Security has been an interesting subject since being on the Race. A lot of people have struggled with walls being broken down of the Lord taking away their fear of safety and comfort, facing encounters of fear or seeing more of the spiritual and crazy world of sin that we live in. I wanted to share a little bit about my experiences of security these past four five months.
India consisted of not ever feeling unsafe but uneasy. We were told to always lock the doors to the church we were staying in. We always hid our stuff under our bags and kept the barred windows closed when we left. I never took my computer or camera with me unless if we were going out to document memories or find wifi. I did not walk around at dark unless if our whole team was together, I did not walk in the town alone. I did feel cautious when we were traveling through the towns because I had not been overseas on my own before. I lived in a safe and smaller town in India and was learning to rely on the Lord and trust His faithfulness more and more each day.
In Nepal is probably where I felt the most unsafe for a number of reasons. We lived in the jungle 22km away from India. The jungle life was hard for us because there was a new environment that our bodies were learning to adapt to, staying away from poisonous plants and bugs, fear of getting trampled by elephants or bit by monkeys. There is some exaggeration to the fear, but the small truths were intensified at the beginning of the month. However, the month was spent learning to trust and rely on God for protection. We locked the doors to the church we were staying in all the time, hid our computers and electronics when we were not around.
The last week we were at our ministry location, children came running out from all over and tried to run into the church. We were not sure what they were doing, but we assumed the worst and thought they were going to steal our electronics that were sitting out. Which is a sad thought, they may have just wanted some love.
There were times where I felt unsafe due to the heavy evil presence all over Nepal. Such as when I was in Kathmandu and walking back from a failed trip to 5 different ATMs for Team Money with my team leader and a young girl who was leading us to all the different ATMs. We were walking in the dark and it was our first night in Nepal. I was unsure of how the locals treated foreigners, especially 2 young white girls with a small Nepali girl in an area where human trafficking was popular. I also felt unsafe when we were traveling through the Himalayas of Nepal driving to our ministry site with our driver that seemed to have watched Tokyo Drift the night before. The nights in Haripur were interesting because there was such a heavy Hindu influence in the village and there was creepy chanting almost every night we were there. These instances all helped me come to trust in God’s protection even more and the need to love the lost that much more.
Thailand was probably the month where I felt the safest. Everyone loved the white Americans. No, the truth is that Thai people are so filled with love and smiles that they can’t help but smile all the time. They are so kind and loving all the time that it was easy to feel loved and wrapped up in their warm embrace of a culture. I started to run and run alone outside of the church where we stayed. We lived in a very safe city and there was not a high crime rate there, I never heard of one anyways. We were able to lock up our stuff in the church we stayed in and could leave our items laying out all over.
This month was not a month of growth or relying on the Lord for protection. I became comfortable. Not only in just my living situation, but also in my relationship with God and my team.
Malaysia was a time of where I became a daredevil. I started to walk ahead of the group, cross streets with oncoming traffic coming and would make quick runs to Kassim Mustafa to buy some plain naan. I do not recall ever feeling unsafe in this area. We had electronic locks on the door to get in and the only time I would run for my safety was when I was running away from rats.
The day we came into Cambodia, after flying in to Phnom Penh, we went to a hotel we met with the director of YWAM that night and headed off to our different ministry sites the next morning. We were informed on a lot of the culture and how to be better prepared for being the hands and feet of Jesus.
As I stepped out of the van from the airport to the hotel, I was advised to watch my bags and to keep them close. I didn’t think much about this just because I have learned to keep an eye on all my items and what I find to be of value to me. The YWAM director told us to hide our valuables, such as computers, cameras and electronics so that we don’t tempt the locals with our items. We are to cross our bags that have straps across our chest so that they will not be easily taken as people pass by. We were told to always lock our doors, to be inside at 9pm and to not explore when it gets dark; 5:30pm. We need to use common sense and be safe when we walk around the cities.
However, after being in Kampong Cham for a week, I am not fearful of the area we live. We live behind a gate that is locked and we lock our doors when the children come for school. The only time I become slightly afraid is when I have to hop on my bicycle to go to ministry. I have not been on a bike for so many years, that starting off was a bit of a wobble. I do not feel unsafe here and that may just be because we are not in a major populated city, although this is the 7th most populated city in all of Cambodia, but I think it also due to the fact of living overseas for 5 months and trusting that whatever happens is the Lord’s will. I may lose all my stuff one day, but that is not what my hope and trust is in. I find my hope and trust in my Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.
The reason of this blog was because of the YWAM director of Cambodia. He told us that we need to be aware of our surroundings and it seemed like a spirit of fear was being placed on this area. Even though that may not have been his intentions, I left the orientation feeling more afraid than secure. I am thankful for his protection and guidance, however, I am more thankful that God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7).
I laugh at fear. My God has already overcome all that may try to take my eyes off of Jesus and stop the ministry that He has called me to. I am not going to let the Enemy win and stop me from being the hands and feet of Jesus wherever I am.
