Quick Update:
Current Location: Chhuk, Cambodia
Month 5 Ministry: Teaching English, home visits, and loving on a bunch of kids
Percent Funded: 82.6 %
Final Deadline: was last month… figuring that out (refer to last blog)
Merry Christmas from Kampot, Cambodia!!!
It’s not exactly a white Christmas over here (typically in the 80s all day and really humid). Louisiana certainly doesn’t have the coldest Christmas (or the whitest for that matter) but this is definitely the furthest from a typical Christmas that I’ve ever had.
Strings of lights? Nope.
Christmas music playing everywhere you go? Nope.
Snow? That’s funny! I’d be lucky to get ice in my drink at a restaurant.
People filled with christmas spirit? Well, this isn’t exactly Whoville, but it certainly isn’t Mount Crumpit either.
Hold up Mr. Grinch, don’t go gettin’ any ideas!
As I was saying, Cambodia surprised me. For a country that is 97% Buddhist, a large portion of the country celebrates christmas in one way or another. On the 10 minute drive from my team’s lodgings to a small cafe (our only source of Wifi) I’ve even noticed a couple houses with lights up. However, most Cambodians don’t understand what Christmas is about. Like the US, it is a highly commercialized holiday, but unlike the US, most people here have never heard of Jesus, it doesn’t even ring a bell when you mention Him to them. They do christmasy things because they think it’s fun, but they have no idea what it’s about. This makes me think of cheesy hallmark christmas movies that teach “the true meaning of christmas”, which is usually something like “family” and “being together” and don’t mention Jesus at all. This is literally all they know about christmas! Some Cambodians have “christmas spirit”, but have never heard of the Holy Spirit.
This is why the church we are partnered with this month, Light of Hope Church just outside the tiny town of Chhuk, Cambodia, puts on a big christmas event every year. On Saturday the 22nd I had the opportunity to help with this event that brought in over 150 kids plus many of their parents. Here are a few pictures to give you an idea:
Mall this was thrown together right between the small dorm we stayed in and one of the classrooms we taught English in. I was able to help out the stage together as well. The whole production was a bit bigger that we thought it it would be.
In the days leading up to the event, team Sozo (that’s us) helped wrap a small gift for each and every child. It was amazing to see the looks on there faces when, in the midst of loud christmas music and what sounded like cambodian techno, we opened the giant sack of gifts and began passing out gifts. I definitely felt like santa carrying that thing around :). Every kid got a small toy or stuffed animal, and a bunch of candy. For many of them, whether their family celebrated any kind of Christmas or not, it was the only gift got for Christmas. I was super grateful to be able to show the love of Jesus to these crazy kids in such a simple way and be part of a ministry that tells people about the true meaning of Christmas! The day that Jesus was born is the day that our hope was born. Hope for being made right with God, for living a life that honors our Creator and Father. Hope for salvation and freedom. I was also honored to have the opportunity to teach in church the Sunday before Christmas and share with the church about this hope.
You can see me here with my translator (and bunkmate) Soupir. I am most definitely spelling his name wrong…
I hope that your Christmas was filled with family and fun, as well as a reminder that 2000 years ago (give or take a few years, and also a few months) Jesus, Yeshua, Emmanuel was born. He came down into the world as an innocent child and grew into the Man that would be your Lord and Savior if you will let Him. This is a little late (it took me serveral to find WiFi to post this) but better late than never!
