I have a very dear friend, Lindsay, who is leaving this summer for July to serve as a missionary in Cambodia.  Lindsay traveled to Cambodia last summer to serve at an orphanage and her heart was so captivated by the orphans that she went to serve, that she has decided to dedicate this next phase of her life to serving God in Cambodia.   After Lindsay’s trip last summer, she went back for a 10-day visit in December to spend Christmas with the orphans.   I asked her to be a guest blogger.  She wrote this on the plane ride to Cambodia in December.  You can hear her heart here….

Christmas in Cambodia

 If you had asked me six years ago what Christmas meant to me, I could have summed it up in a sentence.  Then October 2004 happened.  That’s when I met Jesus.  Christmas 2004 was the first time I really understood what the celebration was about.  Over the past several years as I have learned more about Jesus, I look around and it makes me sad and somewhat frustrated what Christmas has been turned into.  I’m sure to say, “Merry Christmas” when someone says, “Happy Holidays” to me and to remind kids that it isn’t about the presents.  

 As I sit on a plane about two hours from Phnom Penh, Cambodia, I am really reminded about what Christmas is about.  This will be the first time away on my own for two weeks and the first time away from family for the holidays.  When I purchased the ticket, all I could think about was seeing the kids and it didn’t matter to me if it during Christmas.

 Christmas to me is the joy of celebrating the birth of Jesus, our precious Savior.  The joy of loving others, giving, and being Jesus to everyone that God brings into our lives.  It brings tears to my eyes just thinking of all that He went through for us so that we may have eternal life.  Our hearts were once dead and now because of Him… we have breath.  I never want to go back to life before Him.  

 I never knew love like I know now.  This summer when I went to Cambodia for the first time, I experienced a love from the orphans like I never knew existed.  I truly experienced God’s love and His miracles and felt like I was living IN His Word.  These amazing kids who feel like they have nothing at all to give, gave me the most priceless gift in the world… true love and joy.  That’s what Christmas is all about.  Jesus. They loved me exactly the way Jesus wants us to love each other.  I pray they know that I love them more than I could ever express.  So while my Christmas started back in July when my heart was really woken up again, I will be celebrating Jesus’s birth on the other side of the world with thirty-three of God’s most precious children in Cambodia.  My heart is overflowing with joy and love, and I can’t imagine being anywhere else in the world. 

 I have to add… I wrote this while I was on the last hour of my flight to Cambodia.  When I landed, three of the orphan boys were with my friend to greet me.  One of the boys named Reksmey, who is in 9th grade, was there with them.  Reksmey and I have a special bond because of the music I taught them in July and also because his name means “Shine Bright” and my favorite Bible verse is Matthew 5:16.  When I arrived, Reksmey handed me a letter and I had to add it here.  It’s one of the best gifts I’ve received since I accepted Jesus.

 Dear Lindsay,

 Do you know what happens this month?  I am very happy because this month is the day that Jesus was born.  And this month is Noel.  And when I see some family buy gifts for each other and as well as they remind me of the birthday of Jesus and his Father that created the sky and the land.  But for me, I have not anything to give to you but I have one thing to give, I will pray for you.  May God bless you to have wisdom, good health and good job.

Reksmey

 He has no idea that he has given me the best gift of all… his prayers and his love.  I can’t wait to tell him in the morning… and the next ten mornings I will be here.  His other letter he told me he loves me so much like God loves us.  WOW.  Unconditional love.  “I love, love, love you very very much.”  

 When was the last time you said that?  And why is it that Jesus’s birth is only celebrated once a year?  Let’s keep it going from now until eternity!!!  We’ve been given an amazing gift and we can’t be quiet about it!  

 God bless!  SHINE BRIGHT!