Cambodia Ministry Update!
My team and I are now 4 days into Month 1 of the World Race. We’re spending our time this month serving Cornerstone Church, a small group of Christians here in Cambodia mainly made up of local Cambodians and a few Philippino people that came to Cambodia to teach or to be missionaries. The pastor of the church and his wife, Rogil and Janice, are our hosts this month. They planned to let us stay in a room at the church, but there was an available apartment in their housing complex. Their very kind landlord offered to allow us to stay here while we’re in Phnom Penh. So, to say the least, we’re getting spoiled this month. We have three rooms between the seven of us. Each room has a bathroom and shower, and we share a living area and a kitchen. I was fully prepared to use a hole in the ground for a toilet, so this is definitely an unexpected blessing. One of the bedrooms has AC, so we spend a majority of our time in the apartment piled into that room hanging out. Janice cooks almost every meal we eat, so we have been well-fed with incredible Phillipino and Cambodian food (and spaghetti last night).
This month we are spending most our time teaching English. It’s much easier for a Cambodian to get a decent job if they can speak English. This keeps them out of factory jobs, which only pay around $4 per day. Part of my team is in an impoverished area teaching children, while another group, which I’m in, is teaching to college students. It’s been great spending time teaching and learning from Cambodian students my age. I love talking to them about American culture. Naturally, they love Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber. They get a lot of laughs at me trying to pronounce words in Khmer. It’s just a great time all around.
Later this month, we will be camping in a small village about an hour and a half outside of Phnom Penh. Cornerstone Church has been working there to teach about Jesus, improve their literacy, and help them find better ways to maintain a sustainable income. I’m very excited to spend a few days there with my team to further these causes. Later I’ll be posting information on how you can help further their work in Kampong Chnnang if you want to help them out!
Personal Update!
This Sunday in church, I found myself in a surreal moment while singing “Mansion Over the Hilltop.” It took me back to singing that hymn with my home church. That simple moment caused me to realize what an incredible and profound journey I’m on. Over the next 11 months, I’ll have the opportunity to worship with people all over the world, sometimes in their native tongue and sometimes in English. No matter what language we’re speaking or what country we call home, we are all united in Christ.
Im honored to have the opportunity to be on The World Race, and I’m incredibly grateful for everone that believed in and loved me enough to help make this possible.
Prayer requests:
– The continued solidarity of my team.
– Cornerstone church and their many efforts.
– Pastor Rogil, his wife Janice, and the growth of their family!!
– Safety and health for my team.
– Financial provision for the rest of the cost of my trip. I still need a little over $6,000.
