“We are making our descent. Prepare for landing,” the pilot announced as the seatbelt light lit up. After 33 hours of travel and layovers, we finally arrived at our final destination—Phnom Penh, Cambodia! The atmosphere of excitement surrounding my family as we walked through the exit terminal was so thick it could’ve been cut with a knife! We then stood in line, and were blessed to acquire our visas with zero complications. Our next blessing was the appearance of our Cambodia team/ride/tour guides! Before we drove away, we bowed our heads in a prayer of thanksgiving and dedication.
As we drove away from the airport, I noticed how frequently drivers cut each other off, and no one seemed to get upset about it. On a road that would have been two lanes in the U.S., several streams of traffic divided and merged, moving as they saw fit. A sea of mopeds, known locally as a “motos,” passed us with centimeters to spare. I like this! I thought to myself.
Before we knew it, we stopped outside the gate of our temporary living quarters. Most homes in the city are gated, and the windows are barred because of rampant thievery. The local construction materials are mainly concrete and stuccoed brick for walls, ceramic tile flooring, and metal doors and trim. Since our arrival, we have been blessed with:
A Toyota diesel 4×4 truck that was bought for an AFM project brand new in the late 1990s and is still running strong.
An amazing place to live while in the city, right next to the local Adventist Church.
People to help us learn the Khmer language.
The ability to communicate on a basic level so we can get what we need.
We have been here for three weeks now, and just last week we had the opportunity to visit the village where our missionary partners, the Clays, live. Adam and I went to visit some local village people who needed help. I climbed the 10-foot-tall stairway into the first little house where a sick woman lived. We assessed her condition and did what we could. The family’s appreciation was humbling. Before we left that house, several people had come in and wanted their blood pressure taken. One woman whose blood pressure was high wanted to know what she could do to control it. We shared with her the importance of drinking lots of water. We then shared that raw garlic is a natural blood thinner and is free from harmful side effects, and we counseled her to take it daily. Jokingly, we warned her that she might lose a few friends because of bad breath, though! She laughed and disappeared. A few minutes later she returned and breathed out garlic breath with a big smile! Before we left the home, we let them know that we would be praying for them.
As we drove away, I thought about the immense need the Great River People have for affordable, effective healthcare. As we do what we can to meet that need, we look forward to making friends we can lead to the One who offers eternal health!
For the next several months, we will focus on learning the Khmer language so we can be effective communicators. Please pray that God will loosen our tongues and help us learn quickly. Pray with and for us that we will move as God leads and keep His love planted deep within our hearts for His people.
