Know first that I am a dreamer. My imagination is fervent.
Romantic ideas of Cambodia and service have filled my mind for over 2 years.
Here is how they are playing out:
Romantic ideas of Cambodia and service have filled my mind for over 2 years.
Here is how they are playing out:
Our first day of ministry consisted of us going to a school
(not the way you envision a school, I promise) to de-worm and de-lice children,
paint a swingset and some bathroom doors, and clean up the school rooms. I had
an intense moment of amazement while my hands scrubbed shampoo through several
children’s heads and combed out lice. This is exactly what I have thought
service looked like for so many years. Doing the dirty work. Actually making a
tangible difference in someone’s life.
(not the way you envision a school, I promise) to de-worm and de-lice children,
paint a swingset and some bathroom doors, and clean up the school rooms. I had
an intense moment of amazement while my hands scrubbed shampoo through several
children’s heads and combed out lice. This is exactly what I have thought
service looked like for so many years. Doing the dirty work. Actually making a
tangible difference in someone’s life.
Then we headed into the village with a team from Singapore
where I took a hatchet and helped tear down some walls to a palm branch house
so it could be rebuilt with a zinc roof. This one room home belongs to a widow
and her children who, as we were told later, spoke of how at night they would
get rained on and look up from their mat on the floor and see sky and how they
wished they could see no sky and be dry while they slept. I stood with my
teammates knocking down a house, spiders and dirt falling into my hair watching
some of our girls picking up the debris while shaking off all the insects from
their hands.
where I took a hatchet and helped tear down some walls to a palm branch house
so it could be rebuilt with a zinc roof. This one room home belongs to a widow
and her children who, as we were told later, spoke of how at night they would
get rained on and look up from their mat on the floor and see sky and how they
wished they could see no sky and be dry while they slept. I stood with my
teammates knocking down a house, spiders and dirt falling into my hair watching
some of our girls picking up the debris while shaking off all the insects from
their hands.
Exhausted and sweaty, that night I rested wonderfully under
my mosquito net surrounding my floor mat knowing that I had physically helped
the world in a small way.
my mosquito net surrounding my floor mat knowing that I had physically helped
the world in a small way.
Before you get all “oh look at how good she is doing…” let
me confess:
me confess:
The VERY next day. I threw a hissy fit. We were sent to a
school again, but this time to teach. I am NOT a teacher. I do NOT like
teaching. Classrooms are NOT my place. This is NOT why I came on the Race. My
attitude–anything but pleasant.
school again, but this time to teach. I am NOT a teacher. I do NOT like
teaching. Classrooms are NOT my place. This is NOT why I came on the Race. My
attitude–anything but pleasant.
Enter reality check. I went to the edge of a rice field to
look up at God and literally ask “what in the world is going on here?! How is
teaching people how to type doing anything for Your kingdom?!”
look up at God and literally ask “what in the world is going on here?! How is
teaching people how to type doing anything for Your kingdom?!”
That’s when I realized how romantic my ideas of this Race
have been; how lovely the IDEA of service has been to me.
have been; how lovely the IDEA of service has been to me.
Taglines such as “spent the morning de-licing children” and
“held an orphan baby in a hospital” sound so pretty don’t they??
“held an orphan baby in a hospital” sound so pretty don’t they??
Phrases just as true such as “spent hours NOT wanting to be
at a school while being attacked by gnats” and “had a rotten attitude about classrooms and teaching basic
computer skills” don’t ring such a nice bell.
at a school while being attacked by gnats” and “had a rotten attitude about classrooms and teaching basic
computer skills” don’t ring such a nice bell.
But those moments are JUST as real as the ones where I feel
good and satisfied.
good and satisfied.
Basically, I lost sight of reality and fell in love with all
the picture-esque ideas of what serving Christ looks like. So. From this, I
have decided to see God in every moment. Surely in my bad attitudes there is a
beautiful tagline waiting to be seen. So. That is what I will now focus
on…turning my complaining into rejoicing.
the picture-esque ideas of what serving Christ looks like. So. From this, I
have decided to see God in every moment. Surely in my bad attitudes there is a
beautiful tagline waiting to be seen. So. That is what I will now focus
on…turning my complaining into rejoicing.
I began to think of how these kids, in the classrooms are the future of this country. And I have the opportunity to sit and speak with them about their families, hobbies, and their religion. Jesus will impact this future through me standing and teaching typing skills. ALSO. I realized that through education, these children will not have to turn to prostitution as a money making means. They will have skills, be open to opportunities. They can prevent their future families from turning to human trafficking for money. My ministry this month is speaking Jesus through computer class, english Bible studies, and just being a person who speaks worth and future into these lives.
Today. I woke up once again under my mosquito net and heard
the Lord simply ask me if I was ready and willing to smile at the fact that I
am IN Cambodia, sleeping under netting to avoid the spiders and insects, and
REJOICE at the fact that this is my reality. Now I am setting off to see what enticing
tagline awaits for me today.
the Lord simply ask me if I was ready and willing to smile at the fact that I
am IN Cambodia, sleeping under netting to avoid the spiders and insects, and
REJOICE at the fact that this is my reality. Now I am setting off to see what enticing
tagline awaits for me today.
***pictures on facebook as soon as i can get them to load…they still won’t load on here. Sorry y’all!***
