I’m super pumped to have finally made it to Cambodia! After an unexpected 24 hour delay in Malaysia because of a missed flight and a decent amount of sleep deprivation, we were able to step off of the plane healthy and in good spirits. For the next month, my team and I will be working with New Hope for Orphans in the Preah Vihear province of Cambodia. Our hosts welcomed us with open arms as soon as we made it to the airport. The pastor and his wife, our hosts, run the orphanage consisting of 25 children, and they are two of the most gracious, generous, and humble people I have had the pleasure of meeting.
This month, our team is living in a room at the orphanage that doubles as a church on Sunday mornings. Sleeping under a mosquito net has taken a bit of getting used to, and it was also a little challenging showing up so exhausted from four days of travel and attempting to sleep on the floor of a room filled with Cambodian heat and bugs. But I came to realize that I am here to serve these children, so I need to set aside my own comfort and experience a slice of how they live their daily lives so that I can better understand and build meaningful relationships with them.
For the past few days, we have been spending our time resting off our jet lag getting to to know the kids who live at the orphanage. I absolutely love these boys and girls and have already begun to connect so well with them. It leaves me in awe every day how they show such incredible joy and love for one another. It has really humbled me to see how easily their joy and excitement for life shines, even though they have almost no physical belongings. Christ’s love and acceptance shows through these sweet children so clearly. I cannot wait to learn more about each of their stories during my time here.
Yesterday, Pastor took us into the village to help with a youth group that he runs weekly for the village children. He has not only dedicated his life to running an orphanage at his home, but is also passionate about seeking out children in the local community and sharing God’s word with them. He was able to share with us a little more about his life. Right out of high school, he moved away from his family to plant a church here and eventually house an orphanage. He then took the initiative do what he could to help the local village and had six water pumps drilled into the ground so the village people could have free, easily accessible water to bathe in and use whenever they need to. Pastor walked us to one of the pumps and we were invited to hold a little newborn baby who was getting a bath in the pump. Pastor’s compassion and determination to spread God’s kingdom is greatly inspiring. I am eager to see what valuable lessons I will learn from Pastor, his family, and these amazing kids during my time here.
Today is the first day of teaching English to the children at the orphanage! Prayers are appreciated for my team as we prepare lessons for the month and that we reach the kids we are teaching.
The love here is great and all is well!
