I have been trying for weeks to come up with words to sum up Cambodia. To say that I have been unsuccessful is a gross understatement. Cambodia has in a short space of time become a place that is dear to my heart. Everyone that I have met has become engraved on my heart and frequent in my prayers. Despite the time, there is a real since of caring and sincerity in every meeting.
Recently during morning ministry we found ourselves in the house of Chia Tu. She was incredibly hospitable, inviting us in to sit. As we talked with her, we asked her if she had heard of Jesus. She said yes, they used to play videos about him and talk about him on the radio. She said she liked to hear about him, but she was Buddhist.
As we talked some more, I heard the Holy Spirit ask me, “Are you ready to tell a story?”
Nervously I fidgeted for a moment or two, and the moment was lost. The conversation came around again and I heard the Holy Spirit say, “You prayed for a challenge, are you going to accept this one?”
Again I struggled halfheartedly to interject. The conversation came around again. “Story time.”
This time, I spoke up. “Would you like to hear the story of Jesus?”
“Yes, I like stories. I would like to hear,” she said.
I took a moment to go into the usual story, starting with Jesus coming to Earth, and heard the Lord say, “Start with the garden.”
So began, the strangest version of the gospel that I have ever heard. The Lord gave me the words for what to say and how to tell her how much God loved Chia Tu. It was like carrying a message from a father to a daughter that has not talked to her parents in many years: beautiful, but highly personal. At the end she sat quietly thinking over the story. The Lord asked me to remind her that He loves Cambodia and Chia Tu so much, that he sent people from the other side of the world just to give hugs and messages of love.
Chia Tu accepted Christ. We prayed with her and for her, and joyfully celebrated this beautiful woman. I do not have enough words to share how blessed I am to have witnessed a small piece of a process that has been about thirty years in the works. While the Lord gave me some words to say, the Lord was already in hard pursuit of this woman. He was bringing his daughter home. The real beauty was being able to witness God’s goodness and grace and love at work.
We have delievered Chia Tu a Bible, but please be in prayer that God continues to send people to disciple Chia Tu. My team and I are have our last day of ministry in Cambodia tomorrow. Please be in prayer for us as we say our goodbyes to all of the people we have grown close to this month and start traveling again. Our next country will be Thailand! Blessing and peace be yours in abundance.
