The whirlwind that is our tenth month, Cambodia, I haven’t written a blog in a while. Well and the fact I have been having writers block. Even my own novels are stagnant. But time to change that!
We had the absolute best transition from Thailand to Cambodia. Our logistics team is pretty great! We got to Siem Reap Cambodia 04Oct and as a squad of 9 we stayed at the AIM hostel, Overflow This is where we had LDW (LDW equals Leadership Development Weekend. Just a weekend we hang as a squad and worship, fellowship and talk about all the things God has done and teaching us.) and got introduced to Cambodia. There was a lot of worship, fellowship, and teaching each other. **Teaching Notes for a Later time** Along with outreach. Oh and can’t forget an important part. REAL COFFEE!!
During LDW, Jesse and I went out as a team to evangelize and just meet people. One thing is for sure if you are a tourist Tuktuk drivers and store owners practically jump you just for you to use their services or shop with them and they aren’t keen on letting you say “NO”. Jesse and I met some high schoolers working at a yogurt shop. The shop was an organization that helped Cambodians get an education and they got to work at the shop for a job and to pay for the education. They also had a part of the organization devoted to go out to the villages to educate families about hygiene and mainly reaching out to the girls that can’t always get an education.
After LDW, team F4 Harvesters (Haley, Jesse, Christazia, Me, Vanessa) stayed in Siem Reap for two weeks. We stayed with a family there in town, we met through Airbnb. We got to know the family and the Canadian couple staying with them. We even had dinner with the family and the couple and listened to their stories. We got to know several business owners and street market workers because we went to their stores so often. It says a lot when you can get good food for a dollar or real coffee for a dollar! Haley and I got to have an adventure to Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom. We got to see some of the ancient history of Cambodia along with talking with our TukTuk driver and meeting a woman from Barcelona there. My favorite moment was sitting in one of the temples and speaking to this woman and just hearing her story and allowing us to share also.
Then our team moved to Battambong. We were in communication with Ezra ministries, which happened to be where a Gap Year squad was located on their month 2. The leaders of the ministry helped us find lodging within budget and hooked us up with a church in the community to work with. We repainted the church and heard the testimony of the elder we were working with at the church. He was a child medic during the time of the genocide and by the GRACE of God managed to flee to Thailand and came to know Jesus and his Lord and Savior. We also got to have lunch every day with Gap year which was fun. We got to encourage them as they were starting their time and we were finishing up. (Similar to the Awakening in Ecuador only the roles are reversed!) Two things from the time in Battambong: 1. I conquered a fear I apparently had of riding a bicycle again especially in the crazy traffic in Cambodia. 2. GOD is doing big things in Cambodia with all the Christian run cafes, businesses and ministries we met.
Then we traveled to Phnom Phen for two days before our travel day to Philippines. There we went to the killing fields monument in remembrance of the people murdered during the genocide and the S21 museum. It was a very sobering moment for all of us. The sadness and pain was palpable and understanding the sadness still affecting the country even now. BUT THERE IS HOPE!
Few things to note of Cambodia.
- Cambodia is still coming out of a dark part of their history but the people still have a kindness and gentleness and hope of growing out of it.
- Cambodia wasn’t my favorite place but I recognize it was more the dark and flesh feelings of the place itself rather than the people who I actually enjoyed talked to.
- God is doing big things and bring hope to the people, He loves. He is bringing his children back to him through his Grace in love and healing the wounds.
My amazing family has moved on to the Philippines. The last country of these 11 months. I love doing life and ministry with these people. Not sure I am ready to say Good bye to any of them so I am glad I have 28 more days to spend with them and I am going to be all in with them! We have split up again and my team is currently in Manila about to head out to Naga Philippines and going to spend time with a family that Kate met on the plane on the way here!
