I’ve heard several of my
teammates say that this month seems to be more of typical World Race
month. I would have to agree with
them. I’m not exactly sure why
it’s so different than the first three months. It might be the lack of English speaking Cambodians, the smoldering
heat, or the diarrhea? Fortunately
I haven’t messed with the last one.
Anyway enough about bowel movements…
New Zealand and Australia
are English-speaking countries for those of you who didn’t know. Even in the Philippines, most people
could at least understand English if they couldn’t speak it. In Cambodia the majority of our
communication with the people here is done with a translator. As far as the heat goes, I knew it
would get here sooner or later.
For those of you who don’t know me very well, I’m a natural
sweater. So when we arrived in
Cambodia it felt like I had been tossed in an oven or maybe a boiling pot of
water! If you haven’t figured out
where I’m going with all this, let me help you out. I wasn’t very happy when we got settled in here in Cambodia,
and to be completely honest, this still isn’t my favorite place in the
world. I’m ok with that though.
working with a church/school, and our responsibilities were going to be leading
Bible studies with the staff and teaching English classes. It really doesn’t sound that bad, but I
knew I was going to be challenged and might be a little uncomfortable. You
don’t want to be challenged or uncomfortable, you might experience a little
growth if you let you guard down.
ministry was going to be this month I wasn’t really excited about that
either. Isn’t it crazy how quickly
we can turn into a spiritual grouch?
Wow! It only took a couple days
of ministry before God said, “Drew are you ready to quit whining. It’s not all about you.” Then of course I was thought to myself,
“Oh you’re right God. You haven’t
reminded me of that in a few days so I guess I must have forgotten.” The truth is we all better be
uncomfortable about something. If
you’re comfortable with life and everything is easy then something is
wrong. So let me encourage you…
When was the last time you
felt uncomfortable? When was the
last time that God ask you to do something that wasn’t easy, or maybe something
that you don’t prefer doing? I
would venture to say that even as some of you are reading this that you are
trying not to think of those things
God is bring to your mind. Don’t
keep fighting those convictions.
Let them rise from deep inside.
Then, well, do something about them.
I hope this scripture
brings you comfort and encouragement the same way it has for me.
“Therefore,
since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained
access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and
we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More
than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering
produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and
character produces hope, and hope does not put us to
shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through
the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”
