Communal Living
Community before the race..Well in the past a big part of my life was my small group I would see my small group 2-3 times a week for 10 years- it’s crazy for me to think about this because it’s just something I’m so used to- my home church watermark community church really blesses the body by placing members in groups. in my small group I was the only one who was my school and area all the other 20+ girls went to the all went to Trinity Christian academy in lived like 15 min away from me. From the beginning I got the great opportunity to have Amanda who has been the only leader since the beginning. We were like sister from the beginning as time goes on it’s so fun to see the different life changes when I first met Amanda she was dating to married as I was her flower girl, to her now having three children and I get to babysit to now I’m with a new community
I’m Kampong Thom, Cambodia let me tell you I thought it would be easy, but it’s not. This next 2 months as a team we are living completely on our own with 10 of us including our team leader Abigail and squad leader Ashley. Daily community can be fun- but it has its challenges. As a community all the members of my team come from different states, have different points of views, see the lord differently, you think we agree all the time but actually we don’t always see eye to eye. So far on the race I have seen a lot of growth and god has taught me a lot about community. Daily we can choose to call out the greatness in each other- but it’s not always going to be the best- and we will have to point out failures and give constructive feedback but it’s all because of love
As I think about community there are certain things I am learning and what to strive for.
1. As a team we want to serve each other persistently (2 Thessalonians 2:7-9)
Week-in and week-out, we want to work on know each other on a more deep and personal level we will share our hearts and lives, praying for one another, asking questions, and bearing each other’s burdens. We want persistently learn about one. And when we do learn we will go through those good and bad times where we will continue to love and serve one another meeting each other’s needs, encouraging growth, and helping one another thrive.
2. Always pray about everything (Philippians 4:6 &7)
In our times prayer will be a very regular thing. We will pray in all circumstances and come to the lord for everything. prayer — always adoring, always confessing, always thanking, always asking.
Define and elaborate
3. Meet god through his word faithfully and expectantly (2 Peter 1: 3-4)
daily we need to first wake up and start reading. As we dive into the word of god we can be faithful to his word by reading through scriptures with faith- believe and trusting in his faithfulness as he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness, with expectancy it’s sounds like it is we except after reading the scriptures that we will see god in a different way and that he can change and will change us.
4. Pursing disciples of Jesus in the city (Matthew 28: 19-20)
As our mission and goal is to go and make disciple of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father, son, and Holy Spirit and teaching all that I have commanded you even to the very end of the age.
God has called us to share his good news to the people here- as we are gods light admist the dark world we can share
5. We need to be people of confidence (Romans 8:1)
As there is so much in the importance of confidence in Jesus he died for us and did so much we don’t deserve this but we have been saved and can have confidence in knowing jesus gave us grace and he gives us that confidence once we believe in him.
6. Joy can be present in all circumstances (Galatians 5:1)
As Jesus is always joyful he calls us to consider all joy in everything not sometimes but allays god calls us to speak and live out of joy, it seems hard to think we can not complain and have joy always but Jesus can do it. In this team we need to have joy and in those times of being sober and sad we need to bring our troubles and weakness to each-other so we can forgive as Christ has already forgave us.
I know god has chosen for me to be living in Kampong Thom with such a great community of girls- god has chosen these people for a reason and I am excited to see what he has to show me and teach me through this community.
thx you Elle:)
