When someone travels to a new place, it is very common to look for differences; we instantly seem to notice those things. Our food is like this… Our houses are like this… We have less [or more] traffic, malls, people, etc. Coming to Cambodia has been no different for me. Growing up in a semi-rural area, I instantly noticed how close the homes are to one another, how much more traffic is here, and the immense number of people out and about! It just looks so different from Kentucky, but definitely not in a bad way. There is so much beauty here; the colors just seem richer, and the differences make God just seem so much more creative. How cool is it that He made people who were able to envision and develop such different types of art and architecture?
It is also quite amazing the ways that God is working. My team has been in Cambodia for five days now, and we are starting to get to work partnering with the ministries here. We have seen both the city and the villages, and I find both to be fascinating. Currently we are in Siem Reap, where we will be teaching English at a school 3 days a week. We will also travel to the villages two days a week to share the Gospel with families. Our pastor has a huge heart for the people of Cambodia to know God. While sharing a little about his ministry, he shared his heart for the people living in the villages. He said, “If we only focus on the city, how will these people hear? How will they ever know the gospel if we don’t take it to them?” How beautiful is it that God has called us all to go? He desires for all people to know the love of Jesus, both in the city and in the villages.
While our month here may seem so short in the grade scheme of things, we are so glad to be extra hands to help him in this work. We are praying for God to do big things in the lives of those we are around. I am especially praying that we will be a major encouragement to the ESL teachers and church people here; it can be very hard to be a believer in this country because it is predominantly Buddhist. I am praying that we can encourage them in their English speaking, as those we are working with have GREAT conversational skills but don’t quite see that! I am also praying that God will use as He sees fit both in the city and villages. We want to be living examples of the love of Jesus.
I love you all and miss you! I’ll update again in a week!
***Just a quick reminder, I am about $1,000 away from meeting my December goal of $11,000 and slightly more than $6,000 from being funded. Please prayerfully consider financially partnering with me on this journey! Your prayers and support do make a difference. ***
