I almost titled this blog faithful until completion and realized that I already had a blog with that title. But it’s just the truth. He is faithful to complete a good work!
To start, I was in deep heartbreak for the state of this country. Time and time again I saw the enemy scheme against the design of God. I witnessed the cycle of hurt in families take it’s toll on the students. I experienced a fraction of the shame that has consumed the children. I watched as the people of Cambodia submit their lives to Buddha.
My discouragement to see the enemy have his way made me yearn for the kingdom to come. I prayed to see the teachers to encounter the Lords love. I rebuked the attacks that left me feeling shameful. I prayed that the demonic activity would cease.
In my mind I knew God was working whether I could see it or not. True faith is believing without seeing. But I still prayed to see. I know God wants to reveal more of His goodness. That’s when I knew in my heart that He is working all things together for good. The kingdom isn’t just something to look forward to, it’s something to look for. The kingdom is all around us.
After I asked God to see more of His kingdom, He prompted me to phone fast. Right off the bat, I hardly spend enough time on my phone in the first place to even feel like it’s necessary. But obedience isn’t essential, it’s invitational. So I decided for the last week in Cambodia I’d put my phone away. In this time, I saw more of His work than ever before.
For starters, relationships I’d been praying for were redeemed. God showed me greater depths to His forgiveness and love. For a long time, I let the hurt I’d felt by people close my heart towards them. But as I came to clearer understanding of His forgiveness that erases wrongs, I was able to extend the same grace to those around me. I recognized the ways my love was conditional and limited and it was an invitation to see Gods reckless and unconditional love. I noticed that when I began to walk in the same love people felt called to repentance. It wasn’t my correction. It wasn’t me proving I was right. It was simply the love of the Lord and His kindness that lead to repentance and reconciliation.
Not only did I see relationships near and far be mended, I saw God heal and transform hearts. This 10 year old boy (Sapohn) who had been there from day one and identified as gay, was someone we poured into every day. As well as our cook (Mommy) who didn’t speak any English and bowed down to a monk. In my despair for these people, I saw God move tremendously. For starters, Sapohn started to listen to us tell him of Jesus and started with a prayer of acceptance. He said “Jesus I love you 100, and I know you love me 100” and within seconds he went from being a spaz to bearing a supernatural peace. So much so that he sat down for dinner with us for the first time in weeks. He knew he had a seat at the table. Then Emmery starts to tell him more about Jesus and he exclaims “stop!” and starts to translate to Mommy. Someone who we thought we’d never be able to reach. Sapohn was the bridge and it was because he accepted the Spirit into his heart. Not to mention, he never knew the word for Jesus in Khmer. But was able to deliver the gospel to Mommy in full. With the help of a tattoo I drew for my teammate he explained how she was a lost sheep and Jesus wanted her. Then she starts to point to her knees. We prayed over her knees and over her mind. Within minutes she gets up dancing and crying. God healed her from the inside out! A women who experienced all the trauma of the Khmer Rouge was now crying because of the love she experienced.
The Lord was so kind to show me His faithfulness until completion. Truly He is always working these things together for our good. Even in the brokenness of the world, there is still so much goodness. His kingdom is near!
