I remember my first morning back in the restless city of Phnom Penh, Cambodia so vividly. I woke up from my short sleep to the sound of Tuk-Tuks driving and honking outside. What some may consider to have been disturbed rest, brought a smile unwarily to my face. He did it, my sweet heavenly father faithfully carried out the promise he made to me 1 ½ years ago to bring me back and I felt like a child who just woke up on Christmas morning. It was still early and I went, sat out on the balcony and just soaked it all in… The business, the noise… Yes even all the strange smells that the city has to offer. I was overjoyed to be back in the country that captured such a significant part of my heart. We spent a few days in the city to rest and recover from our long journey and then we were off to Svay Rieng, The village where we would soon be building a home for the couple we had not yet met. Our team of 7 YWAMers partnered with a ministry called Operation Restore Hope. This ministry is dedicated to fighting against veteran suicide, dealing with PTSD and other effects of war. (If you would like to learn more about this incredible ministry just click on the link! http://www.qmissions.org/) The next day, we began the build. 4 days of mas sweating, a few tears and yes even some blood came and went. Building in a foreign country never comes without frustrations and building in a foreign country never comes without even greater joys. Bonat and Le-ak, the beautiful couple that we were building for are local, on fire followers of Jesus and ywamers in Svay Rieng. On the day of the home dedication Le-ak shared with us how she had always dreamed of having a home for her and her husband to call their own. This was a dream that she had accepted may never come to pass and found total peace in that. But there we stood, in front of their brand new, freshly painted home, once again in awe of the complete love and faithfulness of God. It is the dream of this couple that every child in the village would come to know Christ. And I am so excited to continue on in prayer and partnership as God continues to fulfill this dream. While we were in the village we had the opportunity to spend some time washing the hair of some local children to get rid of lice. Along with this, a couple of our awesome marine guy’s came out and taught some self defense classes to the younger children and then also to the older girls. It was such a sweet thing to be able to laugh and connect with these sweet children even though we did not speak the same language. 20 days rushed by far too quickly. I found myself asking God to please slow time down, or maybe just press the pause button for a moment. I fell in love with Cambodia all over again and I can’t wait to see what the future might hold. For now I wait in confident expectation knowing that I believe in “The God who brought the dead to life and creates new things out of nothing.” I know he has big things in store for Bonat and Le-ak, For Operation Restore Hope, For you and for me. What an incredible and exciting life it is when you are living life to the fullest of God’s desire for you. |
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