1-28-18
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Ministry this month- Unsung Hero
In a previous blog, I gave a lot of information about the recent history of Cambodia and the sex trafficking situation here in Siem Reap. In this blog, I’m just going to break down what our ministry has looked like the past couple weeks. This month was different than previous months because it was our “Unsung Hero” month, which means we didn’t have a host like we did in previous countries, but instead were assigned the task to find future hosts for world racers to partner with. My beautiful teammate, Calli, was our Unsung Hero (UH) Coordinator and did an AMAZING job of overseeing and jumping into this opportunity!
My team, the 7tens, along with another team, Ablaze, have been staying in a guesthouse that is run by Adventures in Missions(AIM), and we have been working together this month to find local Christian churches, organizations, and missionaries that are here for the long run here in Siem Reap. The goal is to contact them, set up a meeting, get to know them, explain our vision of partnering with them and sending future World Race teams to come alongside and help them reach their goals, and then connect them with the AIM regional director.
Between the two teams working together, we sent out over 40 emails to contacts, met with around 20, and were able to make so many connections at churches and ministries that were already in action here. It was so much fun to see people from my team and people from Ablaze just THRIVE in this pursuit and really get to know people. Calli went and watched the sunset on a hill with one lady. Another teammate said they met with a couple who had met a previous group of racers and had been praying for years to meet another group, then they got our email! Another man we met with had moved here from Texas (his family was from Cambodia) to do ministry, empower, and educate Cambodians and was part of the Church of Christ. He was so humble and kind and I thought the most beautiful thing from our meeting was that, despite “doctrinal differences” we could come together on the simple truth that Jesus was the Son of God, He died on the cross for our sins, and He rose again so that we could have freedom and relationship with God the Father. There are several more cool stories about the people we have met, but it’s just so cool to see what God is doing in this country.
While we were doing UH, we were also helping around the guesthouse with chores such as serving breakfast, painting the lobby, teaching English to the Cambodian staff members, helping with inventory, etc. Kayla and I got to teach English a few times and I really enjoyed that. I loved their desire and eagerness to learn, because no one forced them to, but they WANTED to. It was a privilege to them, while most of us take it for granted in the states. I know I did when I was in school, and I know many of my students did when I was teaching, because we just don’t know any different. It’s handed to us for free. The people here are so thankful for an opportunity at education. Most of the older generation that speak Khmer here, don’t know how to read it.
So, in essence, it has been an awesome month, full of new friendships and connections. Jesus has shown me that He is alive, moving in this country, and He is so passionate about Cambodians (as well as all of us), but He wants to adopt His lost sons and daughters here into His family. He is changing cultural norms, changing lives, and changing hearts and people are being set free. I love it. That’s my Jesus. 🙂
