What and Why?

"Something went seriously wrong during your upbringing." - my grandmother to me in regards to the tendency that my sister and I have to travel to "obscure" (her words) places in the world. She's probably right. We are kind of strange. I talk while I sleep, secretly listen to T-Swift more frequently than I'd like to admit, and am not particularly fond of Netflix. For the sake of my life, I'll go ahead and not give examples for Keelyn. But, in defense of my childhood, I'd like to talk about what I will be doing in Cambodia for the next two months or so and why I am doing it.

What am I doing?

Good question. This morning, I am leaving for Atlanta, Georgia where I will be spending three days with a team of interns who are all traveling to various places in the world with an organization called Mission to the World. For me, the final destination is Angk'jeay, Cambodia (don't try googling it; you'll break Google). I will be spending eight weeks there. At this point, my responsibilities during my time in Angk'jeay could include a variety of things. Going overseas on a mission trip, I've been told that the best expectation to have is that your expectations are probably wrong. I like that. I do however know that I will be teaching English and guitar classes (possibly computer lessons and Bible studies as well) and generally be helping the church in the village any way that I am able. 

More than all of that, however; I will have the chance to meet the people who live in Angk'jeay and spend time with them. A large portion of those people will be elementary through high school students, some of whom I've already talked to a bit on Facebook (shout-out to Veasna and/or Sophea if you're reading this). This is the part about which I am most excited. I've never had the chance to be outside of the US for more than eight or nine days, and I certainly have never had the opportunity to develop sincere friendships with people who live in other countries. Thus, I am well aware that I have an amazing opportunity in this trip and am unbelievably stoked.

Why am I doing it?

If you have asked me this question in person, I have likely enumerated one of a hundred different reasons for why this trip is such an amazing opportunity. I promise that I wasn't lying, but I seldom have answered with the most fundamental and the most accurate reason. 

Namely, the reason is this: I believe that Jesus Christ was truly the son of God, that he was crucified on a cross, and that he rose from the dead to pay for the sins of anyone who would believe in him. I believe that he created a church, full of imperfect people, to continue his ministry in this world. I believe that this church is responsible to act just like Jesus did. It should help the oppressed, the afflicted, and the marginalized. It should gracious tell "all nations" (Matthew 28:19) about both the free salvation from sin and indomitable joy that come through faith in the sacrifice of Jesus. And this church is neither American nor white nor black nor brown nor any one demographic, gender, or nationality. This church is universal. 

That is why I am going to Cambodia. I desire to see, experience, and even assist in the work that Jesus Christ is doing in one of many nations that is not my own. In a place where Christianity is obscure and sometimes even ostracized, the church is growing rapidly in Cambodia. I am incredibly passionate about what God is doing there, and I hope that you'll join in this with me.