Honestly Sunday was a hard day. One thing I love about my family is that we always make it a point to be together for big holidays and birthdays. Sadly, I am missing almost all the holidays and everyone’s birthdays this year, which is a first for me.
It was weird waking up and not getting ready with my family for church. It was strange not sitting with them in church and then taking our annual Easter family pictures together. It didn’t feel normal to FaceTime them after church and watch them walk into Uncle Julio’s and eat our annual Easter lunch without me.
Once the FaceTime call was over I had a moment of homesickness. I felt alone and like I was missing out. One thing that is hard about this journey and also very beautiful, is that you get to meet so many people from each country and extend your family! I have met so many amazing people the past 3 months that I get to call my family. That’s the beauty of the race! But what they don’t tell you is that when you go from country to country you will leave a small piece of your heart there with the people you fall in love with. I am going to miss Cambodia so much!!
This month has been such a sweet month. The Lord knew just what He was doing when He placed Beloved Daughters with 5P Church in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. We have gotten to live in close community with the college students there at the church. We have gotten to laugh together, cook together, hear their stories, have movie nights, teach English, play soccer together, worship and study the Bible together. It has been a true blessing and privilege to get to know everyone at 5P church. We have made sweet friendships that will last a life time and I am definitely not looking forward to leaving this Saturday 🙁
This past Sunday I did have a couple of moments of homesickness, but my mood and perspective quickly shifted when the worship team started to play the song Set a fire. God spoke to me through the simple lyrics of “No place I would rather be.” God reminded me that I am right where He wants me to be. Once those lyrics really soaked into my spirit, I realized He was right! There is no place I would rather be than right now here IN CAMBODIA singing praises to the King of Kings who conquered death and the grave!!! Wow how cool is that?!
I got to praise the Almighty God among believers of a different tongue and it was amazing! I could see God beaming in Heaven! It is so cool to worship among fellow believers from different nations, because we are all worshiping the same God but it all sounds so different and beautiful. I find true joy and pleasure in just closing my eyes while worshiping and picturing every tribe and tongue singing and proclaiming Gods name in heaven and on earth!
We also got to lead a couple of Easter games and activities. The students got to participate in an egg relay race and then another game where you put an egg in your sock and you try and stomp on other peoples egg, while making sure that your egg is safe. It was so fun to watch them all laugh and enjoy the games. After that we let the kids decorate eggs and then had an Easter lunch together as a church body. It was so lovely!
So yes, Easter definitely looked different this year. But I loved every second of it! It’s not about what food you eat, where you are on a map or who you are with; it is about rejoicing and giving praise to the one true God. The God that sent His one and only beloved Son to die on the cross for our sins so WE could experience His love and live with Him in heaven for eternity!! I don’t know about you but I am extremely grateful for the best gift in the world – the gift of eternal life with Jesus! I hope everyone had a fantastic Easter!
You are loved,
Hannah
