This month in Cambodia we get the privilege of living in a village just outside of the city teaching English to a bunch of amazing children. Village life can be difficult at times though. We use a squatty potty where aim can be a issue for some, take bucket showers from water we pump (I’m getting those muscles), live in tents with the mosquitoes and ants, and it hot beyond hot. I mean like 100 degrees. We get up everyday and have morning duties like watering the yard and cleaning the squatties (YMCA housekeeping prepared me for that!) and preparing breakfast. We have morning classes, get ready for lunch, more class, prepare for dinner, bible studies and so on. The schedule took me some getting used to and some days have been harder than others. Sometimes being soaked in my own sweat and swatting away ants gets me down. But even though this is probably the most challenging living I have done on the Race thus far, I love it!
Village life gives the perfect example of community and I am learning so much through it. We have to work with each other to get things done; there is no such thing as doing it alone. The people of the village look out for one another. We get string beans from our neighbors, some children sleep on our compound, and the children look out for each other. This is truly amazing to see. Big brothers carry their little sisters with them to class and students help each other with their homework. It is teaching me a lot about what true community should look like.
I want a life where I am working with the others living around me, where we share things and eat together and simply do life together. I am reminded of a passage in Acts that says,
“All the believers were in one heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. There were no needy persons among them.”
– Acts 4:32-34
I am convinced that we should strive for community like this. In the States, I was all about myself, all the time. It just took me getting to a point of sweaty simplicity to realize the beauty in community who does life together. Wouldn’t it be cool if we created communities like this in our own neighborhoods?
I have a request: I am still $1700 short of meeting my final deadline. Please consider donating to my Race so I can continue on this journey with the Lord. I want to be able to share the love in the Caribbean! I love you al!
Megan
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