To sum it all up

Of the past 3 months, I can’t tell you how many pounds of rice I have eaten, baby wipes I used, or bugs I have accidently swallowed. I still can’t count past 10 in Khmer or carry on a conversation beyond “hello”. I can’t even begin to describe the smell of the meat market or what its like to ride your bike in Battambang traffic, and I am pretty sure dirt is permanently embedded in the soles of my feet.

(market food)

But I can try to convey how incredible this chapter of my life has been. To say that God has amazed me would be an understatement. From the first week in the village to the last goodbye at the bus station, He has never stopped pouring out His peace, joy, grace, faithfulness, strength, provision, wisdom and protection over myself and my Fambodia.

The people of Cambodia are some of the most giving, joyful, hopeful people I have ever met. Many have close to nothing, yet they would offer you the shirt off their back if you needed one. Even as I write this on the bus to Phnom Pehn, the pregnant woman seated next to me offers me a bite of her spring roll with a smile, even though we have never met before.

In the last 2 weeks of outreach, I started to hang out with 2 older women (the mom and aunt of a friend) in the slum across from our base. Their home was made of wood and a tin roof upon stilts to avoid the floods that come with monsoon season. They sleep on bamboo mats, have river water delivered into giant clay pots so they can shower, and keep their possessions in since they have no room for shelves. The aunt makes money by sewing children’s shirts out of worn out adult clothes. Each shirt takes 2 hours to make and are sold for 50 cents at the market. Whenever I came to visit, they made sure I left with a belly full of rice and soup. They made me laugh, even though we don’t speak the same language. They ask me to pray for them, even though they do not believe in God. Hope, hope, hope.

The Lord was true to His promises He made my co-leader and I earlier this year and marked our team with unity and joy in abundance. 6 months ago, we met as strangers. 3 months ago, we came here as friends. Today, we leave as family. I will forever be thankful for the lives of these 12 and that the God had their paths cross mine. The memories of family bike rides, mandatory fun nights, and family banter at the dinner table will always bring me joy.

(family bike picture)

My own heart has undergone a major transformation. My trust in the Lord was put to the test more than once and is now stronger than ever before. I relied way too much on my weak human strength and when it failed, His abiding strength would catch me. The reality of Jesus and His heart for every single child of His on this globe has been awakened in my spirit. Not a single Khmer person was born to worship a mute, deaf, and emotionless god, and then fade out of existence when life here on earth ends. Every single body has a soul. Every soul has a Maker and every soul was meant to meet that Maker. And that is my prayer for this world, that sleepy souls will be awakened.

Thank you again, from the bottom of my heart, for all your prayers and support! The Lord did SOOOO MUCH and we were protected the whole time, thank to all the prayer coverage we had. It means the world to me to have the support from friends and family :)