In a wild, crazy, unbelievable, unreal turn of events, I had the opportunity to travel to Cambodia this past weekend!!! I want to use a hundred exclamation points to show you all just how AMAZING this is! It’s literally all by and through Him too! Just the fact that I’m leading a team in Asia which allowed me to have the opportunity to go to Cambodia this week is from Him.
When I was originally asked to team lead this year, I was most likely going to be leading for a squad that was going to Swaziland, Africa, for their first three months. The Lord rearranged those plans a bit, and I ended up on a new squad with different people that were going to Thailand and Malaysia. I honestly loved the months I’ve spent in Asia, so I was pumped about getting to head back to this part of the world. I love when He changes my plans! Usually! It’s been really sweet this time for sure!
While I was in Thailand about a month and a half ago, my ministry host from Cambodia, Vuthy, and I were talking about how close we were on the map, and then the dream of the lifetime hit me: what if I went to Cambodia to see him and his family? So I asked and prayed and hoped and researched and really thought it wasn’t going to happen. When I heard that my plans had been approved and I could go I was shocked (Clarissa can testify about the many tears of joy and also disbelief). So a lot of planning and PRAISING THE LORD later, my fellow team leaders Liz and Clariss and I headed out to Cambodia for a short little visit to some of my favorite people in the world.
My team spent 2 months in Kampot, Cambodia during our second and third month on the race. This was my favorite place on my race and also filled with some of my dearest and closest relationships. These months are by far full of my most fond and hilarious memories with my team and on the race. We lived in a small village and worked alongside an incredible ministry host named Vuthy. We got to know the community and families nearby, and I learned so much from the way they loved us with extravagant generosity and kindness. While we were here, our team also became close to Vuthy and his family. We got to know and love them, and were ridiculously loved by them in return. Vuthy and his wife are some of the most kind, generous, humble, and faithful people I’ve known. The relationship I formed with them over a year ago on my race was so impactful to me. I learned what a life of ministry really looks like through them.
When we said our goodbyes about a year ago to Vuthy and the village, I knew I would love to come back someday, but I never dreamed that I would actually have that opportunity.
BUT I DID!
This past weekend I got to spend two full days reconnecting with some of my dearest friends from my race. I got the chance to encourage them and share just how much their lives and ministry impacted my life, my teams’ lives, and even lives of people back in America who we had told their stories to. I got to see some of the students that I taught every day. I got the chance to preach at the church my team preached at every week, and share with the community how their generosity and hospitality had impacted my life. They also poured into me with their wisdom and insight and knowledge. The Lord reminded me so much of the work He did in me during my months here, and the fruit and change He’s brought since. It’s crazy to compare the differences I see in myself from the two months I spent in Kampot one year ago, and now. And honestly, I also just got to have fun with some of the coolest people I’ve ever known! We laughed a lot, ate great food, remembered hard and good times, and talked about all He’s done since we were together.
Vuthy and his family remain some of my favorite people on this planet. And the Lord as always blows me away with His goodness and kindness to bring me back to places and people like this. Remembering all over again how incredible He is. How much He cares about me. How blessed I am to live this life and to have had the experiences and opportunities I’ve had. Really thankful for friendships with people all over the world. Really thankful for a Father who ties us all together. And OVERWHELMED by the fact that I was in Cambodia this past weekend.
