culiar about this longing. It was almost like an addiction.
a quick “good morning” “how are you” AND every single
I longed for it, I desired this “serving abroad” sensation.
time I would be much happier than before. God provided
It became like an addiction because on those two week
Paul as a source of great joy and conviction. God con-
mission trips I yearned for that spiritual high and over-
victed my heart through Paul to deepen my relationship
whelming sensation of His love. I was hooked on this de-
with Christ. Paul could not freely worship God because
sire of feeling that spiritual high and that connection with
his grandparents were devout Buddhists and would not
God. I became dependent on community and missions to
allow him to come to church on Sundays. But yet Paul
provide the necessary stimuli for me to find this spiritual
still loves God and shows love to his friends and teachers
elevation. When in reality it is really God’s grace and love
even if he was struggling with school.
that showers me and stimulates my heart.
This convicted me to look at my own relationship with
Living in Cambodia for the past 11 months has shat-
God and ultimately gave me strength to fall deeper into
tered this addiction like
my relationship with Him. I
dependency on commu-
became more open minded and
nity and has expanded my
more generous in sharing God’s
mind to depend on God’s
love with others from this con-
love and grace. There are
viction; thus, becoming more
just so many times that
aware of God’s love and grace
God has showered me
around me. Paul is only one of
with love during my time
many students that really con-
in Cambodia. His love
victed me and encouraged me
was shown to me through
to work harder for my person-
many different people and
al relationship with God. The
different occasions.
dependency on God’s love and
grace brought me a new un-
One experience that I want to share with you all is my
derstanding of joy and peace.
relationship with my student Paul. My relationship with
him started early in the school year when he showed up to
There was a new joy that I felt in my heart that came di-
our very first bible study. It was not planned but he ended
rectly from God and not just through a community that I
up sharing his testimony and it really touched my heart.
depended on nor some service/mission trip.
To summarize his testimony he was born in Laos but with
a heart condition that made him susceptible to frequent
God works with no end. He does not tire and he never
heart attacks if not carefully monitored. He struggled with
stops loving us. Through my time in Cambodia, I learned
staying alive since a young age and he still struggles with
to become a little more aware of His great love for us and
this. On top of this heart condition he is also dyslexic. But
became better at responding to His grace upon me. I felt
the amazing thing is that even with all these hardships he
that love through my students, my two amazing nunas,
says his life goal is to make people happy and after hear-
my colleagues at LIS, and from all the prayers by the peo-
ing about a God who shows love and delight with the joy
ple back at home. I thank God for His grace and I thank
of his followers; my student, Paul, decided to follow God.
God for using me as a brother-in-Christ for my brothers
I am so thankful for growing with this brother in Christ
and sisters in Cambodia.
because he gave me so much encouragement during
school time and outside of school. He would always come
Lastly, I would like to end with a quote by C.S. Lewis, “If
into my classroom and just have a short conversation or
we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world
48
Pilgrim's Fountain
2016 Fall