Saying Goodbye to Cambodia

This week we said goodbye to Cambodia!

I never imagined I would develop such a deep affection for this country. From the culture, daily routines, the warm Khmer smiles and the genuine hospitality we experienced left a lasting impression. The natural beauty and stunning landscapes also captured my heart. While I am saddened to leave, I am filled with both anticipation and excitement for our upcoming adventures in Thailand and whatever other surprises God has planned for us along the way.

Our last week at Good Seed School in Cambodia was themed as art week/activities for our class. I found some enjoyable activities for the kids, including a coloring book with Bible verses that I picked up at the Paris airport—they thought it was the coolest thing ever. I also had the chance to share the gospel with 17 kids through those coloring pages. Only 2 of whom had heard of Jesus or the Bible before.

Additionally, I brought back some fun word searches and a world map puzzle. With three different groups of students each day, all the activities were a hit.

Our ministry host took my team to a spot by the river where we sat and enjoyed Grandma’s dinner and Sokeng ordered food that you cook yourself, creating a Khmer-style bbq that was awesome!

During our three weeks of teaching, we also helped the kids with a competitive storytelling competition. We assisted with the final rehearsals and watched all five groups present their rehearsed skits. I worked with 4th and 6th graders, and my groups won 2nd and 3rd place—I was so proud of their hard work!

The following day, we had to say goodbye to our ministry hosts, Good Seed School, and our beloved city, Kampong Thom. It was very sad to see that our time there has come to an end.

While we didn’t engage in hands-on work like feeding the homeless, making house visits, or building churches, our focus was on creating something greater: a community where children feel welcomed and loved. We aimed to provide an environment filled with kindness and support, and a school where they could learn English from Americans and gain the knowledge to pursue their dreams of becoming doctors, business entrepreneurs, lawyers, teachers, engineers, bankers, etc.

For our final weekend in Cambodia, we reunited with our other teams in Siem Reap. Together, we enjoyed experiences such as Pub Street, church services, worship nights, coffee shop hopping, and fun games before our travel day.

Next, we are heading to Thailand! It was announced that we will be in Chiang Mai with another team. We are excited to have friends join us and to see what God has in store for us!

Prayers:

– That the Lord continues to work in each of the kids’ lives and futures, providing abundance and fostering a personal relationship with Him. May our kindness and efforts leave a lasting impact and encourage them for a lifetime.

– Prayers for safety as we travel to our next ministry.