Cambodia 2009

This is the thankyou/follow up letter I wrote a week after I arrived home. I decided to put it up...

Chum-rip-suya!

It has been a week since I have been back on American Soil. What a trip I had in Cambodia! First of all I want to thank you once again for supporting my team and me in our ministry. Without your prayers and support our trip would not have been possible. Next I would like to share with you the awesome things God did on our trip. He has shown and taught me many new things as a result of Cambodia.

In order for one to understand the entirety of my trip, we must step back in time. It was the morning of September 10, 2008. Bright and early (well at least for a college student) at the hour of 7:00 am, the girls on my floor met for prayer and muffins. This morning’s prayer was very different than prayers I have had in the past. Instead of using our breath to speak to God, we silently waited upon God to speak to us. This form of prayer was very difficult and frustrating. I could not discern the difference between what my own crazy thoughts were and what the voice of God was. However, I just kept listening and finally for some reason the country Cambodia for the forgotten people came to my head. I was thoroughly confused as to why this random country, I could not even locate on a map, came to my thoughts. I decided to keep the country and the forgotten people in my prayers until God revealed to me further what his plans were.
It was about a month later that God showed me his plans for this country. My school (Indiana Wesleyan University) had a mission’s chapel service. This service was devoted to different countries and mission opportunities within those countries. It was neat to see each country and what God was doing, but none of them spoke to me personally. That was until the country Cambodia came up. All of a sudden, God revealed to me his plans and purpose for the prayer a month prior. He laid it upon my heart that I was to sign up to be a part of the mission team going to Cambodia that coming May. So I did just that. About two weeks later I was accepted onto the team and began preparing to go to Cambodia. Yet I was still unsure what he had meant by the “forgotten” people. However, I trusted him and continued to pray for them and my ministry in country.

Fast forward about seven months and there I was boarding a plane to California, South Korea and finally to Phnom Phenn, Cambodia. After much rest, my team began our ministry. For the majority of the time in Cambodia, we taught English to children from different villages and cities alike. After teaching them ABC’S and 123’s we got to play with them. It was during these moments when I truly connected with these children. Although there was a language barrier that was frustrating, we still were able to communicate with the kids through this play time. This form of communication was just in a way that was different than I had ever experienced. Playing catch, soccer, tag, and with the parachute in the hot sun was nothing less than a shower of sweat. However I did not care how much my shirt was filling with sweat, I loved every minute of play time. To see a Cambodian child’s bright shining smile made any uncomfortable weather condition worth it. It was in these smiles that I saw the face of God.

About two weeks into my trip, God finally revealed to me what was meant by the “forgotten” people. My team was traveling to a new city and village that was about five hours away. Half way through the trip, some girls had to use the restroom and our guides were getting hungry. We stopped at a little market along the road to take care of these needs. As we pulled our van into the market, children upon children were swarming our vehicle. They were trying to sell us mangos and pineapples and each child was repeating the same phrases over and over. “You so beautiful, lady you want some pineapple?” It was overwhelming at first. However, my team saw the children for more than just a pesky beggar and started engaging them in conversation. They were hesitant to keep conversation going, yet very eager to talk to white people. One child stood out among the rest in my heart. She asked me to dance if she were to sing. I agreed. So I swayed my hips and she sang with her best Cambodian voice. As our van was eagerly waiting to continue on the long journey ahead we had to say our goodbyes.

When I got back in the van I was processing what had just occurred. In my thoughts, I was so excited that this random stop at a market was used to form and build relationships. As I continued to process, I realized that these children are overlooked and ignored. They were forgotten. IT CLICKED! “Cambodia for the forgotten people.” God finally showed me in entirety what he meant through my prayer back in September. A week later, as our team traveled that same dusty road back, we stopped at the same market place for the very same reasons. As I exited the vehicle, the children came once again. However as soon as I made eye contact with a familiar face, I realized it was the same girl who had once asked me to dance. She remembered who I was and got a huge smile on her face. She exclaimed with much excitement and we “caught up” with one another’s weeks. God was in our conversation and made this once forgotten child unforgettable to me.

The last form of ministry our team engaged in was being able to work with children who were rescued from sex trafficking. I was very excited but also nervous at the same time. I was excited to be able to minister to these girls, but nervous that any slight mistake would ruin the progress that they have made. We had to read and sign paperwork before we even got to play with the girls. As we entered their secretive living quarters, the girls were jumping up and down with excitement to see us. The first child I noticed was a small, toothless, five year old with the biggest smile you would ever see. It broke my heart to think about the pain and suffering this girl has already been through in her five years of living. After the initial shock of seeing the young girls, we made bracelets and played many different games with them. I was delighted to see how much they laughed and enjoyed life. They were like any other child that I have met. They formed a lasting memory within my brain.

Cambodia was an awesome God inspired trip, that I am thankful I could be a part of. I thank you once again for allowing this trip to be made possible. Thankfully with your love and support, the Cambodian people were able to see the love of God. I look forward to the future and the plans that the Lord has for me. I hope you will always remember to keep the country of Cambodia in prayer. Thank you.