January was an amazing month and it flew by!! I still have a hard time believing that it’s 2015! I can’t think of a better country than Cambodia to start the year off with though!!
Border crossing
New Team
So this past month team changes happened. This was a part of the race that I always knew was an option but that I was just choosing not to think about. But it happened at the beginning of January and I was put on a completely new team. I went from a team of 3 girls and 2 guys, to 7 completely new girls. So it was a big change for me but it was so good! Everything about this new team is completely different from my last team, not better or worse just different.
Our team riding 7 deep in a tuk tuk!!
I do absolutely love the dynamic of an all girls team though, the conversations are great and my wardrobe just increased about 6 times which when you’re traveling for 11 months is so refreshing. I love how natural this new team flows and even though I was a bit nervous essentially starting over with new people, it has surpassed any of my expectations and honestly I couldn’t have imagined going to Cambodia without any of them. If you haven’t already done it, check out all of my new teammates, each one of them is so special and means so much to me, their pictures and links to their blogs are on the left side of the screen!! Flock Seven Deep represent!!
Our team and translators after a worship and praise session on the top of a mountain
beside a Buddhist Temple
New Ministry:
Our team this month was in a children’s home! I like to think that the Lord was strategic with this placement!! Months 5 thru 8 are known as some of the most difficult on the race because you are so far removed from home yet you still have so many months to go. So to have one of the ministry types that I was most looking forward to happen for the first time month 5 was such a blessing!
The children’s home that we lived in all month.
Parts of me were starting to feel homesick this past month, but when I was around the kids that all seemed to disappear and I’d never felt like I was more at home. We lived at the children’s home with 25 children ranging in ages from 2 to 15. They all had different personalities and I loved each one so much!! Every morning at 6 am we had a devotional with a Bible story and some sort of song and dance. Then we would help the children with chores around the home, watering the garden, sweeping, mopping, etc.
This is David, one of my favorite little buddies, and he gives the best kisses!
This is Timothy, another one of my favorites, his smile is contagious.
Around 9, our team would load up into tuk tuks and head to local villages anywhere from 10 km to 30 km away. There we would play games, share Bible stories, sing, practice simple English, and pray for people, specifically children. Most villages would even let the children out from school to come and meet us. We always took one translator with us, but most of what we did was communicated without words. The love of God was shared through hugs and kisses and prayers and words of affirmation and truth that they may never understand but that doesn’t make it less true. I have hope for every child we met, some of them I know their names some I don’t but the Father knows and loves them so much, and I can only hope that through singing Waves of Mercy, acting out stories like the Good Samaritan or just cuddling with them they got a small glimpse of that love. Because I know that I came away a different person because of it after every village!
Some of the children that we met in the villages.
Typical houses in the villages.
Tuesday through Friday this month we also got to teach English. For me this was the first time in my life doing that. It was so rewarding. I taught a class of 15 and 16 year olds and it was a blast. Some days were hard when I would be trying to teach them when to use some vs. any and they would just say “Teacher, teacher game?”. You don’t realize how little you know of the English language until you try and explain something that you just naturally say without having to think of the rules why. But it is cool to see how faithful the Lord is when you step out of your comfort zone and do something you’ve never done, yet He provides.
My English class loved taking selfies, note that our classroom is outside!
One day while we were visiting the older children’s home I even got to teach a math lesson. So far that has probably been one of my favorite days on the race. I starting in the girls room, we were writing algebra problems on the tile walls with dry erase markers then we had to move outside because so many people were interested and wanted to learn. Next thing I know, 15 girls and boys are watching and trying to help factor this problem. I loved being able to use numbers to communicate when we didn’t speak the same language. It was also cool to see how the Lord allowed me to use something that I have a real passion for while on the race!! Who would have thought that I would teach an impromptu math lesson in the middle of Cambodia, talk about a dream come true though!!
Teaching math, this is after we had to move outside!!
Our team even got the opportunity to see some Cambodian culture. First we went to Ankgor Wat (which means “Temple City”), one of the Ancient Wonders of the World and one of the largest religious monuments in the world. The architecture, stone work, and pure size where amazing, but there was a heaviness all around. It was constructed in the 12th century, so for hundreds of years false gods have been worshipped here. We also went to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, an equally heavy place just for a different reason. Coming into Cambodia I had no idea of the genocide that happened less than 50 years ago. It was hard walking around and hearing what had happened to so many people and families especially after falling in love with so many Cambodians. Both places were difficult to walk around in at times, but I’m so thankful for being able to experience them!
Pictures of Angkor Wat temples.
Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum in Phnom Penh.
On a lighter note, I ate a tarantula! When in Cambodia, do as the Cambodians…well it’s more like when in Cambodia, do as the tourists because none of the Cambodians that we met ate tarantulas, but it was an culinary adventure that I couldn’t pass up!!
So overall this month was filled with new challenges, new teams and new experiences: another month that I will never forgot!!
