Last week was our second week in the city of Phnom Penh. We did paperwork for our visa extension and apartment hunting. We thank the Lord for the kindness of Voice of Love (FEBC) staff helping us with the paperwork. At the same time, we looked at several apartment condos in the area. We also thank the Lord for the kindness of the staff of Quality Expat Services who are helping us to look for different apartment condos. Most of the apartment/condos are in high rise buildings.
This past weekend while recovering from jetlag, trying to adjust to a warm climate and different environment, we went to a park and the riverside.
While going around the city, we noticed many places that have altars and images of the traditional religion. It seems many people are engaged in traditional religion as we see food and other items offered on altars and carved images. It is sad to see many people worshipping gods that do not have life. As the Bible says,
“They have mouths, but they do not speak; Eyes they have, but they do not see; 6 They have ears, but they do not hear; Noses they have, but they do not smell; 7 They have hands, but they do not handle; Feet they have, but they do not walk;
Psalm 115: 3-7
Nor do they mutter through their throat.
We are praying for many eyes to be opened to the One True God, who loves and cares for them. When we meet people like taxi or rickshaw drivers, shop workers, and others, we try to tell them, “Our God in heaven bless you!” Sometimes we say, “Our God in heaven cares for you, His name is Jesus!”
It feels overwhelming sometimes to see many people who need to know the One True God who created and saved them. We are praying that the Lord of the harvest will send out workers to the harvest field. (Matthew 9:37-39).
We are also grateful to our Lord for His provision, faithfulness, and protection. The Lord provided for us even before we arrived. We have household stuff that we are using now from friends who used to live here, Mike & Brigit. We are thankful to the Lord for keeping us safe while we ride around the city, and for a trusted driver, another blessing from Mike & Brigit. We are thankful also for little ways God encourages us, like finding almond milk, breakfast cereal and other USA products we are familiar with. We thank our Lord God for His faithful provision for all our needs. We thank Him for friends and ministry partners who pray and support us.
A Little Adventure to Share:
Here is a little adventure to share about the first day we arrived in the city. After checking into the apartment/condo and getting into the room, I said a little prayer. We needed to go out to buy some items at the store. When I saw a safe deposit box in the closet, I thought we could keep our passports there and not carry them around. It did not look like the regular safes I had seen in other hotels that have numerical keypads. (Later, I found out, it had a numerical keypad behind a cover). After I placed my passport in the safe and shut the door with the key, I tried to open it but it would not open. After several tries, still it wouldn’t open. We asked help from the hotel staff and they could not help either. They said, somebody will come in the morning to help. David and I spent a lot of times in the afternoon and the following morning trying to crack the safe. David researched online how to open or crack a safe. We were getting anxious about the situation. We prayed hard and earnestly.
The following morning, we again asked the staff for their help. They kept telling us, the manager was on her way.
That morning, as I prayed and had my morning time with the Lord, He reminded of His Words in Ephesians
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. … 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; (Ephesians 6:10-17 NKJV)
The Word of God in Ephesians 6 spoke to me, first to be strong. When I started to think of the worst, and when doubts and fears started to creep in, the Words of the Lord encouraged me to be strong and to take “the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the of the wicked one.” (Ephesians 6:16)
Instead of fear and doubts, I was reminded to have faith that our Lord God would send help and will take care of us.
After asking a few times, the manager finally arrived just before 12:00 noon. She had the passcode of the safe box, opened it, and got my passport, PRAISE the Lord! Thank you Lord Jesus!
Bible Quotations from Bible Gateway
The Creels' Catch 