Cambodia 2015 Reflections

So it has been over a month since we were in Cambodia for our church's family missions trip.  I have had some time to reflect and now want to document and share some of those reflections that were most impactful to me.

1. More people need to experience slums, poverty and corruption in order to come to a better understanding of the needs and root causes.  If people could smell, see, touch the poor, more people would be driven and compelled to act.

2.We need to act.  As a follower of Jesus, it is clear that we are commanded to love.  Love is an action and one that usually involves sacrifice.

3. Loving also means relationship.  How are we spending out time to build up and encourage and support? We can all give resources...but could we give of ourselves? So many ways to love the poor or those who are serving the poor.

4. Jesus is enough.  Serving in hot, hard uncomfortable places brought me more joy than being in my comfort.  In moments where we are  in the center of His will, He gives us everything we need and then some.

5. These children are amazing...filled with hope, and joy and love.  They have gifts that are endless...they just need opportunities to use and express them.

6. Anyone can give. We met moms and dads, lawyers, teachers, men in their 20's and women in their 60's...people who decided that they were going to do something...very inspirational.

7. The circumstances are dire.  To hear about the cycles that have become normal in Cambodian society...to sell your daughter into trafficking because its the only way, you believe, to pay for medical care for your husband....not giving it a second thought because that is what happened to you when you were her age.  When will this cycle end...when will the world take notice?

8. Family is powerful.  Connections are key.  Here in Cambodia, the structure of family had been all but destroyed  during the 1970's.  When we came as families, the children were able to observe how we loved each other...respected each other...served each other. It was also a powerful time of bonding for Grace, Emma and I.  We have an amazing shared experience and have already had some great discussions on what God is teaching us through this opportunity to serve.

These are just some of my thoughts in the last month.  I also have a ton of pics, but instead of bombarding you, our friend Margaret put together this video to music that shares some pics and video of our time in Cambodia.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Gzs2zUc9cQ