Cambodia

I am currently in Battambang Cambodia and I am finishing up a visit to one of the 11 outreach teams. I am blown away by how much God is doing in the city of Battambang! In the past two years there have been so many new developments in both building and also at the Youth Center I am staying at. The Youth Center is a very successful training center that mainly teaches english to around 300 students every three months as well as other practical skills like guitar, art, dance, photography, etc. In these classes the teachers are allowed to have one day a week to discuss Jesus with the students who most if not all of them are Buddhist. Many of the students who grow up in Cambodia learn Buddhism as part of their culture and it is hard for them to depart from that lifestyle. Through the classes the teachers are able to share the truth of who Jesus is and many students have come to give their lives to Jesus! There is also a Discipleship Training School that runs every six months as well as other training courses that Youth With a Mission has to offer. 

I have spent almost three weeks with this team and have had the opportunity to see many people that I had met last time I was in Battambang. I even was able to go with the team to an orphanage that I visited two years ago and most of the children remembered me! Last time I visited the orphanage it didn’t have electricity, running water, beds to sleep in, as well as a next door neighbor who had a pig pen in his backyard. I never knew how nasty pigs smelled until I lived next to them for a week. This time when I went back they had electricity, running clean water, beds for all the children, and the pigs had disappeared! They told us that one day they all got together and prayed to God that the pigs would be gone and the next day the pigs were gone! I think I have learned more from these kids the past two times that I’ve been with them than many people. They have such a dependance upon God their Father because they literally have no parents. These are some of the most joyful kids I’d ever met and they really have no material things that I had when I grew up. I know what they do have though because I heard them singing and praying three times a day! It is no surprise that going back to that orphanage would change my life even more. I know where true joy and happiness come from and it is from knowing God our Father!

It has been such an amazing time getting to be with the team here. I getting to be more of an outside perspective as well as get to join in with ministry and have individual time with each person. I am beginning to see that I really do have a pastoral heart. I love seeing people walk in more and more of who they were created to be! I love seeing how a little bit of love and encouragement can change someones life! God is so faithful! I have felt the Grace of God throughout this whole first leg of the trip. I have thankfully been healthy so far and feeling really good every day. I have a two day trip to get to my next stop in India where I will be meeting another team who are in the mountain city of Mclead Ganj. 

Please pray that I would continue to walk in the Grace and Joy of the Lord and that I would stay healthy as I venture into India. Also please pray that I get there safe since I am traveling by myself into an area that I don’t know. I am still in need of $500 for the rest of my trip. If you would like to donate you can find information in my support tab at the top of the page. 

If you are feeling down and need some joy I highly recommend praying to God and singing your heart out to Him! When we turn and focus on Him we tend to get pretty joyful because He is really good! Bless you and thank you!