It’s been almost 3 weeks since I got on a plane with the intention of never coming back the same. Cambodia wasn’t originally in the plan, but it was always in God’s design. Now that I’m here, in Siem Reap, I couldn’t imagine starting my race anywhere else. We were definitely meant to come here. This place has become home to me. Funny how home can change without your knowledge or consent. Home is when you’re with people you feel loved by and love in return. Overflow Guesthouse has become just that. I’m surrounded by some pretty awesome teammates and ministry hosts who pour wisdom into us everyday. The love is thick in the air here, a true representation of God’s overflowing love for us.
Ministry looks like many things; painting, planting, parties, or pursuing relationships with the locals. We have a lot of free time, so we play with kids, eat ice cream (like whole bunch), or go to the market. I know we don’t always use our free time well, but we’re learning. We’re learning to enjoy the present, press in, pour out, and love the slow moments just as much as the exciting ones. Most nights we go out to talk to women in the bars. We talk and pray with them. Mostly, we love them. We threw a ladies retreat this past Saturday where we just got to serve women who are used to serving others. We got to love on the women who work in the kitchen of the guesthouse and two women we meet during night ministry. We did arts and crafts, painted their nails, washed their feet, and did their hair. These women are beautiful, inside and out, but if you tell them that, they’ll deny it. Joell, one of my teammates, told a bit of her testimony about Christ’s love. It was a good day. I don’t know how much got through the language barrier, but God was working.
I feel the need to tell the craziest story that’s happened so far, except I don’t have any exciting stories to tell. I haven’t seen anyone come to Christ. I haven’t healed anyone. Some nights have been very discouraging and seem unfruitful. I haven’t been a part of a harvest, even though scripture says it’s plentiful.
What I have seen is the hospitality of Cambodians, even when they have nothing to give. I have had a conversation without speaking the same language. I have played with kids, I have smiled until my cheeks hurt. I have even learned a little khmer.
God keeps speaking truth and I keep rushing to take notes. He tells me about hope only found in Jesus and His plan for Cambodia. He says change is happening, His love is being poured out on Cambodia and the people will learn His name.
We are breaking ground in Cambodia
We can’t always see the change we bring as Christians. But everywhere we go, we bring light. After all, there is no harvest without hard work. You reap what you sow. Well, what if you reap what some else has sown or toil in the soil day after day to prepare the harvest for some else to gather? It doesn’t matter what part of the process God uses you for, all the glory goes to Him anyway. There’s a part of all of.us that want to be the one to gather the harvest. Let that desire go… and instead be willing to work the soil, plant the seeds, and water. We reap only what we sow.
So we’ll work the field, preparing it for a harvest
Knowing we are breaking ground
Knowing we are difference makers
Knowing we are planting seeds in a garden we may never get to see
