The past couple of days have been kinda hard on my heart. But in a good way. Reading newsletters and blogs, attending devos, recounting the beauty of my summer to friends I haven’t seen in awhile, all starts to flood my mind with images of the Cambodian people I love, of rice fields and dusty roads, and certainly plenty of mixed emotions. Of course that’s normal. Normal to feel a little out of place when you’ve hopped around from Cambodia one week, to Thailand the next, to home the next, and finally off to Abilene to get right back into the swing of things at school. I feel a little unsettled, but am starting to see that maybe that’s okay, maybe it helps me keep looking around me. I haven’t exactly sat down and had a moment of closure over all that I’ve experienced these past two months. So after a few days of settling in here, I’m learning to focus on where I am and who is around me, but also to not simply push other places and faces out of my mind. (Side note: I’m eating peanut butter while writing this, that has to be some kind of subconscious thing right?)
I’ve been really challenged the past few times I’ve been in Christian community by speakers to love the “least of these”, to open my eyes to those around me. Just the other night at a dinner for the incoming freshmen Honors students, during a lesson pointed at them, but apparently also for me, Dr. Johnson said “If you want to find Jesus, look all around you.” Yes, I’m sad that when I look around me now that I don’t see Cambodian children running up to me or standing in line for their snack, or even those pestering tuk tuk drivers trying to give me a ride, but that doesn’t mean that I leave ministry in Cambodia. It means I learn from ministry in Cambodia.
But more on that in a minute.
First, a recap.
So as we wrapped up in Phnom Penh before heading to Thailand, we rode out with the staff one last time in the SNACK truck and experienced a true day on the job for them. We visited our favorite villages and soaked up all the joy of our new friends before driving home. We are hoping it was just a “see you later” rather than a goodbye, but we have no idea what’s in store for us, for what God has is store for us. But the following day the plane ride came and we landed in beautiful Chiang Mai, Thailand.
We absolutely loved getting to wrap up our trip in Thailand. We had a day to explore the city and shop around, a day to kayak 17 km (10 miles) through the Chiang Dao forest, which was so fun, and a day for an elephant show, and most importantly, an elephant ride. After that, we headed for the resort where the Asian Missions forum was being held. The place had many lush and huge gardens that provided a serene background to the great sense of family and community found in the meetings and reunions between missionaries. The singing in English was incredible, as these people who normally are speaking one of a multitude of Asian languages joined together on common ground to praise our great God.
It was nice to rest in Thailand because once we hopped on the plane headed home we were in for a long flight, especially as anticipation started building. So ready to see our sweet families, yet leaving another behind.
So. Cambodia was SO great. I’m so thankful to have had this incredible opportunity to experience new people, language, food, and ways to serve.
I’ve learned authenticity of faith in the unreserved prayers and singing of fellow Christian brothers and sisters. I’ve learned the simplicity of joy in spinning around with children in my arms and in their beautiful laughter. I’ve learned that there is peace in the fact that God is in control of the lives of these children and people I’ve met and love and had to leave. I’ve learned that this work really does align with my passions. I’ve learned it is often worth the wait and the dusty, bumpy road because there are blessings at the end, but also along the way, found in simple conversation and in the beauty just outside the window. And I have definitely learned that God is at work in Cambodia and learned to better understand and share His love for children of all nations.
Thank you so much for your support, encouragement, and prayers.
And now it’s time to, as Bob Goff says, “Love God. Love people. Do stuff.”
See you later,
Shanleigh
