June 28th:

Hello everybody.

A lot has happened. The highlight of this past week was getting to stay in one of the villages we teach at for three nights. It was such a unique experience living among the people we minister to instead of just visiting for a few hours each day. The kids would come see us early in the morning and again late into the evening, and it gave us so much more time to build relationships with them.

As a team we cooked meals together, always spent time laughing, serving, and simply doing life alongside one another. Being together in the village made it feel like we were becoming part of the kids daily lives, which is probably why it was so difficult to leave knowing we likely won't see many of those kids again.

Throughout our village ministry, we've had the opportunity to cook soup for each village, teach English and Bible lessons, walk through the villages meeting families, and pray with people in their homes. It's been incredible to watch God work through these simple acts of service and to see how open people have been to hearing about Him.

Personally, one thing God has been growing me in is learning what it looks like to live in constant fellowship with others. Being around people 24/7 has definitely been an adjustment, but I've been blessed with an amazing team that's made it easy to grow together. This past month has shaped me in so many ways and it's been just as encouraging watching God work in the lives of my teammates as it has been seeing Him work in the villages.

One thing I've noticed while being in Cambodia is just how different church can look around the world. (This is my view and experience in my three Sundays here!) 

Most of the churches we've visited seem to be non-denominational, and because of the language barrier and the need for translators, the services naturally feel different. There often isn't much preaching straight from Scripture that I'm used to, and the worship and structure don't always carry the same sense of intentionality or reverence that I've grown to love.

That's not to say God isn't at work here. He absolutely is. We've met faithful believers with incredible joy, generosity and love for Christ. It's simply reminded me how much I appreciate and miss my own church back home.

Being away has also made me realize how deeply I value the Anglican tradition. How its grounded in Scripture, the beauty and reverence of the liturgy, the centrality of the Eucharist, and the sense of participating in something that has been faithfully handed down through the centuries. Sometimes you don't fully appreciate what you have until you're away from it. But It's been a gift to worship with brothers and sisters from different backgrounds. 

We leave for Thailand next Wednesday, so we have three more days of ministry here in Cambodia before beginning the next chapter of the trip. I'm excited to see what God has planned, but I'm also trying to be fully present and make the most of these final days with the people here.

Thank you again for all of your prayers and support. Please continue praying that God would prepare hearts during these last few days in Cambodia and that He would go before us as we head into Thailand.