When I tell people I am moving to Cambodia, the reactions are mixed, as I would expect. Sometimes I get, "Um... where in the world is Cambodia?", sometimes I get, "Is it safe there??, sometimes I get, "You are leaving the Ottawa school board?!", and sometimes people aren't too sure what to say.
Most of the time, though, I get a lot of encouragement and support - people who are excited about the way that God has led me to step out in faith, and people who are looking forward to following my journey and "living vicariously through me". Your support and your prayers mean more than you know, friends! I am going to be needing a lot of both of those things as I continue making preparations to go, as well as preparing my heart for what's to come (as much as that is possible), so please keep them coming!
Tonight, I had the opportunity to Skype with one of my future roommates who will also be moving to Cambodia in July. She actually took a trip to Cambodia on her Spring Break this past week with one of her friends, so it was exciting to hear about her experiences there! She got to explore our future neighbourhood, see where we will be living, and visit the school where we will be teaching. I feel so thankful to have been able to Skype with all three of my roommates already, as well as communicate through Facebook and email, and I am very much looking forward to meeting them in person! God has provided in countless ways already, and it is a wonderful feeling to see Him already answering my prayers for a "family"(community) in Cambodia, through the beginnings of these new friendships.
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| This is one of the pictures my future roomie took this past week.... our future house! :) |
Just to throw it out there...
I know that the readers of my blog will come from all backgrounds and beliefs, and I understand that not everyone will agree with everything I write or even be interested in reading some of what I write because of its "spiritual" content, and that is totally okay with me! If you're not happy with what I'm writing, of course you can choose not to read it. But, I also hope that, if you do choose to read it, you will be encouraged by the stories I share - stories about what God is doing in my heart, and also what He will do through me as I seek to serve Him in my role as teacher to some beautiful children (I already know they will be beautiful!) across the world, all of whom matter BIG TIME to Him!
On that note, this past week, I was supply teaching in a grade one class and I overheard an interesting debate between two students. It went something like this:
Student A: "This Friday is Easter."
Student B: "Noooo it's notttt... Easter isn't until SUNDAY."
Student A: "But this Friday is called Easter Friday!"
So I decided to jump in...
Me: "Actually, it's technically called "Good Friday."
Student C: "Ya, I heard that somebody died on that day; right?"
Me: "Yep, the reason is it called Good Friday is because Jesus died on that day, a long, long time ago"
[I know some of you might have issues with me saying that in a public school... but the way I see it is that the student asked, and if a student has a question and I have an answer, why wouldn't I tell them? Good Friday is the only day in our calendar year that is still only about Jesus.]
Student A: "Well, why is it called Good Friday if he died? That doesn't sound very good to me."
That's a good question, isn't it? A question worth considering. Sometimes it is children who ask the best questions - unfiltered and thought-provoking, making us stop in our tracks. I knew the answer to her question, but what made me stop in my tracks was the reminder that this is not just a question that a grade one student is asking. It is one of many questions that people all around the world are asking at this time of year... if Jesus was God, why did He allow himself to die? Couldn't He have saved himself from the torment that was afflicted on him? If Jesus did actually die, why is the day we remember His death not the absolute worst day ever for Christians, as opposed to a day of great hope, a truly good Friday?
According to the Bible, Jesus did die over 2000 years ago, and we remember his death every Good Friday, but his death was only good because He rose again from the dead, three days later (which we celebrate on Easter Sunday). He took on the sin of the world and died in the most brutal way possible, but then defeated death, so we don't have to fear it anymore. Without the belief that Jesus rose from the dead, the Christian faith doesn't mean much (1st Corinthians 15:13-14 - "But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ was not raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.") - the resurrection makes all the difference!
I won't say anymore about that, but I'll let Matt Maher sum it up as he does best:
Happy Easter, Friends!
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