Hello to all my supporters! Wow. Month 7 in Cambodia has officially ended! Time really does fly by, when you’re having fun! This month our team and I stayed at an orphanage called Sending Hope Cambodia. Although this ministry was an orphanage most of the girls we worked with are not orphans. These girls were living in such hardship conditions that they’re parents were incapable of financially supporting them and desired a better future for them. Sending Hope then, takes these girls and educates them in English classes, bible stories, Christian living, and more!
As for Abundant Pursuit, we were able to create friendships with our girls (Voleak, Srey Ya, Srey Mom, Srey Neng, Srey Diab, Siv Iy, Sona, Sivan, Lisa, Chanthy.) These girls are the most loving, generous, tender hearted Christ followers ever! I continually was astonished at the obedience these girls had in anything they were asked to do, but more than that the love they had for Jesus! Their little hearts were so in love with the Lord and wanted to live out the gospel to everyone around them. Even if that meant being persecuted for their faith in school. We had the privilege of going to some amazing places with these girls as well as experiencing Kami New Year. (Happens once a year)
Attached below are some pictures of some exciting moments that happened during our stay and how God used those moments to impact my team and I!
Meet the Girls:
Not pictured: Siv Iy and Sona
Meet our Wonderful Host:
Vottey and I!
Adventures on the Moving Bridge:
Siv Iy and I
Praying through a Village:
The team and some of our girls praying/encouraging a man that is sick.
A picture of an actual representation of someone’s house and living conditions.
** There was an encounter that occurred during our prayer walk that was the most devastating and heartbreaking things I have ever seen in my life. As we walked through the village, our ministry host, Vottey asked us to walk towards a woman’s house who was ill. As usual the team along with 10 little girls walked eagerly in getting an opportunity to pray and be a light! As we approached this particular house, we were told this elderly woman was experiencing a lot of pain and could barley move. As this elderly woman came out she slowly began pulling up her shirt to then expose her breast. She had breast cancer. I had never seen the effects of cancer without chemo and what it can naturally progress too. A silence overcame us all as we just stood without knowledge of what to do. Our friend soon began praying, and our little girls began crying. My instant reaction was why are these girls here? I wanted to protect their eyes from seeing so much hurt in this world. I wanted to take these girls away from this horrible situation and have them see something happy and bright! These girls were so young and were seeing something even I had never seen before. The most beautiful thing that happened afterwards, our precious girls gave a flower they had found in the garden to this woman. These girls had learned a compassion, that not even I had seen in myself being 22. Unfortunately, a week later we received news that this woman had passed away. Although, we shared the love of Christ that very day, our hope was that she had finally accepted the love of our Heavenly Father.
CAMP!! CAMP!! CAMP!!
Kids waiting to start camp!
Art Projects!
Soccer Madness
Kami New Year!
Probably one of the greatest days on the race. Kami New Year is a celebration of being cleansed from all your sins. Funny, how that weekend was Easter weekend as well! To celebrate, you throw water on cars, tuk tuk’s, and anyone you find! (we weren’t able to get baby powder or else we would’ve thrown that as well)
The completed result- SOAKED!
Little Srey Ya
Funny Story: AP were headed to this great American (sorta) restaurant in hopes of celebrating Gracie’s birthday. We all got dressed up and were excited to see what the night had in store for us! Sounds like fun, right? We got in a tuk tuk but, long and behold… the locals came toward us with water & baby powder to begin the new Year festivities! Turns out, the unexpected moments is what you remember most
Feet Washing
On our last day at Sending Hope, the girls surprised us with washing our feet. Although, I don’t have any pictures of the girls doing it to our team- it was an act so beautiful and for someone so undeserving. These girls taught me how to love more, show compassion, be free like a child, and gave me a even greater desire to adopt one day. God gifted us with friendships that brought us so much joy and love! Our last night at Sending Hope was in tears but, in true thankfulness for everything that this month had brought.
The Ladies of Cambodia!
These women made our month in Cambodia so much sweeter. They humbly served us by their delicious food, souvenir gifts, and smiles! Our team will forever be thankful!
The moments shown above is just a tiny portion of what Month 7 really looked like. The stories, jokes, smiles, flowers, and even English lessons will forever be in my heart!
