Just like me…

Friday evening was so good. I had been in Phiem Phlay all day and was really looking forward to the “student fellowship” which happens every Friday evening at about 6:30. Well, maybe it was canceled or something- I never did find out- but when I went outside to meet the students, I discovered that everybody was doing their own thing… Oh well.I sat down on a hammock with Sopohl, one of the students, who, incidentally, reminds me a lot of my friend Mary from China. She and her sister, Zanda, both attend the Bible school. The three of us sat outside, and began talking as the sun went down. We were there for nearly 3 hours, just talking.

First of all, let me say that I am VERY impressed with their English! They struggle with the pronunciation of some words, but they understand so much and are very adept at expressing themselves in a language not their own! We talked about some deep stuff, like sin nature and family relationships and the way the Holy Spirit works in us. Again, with their English, I am very impressed! But beyond that, I just really enjoyed being with my sisters in Christ.

They joyfully told me how God had changed them since they began to follow Jesus. They rejoice to see the change in their mother since she has believed, and pray that their father, who has professed Christ but hasn’t quite gotten it yet, will really enter into a relationship with Jesus. They weep over their friends who have abandoned the faith because it is difficult. They definitely understand the challenges of serving Christ, but they hold on because they know they need Him. They struggle, the same as I do, with their heart-attitudes and sinful thoughts. They deal with the all-too-familiar problem of maintaining long-distance friendships and reestablishing old friendships, just like me. They hurt inside when they realize how they have wronged others in the past – I feel that same ache. Like me (and the Apostle Paul- haha), they struggle with wanting to do what they ought not to do- but we are growing daily, through every struggle, by God’s grace and the Holy Spirit’s empowering.

It was so incredibly refreshing to sit side-by-side with Cambodian sisters, realize our commonalities, and see how our great God unifies us. Orkoon Brayohn! Praise God!