My heart aches.
It pains me to say goodbye.
I might not see my hosts and their family. The teachers. The students. And the strangers I have become acquainted with in the city of Kampong Thom.
My hearts aches.
I will miss playing with these kids without even knowing what they are saying and vise-versa.
I will miss their laughs, cries, smiles, and playful spirit.
I will miss the hard working and loving teachers. Their giving spirits, their smiles, their love and openness to us, and their tight hugs!!!
I will miss our Holy Home. A safe space for my team. A place of rest. A place where the Holy Spirit dwells. A place of laughter and cries. A place of memories. A place where I got to grow close with my sisters. A place that made us a family.
I will miss the school. Good Seed International. The Lord blesses this place. Many missionaries come and go, leaving something behind. The Lord is always present there. His peace fills my heart, giving me patience for the kids. His love overflows out of me and onto the kids and teachers.
I will miss the market. Remembering when I was fearful of walking into it. Overcoming that fear and finally being able to enjoy going to the market. I will miss the kindhearted pillow-man and his fluffy donut things that we call pillows. I will miss the sweet pineapple lady that cuts our pineapples perfectly and always with a smile on her face! I will miss our other sassy fruit lady and her sassy kids. I will miss our amazing banana man, his delicious fried bananas, and giving him a high five every time! I will miss of course our coffee lady, her smile is gentle and sweet. Her coffee is creamy and has hardly any coffee. But we love her, I love getting to say hello to her and start my day by exchanging smiles with her. I will miss our other coffee lady at 3rd Street Coffee! Sopea!!! I love talking to her. She is a hard working woman. Working day and night. Never getting a holiday or a day off. She works as a teacher and on her breaks she works at her coffee shop. She supports her kids and some of her sisters kids. I admire her hard work so much. I will miss our hosts sister and her sweet kids. I will miss playing with them and dancing with them!! I will miss our cleaning lady and her big smile that is so contagious!
I will miss many things in Kampong Thom. After living here for 2 months, it makes it so freaking hard to leave. I’ve cried so much already. I’ve already had to say goodbye. It’s hard knowing that I might not ever see these people again even though I wish I could. Kampong Thom has been my home. But really, home is with Jesus. I just hope and pray to see them all when I go home.
I feel so thankful that God has blessed me with all of these people. He allowed me to come to this place and love these people. He has taught me how to love like Him. He continues to show me everyday how to make the most of the time He gives me in each season. Because time is precious. And above all else He wants us to LOVE. I hope and I pray I will be able to continue to love wholeheartedly and not be afraid to love.
Cambodia was just the beginning. God is going with me. He gives me peace. He fills my emptiness. His time is perfect.
Today we left Kampong Thom. We leave for Ethiopia in a few days. In order for me to stay on this journey, I still have $2,467 left to raise before January 15th!!!
Thank you all who have donated!!! God has really provided for me to be in these places and in these people’s lives. God is so good. Your giving hearts have allowed me to be here. I am so thankful. So blessed and humbled that God has brought me to these places and to these people.To Cambodia. Cambodia will forever be in my heart and prayers. It’s hard saying goodbye. But I have no doubt that the Lord has ordained my time here and the time of other missionaries that come. To continue planting seeds here and watering seeds that the Father has already planted.
