Sunday, while we were out trying to see the waterfall when one of the girls in the village drowned in the pond. She lived right next door to our house and was swimming like always in the pond with her sister. Story goes that she was helping her sister which was what caused her to drown. She was seven and she was the little girl that always poked you and tried to tickle you whenever you walk by.
Nothing about me wanted to go to a seven year olds funeral. Buddhist funerals are different. This one, we paid our respects by lying around her body and praying for her with the incense burning and the money and banana offerings by her side. Her older sister kept putting baby powder on her face. At one point I was terrified we would have to watch her body be cremated so I was thankful when I found out they were burying her.
Everyone was praying for a miracle..everyone praying that should would start choking and wake up again after they finally found her in the deep and murky pond. Everyone wanted this to be that time when the village gets saved because God used her to show everyone in the village that God is faithful. I believe that God still will, just not in the way we wanted. Before, a lot of people in the village thought that Christians and westerners did not morn their dead, and it was good for them to have us there ever though it sucked for us. I believe that God will use us as a light in the middle of the darkness there. I do not understand why things have to happen, why beautiful little girls die when they’re seven, I cannot explain it, I do not like it, but I am at a place where I believe wholeheartedly that God is in it. God is there, working on that family and in that village, but death still sucks.
Cambodia was good to me, I needed and loved this country. Living in village life for a while really helps change perspective on life, although I will admit we were allllll excitedly talking about the shower at the hotel for days. The people went out of their way to love us and welcome us into their lives. We were not the mzungus coming and taking over, we shared life with the village and it was cool. Everyday we played soccer and played games at the school and towards the end the little girls ran up to us with flower crowns and bouquets for all of us. They made you feel like the special princesses we are. They loved. Went to Angkor Wat and saw the ancient temples, good adventure day.
I am fully funded as with the entire rest of the squad we had so much support from people we love and anonymous donors it was ridiculous how much money came into everyone’s accounts. Thanks thanks thanks. Headed to Malaysia today, another country, another place to see Gods hand at work before, during and after we leave it. Its crazy how fast everything is going now that I’m past the half way. It’s February but it seems like September.
No I do not have a life plan, the life plan conversation mortifies me because I have no idea. For me, it’s a day to day, country to country lifestyle and this future talk is just not happening yet..Got to pamper myself in Phnom Penh (capital of Cambodia) yesterday, like eat all the Italian food I wanted, got a massage, good company, good day. Needed and appreciated.
