Our first month, January, was an all squad month, mostly due to our training taking most of the month. Even when we split into teams (of 5-6), we still lived in the same hostel as the rest of the squad (23 with 2 squad leaders). This month all of the teams are scattered throughout Cambodia, mine being the only team from our squad in Siem Reap.
My team’s first night in Cambodia we found out that our team would be split further, and work from two separate ministry sites. We were surprised about this, but found comfort in knowing that we would be still sleeping at the same site, still seeing each other daily. The next night we found out that we would actually be completely split, and living at different ministry sites, which ended up being about a 15 minute tuk-tuk ride apart. We were shocked. While we were all excited for our upcoming ministry, I know I couldn’t shake the disappointment at not getting to work through what the month was to bring with my whole team.
Three of my teammates, Sarah, Loren, and Kristen are working at a Bible college with 13 students aged 18-24. They have a regimented schedule, starting early, and ending late. They teach English, lead chapel, as well as other portions of the day.
Alysse and I, the remaining 2 of our small team are at the other ministry site with one of our squad leaders, Emily Rae. We are working to renovate a guesthouse that AIM recently acquired. Our schedule has looked different day to day, as it’s often dictated by the number of guests we have. Some days include working through normal day-to-day hotel operations, such as reception, inventory, cleaning rooms, laundry, and serving meals. Other days we work on one deep clean project throughout the day. The days are long, and require patience and flexibility, but the daily progress is visible and satisfying. The struggle with these two ministries is neither schedule allows for much team time.
Back in training camp, we were given a warning. Throughout the years, AIM has learned that the teams that weren’t intentional about quality team time often face struggles. Several times throughout training camp we were told to “fight for team time” and make it priority.
At the end of training camp, when we were split into our teams, they gave us the evening to go out and spend the evening together and make a memory. We started the night up on the roof in prayer. As I waited my turn, I was silent in listening prayer, and just kept hearing the word unity over and over. Excited for the symbolism that our team of 5 received a 5 letter word, I included this in my prayer, and spoke this over my team.
Never would I have imagined that just a few weeks later we would be forced into a situation where we truly have to fight for team time. We have to plan it in advance, figure out what the budget allows, arrange tuk tuk rides, and cut it short to abide by host curfews. Our team times often feel rushed and never long enough.
During a recent Bible study, Emily Rae brought up the word unity again, and how interesting it is that it was spoken over our team right before we were split up. She said “God is teaching you all unity through division.”
I pray that we will value our team time that much more, when we’re finally be back together next month because we’ve had to fight for it so much this month. I am in no way ready for February to end as I can’t bare the thought of leaving my Khmer friends behind, but I’m anxious to see what Vietnam holds, and so excited to experience it with my WHOLE team.
