During my month in Cambodia, I made a new friend.
One whom I think of often, and one whom I pray for whenever her face pops into my mind.
She is a stunning woman, and I miss the sweet mystery of her smile.
This stunning friend of mine ran the best produce stand in the evening market of the small fishing village we lived in during the month of January.
She hooked me up every night with what I would like to think were free green onions. And every time I asked her for one red chili pepper, she would consistently throw in a second chili and ramble on in what I suspected was a good-natured lecture about how westerners need more spice in their food.
Sometimes I pointed to things quizzically and she nonchalantly pushed them into my mouth without the slightest hesitation. The first time she did it, I was caught incredibly off guard, but I came to learn to expect it.
Sometimes the mystery ingredients were delicious and sometimes they were super bitter, in which case she would just throw her head back and start laughing at the trick she played on me.
One day, she ran up to greet me in the middle of the street with a tight hug. And when I told her “I love you” with deep conviction, she said it back to me with just as much conviction, even though she spoke no English and was only repeating what I said to her.
Still, the sentiment rang true.
What she taught me that month, was that I never had to speak Khmer, and she never had to speak English, for both of us to know that true friendship can be made anywhere in the world and under any circumstances.
I loved meeting and befriending this sweet woman so very much.
I will cherish the memories we made together, haggling and laughing over vegetables and sharing quick hugs in the market place every day during my month in Cambodia.
I’m so thankful for the Race and how it’s brought me the most glorious connections all over the world.
God is truly awesome.
