A mass of kids

On our first day in Cambodia we drove through the city and coutry side taking in the sights of a family of four on a motorcycle, cars weaving in and out of traffic, people peeing on the side of the road, 150 cc motorcycles pulling a cart of twelve people, cows wandering on the streets, monks walking along side of the road, and lotus plants in bloom - we are in Camboida.

We were headed to Unit 1 to help with a children's camp in progress. Right when we got there we walked in and 105 kids were sitting on the ground patiently as Sareth said to me as he handed me the mic, "Are you ready to do your program." Actually I wasn't but had an idea of what we were going to do and just flew with it.

Our time there was composed of teaching english to kids, sharing a gospel bracelet with them, and teaching them some baseball. We called it a Cambodian version of baseball for you hit the baserunner with this softer version of a baseball. They loved it for they could hit the ball and pelt people with a ball - they were actually pretty good at it. Some on our team have theories that they have planted a seed for baseball that will spread through the country. We would also play games, teach them children's songs which we had to reach back in the recesses of our minds for ('Hokie Pokie', 'Head shoulders, knees and toes'), and do a skit of the prodigal son. Within all this stuff our prayer was that we would just "be" with these kids. It is so easy to fall back into the western mindset of 'doing.' And with our lack of Khmer (Cambodian language), it sometimes feels like we are not doing much.

We have been spending out time in 1 John as we are here and it is striking that a big part of the message is fellowship with others - just being there. I think about love and how love can easily be communicated by a laugh or a smile. And that is what we can do. To say to the many that white foreigners from half way around the world would come and just "be" with them. To just come and love them. As we were having lunch there was a separate group of kids off to the side eating. We later found out that they are muslim so they can not eat pork and want to respect their beliefs. That was incredible to think of the many different stories of these kids and how all of them were here and from the efforts of the local pastor and community planting a seed of light and life into their life.

As we left it was quite the contrast to enter into this community of kids and at first feel so awkward but then leave with many good byes and hugs. Just the sight of kids smiling and waving as we headed off is a sight to remember - it felt like we were loved and we had loved.