Cambodia, what a month it has been with you!
You first greeted us with yummy ice-cream from back home…AKA DQ…
…You were vulnerable and shared your scars from a haunting, horrible past that happened not too long at the Killing Fields with my team and me….
…Not only that, you allowed my friend and I know the horrors of what happened in Prison S-21 and meet two of the survivors from that dreadful place, and how people sharing their stories can stop something like that from happening again in Cambodia….
….You gave us awesome places to have “dates” and rest with fellow team mates, such as Costa Coffee, The Blue Pumpkin and Daughters of Cambodia…..
….God had my team placed at a very awesome home in your land that had really cute dogs that helped with missing my own back home, such as Owen and Snap….
….You provided a safe haven, also our host’s house, to have the funnest party of them all….a lice checking party!….
….More importantly, I was allowed to stay in this home called The Bykota House that is an orphanage ran like a home that sheltered some of your most awesome kids….and that just happen to be professionals at doing the “Nay Nay”….
…And more importantly, the Lord blessed me abundantly in the Bykota House…in your land….with 41 hours with 4 of some of the most precious kids I’ve ever had the blessing to meet….
…I have to admit, I saw them as so fragile I was nervous taking care of them at the beginning of the month…but then I soon realized they aren’t as breakable as I thought and they had a lot of strength that amazed me…in more ways than just one….
….They taught me that it’s okay to get excited and laugh over the small things….that with God as my strength, I can do the things that seemed impossible, that it’s okay to just dance…that it’s important to have empathy for those around me….
….I was no longer afraid to look after them and encourage them to do new things…their unconditional love and need for love drove away any fear….and in the process God placed them in a special place in my heart for eternity…
….I only got to spend 41 hours with them….but how thankful I am I was able to even spend just one hour with them….
…So thank-you, Cambodia for being an amazing month with a awesome new team, with new lessons from the Lord, with an amazing host, with awesome kids….and for enlarging my heart.
Stay beautiful.
With love,
Meraia
P.S. My squad and I will be traveling by a 4 hour bus ride to Bangkok, Thailand tomorrow and then my team and I have a 14 hour bus ride to Chiang Mai, Thailand where we will be working alongside The Haven Project. Please continue to keep us in your prayers for safe travels and health!
