1 Peter 4:8-11:
8 Most importantly, love each other deeply, because love will cause many sins to be forgiven. 9 Open your homes to each other, without complaining. 10 Each of you has received a gift to use to serve others. Be good servants of God’s various gifts of grace. 11 Anyone who speaks should speak words from God. Anyone who serves should serve with the strength God gives so that in everything God will be praised through Jesus Christ. Power and glory belong to him forever and ever. Amen.
In Cambodia, one needs stacks of patience; without being specific, you have to learn to 'go-with-the-flow' and expect the unexpected. This isn't easy for someone like me who needs to be prepared for stuff about a week in advance. One thing that God has shown me is not to jump to conclusions about things so hastily and to just pray and allow Him to work in situations and He does because He is faithful. I admit that when things got tough my attitude probably wasn't right when, in fact, I have so much to be thankful for which I am reminded of each time I see a blind or disabled person out here or when the grace and gentleness of a local leaves me feeling humbled. At West Cliff Baptist Church we are often reminded that we are on a journey and when I think of mine, I see many hills and valleys and I wonder just how many fewer valleys there'd be if I had continued to keep my attitude in check.
I helped the guest house with the composition of their meal invites and enjoyed doing it; I also enjoy my one-to-one tutoring with Than Nguyen who is the Christian Vietnamese teacher - she is thankful, smiles a lot and sometimes gives me a can of cola or an iced-coffee for teaching her. I've been teaching her how to pray in English and it is just brilliant listening to her progress. I love it when the kids in the morning class say, “thank you teacher!” as they troop out of class and when some of the evening students say a thank you. I'm not here to receive but I have to say that when you feel appreciated, it makes serving people a whole lot easier. But being in the real world, the key is to learn to forgive those by whom you don't feel appreciated.
On my way to the village school the other day I was riding my motorbike behind another motorbike which had another motorbike tied onto the back of it - this is the first time I have seen this and I did marvel at the rider's skills of navigation and downright bravery. It is common for all manner of things to be carried on motorbikes usually families of four (without crash-helmets), chickens (dead and alive) and that often-seen head-turner which is the sight of a passing bike with freshly-slaughtered pigs tied on the back. Furthermore, whilst riding to the church school this week I had to avoid a vociferous gaggle of geese that waddled out onto the road in front of me.
The guest house is full with people from all over the world. Last night, all the guests were invited to a free new year celebration meal, laid on by the owner whose wife had recently given birth. There were a couple of dishes on offer so I went for the noodles with coconut and fish sauce which was very nice.
It was good to be able to relax a little although my Khmer dancing still leaves a lot to be desired, to the point where one co-participant kindly remarked, “you dance like lady”. Nice.
Which leaves me once again to say thank you for taking this journey with me and to wish you a very Happy New Year.
Dan x
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