Wanted to come on here and talk about my first few days in Cambodia. We are staying at New Hope for Orphans orphanage, in a village outside of kampong cham. As soon as I got off the van, I felt an overwhelming sense of peace. As we spent our first day in siem riep, I made friends from Cambodia that immediately made me realize how much the lord knows that the personalities and hearts in Cambodia mend so beautifully with mine. As we got to the orphanage, the peace continued. This orphanage isn’t what you’d expect, as the kids age out not at 18 but once they graduate school (many are way older in relation to American grades and respective ages), which helps them be set up for success. It’s so relaxed and full of life with the kids. It’s made me realize that while a large majority of orphanages aren’t like this, we need to stop the pity. To stop acting as though an orphan is a project or a child that has no joy or happiness or future. That’s so far from the truth. The lord has given me a sense of home here, of feeling so at peace and like I belong here, which I have only gotten in one other country. The kids here aren’t the type of kids you sit down and play patty cake with; they’re rough in the best way, full of laughter, energetic, and will not take you seriously if you treat them with pity or like a project. They understand their worth in Christ and they won’t accept you treating or perceiving them as some child with no happiness or sense of belonging in life. They’re smarter and more self-aware than some 23 year olds that I know. I’ve seen more wisdom in a 5 year old than people I have class with. These kids are anointed. they don’t need or want our pity. They want to be raised up in their passions to glorify Christ and succeed by sharing his love. So cool. Feeling at home in the most literal way.
