We began again at 5:30 a.m. with small group prayer. These early mornings are a challenge for our college students that they have met with great hearts. The exercise this morning was a series of group games that helped us to bond even more with the Cambodian youth as we ran and laughed and sweated (!) with them.
After morning singing and prayers, Rev. Peter Siegfried from Switzerland preached a message from Romans 8. Peter is in Cambodia to teach and prepare several local pastors for their ordination at the Methodist Bible School. This is Peter’s 14th mission to Cambodia. He encouraged the youth to remember that nothing can separate them from God’s love. He also charged them to be the “lemon grass” in their communities—the ingredient that adds good flavor to the Cambodian cuisine. We completed rotation through the small groups and broke for lunch. The afternoon began with more singing and praise. During the more rowdy songs, we “launched” the last of our t-shirts. Several of our churches donated t-shirts with various youth retreat, choir tour, and church logos. We threw them into the crowd, Mardi Gras bead style, and the kids liked to catch and wear them.
Following the singing, the youth completed their leadership elections and the VIM team took a brief excursion into the market at Sihanouck. It was very hot and there were many people begging for money. It is hard to tell them no, but if you give one of them something, you are swarmed by many others who will not leave you alone. Unfortunately, none of us have enough money to fix all the ills here.
The evening worship began again with singing followed by Holy Communion served by the pastors. I was beginning to feel frustrated by the language barrier because not all of the service, prayers, or music of this service was translated. Then I recalled that Jesus, while on Earth, did not speak a language that I would understand and yet his message and his love have transcended all barriers. When Rev. Peter offered me the cup at Holy Communion, he called me by name and suddenly I felt all my frustration and fatigue lift away. God knows, calls, and loves each of us by name—Hallelujah! The service finished with more lively singing and much dancing. These youth have so much joy and energy! We finally left for a team meeting and bed, but they kept on well into the night.
“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39
-Diane
