Valentine’s Day, a national holiday to represent love. A day I spent falling in love with an AIDS patient in her final days. A woman who’s smile lit up the room, but who’s body was whithering away on the bed she lay. I held her hand, smiled and prayed over her. I pet her hand and told her how much Jesus loved her and how much He wanted to comfort her. I found myself wanting to curl up on her bed along side her and just hold her until she felt warmth and comfort. I knew that was not an option so instead I just held her hand. We offered her a meal and left with a heavy feeling on our hearts. In this moment I was able to be the answer to someone prayer, in this moment I was able to love on a woman who was lonely, pray to a God of Hope and encounter a moment of joy. In this moment I was able to see the open door, I walked through it in obediance and in spirit and was able to get the most of out it. I was loved also!
On this same day, Cole and many of my other team members handed out meals to the disabled, as well as to children on the street. They enjoyed working more alongside the soup kitchen, meeting locals that came to eat almost daily. Here they were able to love on our new friends, and the people who came with an open hand and big smile.This gave us all more insight into the streets of Cambodia and into the lives of the people who live here.
Once together again, and meals dispersed we gathered the remaining bags of rice and soup and headed to the Children’s hospital where women and their kids waited outside. Some under tarps, others just propped up again the brick wall. There were hundreds of people to choose from with only a few bags of food from each of us to hand out. The task was daunting as we scanned the faces and tried to find the biggest needs. All that received it were grateful. We smiled and left, anticipating returning again, next time with crafts, smiles and love.
