As I sit on my mattress that is lined up next to six others in the living room of our treehouse home, I can’t help but look back at the past three weeks in awe. I’ve been in Cambodia for almost a month now! Let me catch you up to speed of everything that has happened since the World race began.
Launch. What a journey in itself! Much like training camp, we spent these four days in Georgia with five other squads that were also launching. Those four days were full of meetings and trainings, but more than that they were filled with an overwhelming amount of excitement, joy, and anticipation for what was right in front of us. It was finally happening!!!! All that was left were a few meetings and the last of the hard goodbyes. Day three came, and each racer said goodbye to their parents. As hard as it was, it was amazing to see how well Adventures in Missions served our parents and loved ones. Day four came, and this was our last day in the States for almost a year. At training camp, the six squads launching in October quickly became a family. On day four, we worshipped together one last time and said goodbye to our newfound friends on different squads. At 3:00am the next morning, we made our way to the airport and I-squad was officially on the World Race.
After about 40 hours of travel, three days of the sun always being up, and never knowing what day or time it actually was, we finally made it to Cambodia!! During our first week spent in this beautiful county, all of my squad stayed together in Siem Reap at a place called the Overflow Guesthouse. This is Adventures in Missions base in Cambodia. We were so lucky to start our race there! While the facility is beautiful, the people are even better. I can’t thank the staff and volunteers at Overflow enough for the way they made us feel right at home. Each morning I would get to start my day on the roof top. Thanks to jet lag, I was often up early enough to catch a perfect glimpse of God’s beauty in a Cambodian sunrise. Our ministry that week consisted of repairs and touch ups of the guesthouse that we lived in, and night ministry on the streets. My team and I befriended the sweetest elderly man around the corner named Johnny. While he didn’t speak a word of English, he was always quick to laugh at us slipping in mud or wave and shout hello at our tuk tuk passing by. The day we officially met him and his family, he made sure to find my team of seven the best places to sit outside. Then when rain suddenly came, he made sure that we made our way into their family’s shop to keep us dry. We laughed together for hours, and so much joy was created. Johnny is a good example of Cambodian culture. The people here are beyond joyful and welcoming, and in that first week I fell in love with Cambodia.
After saying goodbye to the Overflow staff and about half of my squad, the five teams working with YWAM ministries for the rest of the month all drove to a hotel in Phnom Penh for orientation and to visit the killing fields before splitting up for the rest of the month. If you’ve never been in Cambodia or around Cambodian culture, there is a good chance that you’ve never heard about the Cambodian genocide that happened just short of 50 years ago. In the 1970s, a man named Pol Pot came into power of Cambodia. Much like Hitler, he wanted to create a “pure” society. Pol Pot killed anyone that he thought stood in his way or challenged his goal. This meant that anyone who spoke another language besides Khmer, was educated in any way, had a job that wasn’t farming, moved to the city, or even wore glasses was either sent to a work camp where they were eventually killed or was murdered on spot. Also, every family membered of those attacked were killed because he wanted no chance of someone trying to take revenge. Even children were killed because there was a chance of them growing up educated. In the end, one third of the population was killed. Without news coverage or social media, no other country was informed that this was happening; many even sent money to support the Cambodian government because they were unaware of what their gifts were supporting. It’s not taught or talked about in most places across the world, and Cambodia is still recovering. Most of the population is under the age of 20, and almost all of the elderly are survivors. Each Cambodian has a story of how this effected their family, but one thing is very true. God is moving in Cambodia and restoring this nation!!! It is visibly evident that our Abba is here and giving joy to His people. Visiting the killing fields where thousands were brought but never left changes you. While it is so so hard to see, it’s unimaginable peace is now in the land that was once used for destruction. Be praying for the Cambodian people. They are still in recovery, but God is opening so many eyes to His love and grace in this country!
After three days spent in Phnom Penh, Our ministry host picked my team up and took us to his home in Kampong Cham, where we are living until the end of our time in Cambodia. We live in a larger version of a tree house in the midst of many sugar cane fields and dirt roads, and I could not love it more. Our hosts are the greatest people, and they have truly made this our home. While they help us find new things to try almost every day, (I’ve had every fruit that I can’t pronounce under the sun, frog, snake, duck, and many parts of a chicken that I didn’t know exist. I also rode a water buffalo!!) they are so good at bringing “home” to us right when it’s needed. This past weekend, they even made us BBQ chicken and french fries and brought us ketchup, soda, AND ICE. You may not understand how big of a deal french fries and ice are, but my team was almost in tears. We live with three younger children, and our hosts are some of the best parents I’ve ever seen. I only hope that I can love as well as they some day. Each day here starts with building a fence. That means making our own concrete, bending and forming each wire by hand, and everything in between. We won’t be here to see it finished, but I am so excited to have been apart of what will soon play a part in bringing a community together. We spend the afternoons and evenings teaching English classes. I teach a class with another teammate. Our students are 12-16 year olds, and we have so much fun each day. While we don’t have a translator and they laugh at us a lot, this has been the highlight of my time in Kampong Cham. We have a little over a week left here, and I pray everyday that each moment is stretched out. Cambodia is going to be one hard goodbye.
Thank you so much for all the prayers and support that you have given!!! It has been overwhelming how much love has been poured out to my team and I, even from across the globe. God has taught me so much in this past month, and this is only the beginning! We make our way to debrief in Thailand on November 4th. Thank you for partnering with me in my time in Cambodia!
Specific prayer requests: Please be praying for the people of Cambodia!!! These people have some of the biggest hearts that I’ve ever seen, and I am leaving a piece of my heart here with them. Also, please be praying for the overall health and safety of team and hosts in our last week here, as well as traveling to Thailand! Love you guys!
– Lindsey
