Upcoming Outreach

This picture of Cambodia shows the different provinces that make up the country. I live in Phnom Penh, the capital...and really the only "city." Anything outside of Phnom Penh is called "the province" and is pretty much what we in America would call the country. I have been to Sihanoukville (south), Takeo and Kandal (the one that surrounds the city). And next weekend, January 31-February 1, I will be going three hours north to Kampong Thom for a missions outreach with my class. I will keep you updated as I get the details of what we will be doing.

I love all the things that God has taught me and then asked me to teach the students in the class. This last week, though, Brittany and I taught on something so very near and dear to my heart. Each of us has been created with a design...a unique way that God has reflected His character in us. After a teaching session, we sat down with each of the students on an individual basis and prayed, sharing with them how God made them. It was an powerful afternoon as God opened their eyes and hearts to what He says about them. Please pray that those things wouldn't just be words, but truth in their hearts.

One year

A year ago today, almost to the minute, I was stepping into Cambodia for the first time.

There are so many memories that I could type here about that first trip. Some good, some not so pleasant...but I am amazed at God's faithfulness through it all. Thinking back, I guarantee you that in the beginning, I wasn't considering coming back on an extended outreach. But here I am.

I could tell so many stories of things not going as planned, sickness and any other struggles as I led that 7-week outreach...and while they would "justify" why it was hard and how I was being stretched in a drastic way...I have learned that that is not what God wants me to look at. Of course He wants me to learn lessons from the situations He walks me through, but more than that He wants me to see, know and completely trust that He is the one walking me through the situations. And they all serve a purpose if I seek after Him.

I can pinpoint a few key things that happened during that outreach that changed my life...because I feel like my eyes and my heart were opened to a love for Cambodia that went beyond a "good" missions trip. It is something deeper. And as strange as it may sound to some reading this, I believe that love is deeper because I had to "fight" for it. It was something that was planted in my heart like a seed. It struggled to crack the surface, but as it did, it began to grow...both the tree above ground and the roots underneath.

And it is still growing.

Late Night Thoughts

Today was our first day back to teaching in the Harvester's Class after the Christmas/New Year's holiday break...and I think it started off well. The pastor spoke on outreach and a general word of encouragement that when the class is "over," it doesn't mean that their calling to be harvesters in Cambodia has ended.

This is something that I have actually been thinking about a lot lately. Before all this began, I said that my vision for this 6 months was to impart things that I have learned. My goal, if you can call it that, was to see the students step out in boldness to share with others around them. While I believe this has been happening, the word "impart" has been in the forefront of my mind.

I don't want to just tell them things I know...to teach them lessons on different topics. I want there to be broadening of their view of God and of themselves through God's eyes. I want there to be a change in the lives of each on of them. My hope is that this isn't just something they will look back on as an "accomplishment," but that there is something planted in the heart.

I can hardly believe that I am here for only two more months. Time has gone by so much faster than I anticipated. And while I say "only" two months, I should be saying "still" two months because there is so much that God is asking of me. He has asked me to love these people...this church...this nation...in a way that can only come from Him. And I do. And I want to see God's truth to shine here...through the students He gave to me teach and lead.