It is the strange thing about spending a month in a country partnering with a ministry. Most short-term trips are about a week and you get to know the people a bit, but then you are headed for home. Being in Czech for years it was a different experience as I was trying to make it home. But, each month we have the opportunity to go a bit deeper than we would in a normal mission experience.
This month has been no different. We have lived in close proximity with the women we have worked with. We have laughed together. I have made hospital visits with someone from the women’s home as well as with someone from my own team. We eat the same food, bathe in the same water, and try to endure the same heat. In short, it is a bit like gaining an extra extended family each month.
In several countries, I have had people ask me to return to be a part of the ministry or to continue to serve in some capacity. In Serbia, they asked if I would come back and help coach basketball or do a camp or clinic. Romania we were challenged as a group to pray about returning long-term to reach the least reached county in Romania. Nepal, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and Thailand tugged at my heart as I saw needs or roles I could fill. But, I haven’t felt God’s call to return to any of these places in any more than a short-term capacity. I wouldn’t mind going back, but I don’t see it is a place I could see being long-term.
This month we are in Cambodia. I am not sure I can picture myself here either. I love what I get to do in America (teaching and coaching). But, the director here is named Koy. He speaks with passion and intensity about what he is doing and his vision for Teen Challenge Cambodia that inspires.
Koy, his wife Rainey and their beautiful family
Last week we went to his house for dinner and on the ride over he told me that he is praying that I will return to Cambodia to be his right-hand person. We talked about it and it was incredibly flattering. In many ways, I could see myself really enjoying being a part of the ministry here. But, I did not at that point feel like it was a direction I would pursue.
Yesterday, we ran into Koy again as he stopped by for the Sunday afternoon kids program. As they were leaving, it wasn’t clear whether we would see them again prior to departing Tuesday morning. He reiterated his desire for me to join him here in Cambodia and how he and his wife Rainy were praying that I would decide to return. He talked for at least 5 minutes about his desire for me to come be a sister to him. I could live with their family and be like an aunt to his children and a partner in ministry. This morning, I received another email reiterating the invitation. He thinks I have the right DNA for teen challenge. I am convinced, I left plenty of my dna at Teen Challenge as I sweated all over the land during our hoeing adventures.
It is humbling to have someone desire that I join their family and partner in their dreams for Teen Challenge. All I could say was that I would pray and ask God to show me what He wants. That is always a bit scary as I am really excited to be back in the United States and to be back teaching and coaching.
We have spent a lot of time over the last few months talking about praying scary prayers. It started with being challenged in Crazy Love to not pray for safety, but to pray that God would do whatever he needed to do to bring me/ us closer to Him. That was followed a few days later by Becca getting malaria. Coincidence, I think not. It is always scary to pray these types of prayers because I firmly believe God’s plan is best, but it often does not fit with my plans or have much to do with my comfort.
Do I want to live in a 3rd world country in the future? Not really. Do I want to live 12 time zones away from my family? Absolutely not! But I will choose today to pray a scary prayer, "God if this is your will, show me and You better change my heart while you are at it if Your will includes living in Cambodia?"
