2 day’s ago I returned from the June Steps of Justice Cambodia outreach. My body is tired, my time clock is messed up and my diet is slowly adjusting back to a N. American menu. There is a bit of reverse culture shock in coming back from a nation like Cambodia and into a overly developed nation like the USA. It is coming from a nation of extreme poverty to a nation of offensive wealth. Coming from a nation where life is lived outdoors and community happens in public to a place where people hide in their houses. Coming from a nation where people are in need of Jesus to come to their aid to a nation where we have figured out how to take care of ourselves without Jesus help.
If you were following our trip then you were able to get a glimpse into what our time in Cambodia looked like. If not you can check it out on Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #cambodiasoj. There were so many things that God showed us during our time in Cambodia, but I see the biggest thing that we learned is that when we see the injustices in the world that break God’s heart it demands a response from us, His followers. This is a call that comes directly from scripture “Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him.”– Proverbs 14:31, and “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God?”– Micah 6:8
During our time in Cambodia we connected with a few NGO’s and non-profit organizations like IJM, World Vision, Daughters International and Hagar International. We also connected with our friend Brett from the Rock Foundation. Brett has been working with a few communities that have been unjustly and illegally displaced and are living as refugees outside of Phnom Penh in desperate need of help. These are not people who need a hand up, these are people who are in desperate need of housing, land, food and health care. It was amazing to see people like Brett and Kevin responding to these needs and injustices with the love and provision of Jesus. We are working with Brett to help bring long term, lasting change into these communities through simple acts of obedience.
We are headed back to Cambodia in August of this year to continue serving and partnering with these amazing organizations on the ground in Cambodia. We still have space available if you want to come with us and see your life forever wrecked for the ordinary. Please contact Phil if you are interested and you can download the application here on the web. Thanks so much to you who have been praying for us on these trip and to you who have been following and encouraging us in it.
Phil
photo from our friend Amyra Asamoah
