The month of May saw my team and I in the beautiful but scorchingly hot country of Cambodia. Here’s a rundown of what went down (that means “what happened” to those of you out there less hip than my mom – who has really been working on her slang while I’ve been gone, great job mom).
We started the month in the capital of Phnom Penh and because our ministry contact wasn’t ready to receive us right away, we did two days of ministry in a government housing relocation area. the people in the neighborhood were very poor and mostly forgotten – out of sight, out of mind. For two days though, we tried to show them that Jesus hadn’t forgotten about them. We played games, sang songs, did a Bible study, taught English, did Bible stories and, probably my favorite, washed hair. What?! You might be thinking… Didn’t you already wash children at some point earlier in the Race? Wasn’t it weird?
Yes, and yes. But hey, maybe that was all just preparation, because when it came time for the washing, I was READY!!!
Many of the children have lice, so we washed their hair with a special anti-lice shampoo, then with regular shampoo for a fresh, flowery scent. It was awesome to be able to hang out with these kids and do something that would benefit them, and you could tell they loved it. While I was washing, I just couldn’t help but think of Jesus washing his disciples’ feet. I know it’s the other end of the body, but I realized while my fingers were covered in lice that THIS is kingdom work. Earthly kingdom work is advancing armies or making economic policy decisions. Heavenly kingdom work is sacrifice. It’s washing the lice out of kids’ hair. It’s hanging out with the people from the other side of the tracks. It’s remembering the forgotten. And it’s doing it not so we can feel good or look good, but because it’s what He would do. Because he loves them and we should too. I was so humbled to be just a tiny part of the kingdom work that happened in Phnom Penh in early May.
Hanging with the kids in Phnom Penh
