You’re probably wondering “ BEEECCCCAAA what have you been doing all month in Cambodia?!? Well you’re in luck because I’m about to tell you.
This month has been really crazy with A LOT of change. I think I can honestly say that Cambodia has been my favorite month so far on the race minus the weather. Cambodia is hotter than some random African desert. No but seriously there wasn’t a moment this month where I wasn’t sweating (minus the night we slept in the village…that night was shivering). If any one of you guys know me well, you know that I don’t do well in hot weather. Let’s just say I’m excited for cold, 40 degree weather in Eastern Europe. Besides the hot weather, Cambodia is amazing. The people here in Cambodia are so nice and have the best smiles that will light up your day. The food in Cambodia is super great too, especially if you like eating rice because that’s ALL we ate and the occasional noodle.
The other reason why this month has been my favorite is because of the work God is doing on my h e a r t. He is teaching me so much about love, my identity in him, surrender, and how much I need him for EVERYTHING.
I’m not gonna lie these last 5 months on the race have been really challenging. There has been a lot of change, I’ve been knocked down a few times(literally and figuratively), and I have had to face some hard realities. I am learning that in order to grow into a better person, the person God has created me to be, he has to break me down in order to rebuild me up. There are days where I just don’t have the strength to keep going. There are nights where I didn’t sleep much (due to our hot stuffy room and constantly being attacked by the devil himself…aka mosquitos) and I had to wake up early and have a 10+ hour ministry day. It’s a lot and I quickly realized that I can’t do it alone or by my own strength. The cool things is I have this awesome God I can rely on…so I’m learning. When we ask God in faith, he gives us what we need. This month I’ve needed and asked for energy and strength and the cool part is I’ve watched God provide it. It’s been pretty awesome. Not gonna lie.
This month our ministry looked like traveling by tuk-tuk to a remote village called Tapouk. There we’d have back to back English classes for kids from age 3-20. On top of teaching English, the kids would always pull me out of the classroom during our break to play futbol(soccer). Again if you guys all know me at all, soccer is the way to my heart. Playing soccer brings me SO MUCH JOY! However, playing soccer in the village looks a little different. First off, the kids play barefoot on dirt ground, with a ball that’s half inflated and net goals that are held up with bamboo sticks. A little different them in use to. However nonetheless, I will always cherish these times in the village despite me dripping in sweat. I guess Olof go it right when he said “Some things are worth melting for”. (:
Another one of my favorite memories this month was having a sleepover in the village. We stayed in the open air church and set up our tents there to sleep(yes this was the first time I used my tent on the race lol). We cooked dinner there and ate around a hot pot on the floor like the people in the village do. Then we built a fire, roasted some marshmallows and worshiped Jesus under the stars with just a guitar and our voices. It was so pure and beautiful.
Some other memorable moments I had in the village was when my team and I picked lice out of the children’s hair. They don’t have the money to buy product to get rid of the lice so we had the opportunity to help them out. Another event we did in the village that I lead with being the new Beauty for Ashes coordinator and all, was a feet washing event for all the women in the village. Pastor Sam, the guy we worked with all month, told us how these women don’t fully understand and feel the depth of Jesus’ love. So I thought what a great idea to show them the love of Jesus by washing their feet.
I mean that’s what Jesus did…he washed his disciples feet to show the true, ultimate meaning of love–laying your life (your feelings, your wants, desires, and opinions) down as a sacrifice for others. It’s a choice. It’s Agape love. It’s not based in feeling. I’m so glad Jesus shows us agape love and chooses us everyday no matter what. He doesn’t choose to love us when he feels like it or when we perform and do things for him. NO! His love is truly unconditional. It’s wide and deep and a never ending stream flowing out to us. I am truly amazed at all I’ve learned this month from God in Cambodia. God changed my life this month. And I’m so thankful for the depth of my relationship with Jesus and how he continues to give me new revelations and calls out to the depths of my soul. WOW!
Sorry if this is “too” much for all my non-believing followers. BUT the joy I have is too much to contain. I am so excited to be running this race I am on and I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else. Thank you God for all you have done and are doing in my life. I can’t wait to see what more you have in store for me.
We are traveling to Albania on March 1st, so please be praying for safe travels for my squad and I. Thank you.
Love you all.
-B
P.S.
Enjoy these fun photos:
One of our English classes!
Teaching the students in action!
Washing the children’s hair.
Washing the feet of the women in the village.
Walking on the main dirt road into the village.
Playing soccer in the village!
Our daily naps on our tuk-tuk drives to and from ministry.
