Dear fellow laborers for Christ,
Sometimes I cannot believe that I have been here for almost four months already. There are some days when I feel like I just arrived and there are some days when I feel as if I have been here for a lifetime. I have spent the last ten years of my life preparing for this calling. I have dreamt of the day when I would live in another country and be able to share the Good News with the people. Well, the dream has come true and I find myself struggling with this new country and its culture. Sometimes I want to take the easy road and go back to what I have known for 29 years. There are times when I question whether I can do this type of work. Am I strong enough, good enough, spiritual enough? The truth is I am none of these things. In the words of Jim Elliot, “Missionaries are very human folks just doing what they’re asked. Simply a bunch of nobodies trying to exalt Somebody.” I take comfort in 2 Cor. 12:9,10, Isaiah 40:28-31 and my all-time favorite verse Psalms 46:10, “Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth.” Amen.
Even though things have been difficult for me, God has showered me with many blessings and encouragement. One of my greatest passions in life is relationships. I love when God brings people into my life with whom I can love, encourage and talk about the wondrous workings of God. I have been blessed to have the privilege to disciple one of His children. Her name is Roath. She has been a Christian for one year and has a desire to grow in her faith. She is a medical student and she is the only Christian in her entire immediate and extended family. Please remember to pray for her. God has opened the door for me to have a relationship with her family so please pray for my time spent with them.
God has opened up another way for me to have a relationship with another Buddhist family. I mentioned in my previous letter about my Christian tutor, Srey Hoeun. She is getting married this month and has asked me to be a bridesmaid. In this culture, the actual wedding ceremony is only seen by the immediate family and the wedding party. Foreigners are rarely asked to be part of the wedding party so this is a very high honor. The funny side of this opportunity is that I have to change into ten different dresses. Anyone who knows me knows that one dress is one too many so ten is an atrocity! One of the reasons I am doing this is so I can continue to have a relationship with her family. Who knows what doors this may open for the spreading of His kingdom. I trust that God not only has a sense of humor about this but has a divine purpose. So please pray for me as I will be completely out of my comfort zone.
My language study is progressing. I have completed the first level of Khmer and am currently studying in Level 2. Besides language school and discipling Roath, I am leading a small bible study with medical students every Saturday morning. Please pray for this time. Our team also does medical ministry outreach to the villages once a month. My role is to register the patients and triage them. I am thankful that I am able to use my nursing skills to help with our ministry.
God is working here in Cambodia. Even though it is difficult right now, I am thankful and humbled to be a part of His work here. Thank you for all your love, prayers and support. I know there is a solid fortress surrounding me that consists of your prayers. Keep praying, my friends. Keep praying and have faith that God is doing a mighty work here.
Sincerely,
Christina
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
October Update
"How many of us have said and sung with all our hearts 'Anywhere with Jesus,' but at the same time we did not realize all that it meant for us. Indeed at home, and surrounded by all that home means, we could not know. When the test comes we must not forget that 'anywhere' means for missionaries something different from life in England, and let us take very good care not to make a misery of anything that 'anywhere' brings us. To us in Algeria it must mean sometime or other, Arab food. Do we object to it? And mice, do we mind them? And mosquitoes, do we think them dreadful? In some parts it means close contact with dirt and repulsive disease. Yet if Jesus is there, what have we possibly to complain of? It means living among a stiff-necked and untrue people and struggling with a strange and difficult language. And yet let us evermore write over all our miseries, big, and for the most part very little, these transforming words 'With Jesus.' And then the very breath of Heaven will breathe upon our whole being and we shall be glad."
I found this quote from Lilias and it was exactly what I was thinking. She was a missionary in the late 1800's to Algeria, North Africa.
The first picture is at a youth retreat that I attended in August. Around 100 students attended and 7 prayed to receive Christ at the end of the weekend. I was able to share my testimony with them.
The second picture is of my tutor, Srey Hoeun.
The third picture is of the girl I am discipling, Roath.
The fourth picture is of a small bird that I ate. Yes, I ate it. Brain, beak and all. We were on a five hour bus ride to visit her family in Battambang and we stopped for a snack. Roath said I had to eat it if I want to be khmer. It was not that bad actually but it's the first time I have eaten a whole bird.
This is a buddhist temple that I visited. We just had the Pychum Ben Festival and that is a time where the Khmer people pray for and offer food to their ancestors. I went home with Roath during this time and we went to the pagoda with her family. However, we did not pray or offer food to the ancestors. Her family knew that we would not do this because we are Christians. We honored her parents as scripture says by going but we did not participate in the activity.
This is a picture of Roath' mother standing beside a buddhist statue. I am really working on developing this relationship with her. She does not trust many people but by the grace of God, she trusts me. I know there is a divine reason for this.
I found this quote from Lilias and it was exactly what I was thinking. She was a missionary in the late 1800's to Algeria, North Africa.
The first picture is at a youth retreat that I attended in August. Around 100 students attended and 7 prayed to receive Christ at the end of the weekend. I was able to share my testimony with them.
The second picture is of my tutor, Srey Hoeun.
The third picture is of the girl I am discipling, Roath.
The fourth picture is of a small bird that I ate. Yes, I ate it. Brain, beak and all. We were on a five hour bus ride to visit her family in Battambang and we stopped for a snack. Roath said I had to eat it if I want to be khmer. It was not that bad actually but it's the first time I have eaten a whole bird.
This is a buddhist temple that I visited. We just had the Pychum Ben Festival and that is a time where the Khmer people pray for and offer food to their ancestors. I went home with Roath during this time and we went to the pagoda with her family. However, we did not pray or offer food to the ancestors. Her family knew that we would not do this because we are Christians. We honored her parents as scripture says by going but we did not participate in the activity.
This is a picture of Roath' mother standing beside a buddhist statue. I am really working on developing this relationship with her. She does not trust many people but by the grace of God, she trusts me. I know there is a divine reason for this.
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