Cambodia Mission - July 13

Even back home I get up and after Joe leaves for work I have my quiet time with God. Here in Cambodia I am up around 5 every morning...about 2 hours before my alarm. Thinking I would not disturb my roommate I go out on the balcony to read the word, pray and worship. Sometimes this blog is written during that time. I am also not the only one with this morning routine. Dakota and Momma Joi are among others who enjoy these peaceful moments with God.

Going down for breakfast is a different routine too. Having that morning fellowship with everyone is such a lovely way to start our day. Yesterday morning I captured a photo of one of the hotel staff collecting the flowers.

Evidently, I mentioned her several times yesterday. The hotel has these lovely yellow blooms everywhere. Watching her carefully select the blooms from outside our rooms was so peaceful. Something about the care she gave to the flowers and the seemingly loving way she went about doing her duty. It was such a simple thing but it made me think of how God adorns the lilies, who but God, could create such beauty?

July 13

It is Friday here in Cambodia. The irony of Friday the 13th is not lost on me. I wonder if they share that superstition in Cambodia. I am certainly not going to ask and introduce something destructive. 

The idea of Friday the 13th brings to mind the Chinese Tuk-Tuk driver yesterday was so fearful of being cursed if he abandoned Buddha. I am fascinated by culture and beliefs, not enough for in depth study, but enough to take note and be curious. I see these carvings and images at the temple location and through the city. I see nothing of comfort in the images of their religion. Many of these images are a little scary to be honest. These beliefs are as ingrained into their knowledge as Christianity is ingrained into mine.

I commented a day or so ago that I wanted to see Angkor Wat. I still appreciate it as a world wonder but after seeing these minor temples in the city...I have no desire to even travel to see the Angkor Wat temple. I was previously under the impression it was a historical site, not an active temple. That is not the case. The images at the minor temples and the spirit near them is dark. I once thought of Buddhist as peaceful people. They are quiet, not peaceful. I have seen this first hand in the fear they have of retribution from the spirits. It makes me very sad to think of such a hopeless existence that essentially teaches that they recycle you till you meet their standard. (Reincarnation and enlightenment)

We spoke with a young atheist woman yesterday and she commented how someone of Islamic beliefs shared a message similar to the message we were trying to share of Christ. Her heart was so hard toward even having a blessing prayed over her. Looking at her reaction and that of the Chinese Tuk-Tuk driver...I am amazed. The driver was engaged and he received our message, but fear stopped him short. The young woman believed in nothing. The driver had warmth and life in his eyes, a desire and curiosity. I believe a seed was planted. The woman did not had nothing. This is not a judgment, just an observation. How do you go through life believing in NOTHING? I pray her heart softens. Elizabeth asked her what happens when she dies and she said she would see when it happened. I pray she sees truth before she sees what happens. My heart broke for her. Brother Wes said that there would be people we talked too that our conversation would be their last opportunity to accept Christ. I felt in my spirit that was the case for one of these women. It breaks my heart.

Our Interpreters

Before I share about today's activities I want to tell you about our interpreters. We have 5 interpreters but I have only engaged with four of them thus far. Teacher Ruth I have already talked about. I am praying and believing we can raise the money to purchase her computer before we leave Cambodia next week. What a blessing to help her teach the children and spread the Gospel. This is Ruth with Elizabeth and 12 year old Christina who accepted Christ yesterday.

Teacher Ruth works with Teacher Jen in Poipet and in the nearby villages of that area. Teacher Jen is from the Philippines and smiles more than I thought a human being could smile. (For the Centerbranch family, this lady makes Desiree Gladyz look depressed...yes she smiles that much.) She has been here in Cambodia for 5 years. She is a single woman in a foreign land doing God's work. She has 12 villagers living with her currently and they make it month to month on faith that really does move mountains. This is Teacher Jen teaching us.

Yesterday, Pastor Samnang was my team interpreter. He has such a kind and gentle spirit. You can tell he really loves people. He engaged and spoke with such love. We are doing village ministry in his village later today. My son talked a lot about Pastor Samnang when he returned last year as did many of the youth. He really is an incredible young man. This is Pastor Samnang on the right.

Pastor Perlito is also from the Philippines. He has been here in Cambodia for 15 years. He has wisdom about him you can only appreciate hearing him talk. He is also really funny. I have not had a chance to spend much time with him, but I look forward to knowing him better over the next several days. This is Pastor Perlito with Momma Joi.

When We Pray

There are many people praying for us back home. So many donated their time, their money to make this possible. The seed we have corporately planted is multiplying. In 2 days the team has seen well over 100 salvations. We have seen healings. God is moving. 

We start each day in corporate prayer. We each take our quiet time with God daily. These salvations and wonders are not by accident...they are by intent. Thank you so much to our prayer warriors who are supporting us and interceding for us. This is not easy. If you consider going on a mission trip, be prepared to be pushed to your limits and passed them.

Pastor Samnang's Village

It was special to go to Pastor Samnang's village today. We did not have a lot of time but in that time we saw 5 salvations and healing in a Buddhist nun. We saw his church. The place where he teaches about God and educates the villagers. It is simple and beautiful and you can feel the Holy Spirit on that place...Holy Ground. He showed us the projector our Aspire Youth group raised money to purchase for him. One of our teens was with us and seeing that projector moved him to tears. 

A woman that was near death in 2017 came out to greet Erin who had prayed over her last year. She was happy and smiling. Students of Pastor Samnang's came out to meet with us and walk through the village. When the two teams joined back up to leave from Pastor Samnang's church, one of the Christian women in the village asked us to pray for her husband. We, the American team, and the Christian girls from the village prayed for her husband. We stood there united in faith asking for the same miracle so many spouses pray in our home church. "Lord, soften his/her heart".

I loved being in the village. Seeing fruit from last year and claiming more souls for the Kingdom of Heaven is rewarding and invigorates the soul. At the same time, my spirit grieved for America. Even our poorest communities are rich by Cambodia standards. We are so privileged and pampered in the US that it honestly makes me sick. Teacher Jen and Teacher Ruth have little. When we offer and try to bless them - they ask for things others need. Pastor Samnang wants to expand at his church to make additional classroom space. What some of us pay for a coffee, is a full day salary for someone here. Teacher Jen buys a pound of meat to feed 13 people for a few days...1 pound for 13 people. (Stop complaining about your portion size.)

Church 

Tonight we had church service. With some of the things I have been told about Poipet I know we needed it. I am excited for this. Haley talked about Poipet more than anywhere else. Poipet was her favorite part of the trip last year. I have been prepared that it is a war torn area and that the things I see are unlike things I have seen before.

My prayer all day today has been something like this, "Use me. Empty me of self and flow through me. Not my will, but yours Lord." I tend to get in my head and that douses the move of the Spirit quick. That cannot happen. Today was certainly different - even Brother Wes said I looked 10 years younger this afternoon.

Momma Joi preached from Acts tonight. She talked about how Steven and Phillip were both Deacons - lay people of the church, sort of like most all of us here serving in Cambodia. These men were not called to the five fold ministry, but they were filled with the Spirit and they too drew others to Christ with signs and wonders. 

Tomorrow we travel to Poipet. It is the part of the trip I have most anticipated. Please bathe us in prayer for the next two days as we travel into the remote village. I will be writing but may or may not have the opportunity to post. God is moving so powerfully it is becoming harder to put into words.