Cambodia and Christmas...

Today I was reading a devotional about when Jesus came into town....

In a nutshell, it was a time of celebration and the blind man was calling out and "becoming an embarrassment" so people were telling him to hush. (Luke 18:40) But Jesus stopped and called out to him. 

For some reason, as I read that devotion my mind raced back to my visit to Cambodia two years ago. It seems like so long ago and yet like yesterday. 

We had gone to help with Hard Places Ministries, a group that shares hope with the children and abused of the Phnom Penh. While we were there, the city was getting ready for a celebration. I don't remember what it was, but those in charge were obviously making sure they showed their best possible side. City streets were being cleaned up for the upcoming celebration and the police were in the park gathering up the "embarrassments" and running them out of town.  This was not the time to allow the ugly side of the city to be seen. 

Yet it was for that "ugly" part that we had come. 

We were there to be the hands and feet of Jesus. We hoped that in some small way, we could help those we encountered realize that Jesus saw them and cared. We walked into dark hallways to reach cramped dirty rooms that served as home to so many. We prayed and listened to people that struggled just to survive. We sat on concrete floors and shared hope at every chance we could. We taught and sang praises to Jesus at the base of a Buddhist shrine. We gave food to hungry children and the message of hope to any who would listen (which included, by the way, the very police who were there to "clean things up.")

As I read that devotional today, I was reminded of Cambodia...and Christmas.

I don't know about you, but Christmas brings out the Martha Stewart in me. Okay, maybe more like the "Oh my gosh, I've got to make this special somehow" side of me. I clean the house. Stuff our junk into closets, (oh come on! I can't be the only one that does that!) and put out our finest for all to see. I buy too much, eat too much, and stay up way too late. It's Christmas and everything is supposed to be merry and bright. I try to find the perfect gifts (which I never do - I am lousy at gift giving!) I try to cook, something else I am lousy at; and I try to create that picture of what I think Christmas is supposed to be. 

The imperfect parts, well, I try and tell those parts to "hush" and hide them away...time to put up the lights and make it look like all is merry and bright. 

For many, Christmas is not really a time of "celebration". There are too many hurts. Too many unresolved dreams. Too much life that has happened. Perhaps they've even given up trying to pretend that it's all alright. They figure, like those people in Cambodia, that they will simply be hidden away till the celebration is over...trying to survive.

And then comes Jesus.

He stops. He calls out. Those that have been hidden away are called to the front, not to be embarrassed but to be embraced. He says "come to Me" and be given rest. Suddenly, "the soul feels its worth."

Jesus sees the beautiful. He sees the merry and bright...but He also sees the worn and weary. 

He doesn't look away. He came...that is what Christmas is all about. 

To paraphrase a line from The Grinch...He came just the same. 

O Holy night....long lay the world, in sin and error pining...till He appeared and the soul felt its worth. (O Holy Night)

I don't have an end to this blog...perhaps it's because when Jesus stops and calls out to us, the story has just begun. Merry Christmas y'all.

 (To read the devotional by Ron Hutchcraft that inspired today's blog, click this link: Bare Feet, Boots, and A Man in Blue )
 

Luke 18: 35-43 (Message)
^35-37 He came to the outskirts of Jericho. A blind man was sitting beside the road asking for handouts. When he heard the rustle of the crowd, he asked what was going on. They told him, “Jesus the Nazarene is going by.”
³⁸ He yelled, “Jesus! Son of David! Mercy, have mercy on me!”
³⁹ Those ahead of Jesus told the man to shut up, but he only yelled all the louder, “Son of David! Mercy, have mercy on me!”
⁴⁰ Jesus stopped and ordered him to be brought over. When he had come near, Jesus asked, “What do you want from me?”
⁴¹ He said, “Master, I want to see again.”
^42-43 Jesus said, “Go ahead—see again! Your faith has saved and healed you!” The healing was instant: He looked up, seeing—and then followed Jesus, glorifying God. Everyone in the street joined in, shouting praise to God.

Life with God is an adventure!

It's hard to believe that one week ago I was in Cambodia, preparing to teach at the "Wat", (sorry my Cambodian friends...not sure how to spell that!) The Wat is the park in Phnom Penh that sits at the base of an ancient shrine. The group from Hard Places Ministry go to this park daily and have "Kid's Club" - something you just have to see to believe.

These workers, I sometimes wonder if they aren't simply angels in disguise, play jump rope with the children, teach them about Jesus, color pictures with them, and share a healthy snack...all at the base of a Buddhist shrine. On the park benches that surround the open pavilion where the kids meet, you see young girls waiting for customers. Yes, that means what you think it means.

The first time we went to the Wat, I noticed those around us and prayed that somehow they would hear the gospel message we were sharing with the children. I have to admit, I fumbled the lesson that first day. I've never worked with an interpreter and definitely never worked with an interpreter while also dealing with jet-lag! Hopefully the message that God heals broken hearts still could be heard. (This is a picture of the team doing "heart" surgery.)

This time, I was hopeful that the lesson would make more sense. I worked on ways to teach skits and object lessons through an interpreter. I worked on slowing down how fast I talk - evidently I tend to talk really fast when I'm excited. We had to split our group in half so that we could teach in two areas, and I prayed that we'd somehow be able to make it all work. Fortunately, I was on this trip with some pretty amazing people and I knew they could pull off anything I threw at them. (That included my pastor with his "Blah, blah, blah" in a Transylvania accent as the devil.)

This time the lesson was to be about how the darkness cannot overcome the Light. We were going to teach the kids about praising God and speaking His Word no matter what the devil tries to tell you. Praise to God will send the devil running! I was excited but apprehensive about sharing this lesson. I knew the people with me would do great, I just didn't want to "mess it up."

When we got to the park, one of the "girls" who sits on the benches caught our eye to let us know there were kids already waiting on the other side of the street so that we could help them cross through all the traffic. I marveled that despite the darkness she faced daily, she was looking out for these little ones.

We began the lesson, and I looked up to see if that young girl was still within earshot, hopeful that she too was hearing the truth of God's Word. She was gone. Instead, as I looked out across the children, I saw another group coming toward us. About 10-12 police officers (honestly to me it looked like about 50!) were headed our way. They made their way to the gazebo and walked up the steps to where we were teaching. They stood behind the group of children, some of them leaning against the columns along the side. They looked like an entire army!

I'm not really sure WHAT went through my mind at that moment. I wondered were we about to be told we'd have to stop teaching. I even briefly wondered if I might be arrested or something. (Did I mention we'd spent the Friday before visiting the Killing Fields?) But then, I remember looking at the faces of the Khmer workers and since they seemed unfazed, I figured I was okay. 

I continued to try to teach the lesson, trying to push any worries out of my head. I tried to pretend it was just like any other teacher observation I had been through, but my mind was still racing! My poor interpreter had to deal with my southern drawl combined with fast talking brought on by nerves. She did an amazing job.

The lesson went on and as we taught, some of the police left the gazebo. Others stayed almost the entire time. It wasn't until later that I discovered these police were there to "sweep" the area for those who usually sit on those benches. They had come up simply to watch and listen, just like the children. 

I'm sure that to some this is a pretty anti-climactic ending to what sounded like it might be a very exciting story....but it was PLENTY exciting enough for me!

It all seems a bit like a dream now. One week ago today...I stood in a country that only a year ago I had never really even thought of, and here I was - sharing the Good News. I guess you just never know WHAT God has in store for you when you let down your guard and say "Yes" to His lead.

I am now back into my regular routine...but I hope I never forget what it was like to stand in that park, sharing the good news of Jesus to those who sat on the benches, the children who gathered at our feet, and the police who wandered up just to "see." 
Wow - life with God really is an adventure!

John 1:5

The Message (MSG)

^3-5 Everything was created through him;
    nothing—not one thing!—
    came into being without him.
What came into existence was Life,
    and the Life was Light to live by.
The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness;
    the darkness couldn’t put it out.

This is what love looks like...

 

There are many images that will forever be burned into my memory from Cambodia, but I think the ones I love best are those of the workers loving on the kids. I think, for just a moment, I got to see a glimpse of Jesus.

The staff of the Hard Places truly are an amazing group of people. Most are young, some with families of their own, but all shining with the love of Christ in a very tangible form.

When I went to Cambodia, I went knowing that we would work with the kids. I had no ideas of grandeur - no thoughts that we'd come in and show them "how it was done." I went only thinking I'd take some of my best "object" lessons and my own favorites to share...and hopefully we'd bring some joy and laughter with us to help lighten the load. But I didn't really expect to learn so very much from them.



I've worked with kids for over 25 years in one form or another, but these young workers taught me so much. Mainly, they taught me how to let down my guard and simply love. I watched as they lovingly clipped fingernails of the children who came to the kid's meeting in the park. They diapered those who came up wearing nothing but their birthday suit. They cradled those same children in their arms and softly sang to them as they first fussed, then fell asleep in the safety of the workers arms. They lay them down on a makeshift bed instead of simply putting them down onto the hard concrete they were probably used to sleeping on.

These workers meet to plan lessons to reach these little ones. They get down on the floor with them and talk and play. They help them laugh and sing. They help build creativity and hope. They help them learn how to work together to problem solve in creative lessons involving an egg, some straws, and some tape! Then after a full day of working with these little ones, they go on home visits and check on parents and siblings. They know each of these children, not just by name, but who they really are. They aren't just "workers" - they are pastors of the youngest in the flock. 

There is much I will remember from Cambodia, but it won't be of the landmarks or the tourist attractions. It will be that I saw Jesus, surrounded by children. I saw Him in each one of these amazing young people who give their lives for those who some consider to be "the least of these." 

Thank you my friends for teaching me so much. 

Matthew 19:14

The Voice (VOICE)

Jesus: ¹⁴ Let the little children come to Me; do not get in their way. For the kingdom of heaven belongs to children like these.