Hello from the rice paddies of Cambodia!
If you have a moment, pause with me briefly to envision deep green rice paddies stretching out toward the horizon occasionally cut through by a red dirt road, tall palm trees interspersed throughout the fields, and a small pond in the foreground covered with lily pads and bright pink lotus flowers. Lastly, change the lighting to sunset with a hint of orange. This was my view last night, just add a few pond bathers and launderers.
We relaxed briefly before dinner and after English class; Sarah swam while Rachel, Kaysea, and I washed our feet. As we basked in the glory of the beauty all around, a middle aged Cambodian woman walked up and stood behind us; she had deep smile lines, beautiful sparkling brown eyes, and perched a top her head was a floppy brimmed hat. She stood there a moment before Rachel began trying to converse with her. It soon became apparent that there was no commonality in language. After a moment of silence Rachel struck upon the brilliant idea to pullout our small repertoire of Khmer words; she turned to Sarah and asked what cow was in Khmer. Armed with this knowledge, she then pointed at a cow on the road and said cow in Khmer, to our delight the woman’s face lit up. We exchanged a few more words in this manner and said goodbye. As we walked away Sarah said this woman had come over to the pond the night before while she was there.
A chance encounter? I don’t think so. The Lord said to be faithful in the small things. We are to love the one in front of us. In the times we are not sure what to say or do, just love. It needs no translation.
Well, that was a bonus, now for the happenings!
This month my team and I have been in a little village of approximately ninety families about an hour and a half from Phnom Penh. We are working with a dear Christian man and his family, teaching English, offering one-on-ones for English practice, and facilitating a worship time three nights a week. We have also helped mix pig feed, assisted with plastic chair repair, and constructed a partial wall on one side of the covering used to house English classes. This month the Lord has taught us so much about welcoming the kingdom of heaven on earth. It brings peace, joy, healing, unity, strength, and sweet sleep. It casts out fear, worry, anxiety, deception, every plan of the enemy. Welcoming the Holy Spirit and proclaiming Jesus as Lord brings victory. Sometimes we make things harder than they need to be. Emmanuel, God with us, He is here. He will never leave us or forsake us. I choose to live like the God of the Universe walks by my side, because He does. He is here.
