Familiar

Cambodia. I woke up this morning to the beautiful sounds of roosters, birds, and bugs swarming outside my window. I breathe in the fresh air that smells like food, swamp water, and things I cant put a name too. I talk with strangers who know little English and smile at them when I have no clue what they are saying. Everything is so new, yet familiar. 

Familiar… 

It is so strange to me that I have never been to Asia, but the feeling I have makes me think that I have. I know nothing about this place, yet I do. The sounds, the people, the food… everything is just familiar. It is like my body finally caught up to my spirit. Being here is unlike any other place I have been. There is such a peace from God. I feel Him everywhere I go, every decision I have to make. His glory is just radiating. Yes, its only been one day but this day sets the tone for the next 2 years. I have not been overwhelmed, stressed out, or anxious. The Lord has been preparing my heart for this for awhile through the prayers of family and friends. 

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 

We arrived in Siem Reap, Cambodia last night around midnight my time. On the way to the Overflow Guesthouse, the one that which AIM owns, we passed by atleast two buildings that looked like brothels. They had women standing outside of them in tiny shorts. I expected to feel so sorry for them, so broken at their situations however that was not the case. Yes, I feel deeply for where they are at and what these women are forced into doing but I see God’s goodness in it. I see what He has for them, the love, the freedom, their worth. As soon as we passed them, I felt the Lord speak into my heart about His strength and love for me and for them. It was in passing them that I felt the Lord take away the fears I had going into this. 

Before coming this month, I was battling a lot of fear. The fear of rejection. The fear of loneliness. The fear of not being equipped. Satan kept bringing up my age, my experience level, and how I cannot do this… he is right. I, in myself, cannot do this! The Lord can though. The Holy Spirit’s power is so much greater than satan. He has called, so He will equip me and He has and will continue to do so.

Today, I spent the day in the downtown market area to just look around experience some of the culture here. Erin and I started off on a tuk tuk drive. We walked around and prayed where we went. We ended up going inside of a place where fish eat the dead skin off of your feet. It was a hilarious time. We got to talk with the man and his children where he taught me some Khmer, the language and we taught him some english words. His daughter begged us for money to go to school. Then, we looked around the market areas where I encountered this woman who the Lord told me to talk too. I ended up sharing with her the vision/dream that the Lord placed on my heart for the nation of Cambodia. I told her about the hair/nail salon that God has been impressing on my heart since October. Her face lit up with joy when sharing about this dream and she said that has been her dream too!! JESUS!  We connected. I’ll continue to see her throughout my time here. I love how the Lord gives us divine encounters!

I love this place deep in my soul and spirit. From the beginning, God has set the tone for this season. This season is living fearlessly, trusting in my Savior, living limitless, and knowing that everything I do is God orchestrated. Only He has the power to do all that is happening.

 

Kristie Allison  

 

Subscribe to my blog and pray about how you can join in the what the Lord is doing!