Take One, But Not Yet Take Two.

Brace yourself, this one may be long.

The first week has been a week of firsts. First day in the village, first day in the orphanage, first time teaching a Bible/English class in Cambodia, first time visiting the market alone and making it back, first time seeing a jumping spider (more scary details to come; and sadly not the last time this week)...you get point. Lots of firsts and lots of exciting things to share.

I'll sum up real quick though the village, orphanage and teaching classes in three words: always be prepared. In the villages, on the fly, I was asked to preach three times. I shared w/ them every underlined verse, well practically, I had in my bible...yet they still wanted more. At the orphanage, I had three different games to play for the hour stint I would be there. After about 15 minutes, the kids were bored and I still had about an hour left to fill with fun activities haha. Finally in teaching, I'm teaching the Bible as English. So, we're going through a book called The Good News that one of the missionaries here wrote. It is a basic breakdown of what the major theme of the bible is, "God's redemption of mankind through Jesus Christ". I never knew who I'd have in my classes. At first I was just teaching the 4 o'clock and 6:15 class. That turned into the 5 o'clock and 6:15 class, and now it has become the 3, 5, and 6:15 class. I've got a fun mix of Christians, a Christian quasi-Buddhist monk, two guys are very interested in the Gospel, and about 4 or 5 students who, spiritually, I'm not sure where they stand. It is quite the blessing, and challenge. Many students ask the hard questions, and were just now through the introduction of the book! So, lesson number 1: always be prepared to share the Gospel at any point and any time. You may be in your cubicle, riding in a taxi, sitting in a foreign village, teaching a monk, working on a patient, or cutting someone's hair. Who knows where you'll be and who knows when God will open the opportunity for you to share the Good News!

So as you can tell from my super awesome catchy title, its not quite time for take two of the action. As the week was winding down, I woke up this morning already thinking ahead to next week, what I will share in the villages, what games to play in the orphanage, and anticipating the questions that could come from my classes. But, that all changed when I walked downstairs this morning.

As I walked down the stairs I was greeted by a see of Cambodian faces, and a tearful Allison and Christian (the missionaries I'm living with). Come to find out, Christians mother passed away last night/early this morning. She had been ill for quite a while, and they had gone back to the States to visit her because they expected her to pass away sooner. However, she began to feel better and they came back to Cambodia, landing only hours before I did. Well, things took a turn for the worst the past couple of days and she passed away. It was gut wrenching to see Christian and Allison this morning, but they were very encouraged, as was I, by how the Body of Christ was at work. Already people were chipping in to help them around here, were offering to pay for Christian's plane ticket, and helping his family stateside. It was a beautiful thing to sit back and be a part of. The Body of Christ is a powerful thing when it works together!!

Well, as the day went on Allison and Christian and I began to discuss what this would look like for me. Already, things have been off to a slow start this first week, as its been filled with a lot of down time, because they were just now getting back to Cambodia after a 3 week stint in the USA. The ministry here was kind of up in arms and a little hectic. Things were just getting back to normal, when now, once again, things will be back up in the air. So, Allison and Christian were worried that I was going to get upset and bored.

And to be honest, they had a very acute sense about them. Indeed, I was at first selfishly upset. I was ready to get the ball rolling and ready to get things going so that I could fill my days with ministry in the villages, orphanage, and teaching. I took some time to myself this morning after watching Judah and Hudson (their sons) for about 4 hours. I began to pour out to God how I was frustrated because I wanted to know my purpose here if it was going to be another two weeks before I got back to the villages and orphanage. Why did God send me here if I'm not going to be able to minister!?!

Well then I began to pick up in John, where I've been doing my daily quiet time, and I began to read chapter 7. Several times Jesus is asked to reveal himself by the people, but he kept saying it wasn't quite the time. And I began to think, scary I know. If we're honest with ourselves, Jesus' entire ministry was his death and crucifixion. He came to die for our sins. He came to redeem us. That was his ministry. Certainly, along the way he did ministry. But, the climax and pivotal point of his ministry that he kept pointing to was the crucifixion. That's when it hit me...maybe its not my time yet? Maybe I'm not fully prepared to really do what God wants me to do here in Cambodia. Maybe what God wants me to do is to be here for the family as much as possible over the next two months.

You see, running the ministry here is normally a 4 person job. But, two of the missionaries are back in the States until late June. Now, Christian will be going home for at least two more weeks, leaving the ministry to rest on Allison's shoulders. I have no doubt she'll do a bang up job at it, but a 4 person workload is a huge burden...regardless of who you are. That on top of being a mother to two kids at ages 3 and 1, and coordinating an intern. Its a lot to carry. So, the Lord broke me and challenged me to be a part of that Body of Christ that I got to witness this morning. And that soon, my time would come when my ministry would reach its climax, but not now. For the months leading up to Cambodia I thought for sure that the pivotal point and life changing would come from working in the villages, at the orphanage, and teaching. But, perhaps it will come in helping this family out.

So, after the Lord broke me Christian, Allison and I got to sit down. I told them not to worry about me, coordinating me into any villages, the orphanage, or anything like that. Not to be lazy, but I know they need someone to take care of the daily household duties, such as watching the two boys while others can work. So, that may indeed be what I'm doing. Already the schedule that I thought I would be having is being torn a part and a new one is taking place. I'm not sure where all I'll be in the mornings, but I will be teaching all of the English classes now (Christian was teaching one of them), leading a bible study at the local high school during lunch (hopefully; and this opportunity just came up today!!!), and helping Allison with the boys and household duties. Not exactly village work, but definitely work for the Kingdom!

So, take two on the villages, orphanage, and so on will have to wait. For now, a new take one will take place this upcoming week and I couldn't be more excited to see what God has in store. I have a feeling that as long as I'm obedient to this new call, whatever I do will be blessed. After all, the Lord's been teaching me that in whatever I do, do it for His glory. No, watching two kids isn't the ''extreme missionary work" like traveling into villages deep in the woods of Cambodia, but it is "extreme missionary work" in the sense that after this morning, I learned it takes A LOT of creativity and patience and energy to keep up w/ two little whipper-snappers like Judah and Hudson!

So, there's my life in a nutshell over the past week. The Lord has been good. He's been close and near when I needed him. He's been my rock, my sustainer, and best friend. Its been somewhat lonely here. But, God has provided his presence in a really neat way!

Thank you all for your continued prayers. Please be in prayer for Christian as he travels back to the States, peace and comfort for his family, and for Allison as she takes on a huge burden.

Thanks and I love and appreciate you all!

in Him,

Josh Lj

PS - The jumping spider...I hate them. I went in to get a shower last night and saw a brick colored spider the size of my palm sitting in the middle of the floor. I went to smash it with my shoe, and the demon jumped AT ME!! He flippin' jumped AT ME!! Needless to say, as many of you know, I hate spiders. I had about a minute panic attack, fought off tears and trembling, took some deep breaths and tried again. Once again, he jumped and ran super fast across the floor. Finally, I got the toilet brush and just began trying to anticipate where he'd move next. After a couple of tries, and with cornering it with my shoe and the brush, I was successful in the slaying of a demon-possessed, jumping spider monster. Your welcome world for ridding you of such evil.

Eaten and Burned Alive!

So I've just accepted the fact that my body is now going to be a human teething ring for ants here in Cambodia. Fortunately, they're not fire ants and fortunately I've yet to have an allergic reaction. They literally are eating me alive. There's not an appendage without a bite on it, a nook or cranny of the body without one...they're everywhere. Wearing clothes is uncomfortable, wearing shoes is uncomfortable, wiping after pooping...that's even uncomfortable. Yeah, I just wanted to go over that line for you. But, you get the picture...they're everywhere.

The only thing that keeps my mind off of being eaten alive is being burnt alive. I know, I've already complained a lot and I'll admit it, I'm not done yet, but there's a purpose for it...promise. Back to being burnt alive. The day I landed in Cambodia it was 120 degrees outside. Since then its cooled off to a mere 110 (that's NOT including humidity levels and heat indexes). I've sweat more than not. I sweat sleeping. I sweat showering. I sweat peeing. My sweat sweats. Even the locals here are complaining about how hot it is, so I the fat American have no qualms complaining.

The past two days these thoughts of complaining have consumed me. I've quietly been whiny, and itching, most of the time. However, today it hit me. I'm here to be a part of the Cambodian culture for the next two months. And the people here on a yearly basis deal with heat like this, bugs that gnaw on them...all without complaint. It really hit home today when I visited the orphanage I'll be working at for the first time today. The kids came out to greet us (myself, the two missionaries, and the major financial supporter from the US who just happened to be in town this week) and sing us all some songs. The kids were dressed to the tee. They had eyes that stared deep into your soul and then some. At such a young age, you could tell they'd been unjustly hurt. Some of their stories range from being abandoned by their own mothers to pursue another family, some have seen their mother murdered by their father with their own eyes, some were picked up off of the streets and the gut wrenching stories go on.

Anyways, the kids came out to greet us and immediately the flies swarmed their eyes, mouthes, and delicate bodies. Some of their hair looked as though it had been highlighted, yet later I found out that wasn't the case. The blonde streaks against their jet black hair came from bouts of malnutrition and the body wasn't producing any pigment. Here these kids were...swarmed by flies and bugs of all sorts, discolored from malnutrition, and abandoned and left alone by their families. That's when it hit me...who am I to complain about the ant bites and scorching heat?

That's my lesson learned for these two days and reminder for you all at home. We've got it made in the States, how dare we complain when our abundance ceases to be abundance and becomes a little more than we need?

On a cheerier note, I've figured out my rough schedule for the next two months. It looks like this:

Mondays - Preparing for the week at the orphanage, teaching, and in the villages.

Tuesdays - Work in the surrounding villages of Battambang from 8-11AM; teach Bible/English classes at 4 and 6:15, each for an hour.

Wednesdays - Work in the orphanage that morning; teach Bible/English classes at 4 and 6:15, each for an hour.

Thursdays - Repeat Tuesdays

Fridays - Repeat Wednesdays

Saturdays - Activities in the community, with the students of the classes, and some r&r

Sunday - Some more r&r; church at 2 & 3; Leadership meetings w/ the ministry @ 4:30

I've grown somewhat impatient since landing here on Friday. I've been ready to just jump in and go, but that hasn't been the case. The family I'm staying with themselves just got back from the States for a family emergency. Looking back now, I'm thankful for the couple days of rest. Its taken a bit to get adjusted to the schedule here in Cambodia, to the heat, and to what life in Cambodia will be like for the next two months. The past two days haven't been all laziness either though. We've hit the streets, the Buddhist temple in my backyard, and a local high school here pretty hard passing out fliers for the English classes. Its been really funny to see Cambodians' reaction to me handing them a flier, telling them hello in Khmer (pronounced 'cuh-my'), yet knowing nothing else in Khmer. Even better than their responses though, are the positive reactions we got from the Monks at the temple! Wow, what an awesome experience!

So its been an exciting few days for sure since being here. I've also attended one of the local churches here. They've asked me to speak next week, so be praying for me as I prepare what to say! Also, something else I'm really excited about, I'm getting to know some of the faces I'll be working with. My personal translator for the next two months is Quut (wrong spelling I'm sure, but announced like Quit w/o the 'i'). He's 26, a Christian for several years now, and really funny. The two that I'll be working with in the villages are So Mnang and So Pek (again, probably wrong spelling). So Mnang was a boxer back in his younger days and is extremely musically talented. So Pek is 23, married, and really funny also. Finally, one guy that has struck some chords w/ my heart is So Chettra (I call him Cheese because I always think of Cheddar every time I hear his name). He was a monk a few years ago. Today he shared his story with me. He shared how when he was younger, he's now 23 and married, he was a monk and had to pick between eating and going to school. He couldn't afford both. He'd left his family to pursue monkhood. He found Christ, and left the monkhood. Then, he found himself on the streets and having to pick between eating a meal or paying for school. Cheese lives here on the commune with us and he's a true joy to be around and an inspiration for sure. Today I learned from him what work and dedication mean. I look forward to hearing what other lessons of life I may learn from him.

So, enough rambling for now. If you could, please be praying for me this week. I start the busy schedule and am excited, nervous, and eager beyond all get. Pray for the Bible/English classes. When we went through the Buddhist temple inviting the monks, we got a pretty positive reaction. Pray that they'll come to the classes and that I'll be able to build a relationship with some of them. As I walked through the temple, I felt a special prick on the heart for them. They find themselves lost in a religion where there's no light and no chance for TRUE peace and hope. Pray also that I would have the strength, desire and determination to get up each day. This heat is indeed draining, and spiritually and emotionally, it'll be draining as well. May the Lord be my rock and salvation, giver of strength and joy as I begin the work here!

Until next time, I love and appreciate you all!

Josh Lj

So far, SOOO good!

It is 2:10PM here in Battambang (3:10AM EST) and all I can think of is “We’re not in Kansas anymore.” It’s true, even though I was never in Kansas, I’m not in my world any more. At first, this thought scared the hell out of me. But, I’m finding a lot of comfort in being so uncomfortable. Weird, I know.

Let me tell you a little about my travels here to Battambang. Most of you know I’m long-winded, so I’ll try to keep it somewhat short. There’s so many things I’d love to share, but I know a lot of you wouldn’t care to hear about how awesome it was that I drank Starbucks in two different Asian nations. I think it’s cool, some of you think it’s lame. So, I’ll spare those details, even though I just told you it happened haha.

1 – I had a surprise layover in Hong Kong. I landed in San Francisco and had to go get my boarding pass from Singapore Air for my two international flights. When I got to the desk they told me I’d booked a ticket to Hong Kong. As calmly as I could, I freaked out as I wasn’t expecting to fly there. The lady could tell I was freaked, so she explained that it was just a pit stop en route to Singapore and that my boarding pass was good for the whole way there. I stopped freaking out.

2 – I had the misfortune of having a middle seat for my 19 hour flight. I’m not normally upset about this, I don’t mind the middle seat really. But this flight made me hate it. I took some medicine to help me sleep on the flight, but, the plan to knock out backfired. I blame it all on the middle seat. The worst thing about the middle seat is there’s no-unawkward position to sleep in, especially when the two grown men on either side of me fell asleep with their heads almost leaning on my shoulders. So, regardless of which way I turned my head, I’d be staring awkwardly into the eyes of another man. So, I tried to sleep as comfortably as possible, but I found it hard to do. Whether it was the thought of awkwardly making eye contact with another man, or thinking about Cambodia and what the next two months held for me, I found it difficult to sleep.

3 – I had Burger King in Singapore’s airport. I know I said I’d spare those details about pointless stuff, but this experience wasn’t pointless. It’s amazing what God’ll show you over a Whopper Jr. and some fries. I was eating and began to think to myself “I can’t believe my life.” A few months ago, I was fighting the darkest, deepest depression I’d ever been through, questioning the purpose of living, and yesterday I found myself en route to share the Gospel in Cambodia. I couldn’t help but laugh aloud. Afterall, its funny how God does his working sometimes. After laughing, I couldn’t help but cry tears of joy and comfort as I felt the Lord’s presence. I’ll admit, I’d become stagnant in the weeks leading up to my trip. I made excuses for not finding time with the Lord, mostly really dumb ones like busyness. Yesterday in the Changi International Airport I finally took the time the Lord had been calling me to. As I began to think, pray, and process what my life has looked like I heard the Lord say to me, “Josh, its me and you now. Let’s get back to work.” Hearing, feeling, and knowing this was God speaking to me brought me to tears. For the first time in a long time, I felt at one and in a personal relationship with Christ. No more busyness, distractions, noise to keep me from it. I felt the Lord wooing, romancing, and loving me and letting me know that He’s never going to leave my side now, these two months in Cambodia, or any time after. It sucks that it took me being all alone in Singapore to finally come back to the arms of a faithful Savior, but I’m ever so thankful that those arms were still open. I found myself laughing, crying, and laughing again as I sat there with my Jesus as he spoke truth into my life. I’m now in Battambang for two months, away from my comfort zone, family, friends, people that would normally bring me through the tough times. Now, its me, the tough times, and the Lord. I’m excited as I think these two months will bring me independence from those that I make a crutch in life, and dependence on the Lord.

4 – My foot survived an attack of severe throw up. En route from HK to Singapore, there was a little Indian boy who kept running back and forth from the front of the section to the back of the section, visiting his mother and father. I guess from all of the excitement and running, he got sick on his stomach and upchucked every bit of the yummy airplane food we’d been living off of. It hit the floor and spattered under the seats in front of me and onto my feet. Thank God I wasn’t on the aisle, because one of the guys wasn’t as lucky as I was. He got full vomit-to-foot.

5 – I made it to Battambang in one piece. I know, you’re asking yourselves why this matters, but to me its huge. I officially traveled across the world by myself. That’s a scary thought, yet true. Already I’m learning that independence from others and dependence on God thing, and its been awesome. God blessed me with a few divine moments and it’s already taught me to be faithful and on the look out for Him at all times.

6 – My welcome present into the house I’m living in was a scorpion. Not really from the family. As I walked in and took two steps a scorpion ran across in front of my feet. Thank God it wasn’t a spider haha. A little FF (fun fact) for you is that the scorpions with large claws and small tails aren’t that bad, whereas scorpions with small claws and big tails are the worse. This one was in the middle, which was comforting to know death wasn’t imminent.

7 – I’ve met and fallen in love with my Cambodian family already. The missionaries I’m living with for the next two months are in their mid-30’s with two kids, a 3 year old and 1 year old. They’re welcoming, open, loving, talkative, and great people to be around. I can sense the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives and through their lives here in Cambodia. I can’t wait to join their work out in the villages, orphanage, and house churches of Cambodia!!

I could go on and on already about what’s gone on in the less than 24 hours I’ve been in Cambodia. But what I want to stress most is this. Always be on the lookout for where you may encounter God. It could be Burger King in Singapore or the Food Lion in Locust. Never let busyness be a distraction from your relationship with the Lord. Who knows when you’ll be able to get out of that trap!? Hopefully, it won’t take you a month or two and a Whopper Jr. in Singapore to figure out you’ve been selfish in your relationship with Christ.

I love and miss you all and am ever so thankful for your prayers, support and love as I’m here in Cambodia!

Talk to you soon!

Josh