GRIFFITH GLEANINGS JUNE 2018
We have such a privilege to be living in this rural part of Cambodia. One of the life giving things we like to do around where we live is to take a bicycle ride in the coolest part of the day. Our own village is surrounded by rice fields, vegetable plots and homes encircled by tropical fruit trees, coconuts and palm trees. Our neighbours will often call out greetings, which frequently involves asking us where we are going. Occasionally we go for a longer cycle for 30 or 40 kilometres that can take us to some beautiful and interesting places. As we waited for some friends to join us for one of our long bicycle rides, we met the village lolly man who crafts animals on sticks from multi-coloured toffee to sell to children waiting outside the local village school. The children gathered to watch him making them chickens, rabbits, fish and elephants etc. He told us he does this because he did not have lollies growing up. Deb shared she could relate to not having many lollies as a child, but then he expanded that actually he did not have much food growing up. His story impacted on us, as does his joy and life choices. This is not a healthy treat but it comes from this mans heart to bring delight to children watching him plying his craft to create their own edible art. The Khmer people are open to sharing their life stories as we go about our every day lives here. These stories are shaping us and guiding us to walk alongside the Khmer people that God brings our way. Join us in praying that God’s sweet love will have a lasting and transforming impact on the lives of Khmer people we share with as we go about our everyday lives here.
Watering a garden is more than just turning on a tap. For Rob at the school there is an underground well that requires someone to wind a handle to fill a watering can. Watering is something Rob and his students are doing a lot of to help grow the garden produce. Now we see the importance of water for life is vital in any growth, really relationships are similar to growing a plant. A seed is sown, nurtured with water and nutrients and behold a plant grows, fruit and foliage appears and provides a place of shade and shelter. In a relationship a chance meeting becomes an acquaintance, it turns into friendship when you meet often and a level of trust is developed. Then you continue nurturing the relationship through care, love, a feeling of mutual respect and comfort. When you water the plants of your relationships they may turn into deeply rooted and sturdy trees. Through these long lasting relationships we pray that there will be plants of God’s kingdom grown.
Thank you for how you partner with us and allow us to be a part of this privilege of seeing God’s transforming work here in Siem Reap Cambodia. |
