Persecution

I used to think just because I was safe inside the bubble of America that persecution of Christians wasn't prevalent. I knew that it happened, but thought that it was a rare occurrence. I found it happens so much more than my sheltered mind realized. The persecution of Christians is happening and very prevalent. It is becoming more wide spread. Christians are being imprisoned, tortured and killed. My brothers and sisters are suffering. They are suffering for the name of Christ. Reading about their experiences makes my Christianity seem so easy. If people are willing to put their world, their entire lives at risk for the name of Jesus Christ, then there is no doubt in my mind that Christ is true hope. This humbles me so much. How have I ever suffered? It's easy to call myself a Christian when nothing is at stake.

If you'd like to find out more about the persecution of Christians click here.

Keep those who face persecution in your prayers.

John 15:18-21  

18 "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. 20 Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. 21 They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me.

The love that swells

These are the times of my life I will never forget. When I'm with these children I see absolute purity. Being around the kids is so uplifting and heart warming. They make me forget about all my problems and whatever troubles I had in the past. They take me back to my own childhood, when life was so simple. A child's view on altruism is so easy. I envy and miss seeing through the eyes of a child. Seeing their bright and smiling faces reminds me of why I came here. It's hard because I know that one day I'll have to leave them. For now, I will do what I can to better their lives while I'm here.

Matthew 18:3-4 

3 And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

The Blood Bank

Last night I went to a concert where a man played the cello. His name was Dr. Beat or Beato. He used his talents with his instrument to raise money for a children's hospital. He asked that the older people donate money and the younger ones donate blood. The hospital is free. So poor Cambodians don't have to worry if they will be able to get their medical attention. The hospital was started by 16 foreigners and is still being ran by Beato today. I was touched by this man's passion and how he used something as simple as playing a cello to help people. I was so touched that I wanted to help. So I decided to donate blood.

This was my nurse. She was very nice.

Here is me giving blood. The building was surprisingly clean and I watched to make sure she got me a clean needle. She did. I have an A positive blood type. They gave me a t-shirt and some vitamins and I was done.

God will forever guide me

I woke up this morning and I knew there was something different about today. I wasn't sure what it was, but I knew that God had something in store for me today. The first thought that popped into my head when I woke up was it's time for an adventure. Adventure compels me. It is the passion that drives me. I use this passion for God's glory. What greater adventure is there in life than serving the creator of the universe? It is the highest honor that can be bestowed.

I threw the covers off and took a hot shower. I made my way onto the balcony to greet the sun and the day that was before me. I grabbed my things and layed my map across the table. I was going to explore Angkor Wat Temple today. I had been there twice before, but it was with a group. The times I had visited the temple before seemed more like touring an exhibit than exploring ancient ruins. I had heard a rumor that after 5 p.m. people are allowed to enter

 the temple for free. So I started on my journey late in the afternoon around 5-ish. I grabbed some batteries for my camera, jumped on my bike, and started on my journey down the road. 

After about 10 minutes I reached the first checkpoint where some policemen flagged me down. I pulled over and spoke with a representative of the temples. He told me I had to pay twenty dollars to get in. I didn't want to pay twenty bucks, so I turned around. As I was leaving another representative caught up to me. He told me that after 5:30 I could go inside the temples. He let me through and I started back on my journey. While riding my bike I saw some monkeys...

...And there was this one with a massive gash on its nose. I could see right into its nostril.

I gave them some beef jerky, but they didn't like it. They took it right out of my hands, sniffed it, then threw it on the ground. That made me laugh. It was getting late and if I didn't get moving I wasn't going to make it to the temple in time. I jumped on my bike and went on my way. There were some local boys swimming in the pond nearby. They were all having a great time so I wanted to get their picture.

Finally around 5:45 I made it to Angkor Wat temple. I got some great pictures.

What I didn't realize was at 6 they make everyone leave the temple. Well... I wasn't ready to leave. So, I snuck past some of the guards so I could look inside. It was surprisingly quiet compared to the middle of the day when all the tourists are filing in and out.

Then a police officer spotted me. He stood up and started walking over to me. I smiled and waved... then turned and took off running. I didn't know what he would do or say and I wasn't going to stick around to find out (the cops are corrupt). I made it out of the temple without getting caught. There was a path that led through the jungle back to the entrance. I needed to hurry because it was getting dark and I had to ride my bicycle back to where I live. As I was walking down the path I heard loud chanting. The chanting compelled me. I walked toward the chanting. The further I walked the louder the chanting got. Finally I reached the source of the chanting. It was coming from a modern buddhist pagoda. The pagoda had all kinds of pictures all over it.

I don't know exactly what this picture means, but it is very odd. I looked inside the building and there were many buddhist monks on their knees worshipping a 10 foot tall idol. I took my shoes off and stepped inside. When I entered the room the monks stopped their chants and turned all their attention to me. I just smiled. The head monk looked at me and said "Where are you from?" I replied "U.S.A." They started a conversation with me. We talked about many things, what my job is, why I was in Cambodia, who I was. The leader said they were all wanting to learn English. I offered my services to them. I told them I could teach them two days a week for one hour. They were so happy and excited. I feel this was the purpose to my whole day. God led me here... to this place... where these men are condemned. Christ led me here to shine my light.

I left them with a smile and a wave. I told them I would return soon. I jumped on my bike and returned to Common Grounds Coffee Shop (the place I live). 

Today was one of those day where I could feel the presence of God. I just knew he was leading me today. It will be so strange teaching these monks English. I am a follower of Christ and they are buddhist monks. They are the elite of their religion. Yet, somehow, Christ led me to them so that I may teach them. What a wonderful, wise, and powerful God I have. I am still amazed at his wonders. The way he moves is so mysterious and wonderful. It seems the world has a view that God created the world and then took a step back to watch from afar. I don't view God this way. God is all around us. He is in the very air we breathe. He lives in and among us. He isn't somewhere way out in space watching the world through a magnifying glass. God is here. He motivates us. He guides us. He gives us passion. He compels us. He mystifies us. He teaches us day by day. He moves us. He gives us wisdom. He gives us hope. He shows us justice. He is the energy that flows through us. He gives us strength and courage. He leads us through every battle. He is our everything, if we allow Him to be. All you have to do is keep you heart open to him. I, more than anyone, had a problem with wanting to do things on my own steam. I didn't want to feel like I was using Christ as a crutch. But I have learned that He is so much more than a crutch. He is the well of energy from where I draw my strength. He isn't a God who is watching you from a far off place. He is a God who is with you always. He is there with you now. Wherever you are, He is there in that very room. I will thank God everyday for what he has given me. Through him there is no enemy that can come against me. No darkness will ever prosper over the light that dwells within me.

Isaiah 43:2-3

When you pass through the waters, 
       I will be with you; 
       and when you pass through the rivers, 
       they will not sweep over you. 
       When you walk through the fire, 
       you will not be burned; 
       the flames will not set you ablaze.

 ³ For I am the LORD, your God, 
       the Holy One of Israel, your Savior

My first official blog entry

Okay. So this is my first "official" blog entry. I haven't blogged anything yet, but have found the determination to find the time. For some reason, today, I realized it was important that people were able to keep themselves updated on what was going on here. 

I arrived in Siem Reap yesterday after a 6 hour bus ride. I have been spending all my time in the capital, Phnom Penh. I have been teaching English and bonding with the Cambodian youth (I feel that we bonded anyway) there. Phnom Penh is such a busy and bustling city. It's not like your average large city. To add on to ridiculous crowded streets there were so many new and chaotic things happening all round me. Horns blasted, Cambodians hustled around to many different places, and the tuk tuk (taxi) drivers never ceased to ask me if I needed a ride. My place of rest was... quaint. I had air conditioning, on the day we had electricity. I had no hot water; my day always started and ended with a cold shower. My washing machine... well there wasn't one. If I didn't want to spend 12 dollars to have a weeks worth of clothes washed then I had to wash my clothes by hand. The pastor offered to bring my clothes to his home and have them washed and without hesitation I took him up on that offer. My kitchen... now there was a hypochondriacs nightmare. We had geckos freely climbing around the walls (much like the rest of the house). Ants swarmed the counters and somewhere nesting in a hole in the washroom was my grandmother's arch nemesis. The cockroach. These hideous little vermin never ceased to arrive in the afternoons and late nights. I finally declared war on these tiny terrors and bought the roach nuke (aka Raid). I left the Raid in the kitchen and told the other tenants to spray at will. The next day I came home and the washroom floor was covered with little dead roaches. Apparently, the Cambodians had been killing the roaches fine, now the problem was there were dead bugs all over the area where the clothes and dishes were washed. Although many would complain about these living conditions, the Cambodians were grateful that they had a place to sleep and food to eat. After seeing how many of the poor in Cambodia lived, I also knew, I had nothing to complain about.

So, here I am now. I am here in Siem Reap. The city is so nice and I quickly took advantage of my chance to get a hot shower. Yesterday Chloe and I just went to a restaurant called The Red Piano. It was great to catch up with her and enjoy the company of someone who naturally spoke my native tongue. It made me feel like I have been gone from home so long even though I have only been gone a relatively short time. We talked for a while before heading to the night market. At the night market we notice a small group of people all huddled up. Naturally Chloe and I go to see what is going on. People were paying to stick their feet in this water and have minnow sized fish come and eat the dead skin off their feet. I knew then, I had to try this. Chloe and I dipped our feet in the chilly water and tiny fish swarmed our feet. Chloe let out a scream (apparently her feet are very ticklish). It did tickle. This was definitely a sensation unlike anything I had ever felt. This scene seemed to attract crowds so many foreigner came and tried it out. Chloe and I sat and had conversations with the many ethnically diverse people around us. After 20 minutes we took our feet out of the water and headed back to the Claremont (where we are staying). Chloe and I stayed up a bit longer talking about Cambodia before we finally decided to call it a night.

Today Laura (Lee intern), Chloe and I went to the Tonle Sap Lake. (If you don't know what that is, Google it.) This is where a lot of the poor of the poor live. This lake is their plumbing. Anything you need water for... well that's why the lake is there. The lake has all the answers! Need a drink? Go to the lake! Gotta go to the bathroom? Go to the lake! Need to wash your hair? Go to the lake? Want to go for a swim? Go to the lake! Okay... I think you get my point. Anyway, we went out to the lake to help Laura teach a class for the lake children. Honestly Chloe and I didn't really do anything. Aside from me telling a Bible story and Chloe leading them through a song, we mostly sat back and observed. Laura handled the children beautifully. She kept their attention and had them constantly working on something. Trying to handle kids that are 4 or 5 is hard, but imagine doing the same thing except the kids don't understand a word you are saying. One word: Notgonnahappen! Laura did such an awesome job though. I was very impressed. Later that day Chloe and I decided to get pedicures. I know it's not the manliest thing, but my feet were seriously beat up. I had been neglecting them, so I thought they deserved the care of a woman. Chloe suggested that I get green nail polish and I gave her the big N-O. But sometime during that pedicure my thoughts went back to my dad and how I let Paul Shull and Marty Benson take advantage of my poor cripple father only a couple months ago. I remembered how I sat back and watched as they painted my dad's toes bright red while he was unable to do anything to stop them. Funny? You betcha, but I couldn't let my father endure that kind of suffering if I wasn't willing to endure it myself. So, in honor of my father I allowed my pedicurist to paint my toe nails green. While I was getting my toe nails painted, the manager of the spa felt obligated to explain to me the difference between gay, lady-boy, and he-she. Why did he feel obligated? Maybe it had something to do with the fact that I'm male and my toe nails just became cross dressers.

The europeans arrived late this afternoon. They are all really friendly. Tomorrow we go back to the Tonle Sap and we will hike up to this temple on top of a mountain. I'm glad. I can't wait to see how God affects the hearts of these europeans. We'll see how tomorrow goes!