A Holiday to Remember

 

2020 has certainly been a year to remember. From the outbreak of a global pandemic to a significant change in our presidential leadership and everything in between, many of us have simply had enough. In my personal life, it has been a drastic transition also. Moving from one side of the the world to the other is never easy, but doing it when countries are closing their borders and changing the rules day to day makes the difficult tasks nearly impossible.

But life is full of impossible choices. And often these bring the most substantial change.

To be a missionary is to want to reach out into the darkness and provide light.

There are many that say we are in very dark times.

The opportunity is ripe for us to be the hands of feet of Jesus.

As a neighbor receives an unexpected gift...

As a gift inspires joy to future generations... 

As tears well up in the eyes of someone receiving their first ever gift...

...we know that the Spirit of Christmas is alive and well.

From our family to yours,
Merry Christmas!!

Back to School

 

"It's like being a kid again," Mr. Thy says to me. Everyone is surprised to see that he dances with the enthusiasm and gracefulness of the students that surround him. 

This past weekend, we have had the pleasure of sharing a weekend retreat with the students of the Susanna Wesley Dormitory in Phnom Penh. These students come from many provinces throughout the Cambodian countryside. The majority of them would otherwise have no means to continue their education beyond secondary school without the support of the United Methodist Church, but with the church's help they are becoming chefs, lawyers, doctors and community leaders. Our staff at the Global Ministries office first met them a week earlier when we had the opportunity to visit the dormitory.

After learning about their personal histories, it was such a blessing to be able to share hope, love, and laughter with them in Mondulkiri. 

Through experiences of community service, site seeing, educational seminars, and spiritual devotions, we were able to connect with each student on a deeper level than simply an individual visit or meeting. It was wonderful to see the smiles on their faces as they were able to see, do, and experience life in a whole new way.

 

While each blessing was shared through a student's smile, each of us on staff were able to experience a revival of the youth we thought we had lost long ago.

Faith

         There are a few things here in Cambodia that are done a little differently than they are back home. The words "rice" and "food" are used interchangeably, the rain is welcome because it breaks the drudging heat (if only while it is with us), and traffic can flow anywhere there is space enough for the vehicle... including opposite directions. 

        

        While a first impression gives a feeling of dread, a deeper observation brings comfort. Admittedly the thought of traipsing into a flow of cars, motorcycles, scooters, and tuktuks instills a paralyzing fear. As I stand there watching the endless rows of tires screech by me, I notice a local person crossing the street just up the road. He makes eye contact with me and smiles, obviously recognizing my hesitation. With that same smile, he looks back to see which way the traffic is coming from... and walks right out into it. Like water, the traffic breaks around him and continues. He turns his attention back to me, still standing in the road, nudging me with his eyes to step out with him. I step out into the street and experience the same thing I observed with him... the endless streams of cars and motorcycles simply drive around me.

         The more time I spend walking, riding in tuktuks, on the backs of motorcycles, and driving scooters, I can see this was not an isolated experience. This is the norm. When making turns, vehicles simply inch their way into traffic until there is a break big enough for them to get through. There is no "right-of-way," there is simply the unspoken agreement that people won't run into each other.

        I cannot help but think of how Peter felt when Jesus called him out of the boat into the water: "Come", he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?" -Matthew 14:29-31 

        Lord, give me the faith to follow you into the street. Let my wavering heart not be concerned by buses, horns, scooters, and rickshaws. Rather, bless me with the knowledge that it is by your spirit that each step is taken. Amen.

If you would like to support the work that we are doing to help survivors of human trafficking in Cambodia, please click here. 

To become a monthly donor, simply check the "monthly" box at the bottom of the page.

You Can't Take It With You

 

As I once again pack up my belongings for a new life, I am forced to take inventory of what is important. I question and decide what is essential to take, what is worth holding onto but not taking with me, and those things that prove simply to be unnecessary. Whittling away at the purchases I have made over the years, the memories I have collected, and the  comfortable lifestyle I have built takes its toll. I review the guidelines that the airlines have for baggage and come to the stark realization that my life will now be packed into no more than a fifty pound checked bag, a twenty-two pound carry-on, and a single personal item. 

Reducing one's existence to seventy pounds worth of goods can feel overwhelming. However, it can also be one of the most freeing experiences one can have. Choosing where to put each item helps one to recognize what can be lived without. While I will miss my big screen tv, the memory foam bed, and my closet full of recreational gear, I know that carrying with me only what is essential opens my experience to possibilities that had no space in my everyday life before.

There are some things that carry no weight, but mean the whole world to us all.

From Dallas, Texas to Los Angeles, California...

...from Los Angeles, California to Seoul, South Korea...

...from Seoul, South Korea to Phnom Penh, Cambodia...

...I will take what is essential.

"Of all things, these three remain: faith, hope, and love. And the greatest of these is love." 

-1 Corinthians 13:13

If you would like to support me as I share faith, hope, and love with survivors of human trafficking in Cambodia, please click here to donate to my Global Ministry page. 

To become a monthly sponsor, simply check the "monthly" box.