Welcome to the city of Siem Reap, Cambodia where the temperature is hot, the driving is crazy and you can't walk down the street without getting offered a fish spa, massage or tuk tuk ride. Siem Reap is home to one of the ancient wonders of the world, Angkor Wat, and is a very touristy town with lots of nationalities and plenty of food options. I bring up the food because after not seeing a grilled cheese or iced latte for more than a few months, I downed both of them in about 30 seconds this morning for breakfast. Can we say breakfast of champions?
We started out this month in luxary with our 4 month debrief at the Prum Bayon hotel. (that's right folks… HOTEL. That means beds, flushing toilets AND a swimming pool! baller status) We were able to spend 4 days together as a squad talking about all that the Lord has done thus far and getting a little spiritual rejuvination from some awesome AIM staff from the states. Highlights of this time were checking out Angkor Wat and reunioning with my fantastic former teammates. Katrina and I even let fish eat the skin off our feet. That's what I like to call immersing yourself into culture…literally.
After debrief we spread out all across Cambodia for month 5 of ministry. (yes, month 5! crazy.) Team Wellspring is teaching English at 2 different schools and staying at the local YWAM base. Ash, Nikki and I are teaching at the amazing University of the Nations. I help out with Nikki's morning class and in the afternoons I teach 'Facts and Figures,' to 25 eager to learn Cambodians. The students here are so amazing and I love their desire to learn. Being in such a touristy town learning English is really important for getting good jobs at local hotels and restaurants. I knew I would have fun with teaching but had no idea how much i would truly love it. It's a bit more pressure than I expected, being responsible for another persons education and all, but I like the challenge! The greatest fun little bonus of our ministry is that we get to bike there! There have been a few close hugebusrunningintobiker calls, but it's always a fun adventure and getting to bike an hour each day is so refreshing. It's the best of both worlds: excercise AND the wind in your face acts as AC. Winning.
Because the school is run through YWAM, one day a week we get to abandon our normal class schedule and teach all about JESUS! Many of the students here are new Christians and are really starting to understand their faith and share it with others. It is so encouraging to see how God is reaching people in Cambodia just as he is in the US and all around the world. Please pray that their faith would be strong and that they would be filled with boldness to keep sharing about the Lord all around this town!
We will continue minsitry here for the next two weeks until we head to our finally revealed mystery country next month: Vietnam!!! Thank you so much for all of the love, support and encouragent that you guys send my way! It is such a blessing to hear about your lives and what the Lord is doing in and through you wherever you are. We serve a big God!!!!
Much love my dear friends.
