After the amazingness of the conference and all that I’ve learnt, I headed to Jessica’s for the weekend. Jessica Nguyen is Diane’s cousin and my hero – true woman after God’s heart who has encountered and chosen to obey God in a radical way.
Friday night we went grocery shopping. Best grocery shopping experience ever! Perhaps it’s because the supermarket is about 3 times the size of the one in Sihanoukville. And we only have one supermarket by the way. I took a picture of the ice cream isle – very large and exciting indeed! I saw foods I’ve not seen in a month and marvelled at the modernity that is Phnom Penh. Sihanoukville has changed me. I wonder how it will be like when I go back to Singapore or Canada
Jess bought chocolate and we spent the rest of the night at her place watching Date Night on an actual TV. After I had a proper shower with HEATED WATER. Haven’t had a hot shower in more than a month. Jess’ was the closest thing to a 5 star hotel I’ve experienced in a while. But better. Because nothing beats spending time with a good friend from back home who shares a similar experience and spiritual background as you. Chocolate, good conversation, hot shower and internet – man, like cold lemonade on a hot summer day.
Saturday we took it easy. Started the day off with an extended breakfast on the 3rd storey balcony of Jess’ house listening to worship music. Then headed to the Russian Market for most of the day! Handicrafts, ethnic jewellery, cheap clothes, smelly meat market, a real good grilled tuna melt topped off with a banana cake and a brownie made for a perfect day. But the day was not over. Jess and I crashed when we got back, tired from the heat and bustle so we ate leftovers for dinner. But that to me was great. What was really great was the conversation. Sharing life, sharing struggles, sharing joys, sharing testimonies and sharing about our God who sees, saves and is glorified through each pain, sorrow and tear shed.
Sunday was a blast as well. Got to visit a church with a white pastor who preached in fluent Khmer. The service was alright but what was cool to see was that foreigner and local worshipped the same God together in different languages but the same hearts’ cry. After which, I dashed to the bus station, caught my bus, sat and talked to my smelly, yet friendly bus mate from Guildford, England, and arrived back in Sihanoukville with a million thoughts running through my head.
One thing that Jess shared was that coming here and moving on was the concept of all or nothing. Giving her all to God in exchange for all of God. And anything less than all is nothing. A deep commitment, the ultimate surrender. And that made me think. I need that. No, I desire that, I require that, I can do nothing but that. Yet, my self is weak and my desires are contrary but I have decided to start on this journey of all or nothing. Not because there is nothing to turn back to but because I have glimpsed at the beauty of All and can settle for nothing less.
glad to hear you had a refreshing weekend :D
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