This little kid who doesn’t know Jesus loves like none other. He loves his persecutors, he loves me, a stranger, and he chooses to have an extreme amount of joy regardless of his circumstances. This is what Jesus calls us to and it is so easy to know what He calls us to, but it is so much harder to live it out. I also thought I knew what it looked like to serve, until I met Sano and the sisters. We work at a little church right now and are painting the building. Yes, we are serving that church; however, they are serving us so well. Every few minutes they ask us how we are feeling and if we need to take a break. They provide us with plenty of beverages and snacks too. Although they are with us working hard and live this life all the time, they are solely focused on our comfort and well being. I thought I was coming to serve the “unreached” (Thearah) and the “less fortunate” ( the people of the church). Before, I thought of these people as “the least of these” (Matthew 25:40) and I was so wrong to think of them as that. I was putting myself higher than them. After spending not even a month living in community with these people I have learned that we are all “the least of these”. We can always find someone to serve and can always be served. Jesus made himself the least by washing His disciples feet. If The God Of The Universe did that, we should live our lives as servants everyday. God is awesome and continues to work in the people here. I am so excited to see what He has in store for this week!!
P.S. Blogs will now be posted on Tuesdays!!! Also, follow my instagram or facebook for weekly posts every Sunday ( lukehol_land and Luke Holland)!!!
