Eight-year-old Nary peeked shyly from the doorway as we stopped our truck in front of her two-room house. We noticed the freshly laundered clothes hanging on the garden fence and Nary’s two-year-old sister hiding in a tiny “playhouse” not far from their home. Nary’s six-year-old brother ran around the corner of the house to spy on us from a safer location. It had been a while since we had spent much time interacting with them because worship groups in our area had been shut down for a few months.
“Is your mom home?” we asked.
“No, not right now,” came the quiet reply.
“Okay. Is your mom working in the rice field now?” we added.
“Yes,” Nary stated without emotion.
“Do you know when she will get home?” we pressed.
“No,” came the flat response.
“Oh. We wanted to give her this fruit. Do you know how to eat it?” We smiled and held out the apples we had brought.
“Yes,” she said as a bit of sparkle crept into her eyes, and she reached out to take the apples.
“Please tell her we said hello,” we said before leaving.
“Okay,” she assured us.
As we started to drive away, we saw Nary’s baby sister run to her for a hug of reassurance and probably an apple, too.
From the time we moved to this area, Nary has always shown such a sweet and responsible disposition, taking care of her two younger siblings for long periods while their single mom is away in the fields or working at some other job to provide for them. Nary does laundry by hand, cooks food for her siblings and takes care of the many household duties during her mother’s absences.
Some villagers have said that Nary’s grandmother was a Jak (a type of evil spirit in the Pnong culture) and Nary’s mother seems to have continual problems, though she causes many of them by her choices. Because of these things, Nary’s family is not very well accepted in the village. Maybe that is one reason Nary seems so shy.
Even though Nary is shy, she loves to come to Sabbath School. She will often show up early and wait for everyone else to get there. She is usually reserved and quiet at first, but her face will shine as she absorbs the Bible story, craft, and attention by the end of class. Recently, even her timid younger siblings have warmed up and started showing excitement when they come to Sabbath School.
Nary’s life has been a lot harder than most children I have known, but I see so much potential in her. Perhaps the acceptance and love she experiences at Sabbath School, and from the Christians that she knows, will help her break free from the chains of cultural prejudices, poor choices, and poverty. Perhaps the difficulties will help her see more clearly the beauty of God’s love for her. Please pray that Nary will be one of the sparkling jewels in our crowns and yours. Thank you for your support that allows us to stay in Cambodia and share Jesus with Nary and her family.
