We have been in Cambodia for about a week now. Everyday I am seeing more and more, of how different it is from the U.S and even Thailand. The culture is so amazing, and I am in awe every time I take a step outside. Most of the roads in the village are dirt and gravel, and the houses are made up of cement. Most of them are falling apart. There are stray dogs every where, and they will bark at you non- stop because the color of our skin. Everywhere you look there are naked children. I’m not sure if diapers are just too expensive, but they are either naked or only have a shirt on. There are piles and piles of trash on the side of the streets. They have dumpsters, but when they are full they dump them on the side of the road. The smell in most places is horrendous. Most everyone either gets around by motorcycle (moto taxi), tuk-tuk, or on foot. There aren’t very many cars and no regular taxis. What I have found to be the most amazing part, as far as the scenery goes, is they have the most breathtaking blue skies. One would think with so much pollution in the air there wouldn’t be such blue skies, but they are so amazingly beautiful! I am in awe every time I look up. On most nights, late and into the early morning there is extremely loud rain, and thunder storms. I am woken up by this almost every time, but it is so soothing that I fall back to sleep. A down fall of this is that it floods very easily here. In these past few days half of the village streets have been flooded. This makes prayer walking very interesting. The past two days I have gone prayer walking around the village with water up to my knees. I don’t mind it though, because I feel as though I am digging deeper into the culture, and experiencing life as they do.
All of this is a way of life for them. I come into their village with a western mindset; maybe sometimes thinking I am better than them, because I have a four bedroom house with a fire place, a kitchen table, a bed to sleep in, a back yard and a family who loves me, waiting for my return. I am hoping to come out of this thinking a bit more like them. Their simple way of life seems intriguing. Imagine making your income off of selling anything under the sun on the side of the road for as little as two cents a piece. I bought a drink, two dishes (that had meat in them), and two little pastries all for less than one dollar. These are the kind of sales they are living off of and feeding their family with.
In all of this, one thing they are not lacking is the ability to love. These people, even in their circumstances, are the most joyous people I have every met. I have been truly blessed by them. Their smiles and positive energy bring me great happiness. They are an oppressed nation with a history that is unbelievable, but looking at their faces you would never know it. Americans could have everything they can imagine, and be the most depressed, sad and lonely people. Here on the other side of the world, where these people have next to nothing, you will find the most humble and thankful. I pray that one day this nation will rise up in Christ, and have true, everlasting joy in their hearts.
