A Huge Vision For A Small Church
Serving in Cambodia renewed our minds. Months climbing up to month 6 were spent with children, construction projects, prison ministry, teaching, preaching, etc. In Cambodia, we were charged with the responsibility of finding undiscovered "heroes" in the mission field serving Jesus with everything they have. Then come along side them with hope of sending future teams to support them.
On one particular day Jonathan, Ashley, and I arrived at a church almost 2 hours from the capital city. Two-hundred kids were sitting watching quietly as young men were acting out Jesus' nativity scene. We switch our focus to the pastor walking towards us with a huge smile and hope beaming from his eyes. He ushers us to sit down so we could eat some rice and chicken before we speak.
He casts his vision for the village; all children have an opportunity receive an education. He explains how millions were killed during Pol Pot's regime and almost all the educated were wiped out leaving Cambodia with no teachers to pass on their knowledge. He pointed at young men and women in their late teens and said they are our children's teachers. The hope for the children in this village and the children of all of Cambodia for a better future.
He motions towards two rooms and tells me that they can only fit a limited amount of children. He could only teach to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd graders. Over and over he asked if I could pray that God provides a way to have one or two more classrooms so that they can accept 4th and 5th graders too.
Meeting Kong the Muscular Man
After our conversation their was a lull period for about two hours before the next session of games began. One of the young men, Sula age 19, who speaks great English offers to show us around the village.
So Johnny, Ashley, and I said "Yes! Let's go!"
We start walking on the main dirt path and only a few minutes later we see Sula's home to the right with a Buddhist spirit house on the corner. It's a miniature temple on top of a pillar. "Are you Christian ?" He said "Yes, my grandmother is still Buddhist though like most of the elderly here so we don't take it down for her sake. Majority of people on this island are Christian though."
"Would you like to meet people in the village?" We all simultaneously say "Yes, definitely" so as we are walking he starts to wave at a shirtless man sitting on a thatched wooden platform under a palm tree leaf covering. He is by far one of the most muscular Cambodian men I've seen the whole month.
I greet him with a "Hello!" and awkwardly wait for a response as I stare into his eyes. He stares back at me with a half smile and makes no effort to try to respond. Sula doesn't speak up so I feel like I need to fill the void. I raise a plant up to my mouth and take a bite out of it trying to motion that it tastes good, since I was told earlier that villagers eat it with their traditional soup. No response… I have no idea why I thought that would somehow break the ice. I figure I'd just ask if he'd like prayer, expecting he'd say yes, and hope I wouldn't be as awkward with the next family.
"No" he responded… I was totally out of ideas as to how to save this simple hello from seemingly getting worse. He then starts talking more. He starts to tell me that he's heard of Jesus and thought about going to church before but he felt like the church didn't want him to go and felt judged by them.
All I could think of in the moment was to pray (in my heart) "God please give me words and soften his heart to receive your words, in the name of Jesus".
I felt lead to ask him what he did for a living and a few other questions like how long he's lived there and if those were his children running around. He told me he farms and that his extended family lived in the small homes next to his. We kept talking for a little while, learning more about each other.
Then I felt lead to share "Jesus made a living similar to that of a farmer. Jesus is the Son of God and lived on earth in the form of a man and died to bear the sins of everyone including you so that we may have a relationship with Him and eternal life. People's opinions and judgments of you do not change this truth. Are you willing to give up a relationship with God and eternal life because of what people may think of you?"
He had a pensive gaze then looked down. I continued to share… "Jesus does not live in a building but in our hearts. Whether you attend a "church" or not He still wants a relationship with you."
"The church does want you to come. I believe the enemy has been telling you lies to stop you from receiving God's love through community."
He looked at me and said "Yes I believe the enemy has been stopping me and you are right in what you are saying."
"Can I pray with you?" I asked him. "Yes, let's pray…"
After praying, the music playing in the background the entire time all of a sudden grabbed my full attention. It was the only thing I could focus on so I felt like it was God nudging me to dance. I asked Kong if he'd like me to perform (pop and lock) for him and the children. Not sure why God wanted me to dance but I trusted that it potentially meant something to them. I'll never know (until I'm in heaven) why the Lord asked me to do that but the smile on his face was worth it. It looked just like the pastor's smile I saw earlier.
Reflections I Don't Want To Forget
Dream for big things and ask others to rally around me in prayer, just like pastor did. – For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Luke 11:10
No matter how awkward I may feel or confident I am in my abilities, always ask the Holy Spirit to lead. – And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever – the Spirit of truth. John 14:16
As long as the good news is shared with Love, God blesses it. – Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self -seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7
Judging others is not of God. – Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Luke 6:27
*Video coming of Sula learning some of my dance moves. He has great potential!
