Friday, August 28, 2015

One Year in the Kingdom of Cambodia

Monday will mark one year living in Cambodia. It’s pretty crazy to think of how drastically different I was a year ago, and that I really had no idea what I was getting myself into, packing all my things and moving across the world. Sure I expected a little adventure, for God to move, and to be a part of His work fighting for the trafficked and abused here but I don’t think I could have fathomed all He had planned for this past year. It has been a year of doing a lot of things I never thought I would do, diving deep into God’s heart in ways I didn’t think I could, and loving and being loved by others in a way that has redeemed a lot of what love is for me.
 In the past year, God has...

Given me an amazing staff of Khmer teachers to love and be loved by. 

Given me a Khmer family who treats me as their own, challenges me, and loves me more than they know, and I had no idea I needed that coming here a year ago.
\Given me great friends here to support and challenge me when things are hard, and when things are good.
Given me so much grace to learn more of how to love others and work for His Kingdom and purposes.
  

Shown me new gifts I didn’t know I had, and given me grace in learning how to use them well.

Shown me how to bring the Kingdom of God to the Kingdom of wonder.

Given me increasing responsibility of some of the hardest and best things I’ve ever done and will do in my life.

Shown me the power of sleepless nights full of prayer to partner in fighting for our sweet students.


Let me be a part of rescuing and restoring children’s lives here.


Given me a deeper respect and love for my family in New York, and grateful heart to be able to miss people that mean so much to me.

Dear Cambodia,

Thank you for letting me enter into your kingdom with such humbleness, hospitality, and love. You have given me countless laughs, tears, and moments of shear confusion in the past year, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I have been left breathless watching the beauty of your people, and how they care for one another.

Your people truly are Kingdom people, and I believe that they will grasp hold of the promised land God has for them. They aren’t satisfied wandering in the desert, they are hungry for more of heaven to come down, and I believe God has been and will answer that hunger with His presence. See the Lord’s report for this land, what He is restoring and bringing to life from the dust here. Don’t believe those that are seeing only what’s in front of them and the negative of what they think the future holds here, because I am here to say it’s beautiful and greater waves of redemption is coming. The promised land is full of milk of honey- the giants will flee when you are ready to stand up for your land.

I’ve experienced with you some pretty broken places the past year and seen how a genocide can leave such beautiful people broken even 45 years later. I am here to tell you that there is hope and it’s here right now. I see it in the twenty something’s rushing back to the universities in the city hungry to learn. I see it in music emerging that is restoring what’s been lost and making it new. I see it in my staff as they bring life into the world and start to parent the next generation with love and value. Hope is here, and it is your people. YOU are HOPE Cambodia, not only for your future, but hope for the whole world when you are full of Christ.

Thank you for a beautiful year, and letting me truly be a part of you. I cannot wait to see what this next year holds for you- I know it will be beautiful in the messiest and most perfect way.

Love.

Sarah


**If you would like to partner with me this next year I am still in need of monthly and one- time partners. Hit the partner with me tab above for all the details!**

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