"When the dog bites, when the bee stings, when I’m feeling sad, I simply remember my favorite things and then I don’t feel so bad!!!"
In memory of one fantastic song from my childhood, I decided to put together a little list of my favorite things and memories from Cambodia, enjoy!
Speeding down the back country road with our contact to pick up some bread, fruit and fried bananas for myself and the rest of the team. It’s the best way to start a day.
2. Exploring the market.
There is something about duking into a dark and crowded indoor market that brings out the adventurer in my heart. Maybe it’s that cell phones are sold right next to the mountains of fruit that are next to the pig carcasses that are next to the shoes that are next to the weird, jelly desserts. Maybe it’s because you feel like you will get lost any second in the dark, closed corridors, a good test of my directional skills. You would never step into such a place back home, let alone buy food from it, but it’s one of my favorite places for exploration on the Race.
3. Being invited into random family’s huts and holding random babies.
One thing you should know about Cambodia, is that they have some of the cutest kids in the world. If you go on a prayer walk with your friends, it’s not uncommon to be invited to someone’s hut to sit and play with said cute babies. Even though you can’t communicate at all, everyone is overjoyed and love flows freely.
4. Exploring an ancient wonder of the world with just a camera and Jesus.
I got to go to Angkor Wat in Siem Reep with a team for a day off, and it was one of the best days on the Race! The best part was at the very end, I got to explore Ta Prohm temple by myself because the others wanted to stay at the entrance and eat lunch. Just me, my camera and Jesus walked around the ancient temple and I was reminded that I was created with an adventurous spirit simply because my Father has one too.
5. Sharing my testimony with the youths of Cambodia.
Last week, I got to share my testimony with a small church of young adults in Kampot, Cambodia. No one in the room was over the age of 20, the church body as a whole here is very young. Almost 95% of the population in Cambodia is under the age of 65 due to the genocide of the 70’s that killed nearly 3 million Cambodians. Even though there is a generation essentially missing, the youth of this nation are beginning to rise up. We are staying with a ministry led by a 29 year old man who after meeting Jesus, sold everything in order to go to YWAM and then start english schools and a church for his community. The team I am currently staying with teaches English daily in those schools and preaches on the weekend, which I got to be a part of. This young man of God leads with passion and full faith in the Lord. Getting to share my testimony with this small body of believers was an honor.
6. Being reminded of the power of hope from a survivor of a genocide.
Steven and I visited the killing fields of Phnom Pehn, it was an experience that shook me to the core. Listening to the stories of how 3 million people died at the hands of the Khmer Rouge, then walking in the very fields where multiple thousands were killed and buried was heartbreaking. On the audio tour, we heard one story of a survivor who escaped to Thailand after being separated from his family, forced into work camps and placed in prison. He was finally released because one older man in the prison offered to literally give up his life in order for the young man to go free. This young man shared that he didn’t die because he never gave up hope. He said that the Khmer Rouge destroyed lives through actual killing, but also by taking people from friends and family, leaving them lonely and hopeless. This young man carried hope because his mother had a dream when he was young that foretold that he would be a great leader someday. He took hold of the hope of that dream and didn’t let go of it. It carried him to safety and years later, he returned to Cambodia, a strong leader indeed. It reminded me of the power of hope, and how lucky I am that I have a God who I can continually hope in.
7. Walking along the rice fields, sitting in a hammock under a coconut tree and dancing in the monsoon rain. Basically, Cambodia is beautiful.
A few random things you might hear in Cambodia:
“Up, the rooster is on the counter again.”
“Look at the cute babe on that motor bike!” – I’m talking about babies people-
“Is the mouse on your bed again?” “No, it’s just a roach.”
Side note, I only have $500.00 left to raise in order to be fully funded! I have until January 1st., a little over a month to raise this final amount. The Lord has already provided $14,800 through you all, and I know He will come through for the rest! I must have the full amount in my AIM account my January 1st. If you would like to be a part of helping me reach my final goal, you can click the “Support Me!” button on the left. You can also share this blog with your friends, family and church by clicking "Add This" at the top of this page. I’m resting in the full knowledge that the Lord is going to provide my remaining funds, because He is faithful! Thank you for joining Him and I in this ministry!
