A couple weeks ago, the team and I went to Kah Kong province near the Thai border for the weekend. It was absolutely beautiful!
After a fun filled day at Safari World and lunch on the beach, our Tuk Tuk driver had arranged to take us 45 minutes out of the way on a dirt road to a place called “The Crab Shack” in a more remote area. The sky was blue, the sun was out, what a perfect day to be at the beach.
Suddenly the wind began to blow and sure enough the storm clouds rolled in. We thought this would be a quick storm that would soon pass…we were wrong. We sat there under this little covering and were getting soaked by the rain. Elise and I decided to go for a swim since we were getting wet anyway. It probably wasn’t the wisest decision but I haven’t had that much fun in a long time!
As we went back to sit with the others, they found out that the family who ran The Crab Shack were Christians and hold church services there every Sunday. We were now sitting soaked in our clothes and cold from the wind. They brought out their only blankets to us so we could keep warm. As we were sitting there bundled up in the storm, this man began telling us his testimony, how much the Lord loved us and how we were so precious to Him.
He had gone in the house and we thought it would be wise to leave sooner than later so our Tuk Tuk wouldn’t get stuck in the mud. We ran from where we were sitting over to his house to tell them thank you for everything and that we were leaving. They told us they cooked dinner for us and would be happy if we stayed. So they ran back outside and brought in chairs for us to sit in their home.
As we were sitting in their entranceway (eating the best fried rice I’ve ever put my lips), I was so humbled. This man made their home with his own hands. The roof was so well hand woven with palm branches that it didn’t have one leak and boy was it raining hard! They had a small area that was elevated where the whole family slept with no mattresses on a wooden slab. They had no electricity, no running water, no doors, and no bathroom. Cats, dogs and chickens were running around everywhere, this was their life, simple.
I was reminded that possessions aren’t what makes one wealthy. What makes a person rich is the love that he has for others and the joy he finds in the simple things in life. This family was the richest family I’ve ever met. They didn’t care that we were strangers…They served us, they loved us, this family was Jesus to us!
I LOVED this!!! It was great to have parts of the story interspersed with pictures so that we could SEE what you were talking about! Terrific job! Praise the Lord for introducing you to another part of your family in the body of Christ.
Sweet! Sounds like a great day. You’ve got to love Khmer hospitality.
Hey sis, I’m so glad to hear & see what great things you & your companions are doing in the name of Jesus. You look like your working on a tan. You know once your tanned your in for life, ya feel me! This blog is so humbling to hear how the people have & continue to serve despite what condition they to how we live. It’s a blessing & a lesson so thank you for sharing that. Yo, we all miss you in the states but were glad to hear of the great things your doing out there. God bless you!