Pastor Youee
Pastor Youmong
Future missionary to China, Youtry
The doubter turned believer, Youian
The mother and father, Lim and Krong
Children cannot teach parents. This is a common practice around the world. But what if children hold a Truth that changes lives?
I am living in a house on stilts here in the Province of Kampongcham in Cambodia. The houses are all on stilts in case of flooding. The roads are so dusty, I can see the dirt in my hair when I arrive back home from my trip to Umong's parents for the English classes I teach.
Here I wake up when the roosters tell me to which is about 5:30 am. To my delight, the rest of my team wakes up shortly after. It's nice to not be the only morning person for a change. Of course they don't have an option, but still I love it. Here in Cambodia it's very common to take 3 showers during the day. I fully understand this concept. The heat is sometimes unbearable. Youtry makes me laugh when he tells me how cold he is since it is "winter" here right now. And then he bundles up in his jet black hoody and gloves for our trip to his parent's home. I'll never understand that. In fact it almost pains me to watch him put on all that gear.
Day in and day out I get to relive my life as a teacher that I once lived. It feels a bit different in my little village school house outside and with my students who don't fully understand my English. We do a Bible verse and pray over the lesson, do some vocabulary and a grammar lesson. I create very simple worksheets with my teammate, Kari since our supplies are quite limited. But I love being resourceful. We even celebrated all of the American holidays including my birthday. I never thought it would be so hard to find cake in this village, but we eventually found some quarter-sized "Little Debbie" type cakes in wrappers. It worked well enough I suppose to sing happy birthday to Jesus.
So this simple life of teaching a second language is ministry here. And this is why. It is in these classes much like ours that Cambodians have discovered a relationship with Jesus. And that includes a child named Youee years ago.
It was just an English class that Youee found Christ. And then Christ was brought to Youmong. Then Youtry, then Youian after a an almost near death experience that God rescued him from.
But what about the parents, Lim and Krong? Children are not allowed to teach parents. All four boys were now following Jesus.
For three years, the boys committed to pray for the parents.
Every day.
1095 days.
Not a day forgotten.
Some days felt forgotten by God.
Some days felt unheard.
Some days felt pointless.
Some days you just want to throw in the towel and say what's the use?
1095 days of prayer and then Youee, Youmong, Youtry and Youian saw their parents choose to follow Christ.
There are over 11,000 villages in Cambodia that have no church. But in this village there is a church on stilts in the jungle a few doors down from dozens of decorated temples.
The children are bringing Jesus home in Cambodia.
*Bundro riding home in Cambodia, one of our students.
Remember how powerful this ministry is when you see the kids at your church. They are taking Jesus home with them. Pray for the children that hold this power in the Truth that changes lives including the lives of their moms and dads.
Matthew 7:7 ”Ask, and it will be given to you seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
