Here’s reason #19 why Khmer reaching Khmer – or nationals reaching nationals in any country – is the way to go for missions. 

There’s a local Body just outside of Phnom Penh (you can know it as Prake P.) that, every Sunday, fasts through lunch. They don’t stand around for 20 minutes deciding where to eat, they don’t try to beat the other churches to the good restaurants. They take up a collection of the money they would’ve spent on lunch, and decide on a neighbor near the church or other family they know of to give it to. Sometimes they even just walk the streets near them and find someone with need. They sit with them, explain where the money came from, get to know them, ask to pray with them. LOVE them. 

Can I say this is fantastic. FANTASTIC. True followers of what Jesus taught. What Jesus himself would do. Loving people. Helping people. Valuing people! Seizing opportunities to function as a team, as a body. Impacting lives. Sharing faith in a tangible way. 

In churches in the city with more westerners, we’ve brought the idea of eating out after church with us. Everyone goes out. How sad - that tradition in the US is becoming tradition here. (Yes, its fellowship, yes, its not bad in theory, but just trac with me for a minute when I call it “sad”). 

Khmer without that outside influence felt led to do this instead simply based on what they Read, and decided to follow it.

I’m humbled.