Cows roaming the streets, hand washing my clothes using the water from the hand pump, waking up to the sound of squealing pigs and roosters crowing, and sleeping under a mosquito net…have all become a normal part of my daily life here in Cambodia. This month my team and I are living in a rural village with our host family. We live in a small house on stilts covered by a tin roof. In the backyard they have a little farm with ducks, pigs, geese, ducks, and chickens. This month we have truly had an authentic experience of a glimpse into the life of our host family.
Our host Parak is a man of great faith and has a huge heart for the lost and broken people in the surrounding villages. Two years ago he started a small church in a near by village. This church did not just happen over night, but is a result of years of prayer and waiting on the Lord. He prayed for many years for God to open a door for him to open a church in a village that is about 20 minutes away from his home. Every time he would ask the elders of the village if he could start a church in their village they would turn him away. Parak and his family continued to pray for the elders hearts to be softened and God answered their prayers! The church he now pastors in this village has 25 adults and 60 children who attend. These people use to not sleep well at night because they lived in a constant state of fear of the evil spirits they use to worship. Now that they have a personal relationship with Jesus they no longer live in fear, but live in the freedom of Jesus.
This month my team and I have gotten to partner with the small village church by encouraging them and investing in the children’s lives. Everyday we go to the church to simply show these kids how much they are loved and cherished by their Heavenly Father. We do this through singing songs about Jesus, teaching them English, coloring together, and playing fun games. These children carry a joy that amazes me. Despite the immense poverty they live in they daily choose to live above their circumstances and choose the joy of The Lord. A four year old boy singing at the top of his lungs songs about Jesus reminds me to choose joy. A 10 year old boy coloring without a care in the world in that moment reminds me to choose joy. Playing tag in the blazing sun and the constant giggles of the children remind to to continually choose the joy of the Lord.
