As I was sitting at multiple KCM mission rally nights on my campus throughout this past year, hearing the testimonies of past STSMers, I remember God starting to open my heart towards STSM. It was a gradual process but the more testimonies I heard, the more it became real to me that God was doing something in my heart. He began to grow in me a desire to witness the life of a long term missionary, to hear about their convictions and walk with the Lord, and to join them in God’s work in the nations. And because I have tasted and seen the love of my Lord, have experienced the sweetness and joy of giving a month of my break to missions, and saw the ways God was very clearly opening the door of STSM for me, I had no reason not to take on this journey with a heart of gratitude. 

Living in Cambodia for a month was full of blessings and new perspectives. If I were to summarize what I witnessed and experienced in one word, it would be hope. Before going on this mission trip, it was hard for me to imagine how God was moving in a nation with the statistics of over 95% Buddhists. However, from the very beginning of the trip to the end, God constantly opened my eyes to His abundant love and faithfulness towards Cambodia in many different ways and one of them was through the people He called to shine His light in this nation. 

On the first day in Cambodia, our team had the opportunity to walk around the International Theological College and Seminary (ITCS) amongst ourselves and pray for the seminary and our upcoming ministries. And honestly, it was very challenging for me to take that time with intentionality because of how hot and humid it was. Sweat was dripping down even as I was standing still and in those moments, it was really hard to actively fight against my flesh and choose to engage with the Lord. But the moment we joined the seminary students in worship that night and every moment we were with them onward, in and outside of ministry, their love and passion for the Lord and for Cambodia always encouraged me because I saw the hope of Christ in this nation. There was a time when we were driving around a village with a seminary student trying to gather as many children for VBS, and seeing him run from house to house to reach as many children as he could, reminded me of Jesus and His heart for His children. And all throughout that VBS, God showed me His love for this village through His faithfulness in sending His people here every week to share the truth to these children. And I realized that no matter what the statistics may say, there is always hope in Christ for His hand is not too short to reach His people. 

Another way I witnessed hope in Cambodia was through how God was using the English language to reach His children. A student at ITCS came to faith through reading the Word at ITCS when she began attending the seminary solely for the purpose of learning English to get a job out of college. A teacher at Tim School came to faith by encountering this job as an English teacher on social media and through that, beginning her study of the Word with our missionary. The students that we spent time with for two weeks at Tim school come from Buddhist backgrounds and their parents hate the fact that they are sending their children to a Christian school. However, because of the reputation of the school and its effectiveness in the student’s learning of English, they still choose to send their children to Tim school which opens the opportunity for these children to hear the truth. I was able to see God planting seeds in the hearts of His children so evidently and I believe that He will continue to grow them for His kingdom in Cambodia. 

Every day in Cambodia consisted of seeking God even in the mundane parts of the day and not giving up on asking God what He is doing and what His heart is for this nation, even if I did not receive clear answers quickly all the time. Through this, God taught me what it means to wait upon the Lord in faithfulness to Him and not be fixated upon the answers I expect to receive in the way that I desired. That sometimes, before the grand realizations and growth in our walk with the Lord, He desires small but consistent steps of faithfulness in our day to day life. And as I was asking God how he wanted me to spend this last month of break coming back from the trip, I realized this was something God wanted to continue to teach me in my life back at home. To be steadfast in prayer in the secret place, to love and honor my parents, and to show kindness and compassion to those who are neglected by this world. To be found faithful in the eyes of God all throughout my life and not only when He feels present and near. It is my desire to continue to carry this life of hope, prayer, and faithfulness with God and be His light in my community for the world to come to know Christ and the abundant life that is found in Him alone.