Last night we listened to stories. We heard stories of three Christians, relatively young in their faith. We heard the stories from the people who lived them. We gathered with young people from Phnom Penh Mennonite Church and shared some of our experiences with Christianity and the Mennonite Church. We asked them about their experiences. And they told us stories…

He grew up in a Buddhist home in the countryside. On business near the Thai border he was handed a tract. He didn’t like that Jesus man and threw it away. Back in his village in the Cambodian countryside he was offered another opportunity to accept the gospel story…still it only made him cynical. And when he did finally accept the gospel – in a house with the sick and prayerful – his wife was the one who persecuted him. He kept trying for months, but they were poor and she wondered how Jesus could help. On a short trip to Phnom Penh, though, she was convinced and accepted Jesus. He praises God because of the positive turns his life has taken.

He had headaches. Awful headaches. When his friends would touch his head, tussle his hair, he would become infuriated verbally and physically violent. He hated his life. His friends played in the streets and he was always left out…with those headaches. It would’ve been better to die. The shamans couldn’t help. He tried offerings and coinings and smells and prayers – to all kinds of gods – but nothing worked. Well nothing worked until he finally stopped resisting external pressures to experiment with Jesus. It’s been almost four years now…since the headaches have plagued him.

She didn’t know much about Christianity…just that it was a US religion - a religion of foreigners. But she needed somewhere to stay. Phnom Penh is where you have to study if you want to be anyone, but there was nowhere to stay. And the Mennonites offer dorms. She agreed to go along with the Christian pieces because she needed a place to stay. But the dorm leader there was something special. They had important conversations. She praises God for her new faith in Jesus.

He was an orphan. They found him – the Mennonite missionaries – the ones from EMM. They supported his education at a Christian arts academy. He got to go to ‘America’ and realized a gift and passion. Now he plays music for Phnom Penh Mennonite and draws breathtaking photos of real human life. Jesus has become the motivation for his art, evangelism and life.

There are more stories – lots more stories…

Tim Showalter

May 4, Phnom Penh

Posted by Tim Showalter

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