Hey Everyone!
My team and I have just finished our second month here in Cambodia. We are located in a city called Kampong Cham located right on the Mekong River. There is so much to praise and thank the Lord for from this time. This past month specifically has been very rewarding but not without many trials and challenges. As we approach our final month here God has truly shown us what having a “mindset of abundance” looks like.
Our living conditions are like nothing I have lived through before. We live in a church/house with a family of five (So 11 of us total). As far as sleeping goes, we made it through the first week sleeping in hammocks however quickly moved to sleeping on the floor under a bug net. I have begun to find myself getting cold whenever it gets below 90 degrees because here in Cambodia, every day is at least 100+ degrees. Also did I mention we do not have any sort of air conditioning?
An average day in my life right now looks something like this….
7:00 – Wake up and read my book/bible while eating my bowl of generic oatmeal and coffee.
9:00 – our team spend about an hour every morning in worship just to allow our hearts to enter the day in a humble place (usually me playing guitar and everyone singing).
12:00 – head into town either by bike or by tuk tuk (a cart on the back of a motorcycle) for some lunch and community
2:30 – First English class of the day taught by my teammates Lilly and Brandon
3:00 – Boulders. We move lots and lots of large boulders with the hope of making a staircase for the family at the church.
4:00 – Second English Class of the day taught by my teammates Emily and Mallory
5:15 – Final English class of the day taught my Nathan and Me
Most free time throughout our days is either spent playing cards, reading, working out, or just simply sweating.
Teaching English has become one of my favorite ministries of the race. Nathan and my class is full of about thirteen 10-12 year olds. They are so full of life and energy and are so easy to love. We began by teaching them body parts, numbers, and articles of clothing but now we have made it all of the way to opposites, sentences, and family trees. Nate and I have developed such passionate hearts for them and have created such great relationships with them.
Our ministry isn’t necessarily time consuming and only a few hours a day at most. However, this has opened up so many opportunities to get to build relationships with the community as well as dive into one-on-one relationships with teammates. It is so evident that the Lord is here working in ways we don’t know and can’t see. This team that I am on is the perfect group of people that I need to end the race well and to really solidify my identity in the Lord. I am so excited to have another month here.
Although the Lord is so faithful and evident here, it is so hard to be content. The living conditions create a unique experience and a phenomenal perspective of life but they really have begun to wear me down. I get very limited sleep and the heat is draining. So any prayers for a continued endurance and joy here would be appreciated so much.
As I enter my final month of the World Race, I can’t help but think about coming home. It is such a surreal feeling, it seems like only yesterday that I got accepted and write my first blog last April. I am beyond excited to get home but so nervous at the same time. I’ll talk about this more in my final blog next month!
I cannot thank each of you reading this for following me throughout my time on the race and am truly thankful for all of you!! And as always, please let me know how I can be praying for you all!!!
For photographs of my journey, please friend me on Facebook and check out my World Race Album!!!
Thank you and God Bless!
– Jack
