Its hard to grasp the concept that a month has already passed. The days seem to last forever but the weeks fly by. I consider myself a student because month one was a lot of learning. Learning how to live with 50+ people, learning cultural do’s and don’ts, learning my team dynamic, learning how to teach English to kids of all different skill levels, learning to lean on God instead of my usual comforts I have at home, learning what it means to be still. I could probably keep writing a list of things that my whole squad has been learning this month but lets get to the important part of what the Lord has been teaching me through it all.
This past week my whole squad went to Siem Reap for a 5 day debrief. We took time to process all that happened the first month, catch up on some rest and spend time together before we separate. (Some teams are moving to different parts of Cambodia) This debrief was much needed. I sat down with the Lord to process and boy did he have some things to tell me. I am learning even more than I thought. It can be so easy to get into a routine and just go through the motions. But this isn’t a mission trip, it’s training for how I want to live the rest of my life. I want to live in step with God, be full of His spirit and reflect His heart.
But how can I reflect Jesus if I don’t know Him? This has urged me to dig deeper. I’m hungry to know more about the man who walked on the same earth we do. The Lord says “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3 So I have been seeking the Almighty King, I have been asking Him questions, getting to know His personality, seeing Him in other people and their actions and taking time to be still with Him.
That’s what these 9 months are about. I get to step away from all familiarity and focus solely on the one who created me. It isn’t about traveling, gaining some new friends or even creating world peace. To me, its about learning. Learning about God, myself and how to best love others. When learning about who God is, you can’t help but love on other people. The more you become like Jesus, the more you will humbly love others. That’s why I’m here, to be the hands and feet of Jesus, to serve Him out of love, to reach the unreached and tell them about the hope that lives inside of me.
One of my favorite things God has been teaching me is about abundance. He has so much more for you than you could ever imagine. It doesn’t just stop after you accept God into your heart. He longs to have a deeper relationship with you. He is pursuing you right now, where you’re at, you just have to slow down long enough to realize it.
He is teaching me about real servant-hearted humility, that He is good all the time and what that truly means. He is teaching me that I am worth being pursued.My students are teaching me about perseverance, child-like faith and JOY. God is also teaching me that leaving my circle of comfortability is where I will find the most growth. Each of these subjects have so much weight and importance that they probably deserve their own blog. I will be working on those, but feel free to reach out if you have any questions!
Three teams, including mine, are staying in Battambang Cambodia for the remaining two months that we live here. My ministry has changed a little for this month. I am now volunteering with a local hospital in the mornings. We play games with the patients, caregivers and staff. Sparking up conversations with them and if they allow, pray over them. We will also be making homemade Christmas cards which will be sold to finance the hospital. I will still be teaching 2 English classes in the afternoon! The change of pace is refreshing and being able to continue relationships with my students is incredible. I am really excited for all the Lord is going to continue to do.
