First few days in Cambodia. I’m in a
very small village a few hours from Phnom Phen. Houses are on
stilts, electricity is almost unheard of and water comes from a small
pond behind the ministry where we are staying. I sleep in my tent
under a coconut tree. I’m hoping one doesn’t fall on my tent…like
it did on Rachael’s. Haha
Most of what this ministry is doing is
reaching out to village kids and teenagers by offering extra classes
and English lessons. This ministry just celebrated its one year
anniversary. It started out with 5 students and now has around 60
youth pass through it six days a week.
So today with 30 sets of big brown eyes staring at us we begin English class. I
notice that the back table isn’t writing the alphabet down…and if
they are they are struggling. I quickly grab some computer paper and
sharpie and start writing down the alphabet and draw a blank beside
each upper case letter. I show them how to trace it and then write it
on their own in the blank.
They seem surprised, but quickly I see
their attention is drawn. I rush to make more. Before I know it
every student wants one…there is a line. I’ve disrupted class and
what I meant to help the few that were behind turned into quite an
ordeal. Some wanted some to take home or give to siblings in the more
advanced class in the dirt floored room next to our make shift
“classroom”.
And about the time I start realizing
the ingenious of photocopy machines, I am struck by how something so
simple has become a commodity. Something that is a simple necessity
in America is a treasure here. And my heart broke a little in that
moment.
These children are amazing. They
learning English in what the states would call overcrowded and
unsanitary conditions. Someone would for sure sue. There is still
joy and learning taking place…but still. Something isn’t right.
Something isn’t right that in the school system here students can
spend six years and never learn to even write in their own language.
Or they are too busy taking care of farm and siblings to even attend
their inadequate school.
We can spend hundreds of dollars on
back to school supplies in the states, but here a half sheet of paper
and permanent marker is a text book. And let’s get something
straight…this doesn’t only make me feel grateful for the education
I was able to receive…that I was able to take for granted. If it
only makes me grateful I’m missing a kingdom perspective. So what do
I do about this? How do I bring God’s love, power, and provision to
this small village. I guess this month I’ve just been grieved for the
injustice and poverty of this world. I feel like God has given me
little glimpses into how much He longs for his children to cry out to
Him. I’m interested in what justice looks like for this village.
What does spiritual richness look like for this community?
I can show love everyday I’m here. I
can pray. I can ask for Lord’s provision over this place…and I can
tell all of you about this place. I can spread the news that God is
truly working in this small village in what my suburbaness would call
the “middle of nowhere”. He’s taken the founder ( whos only been
a Christian for 3 years) back to his completely Buddhist home village
and is bringing the gospel one family at a time. And generations will
be changed because of it.
So praise God for what He has
done…but I bet someone reading this has more paper in their
printer than this school has been able to buy in the last six months.
I bet someone out their could donate bibles. I bet if you gave up
coffee for 2 weeks you could pay for kids to have pencils to write
with…for a year.
I just can’t imagine bringing some of
these children to my home in America. How lavish it would seem. What
explanation could I give them for why I live so well and they don’t.
What explanation would I give them for why I have so much and am not
sharing. I can’t claim ignorance anymore. After reading this…you
can’t claim ignorance anymore. I’m not trying to make you feel
guilty…i’m trying to bring reality.
And I know commercials come on the tv
showing poverty and we would rather change the channel. I know many
of us give to charities and volunteer a few times a year. But these
people are just so real. The children sit in my lap. The mothers
offer me strange fruits while sitting under their house. And my
heart is breaking. I’ve seen all sorts of poverty on my journey…but
its different now. The material poverty I see if making me rethink
how I spend my money. And the Holy Spirit within me in breaking my
hearts for the people who have never heard the name of Jesus.
I’ve seen great poverty and I’ve seen
God still working and His Kingdom being spread. So I hope I’m not
coming off condescending. If anything I’ve been humbled by this
journey. And I’m humbled the our Creator chooses to work through us.
That we have the joy and chance to bring His love in provision
through how we choose to live our lives. So it leaves me with the
question…what now?
What
good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not
have works? Can that faith save him?
If
a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and
one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,”
without giving them the things needed for the body, what good
is
that?So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
” James 2: 14-7
