Reentry is an interesting part of a Short term trip, especially when you have been to a place like Crossroads in Cambodia.
Reading over our last blog entry, there was a big part missing......... a sentence or two that I lost in the writing. It was not intentional, but it was the part about saying goodbye and how the students typically bowed over their hands in Cambodian style and bowing their heads a bit to the person to whom they are saying goodbye. For our last night there, that "formality" lasted for about 10 people. Then came dear Mesa. He had implanted himself in Lynn's and my heart in January when we were won over by his smile, his servant heart, his willingness to "do" for Jesus. When he approached me to say goodbye the tears started for us both. When it was time to think about saying "goodbye" there was no question but that a hug was imminent. I am sure that I broke some cultural rule, but we three felt like our hearts were breaking so for the three of us and them, the tears were unstoppable and so it went for the remainder of our time.
Was it just our emotions at play?
I don't think so.
The three of us have returned to the States and our hearts and minds and world view has been impacted. We saw a precious piece of God's work and we felt so privileged to be there.
Shortly after we returned to the states, David went to the trouble one evening of setting up skype for us to be able to part of their worship. We were filled with so much joy just hearing them sing and seeing them sit around the room.
Shortly after we left, the students also left Phnom Penh for a country wide celebration of Ancestors and a time in their home towns......4, 6, 9 hours bus ride away from the safety of Crossroads. They returned to Buddhist homes where Christianity is not accepted. They face persecution. Some might be asked to leave. They have counted the cost for following Jesus. BUT, David has mentored them well. The students are steeped in andknow Scripture. They have prepared their hearts in prayer. They have put on the FULL Armor that Ephesians 6 talks about.
Again, the paradigm shift......some of them are sending Facebook messages from their phones.
They continue to ask for prayer.
They want to be able to share the Gospel with their families.
They are first Generation Followers of Jesus who have been discipled well by David and Moonjung.
Thankfully, with technology we can still be connected. We can bring them before the throne daily. We long to partner more so that Westover can see what God is doing. I have been reading again of what God did in the early church that is recorded for us in Acts and how the church exploded because of the new believers "devoting themselves to the teaching of the Word, and prayer and fellowship"
That is what David and Moonjung Ooi are teaching the students to do.
That "first generation" church in Phnom Penh is the future of the Christian church in Cambodia. They can and WILL impact that country for our Lord Jesus.
Please, even though the three of us are back, PLEASE continue to pray for the ministry that we were humbled to be part of for a short time.
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