Hold on to your seats, it’s now been almost 5 weeks since we got to Cambodia and there’s so much I don’t even know where to start. Maybe with the basics.
So the schedule has been roughly the same as the first week we were here; breakfast at 8, visits to church members’ homes to encourage, pray for them, and sometimes share the gospel if their family members aren’t believers from 9-11 am, teaching our 6-12 year olds from 1:20-4 pm, the evening classes from 5-6 pm, then dinner, team time, and finally sleep around 10. The house visits have been equally heartwarming and heartbreaking. There is another level of suffering and pain here that I’ve never seen firsthand before and now see almost every day. But even in those places, these people have such a love for the Lord. Their faithfulness amazes me constantly and is such a beautiful reminder that God gives strength and peace even in the midst of chaos.
There was one house visit last week that I specifically want to share. We went to a woman’s house, it had no floor, walls, running water, or electricity, and she told us her story. She takes care of her grandkids every day while their parents are at work and in the past two years she started having severe back pain to the point where it is very painful to walk. When we came in she was so visibly in pain and could barely get out a sentence because her breathing was so frantic. She shared how she had been praying for God to supply the medicine she needed and through the Joy4You radio station (the ministry hosts we are partnered and living with) she had been able to get that medicine. She also shares the good news with her neighbors and family even though it’s not well received. We prayed over her for peace, strength, and health, and in that moment she was visibly calmed so much. Her breathing was controlled and she could speak so much more freely with us afterward. Her story just really touched me and showed me that even in the darkest places God will reward faithfulness in such real ways. This has been the theme throughout our house visits and since I’ve been reading 1 Samuel this month. God’s faithfulness will never fail and his timing is perfect. He might not show up exactly when and where you want, but He will when you need it. And even when you think you need it and He doesn’t show up, having faith in the fact that He’s with you will always give you peace and strength.
So there’s my spiritual update and sorry for the 180 in tone, but now for the fever dream stuff. Pretty much every weekend there is a celebration of some sort and we end up dancing Footloose or Cotton Eyed Joe at the request of our pastor Mr.Kim. He thinks it’s hilarious and we’re his favorite party trick. We’ve now performed these sub-par dance skills at a wedding reception, a soccer tournament awards ceremony (the governor of this province was there) the 5-year anniversary of Joy4You (the governor and the prime minister of religion and culture of Cambodia were there, suit and tie event, live streamed, and there was a fog machine behind us) and last but certainly not least Mr.Kim’s birthday party (the governor was also at that). So now we’ve danced footloose for the governor 3 times. Yeah, I don’t even know how that happened either I’m just as lost as you are. But it has been so much fun.
We went to Angkor Wat two weeks ago with our whole squad. Yesterday we had a spontaneous trip to Battambang with team Yada and rode a bamboo train which was so cool. Last Saturday we went fishing with our host family and had such a blast. We went to see boat races at a sort of state fair. We also had movie night and worship during sunset on the roof this week. There’s never a dull moment here in Cambodia and it’s been so healing to have fun moments like those in between all the deep moments.
Our English classes with the kids are going really well and we’re building such good relationships with them and the neighborhood kids. There’s one preteen girl named Eva who doesn’t go to the school but shows up almost every night to hang out with us and learn whatever English I’ll teach her in my free time. She’s so smart and I wish she was in school because she’d be top of my class. Now I know what my parents meant when they said education is a blessing.
There’s so much more I could talk about but I’ll save it for next weekend’s update. Thank you all for reading, praying, and donating to my trip. The Lord is moving so much here and in my heart, it amazes me every day. As always, if you feel led to give it would mean the world to me. I’m 58% funded and our 75% deadline passed last week! Every little bit helps and if you don’t feel led to give, please share my story with friends and family or on social media! Thank you all so much. Until next time, God bless <3
This is all so beautiful, Raya. I’m so thankful you’re getting to learn and share and grow like this, and being a blessing at the same time you’re being blessed. Keep the updates coming!