Four days left in Cambodia...I can hardly believe it. I have so many pictures that I want to post...and I will once I get back to the states. I am once again having problems with uploading them. So I will be on a mission to post a lot when internet is a little more reliable.
This last week has been busier than I thought it was going to be. We didn't really have anything planned, but every day, someone calls and asks if we want to go to their house for dinner. I love spending time with my friends here. Not only that, but I love the food. My mom would be so proud...and a lot of people would be surprised...to know that I eat all my vegetables here ;-) I am actually going to miss the food a lot when I get home...
Please be praying for me and my friend Brittany as we are finishing out our time here. When I first arrived, I thought six months was a long time, but in reality, it has flown by faster than I could have imagined. I know there have been so many blessings along the way and I am standing in faith that the last few days will be the same.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Friday, February 06, 2009
"Just..."
It's just painting...
It's just playing games...
It's just telling stories...
It's just visiting a church...
It's just giving them some food...
It's not "just" anything...it is so much more!
Yeah, all of these things are good to do and even standing alone, they are of some merit. But we don't come in to do "just" anything. We come to do these things to open doors and allow God to open hearts.
Last weekend, our class went on a missions trip to Kampong Thom, a province about 3 hours to the north of Phnom Penh. We "did" all those things in that list above, but like I also said -- it is so much more. We came to serve. We came to share the love of Jesus. We came to bring encouragement. We came bring to hope to children that have very little to look forward to.
We came to change mindsets.
From the very beginning of my time here in Cambodia, my goal has been to raise up these people to share God's love...to empower them to step out in boldness of how they are made. And through our teachings and putting them into practice, I think that is happening. But it was on this trip that something more struck me....here is a group of missionaries, serving and loving their own people.
When the people of Cambodia think of missionaries or teams coming to serve, they most likely will picture a group of foreigners. This group is the opposite. Each one of these students has a heart to serve and see their own nation come to know the truth of God. And as we step out and serve the churches in the provinces, something sparks inside of them...this is something they can do too. It doesn't have to depend on foreigners. They are missionaries. They can speak into the lives of others and see the results.
They are seeing the example set by this group that God has named the Harvesters. These ten young people have God's joy bursting from inside of them...and they are learning how to pour that out into the lives of others. It's hard to believe that I only have one more month to work with this team. But the good news is that they are planning outreaches to go on...after I leave. God used me to help establish this work, but in the end, it is God's work and He doesn't stop because I am leaving Cambodia.
No...He's just begun.
(I will be posting pictures of the trip in a day or two, so please check back soon!)
It's just playing games...
It's just telling stories...
It's just visiting a church...
It's just giving them some food...
It's not "just" anything...it is so much more!
Yeah, all of these things are good to do and even standing alone, they are of some merit. But we don't come in to do "just" anything. We come to do these things to open doors and allow God to open hearts.
Last weekend, our class went on a missions trip to Kampong Thom, a province about 3 hours to the north of Phnom Penh. We "did" all those things in that list above, but like I also said -- it is so much more. We came to serve. We came to share the love of Jesus. We came to bring encouragement. We came bring to hope to children that have very little to look forward to.
We came to change mindsets.
From the very beginning of my time here in Cambodia, my goal has been to raise up these people to share God's love...to empower them to step out in boldness of how they are made. And through our teachings and putting them into practice, I think that is happening. But it was on this trip that something more struck me....here is a group of missionaries, serving and loving their own people.
When the people of Cambodia think of missionaries or teams coming to serve, they most likely will picture a group of foreigners. This group is the opposite. Each one of these students has a heart to serve and see their own nation come to know the truth of God. And as we step out and serve the churches in the provinces, something sparks inside of them...this is something they can do too. It doesn't have to depend on foreigners. They are missionaries. They can speak into the lives of others and see the results.
They are seeing the example set by this group that God has named the Harvesters. These ten young people have God's joy bursting from inside of them...and they are learning how to pour that out into the lives of others. It's hard to believe that I only have one more month to work with this team. But the good news is that they are planning outreaches to go on...after I leave. God used me to help establish this work, but in the end, it is God's work and He doesn't stop because I am leaving Cambodia.
No...He's just begun.
(I will be posting pictures of the trip in a day or two, so please check back soon!)
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