“Today, we build a house.” These were the words Youtry, our ministry contact, spoke to my team as we pulled up to the place we’d been previously building a fence. My knowledge on house building pretty much begins and ends with knowing you start with the foundation. But then again I also didn’t know how to build a fence when I got here and we’d been doing that.
When I say we’ve been working on a fence I mean we’ve been making our own cement and materials from scratch because surprisingly to us Americans, there’s not a Home Depot in Cambodia. Still, I’m pretty sure I have a future in construction. I’ve spent hours each day bending metal with a crowbar to make the materials we need. So when Youtry told us to build a house, we got to work.
In order to start the foundation we created molds with pieces of wood and lowered metal poles tied together with wire between the wood planks. Then, we poured cement over the poles, smoothed the top and waited for it to dry. After it’s dry I break the wood off the cement with an axe, like I said I’m pretty much a pro. However, we also make mistakes that call for correction and Youtry has a lot of grace for us. We are working as hard as we can to build a firm foundation for this home even though we may not actually be professional construction workers as I’d like to believe.
The process of laying a foundation got me thinking about Luke 6:46.
“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.”
The land we are building the house on was previously used for drug use and dealing. Youtry’s family saw potential for this land where others saw destruction. They chose to build their home on this property specifically to transform a place of darkness into light. In addition to a home it will be used as a classroom to teach English as well as a bible study meeting spot.
We are laying the foundation for a place of purpose and peace.
We work hard so this home has a firm foundation and can remain a light for years. However, we’ve also been praying that this land is built on the foundation of Jesus which will not be shaken.
