Intentionally Missionalنموونە

What is Blessed?

What does it mean to be blessed?

Our time in Cambodia has had its challenges, but God has graciously put people in our paths who would help us in language and cultural learning. What’s more, is that our encounters would be natural and authentic rather than mechanical and transactional. And as we serve a wonderful Heavenly Father who knows exactly what we need, God showered (I mean poured down!) us with two precious relationships: Our Cambodian language helper and a special friendship with a Cambodian family.

Blessed is:

• When you are clumsily learning new sounds (trying to stretch your mouth, tongue and lips in the right way) while your language helper graciously and patiently corrects you without laughing in your face.
• When your language helper goes far and beyond the required assignment for the day and offers to teach you how to pray in Khmer.
• When you pay her, and she says, “It’s too much” rather than trying to negotiate with you on a higher fee.
• When she says, “I’m glad to help people learn, and I’ll come when you need me.” - referring to her willingness to accommodate your schedule.
• When she offers gentle suggestions on how to improve and optimize our precious time together.
• When your meetings are sprinkled with opportunities to share your testimonies with one another and really get to know each other outside of the learner/helper relationship.
• Then, as if your cup isn't already full, your loving Father in Heaven surprises you with a free dinner with friendly company at a delicious Vietnamese Restaurant (which is hard to find in Cambodia).

Blessed is: 

• When you are fully prepared to treat your new friends to an authentic Vietnamese dinner at a higher-end
  restaurant (mainly because it’s downtown, nice and quiet) BUT they tell you, “It’s the local who pays first,” to which you feel terrible because you ordered too much food!
• When you made a fashion faux pas but never felt judged by your friends. You were told that Cambodians dress up when they “go out,” and you and your daughter wear a dress and “doll up semi-casually,” only to find out that you are overdressed as your new friends came to dinner in casual wear!
• When your new friends say that they want to introduce you to their friends, who are adventurous and down-to-earth nice people. Then you feel like they’ve welcomed you into their lives.

Live in, revel in and soak in your blessings!!!  COUNT your BLESSINGS. I did, and I realize while sometimes your troubles come like a relentless storm, your blessings can pour down so much that it overflows so that you too, become a blessing to others around you.