I stared unconditional love in the face!

I spent the first week or so with Team Increase and we worked in the village of Sa’ang. It was great to spend some time outside of the city, seeing what’s happening out there. The Church there is growing like crazy, lots of fruit! We were busy and our days were long, but it was incredible to see all that God’s doing. See my previous blogs for more on my time with Team Increase in Sa’ang.

For the past 4 or 5 days I’ve been staying at the YWAM base here in the city of Phnom Penh. Most of my time has been spent hanging out with the squad leaders and the new squad leaders they are raising up to take over leadership. It’s been great to just hang out with them and learn from them in this transition. The new leaders are being empowered in powerful ways and they’ve jumped in all the way. Their gifting are evident and God definitely guided this entire process. They’re growing into their bigger coats very well. During my time here these past 4 or 5 days, I’ve had some time to rest as well. Actually, God’s been teaching me A LOT about resting in Him, and how to live out of that place or rest, not just go there when I’m desperate for a break. Last night during church I picked up my journal and just started writing. The first thing that came out was this phrase: A rested heart is ready for fresh revelation. That’s what I see God doing in this season. He’s teaching me how to rest in Him, then showing me the revelation that comes from that posture of rest. He’s faithful to show me more of His character and what He is doing in, around, and through me here.

This next week I’ll be spending time out in ministry with Team New Song. They work at an orphanage each afternoon called Cambodia Hope. We go there each afternoon from 3-7 and play with the kids, love on them, and teach English classes. Today was my first day with them and I’m already in love with these kids! They are the most affectionate group of kids I’ve ever met. There are around 70 that live there, all ages. As soon as we drove up the kids stormed the gate and each and every one of them greets you with a bear hug! For the entire 4 hours we were with them, we all had kids hanging off of us. They just love to love and be loved! Today I feel like I stared unconditional love in the face! We had a blast with them! I know more clearly why Jesus found ways to be constantly around children.

I look forward to sharing more with you about these kids in the blogs to come. I’m starting to hear their stories, and as heartbreaking as they can be to hear…you can’t be saddened when you see the sheer JOY and HOPE that just oozes out of them! We have so much to learn from these precious little ones that God holds so close to His heart!