This might be our last blog update from Cambodia. Our team has grown exceedingly close over the past 2 months. I can hardly believe that we will soon be leaving the country that we have mutually grown to know and love. God has definitely brought this group together for “such a time as this.” We all have different talents that can be used to bring glory to the one true King. I am incredibly humbled to see how divine God’s plan is and how he has knit us in a group, who is far better together as a team than we are as individuals. Oh Praise Him.
We have been working in separate ministries much of the summer; Kristen, Sue and Adam have been working in the villages most days of the week teaching English and Christian values. Hannah, Kristy, and Brittany have been teaching art, English and bible lessons at the safe house. Sue just had her final class for the North Korean doctors on Monday and for the final week we will be serving at these ministries together. This gives us the opportunity to encourage one another, as well as encourage long term workers and say our goodbyes to our relationships we have built. Please pray that we finish strong and come home with great enthusiasm for the Lord to share with others of His good works.
As we reflect on our time here we are all overcome by the brokenness as well as the beauty of this country. The more we are here the more our hearts grow heavy from the presence of the idol Buddha. Most Cambodian’s are Buddhist by culture, not by choice. You can see this in their everyday rituals and the monks around town. There is a great fear in the country of bad luck. Many temples are around town that are physical reminders of the spiritual realities of this country. At the entrance to many of these temples are snakes, in fact, the temples are full of them. They are a symbol of wisdom to the Buddhist culture, which brings me back to Genesis chapter three. Satan tricked Eve that her own wisdom was more valuable than God’s love. She forgot about her first love; she forgot about His goodness. I pray that we never lose sight of that the promise that God has made us through Jesus.
God has given us a physical reminder of that promise amongst the temples. Most of the head of the snakes have fallen off. It reminds me of the promise our Father made to Satan in the very first book of the bible, “He shall crush your head and you will strike His heel.” JESUS WINS!!!! That is the end of the story. Every temple we build up on earth WILL PASS AWAY, but the name of the Lord will FOREVER BE PRAISED.
We believe in God’s healing power and his longing to be with the people He created and loves. Please pray that this last week, God gives continues to prepare the harvest for the harvest hands. Also pray that God continues to send workers into the field of Cambodia. The people are so open to the gospel, and willing to listen. Thank you for your love and support. We are excited to share with you all of our stories when we return.
The photo above is Sopheap, one of the young church leaders that we have been teaching (learning from) this summer.
About Kristy
GREAT GREAT GREAT update! I loved the title and learned a lot about the culture just from reading. I praise God for the presence of the Holy Spirit in your writing – so evident, I especially loved the testimony about the snakes heads falling off! Yay God!