2/15/19
Instead of teaching on Friday, we got the opportunity to go to a nearby village and do some evangelism. Most of the people in the village were either Buddhist or Hindu so our mission was just to go, listen, and love them. First, we got to ride some of the kids’ bikes to the village because it was a bit too far to walk. As I pedaled down the dirt roads, I got to see and take in more of this country. Although it is simple, it is beautiful. There was such serenity to the land that I loved. The village that we went to was a lot poorer than ones we’ve previously seen and visited. We went to three separate homes where each family had a different story.
Before we entered the first home, there was a little girl who followed us. She stood as a distance and stared in confusion what us foreigners were doing in her village. As other members of my team began speaking to the lady at the first house, the little girl came closer and closer to us. Eventually she came right behind me and hid behind my skirt. We became fast friends as she giggled and we played with the bracelets I had on my wrist. Despite the fact that neither of us understood each other, she brought me such joy. As we left the first house, thinking it was goodbye, I gave her the bracelet she’d been playing with and we got on our bikes for the next house. She instantly jumped on my teammate’s bike and came along for the journey. At the second home, we met an older lady who was watching her three grandchildren. This lady lived by herself and as we sat there, I shared with the grandma what God had been telling me about her. He revealed to me this woman’s scars and hardship during the genocide in Cambodia almost 40 years ago. He reminded her of His eternal love for her and His guiding hand throughout her life, despite her loneliness and pain.
As we were hearing this woman’s story, my little friend’s mom came walking down the road and started yelling at her daughter. Our host translated that the neighbors told her that her daughter ran off with the foreigners. What’s crazy about this is that I actually got to pray for this little girl, her mother, and their entire family. This little girl unintentionally brought her mom to us so that He could reveal Himself to her. The little girl left with not one, but two of my bracelets (the second she took from my wrist while praying). At first I was a bit caught off guard but then I realized that that was the way that God wanted to bless that little girl.
As we walked into the last house, the first thing I saw was a lady laying on the floor. As I looked into her eyes, she looked hopeless and in pain. My heart became heavy. As we talked to the family, we found out that the lady had a stroke 9 months ago due to high blood pressure and has never gotten the proper care due to poverty. Her family members take turns skipping work to take care of her. As we prayed for her, she began to cry out loud. This cry was a cry out to God for His strength and mercy on her. My team began to massage her legs and arms to help circulate blood pressure in her body. As I touched her legs, I could feel her bones and weakness. I prayed that she would be able to use them again. She looked into my eyes and I could see the helplessness in them. My heart broke. My team and I sang worship songs for her and held her hands reminding her that she is not forgotten, she is loved, and she is seen.
Today we saw how majority of the people in this country lived. Although we did not see any miracles, God is still good. He loves his people so much regardless of their materials or status. What a pleasure it is to have a Father who loves with no bounds and in return, be filled with even more to give.
