Have you ever had a 12-year old wash your feet? Not because it was something they were told to do, but because that was how they chose to say “thank you” and to show you their love? The answer is probably no. Because where we come from, that’s just not a real typical thing to experience from a child…
But this is what I was blessed enough to experience my last night of ministry in Cambodia. And honestly, I don’t think I can really express to you the beauty of that moment. When looking around I saw all 6 of my teammates having the same experience, each with one of the girls we were so privileged to work with that month. Tears filled every eye in the room as we all felt the weight of love we all had for each other and we felt such gratitude to the Lord or calling us into that very moment. It truly is something I will never forget.
Last month in April, my team and I worked at an orphanage in Battambang, Cambodia called Sending Hope International. We worked alongside of our wonderful ministry host, Vottey, who lives with and cares for 10 of the sweetest, most fun, intelligent, and spunky girls, ages 8-14. It was a month filled with incredible joy.
Our work last month included leading a Bible study for the girls and staff every morning, helping out with landscaping on the property, assisting with the first annual Trail to Life Camp in Cambodia for local children in the village, and teaching English and life skills to the girls. This was the first time Sending Hope had a team work with them in Cambodia, so I felt especially honored to be serving there last month. But as it goes during most months, I ended up being more blessed by these girls and staff than I ever thought possible. I built so many special relationships while in Cambodia, and I want to share some of those with you.
Vena: Now that I am in Month 8 of the Race, I’ve learned to develop eyes for how the Lord reminds me of His love for me in ways that I used to overlook. Kind of like little moments when I’m reminded to say, “Wow, thank you Lord for this moment.” This month I had a lot of those moments. I’ve been accustomed to sleeping on my sleeping pad with no AC, but this month my team was blessed with beds AND hot showers AND air-conditioning. And we were blessed with Vena. Vena was the owner of the hotel we were able to stay at during the month. The funny thing about our relationship with Vena is that she spoke ZERO English. But this didn’t stop her from reaching out to our team in the sweetest ways. She frequently stopped by our rooms to give us bracelets, scarves to celebrate Khmer New Year, and Coca Cola. When there were no available tuk tuks to take us into town, she gladly allowed all of us to squeeze into her car. We felt so incredibly cared for this month thanks to the kindness of Vena.
Vottey: Vottey was our ministry host for the month and loved us like no other. Vottey is Cambodian, and when she was a very young child, she and her family left for Thailand where they lived as refugees. At the time, Cambodia was a war-torn country and an extremely difficult place to live. Vottey lived as a refugee in Thailand for 13 years before returning to Cambodia. Vottey eventually went to live in France where she studied and married. After living in France with her family and two daughters, Vottey felt the call on her life to return to Cambodia once again to care for the girls of her country with the love of Jesus which she knew was the only thing that would change Cambodia forever.
Sivan: Sivan is 12 years old and one of the girls living at Sending Hope. She has lived there for 2 years. Sivan stuck out to me as a leader the first day I met her. When we first arrived at the orphanage, the girls welcomed us with a choreographed dance to “10,000 Reasons”, and Sivan gleefully led the girls in the dance. Our friendship quickly progressed when she decided to switch names with me, insisting that I call her “Marisa” and she call me “Sivan.” She thought that was the funniest thing ever. Although only 12 years old, I was amazed at the way Sivan loved her sisters and served them so selflessly. The way she sang praises to the Lord and the way he fervently prayed. Not to mention she was incredibly smart. On our last night, when the girls served us by washing our feet, Sivan chose to wash mine. When we were done, Sivan ran into her room and came back with a simple, silver bracelet and proceeded to put in around my wrist. Before meeting Sivan, I might assume that a child with not many belongings to her name would cling to such a precious object as a beautiful bracelet, but Sivan readily gave it to me to show her love. Not only that, but after realizing that some of her sisters would probably like to give away parting gifts to my teammates, she went back into her room for more simple bracelets to give her sisters to then giveaway. Sivan taught me about selfless love.
Diab: Diab is 13 years old and also lives at Sending Hope. I’m convinced Diab decided she loved me after the first day of meeting me. She frequently took me by the arm, silently telling me that she wanted me to walk alongside of her. Diab had a different demeanor than all of the other girls at the orphanage. She was not loud (in fact, I barely heard her talk) but would always reciprocate my smiles with a sweet look and a big hug. After not even a week of being with the girls, Diab sweetly asked me, with the help of Vottey’s translation, if I would be her “sister”. One day, I asked Vottey about Diab’s story. Vottey shared with me that Diab’s father passed away when Diab was young and that her mother suffers from mental illness and alcoholism. Diab’s mother decided to work in Thailand, which is not unusual for Cambodians to do who need to find work. Diab’s mother left Diab to be cared for by her grandmother. However, Diab’s grandmother also suffers from alcoholism and mental illness and was unable to properly care for Diab. Diab was frequently seen asking neighbors for food because she did not have any at her house. One day, a pastor in the village saw Diab and had compassion on her, and brought Diab to Sending Hope. Looking at Diab, I couldn’t help but see resilience. I couldn’t imagine the pain she must sometimes feel and how she must sometimes long to be with her family. Diab could barely read when she came to Sending Hope, but now she loves to read the Bible. Diab was hope personified for me. Sure, she may have years of healing to go through, but I was so clear how the Lord has handpicked Diab for something wonderful.
You know in Matthew where Jesus says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven; blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven” (Matt. 5:3-4)? I think this relates a lot to Cambodia. Cambodians have been some of the most joy-filled Believers I have ever met in my whole life. Their faces radiate joy and they have the most beautiful smiles you’ll ever see. And they are so kind and gentle. But if you know anything about Cambodian’s history, you might find this hard to believe. Shouldn’t these people be angry, be traumatized, be afraid of the world after all they went through (look up the Khmer Rouge if you don’t know what I’m talking about). But I think Jesus is working behind the scenes in Cambodia. He is mending hearts and he is showing himself to these sweet people after years of unimaginable suffering The people I met this month are living proof, and I count myself blessed to have lived alongside of them, if only for a month.
Thanks for reading! 
-Marisa
