I am in a country surrounded by people who simply s m i l e.
If there was one word I would have to use to describe Cambodia it would be smiley or nhn-youm the pronunciation of smile in Khmer, the native language here.
It’s an outward expression of who they are as a whole– content, loving, friendly and above all caring.
Just this week we experienced all the joys and smiles so freely given to my team and I and our translators, Dom and Eunice when we visited a village about 3 hours from where we were staying. We had the blessed opportunity to form relationships with the people and the children there, who are predominately Buddhists.
They gave us so much more than I could ever return…
The villagers would come bearing a part of their daily meal so we could enjoy a bit of what little they already may have had.
After waking up early in the morning to work in the rice fields they would wait for us to wake up so they could watch us eat and enjoy their food.
They simply came without expectation, without wanting or needing anything in return…
All we had to give them in return were a couple of devotions, worships songs and a nail care party. And yet they enjoyed it, with such a raw sense of joy.
FOOODD!!!
We were continulaly blessed with an abundance of delicious food.
A small dance party we held with the kids– they had to freeze every time the music stopped.
We had a mini nail salon station where we got to cut and clean the nails of the children and women in the village and also wash their feet.
The beautiful people of the village!
______
Future News:
On a fun note, half of my team and I have the opportunity to go to Vietnam for the weekend so we will be going there early Saturday morning and get back Monday night. Off to Vietnam I go!
Next week my squad and I will have the blessed opportunity to take part in “Regional Awakening”, where we will be coming alongside the believers of Siem Reap and three other squads for fellowship and worship. It sounds like it will be a giant worship festival with lots of people. I’m excited to experience it nonetheless.
Also, here’s another video in the “Grace Eats..” series for your viewing pleasure 🙂
As always, thanks for reading, God bless and SMILE!
