Sunday morning, my team and I attended the local church service and were asked to sing a song for the congregation. Ill-prepared for this duty, we all agreed on Amazing Grace, which at the time sounded like a great idea. However, one minor detail we failed to realize prior to performing is that when you sing Amazing Grace in front of a group of people who do not speak English, it’s a very sad sounding song… So the seven of us marched up stage unaware of how unmusically inclined we really were and began to sing. All I could hear was my dry throat crack as I tried to squeak out words with the voice I had lost somewhere along the past 60 hours of travel. I looked to my right and to my left and saw my team mates force a smile at our idea of harmonizing which consisted of tone deaf people singing at all different pitches. God has gifted many people with the voice of angels, we are not those people.
But even though it was the worst rendition of Amazing Grace of all time, I could not help but be thankful for that opportunity. As we stood in front of everyone and sang, their faces had big smiles, a woman pulled out her camera to film us, and even the children stopped running around to watch and listen. Afterward they clapped, but not because they felt they needed to, they clapped with genuine applause. It was in that moment that I realized I had a misconception of worship and ministry. I had this idea that it had to be perfectly prepared and organized. That only people with good voices could lead worship, and that ministry was something that was organized the night before. But my first experience on the World Race completely demolished that misconception.
The truth is, the purpose of worship is to praise our Lord and Savior. We are not called to have beautiful voices, or organize perfect sermons, we are called to edify God. So whether we stand up there shouting at all different pitches with raspy witch voices, or if we are professional singers with voices so beautiful even the angels stop and awe at the sound, all worship is beautiful because it is our inward expression of thanks to our sovereign God who is a GOOD GOOD FATHER. Seeing the Cambodian people smile at our performance of the song made me realize that the trivial things did not matter. All that mattered was our shared love for Jesus. And as we joined them in their worship while they sang songs we did not understand, I found myself lost in the moment overwhelmed with the presence of the Holy Spirit. It was a beautiful reminder that regardless of the cultural barriers we may face, we can come together as brothers and sisters in Christ and worship Him.
This month we are serving the Tekdeysovanphum Organization(TDSP) located in Sereisophoan Town in the Banteay Meanchey province near the Thailand border. Our host’s name is Dara, and he has kindly welcomed us into his living area for the month. Ministry this month includes teaching English to children, teaching hygiene to children, re-planting trees (This is something Dara is very passionate about due to the large amount of deforestation taking place in Cambodia), and speaking with local church members. Thank you all for your continued support and prayers! God is doing BIG things here in Cambodia. I will continue to keep you updated on ministry for this month.
Much love,
Jac Jac
