[Wrote this on day 1 of ministry from 1 week ago Monday, January 15]
Hello!
We are currently having our time between our two ministries that we’re partnered with and some of us are resting, getting supplies for crafts, or spending time with the time. I feel that I’ve had a lot go on this past couple days so I figured I’d share what life looked like in day 1 of ministry (Monday) and then a little about Sunday.
Starting off on Sunday morning, we had the opportunity to attend a local college aged ministry church that begins at 11 (go figure!) and it was awesome! All the students aged in range from 19-23 or even more or less. The name of the church is Every Nation Battambang and was planted by Philipino missionaries but I’m not sure when. Worship was led by the college students and then one of the pastor of the church’s friend’s spoke because the pastor was out of town. The message was in Camai but the worship was a couple English songs and then a Camai song. Most of the students had a good understanding of English. The message was on the Necessity of God’s word and was really good whereas the pastor had put up the main points and scriptures in English and Camai so we were able to get the gist of the message. After the message concluded, we broke into separated guys and girls’ small groups of about 5-7. The guys in my group were Chris, Sombat, the Pastor, Trut, Presta, and another man whose name I cannot recall. We discussed the message and areas we could be praying for each other and how we could use God’s Word in areas of our life that we needed Him and how His Word does help us in life. Trut is struggling when it comes to providing for himself and covering rent so he is working a job every day from 6AM to 9PM and shared about how God’s Word gives Him the strength to make it through the day when it’s hard and he isn’t getting sleep. It was a humbling testimony. And then Presta shared how he lives alone with his sister in an apartment and doesn’t know much of where his life direction is going and get’s fearful at time’s and he doesn’t know what to do. He went on to share how God’s word gives him the wisdom to make the right decisions and to reach out to the right people and how to love his family, who is still Buddhist, and share with them the love of Christ. Sombat says that God’s Word helps him to trust in God and show him that even though he doesn’t know how college is going to work out that God is bigger than the confusion of life and he knows that God has a perfect plan for him and he can trust God. Three very authentic new Cambodian friends with real life struggles encountering a relatable and personal God. Was very humbling and helped to encourage me in my walk. Me and Chris shared some of our heart too but it was their hearts and stories that touch my heart when I left that church. I came a stranger and left with new Cambodian friends. The other man was actually a visiting Buddhist older teen who came with his brother called himself an observer, a passenger, or someone who was interested and checking it out. Pray for him and my new friends and I know that God will use these relationships to bring us all closer to Him in ways we couldn’t imagine! The rest of the day was a day of rest for our squad.
Monday morning started off bright and early. Breakfast at 6:30 and departure for ministry at 7:30. This is our morning ministry that goes from 8:00 to 11:00. Chris, Jake, Maggie, and I are all working at an elite school for children by helping assist teachers and build relationships and allow God to exhibit Himself through us. A lot of this morning was getting to know our teachers personally who actually are from America. I believe God will have the opportunity to do something with these relationships as well as they will be the people staying here when we leave. We were able to have this opportunity through a Christian contact that we have in the school. There are 4 teachers we are partnered with. After already hearing some stories, it seems like God has big plans for this opportunity specifically. The teacher of my class’s name is Joe and He’s from Puerto Rico with a Cambodian wife. He also shared with me that he was a Jehovah’s Witness and that they have classes here which is why he moved here and not Thailand. Chris also mentioned that he had a lengthy discussion with the teacher of his class during break. They got to know each other pretty well and his teacher shared that he was Jewish. As for Maggie and Jake, I haven’t heard much but from the looks of it, we’re here for a reason! I’m excited to continue to love on these students and teachers and see what God does through love and how he gives us the opportunity to share about the love that He brings in the fullness of Grace and Truth through Jesus!! Stay tuned!!
Thanks for reading! Be praying for us as a team and for our new Cambodian friends and new relationships that are being formed. I’ll try to write some on the other ministries and how you can be praying for our squad as a whole if y’all are interested! If you ever have any questions, just reach out to me and I’d love to talk!
