Suostei Family and Friends!!
Wow I can’t believe my time in Cambodia has come to a close already. So much happened during my 78 days in Cambodia and I feel so blessed to have called it home for a season. In my last blog I shared the joy I was experiencing as a teacher in Kampong Thom. On December 10th my team returned to Siem Reap to finish up our village ministry with the rest of the squad.
One of the weeks we decided to stay after our normal sessions to host movie nights in the villages. We brought the projector and had the opportunity to show ‘The Jesus Film’ and a Jesus Superbook episode. It was so exciting to watch the Bible come to life for the kids in the village!
As Christmas approached we began packing Christmas bags to give to the kids in the village. Each one had a drawstring bag, school uniform, water bottle, notebook, pencils, colored pencils, pencil pouch, erasers, picture book about Jesus, toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, soap, and instant noodles. After packing all the bags we began to give them to the kids in the villages. In each of the villages we blew up balloons, put the tarps down, and had a birthday party for Jesus! The joy they had when seeing they got even a toothbrush was completely overwhelming. Growing up I had always participated in sending things overseas to missionaries during Christmas – to be on the other side of that this year was amazing!
January 3rd we all packed up in a bus to head to our week long debrief in Thailand! It was a crazy 10 hour bus ride with a stop half way through to walk across the border! During debrief we talked about what has gone well the past 4 months and what we need to change for the future, we had meetings with our leaders, worshiped and had communion on the beach, processed all the ways God moved in Cambodia, and discussed our upcoming ministry in South Africa. We also had time to relax, play, and explore Hua Hin, Thailand! I swam in the ocean, looked at seashells, rode a horse on the beach, and fed an elephant bananas!!!
After 2 bus rides and 3 flights . . . we made it to Jeffrey’s Bay, South Africa!! My team will be working with the organization Beats and Books for the next 2 months. I am so excited to tell you all about what that entails once we begin our ministry there!
Continued prayers for health on my squad are much needed. Miss you all!
