Teacher, Will You Be My Brother?...

Before we got to Cambodia we spent some time praying as a team asking God what to be expecting during our time here.  One thing that I felt strongly was that we were going to have the opportunity to pour into and disciple future leaders of Cambodia.  At first I felt like that was kind of a lofty expectation but I decided I would pray more into it and ask God to open those doors.

We have been able to get to know a lot of amazing men that are involved at the Battambang YWAM base (where we stay).  Each of these guys has the potential to be amazing leaders in the church in Cambodia.  Last week I was reminded of that prayer I prayed in Kona before we got here and I was really encouraged that we actually got to do what I felt like God told me we would get to do. 

Earlier this week God blessed me even more with another opportunity that I did not expect.  I got to spend time with and disciple a young man in my math class named Thumith who I strongly believe is going to be a very influential leader in Cambodia.  He is a senior at Dewey (the school I teach at) and he is going to graduate at the top of his class in August.  On Monday he stopped me as I was leaving to go home and he asked me if we could meet to talk after school on Tuesday. 

When Tuesday came I didn’t know what to expect but our time together was better than I could have asked for.  He told me about his dreams to go to college in the US and to eventually get involved in Business/Government in Cambodia and to end the corruption in this nation. Pretty big dreams for a senior in high school… We talked about what he needs to do to achieve those dreams and it was a good conversation.  But then he told me that he constantly worries about the future and about providing for his parents who are divorced.  I got the chance to share with him that no matter whether you are rich or poor you will always worry unless you trust in God to take care of you.  Long story short he was really open to the Gospel and I got to pray for him.  He didn’t accept Christ but he is definitely interested in learning more.

The icing on the cake was the ride back to his house.  Out of nowhere He said “I am happy and I feel so much better since talking to you teacher.”  I was so honored and humbled because I didn’t feel like I had done much. But I knew that my simple prayer brought him peace that he had never experienced before.  And then when he got off my bike and I was about to leave he said, “Teacher, can I ask you one more question?  I feel so happy and I feel like I just met a brother from my dreams… Teacher, will you be my brother?”

My heart may have melted a little as I said “Yeah man!  Of course! We can definitely be brothers!” 

God is sooo good and sooo faithful.  Thumith and I plan on staying in touch and I am going to give him a “Jesus Film” as a present before I leave.  I really believe God has big plans for my brother and I am so honored that I got to get to know him during my time here.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” –Ephesians 3:20-21