we made it to phnom penh, cambodia last monday morning and to our base camp on thursday afternoon! i’m super thankful that we had a couple days in phnom penh to get used to the time difference (11 hour time difference from GA is not easy), to explore and learn about the culture here, and have some really meaningful conversations and spark friendships with people we’ve encountered. it’s so encouraging to see our squad living out ministry even when we aren’t at our ministry sites, and to see them showing Jesus love everywhere we go. starting ministry yesterday, i saw even more love flowing from their hearts and hearing everyone’s stories from the day at dinner is so amazing. doing ministry with them is so special and something i look forward to sharing for the next months. i’ll be honest though, Cambodia is really hard for me. i feel a spiritual heaviness here, and my heart hurts for people i see passing by, much more those who i’ve been able to talk to and know their stories and their pain. 98% of people here have never heard the gospel. that’s a statistic that hurts me and at the same time ignites a fire in me. i’m more eager than ever to show the Father’s love to this country and these people, and to show them that there is so much joy and purpose among the pain and hurt. for those of you at home, i would love for an overwhelming amount of prayers to be lifted up for our squad (gap k) to be persistent in sharing the gospel, obedient to where God is calling us, and absolutely filled with the abundant power of the Holy Spirit. i have so much hope for these people and this place and i know God has so much planned for the people of Cambodia, i’m just glad i get to be a small part of it.
i’m learning more than ever in an unfamiliar place that small things hold so much joy, and mundane things hold so much meaning. i’m learning to see the Father’s heart in everything, and currently changing my heart posture on drinking slightly-warmer-than-lukewarm water every day (shout out to dehydration!) here’s a couple things i find beautiful about our home here in Cambodia in a little poem i wrote a few days ago.
a fan blowing air in an 80 degree room
and a house to lay our heads
the combined sounds of basketball and worship
in our fellowship with friends
wet footprints on wood stairs
eating dinner on the floor
unpacking our stuff here
and having a place to call home
surrendering what we thought important
and trading for what matters most
a reason to find meaning to the mundane
the bright laughter of kids cracking jokes
seeing the wind brush through the trees
the calm air in the morning
and the peaceful presence of the Father
consistent smiles and reminders of joy
and confidence in the plan we’re a part of
the things seeming mundane to some
have all the more meaning to me.
i’ll do an update soon about our ministry this week (spoiler alert: they’re kids and they are the CUTEST.) life here is slow and intentional and also busy and hectic. praying to find more examples of heaven on earth and God working in this place.
bye from the bodes!!
