Cambodia Mission - July 12

Good morning! What a difference a decent night of sleep can make. I spoke with my husband this morning. Then my sister and her family. Finally, I called my parents. It was good to have a touch of home. Sister Regina talked to us about culture shock and how touching base with familiar helps While at breakfast, Devon called to check in on me. Breakfast is always a gear up for the day.

While talking to Mom I confessed the street evangelism is a bit of a struggle. It is so far outside of my wheelhouse. Tomorrow, we travel to the village. That is what I am looking forward too. I have spent time connecting to people in their homes. It is more intimate and comfortable.

After sleep and talking with my family, I feel refreshed. I have so much support from them to be here having this experience. I am blessed beyond all measure. So many do not have family supporting them. Even my unsaved loved ones support this mission,

Think Before You Post

I should have learned by now that when your blog is essentially how you journal, people see right through you. I am a pretty transparent person once I am comfortable with you, so generally it does not bother it. It is when it takes me off guard. Like the first time I realized members of the church staff were regular readers or today when Brother Wes told me he reads it. Honestly, I figured he did because he follows people on Facebook to keep up with them. I suppose part of my surprise has been tied to my hope for blogging success instead of faith and expectation of success.

There is also the issue of editing. (Thanks Lenny.) Spell check is rather poor on this app and frankly, I am surprised I have not been typing hieroglyphics with how exhausted I have been. I will try to do better but until I can get back to a real computer to fix all this...just another week of grace to my poor editing attempts.

Street Evangelism Take Two

I expressed my feelings about the street evangelism perhaps too soon. I do very much believe some people just have a the anointing to evangelize and "plunder hell to populate heaven" at a level those without the gift of evangelism stand in awe of.

Before dinner, we shared the gospel with 14 people. Three of these accepted Christ into their hearts, one was already saved and one...let's just hold his story a moment. We started being a little more conversational in our approach, which felt more natural. We still utilized our script but we took a little more time. The first two salvations were a husband and wife. Only one leads through the actual prayer of salvation, otherwise it would be very confusing. I led the wife through the prayer. You could see a light come on in her eyes. We were both crying. At first we thought the husband might be mad, but he quickly said the prayer with Dakota. 

Pastor Samnang was so gracious as our interpreter and helped us to better communicate with the Khmer people and understand better how they think. We spoke to a Chinese man who drove a Tuk-Tuk. We spent nearly an hour with him. Pastor Samnang engaged in conversation with him at length. He allowed me to pray for him and wanted me to say the prayer of salvation, but said he could not say it. He said it would cause problems with his family and there was something about a  curse that I still do not completely understand. I looked in his eyes and I saw desire for what we were sharing. Though he did not receive Christ today, I believe the seed was planted.

While Pastor and I  continued to engage with the Chinese Tuk-Tuk driver, Elizabeth and Dakota spoke with a couple of Americans. They were on holiday from Hawaii. He and Elizabeth had shared a common Alma Mater. When Elizabeth tried to share the gospel she was quickly shut down. This would happen later in the day with two young women from Germany who were in Cambodia to see Angkor Wat. The were professed atheist. It was heartbreaking to me to see people so cold toward the message of Christ. 

Between these two was another Tuk-Tuk driver. His family went to church and were Christian. We asked if he had Jesus in his heart and if he knew he would go to heaven. He told us no and Dakota took off from there. He was primed for salvation. You could see it in him that he was ready.

Before I share our last meeting, I want to give thanks for Elizabeth. Momma Joi said it yesterday that both Dakota and I were out of our element. Part of it is a confidence issue. Although I no longer get apologetic over how much I cry in worship or prayer, when I have a heartfelt conversation with someone I tend to cry too. This can be almost embarrassing when you are trying to address something serious...like salvation. Elizabeth spoke such life into me today. She spoke of my tears and the compassion she felt. She spoke words of life into Dakota as well, but that was her message and her story to tell.

Before meeting up with the team for dinner we made a stop in a cafe for something to drink. We were rained on...many times today and were now all hot, gross and sticky. We were immediately drawn to this beautiful young woman in the cafe. She offered us seats to join her, offered to share her curry and her coconut. She had a radiant smile. We exchanged some small talk and sat down with her. I listened as Pastor Samnang spoke to her and I thought I heard "christian" and "Jesus". I waited to find out what the exchange was before trying to jump into the script. Turns out she is a Christian and wants to help the poor. All three of us ladies immediately thought of Teacher Jen. We were able to coordinate an exchange of information. Who knows, she may be a teacher with Jen and Ruth before next year...we never know. Meet our young friend Vanna.

We spoke with other people who allowed us to pray over them but declined praying the prayer of salvation. 

After dinner we had about an hour to spend on evangelism. Our team changed up a little. Rachel, Elizabeth and myself joined Teacher Ruth to go to the market. Yes, we wanted more souls, but we were also seeking to bless Teacher Ruth. These teachers and Pastors in Cambodia are very selfless. When you ask what they want or need, you hear about the needs of the people in their village. We were able to bless Teacher Ruth with a dress of her choosing. In the process of shopping for her dress we learned the shop keeper was a Christian; however, her 12 year old daughter was not. We had a lovely visit and prayed a blessing over the Mother. Meanwhile, as Rachel and I prayed a prayer of blessing, Elizabeth and Ruth were leading the daughter to Christ. What a fantastic way to end the day. We learned that the Mom does not have a Khmer Bible, she has an English one that she does not understand. We will be bringing a Khmer Bible back to her before with leave Cambodia.

As I said the Khmer people are quite selfless in what I have seen. Teacher Ruth would love nothing more than a computer to help her show her students more about Jesus. In Cambodia, the computer will cost about $200. If you are interested in helping Teacher Ruth, you can send money to my paypal account. (PayPal.me/SueGallien) Just put Ruth in the notes. I am believing for more than $200 I will have Wes and Regina sort that according to the needs presented. 

Other Teams

Other teams had different experiences. One went into a village and ministered a a handful of homes. Another raced up commitments to Christ...34 I think was the number I heard. There have been healings today...one was for opening blinded eyes. Each team had measures of success. What a blessing to share the Word of God and feel Him operate through you. More than once I had to pray that self would die and it be only Jesus doing His thing through me. It certainly paid off. The following photos are ones shared by other teams.

It was an amazing day. Some of us are going to be smiling in our sleep tonight.

For the Readers

People seem to be very interested in two things outside of our evangelistic efforts...the food and the bathrooms. (Once again, so things are universal.) The bathrooms I have encountered thus far, they are normal at the hotel, except they have a bidet...which is an amazing invention that every home should have. Plumbing is different here so they cannot handle the abuse we put on the systems in America. This is a bathroom in one of the restaurants.

And this is at the hotel...

Breakfast was fantastic but the only thing different that I ate today was eggs and I am pretty sure you know what those look like. Dinner was at Royal Indian. I was looking forward to trying Indian food, but was also a touch nervous. Like the Khmer food, is was amazingly good. In fact, I might go back there when we have free time. The curry was yummy, the samosa so much better than our hotel and the best Naan I have ever put in my mouth.

Good Night After A Good Day

I told you that we had spoken about unity a great deal. It has overwhelmed me how much we as a team are pouring into each other. I shared what Elizabeth said to me earlier today, but it is happening between all of is. It is not rehearsed or forced...it is just happening. We are lifting each other up in such beautiful and power ways. 

My roommate and I have spoken about what God is doing in us. We have shared confidences that have built each of us up. No judgment. Just an over abundance of love. This is the whole team. When we struggle with someone or something we are not talking about it...we are PRAYING about it. The spirit among us is so sweet and tender.

There was a brief moment today when I was disappointed in how few people we talked too and the small number of salvations for our team. Then I remember something Teacher Jen shared this morning. This is paraphrased. One soul is like a mango. You plant it and it grows into a tree that gives much fruit. Yesterday, I do not know how sincere the prayers of salvation were, but today I SAW it in them. Seeds have been planted and God is moving. Tomorrow we get more. We will keep going after "just one more", for the rest of our lives...not just the rest of the mission trip.

My son told one of the girls that he wishes he was here to see me be a light to others. Today, I felt like the light he was expecting. We are changed. The refiner's fire continues to shape us, but make no mistake we are not coming back as the people you sent.