Inhabit

The long walk to Kraviek. One of the several river crossings.

A boy washing his cow along the way.

Beginning praise and worship.

Villagers gather to listen.

Kids enjoying activities during our time with them.

Some kids enjoy showing us their home.

A young girl playing enjoying a balloon.

Salvation bracelts. God's truth is being spread to the uttermost part.

The kids sometimes join us in the river for bath time.

Abby holding a shivering  boy.

Village children going about their chores.

Young monks along the way. 

Along the way to the village.

Kraviek village embodies the portion of Acts 1:8 that speaks about going out to the "uttermost parts" of the Earth. There is really only one way in and one way out...and it isn't easy. On our last trip (a few days ago) I brought a team of 11 people from Georgia, 3 translators and my assistant. We set out early on Tuesday morning and gradually throughout our travels, our modern conveniences disappeared. Eventually we made it as far as our van could go and left it at a home in a village that was already very remote. But very remote wasn't enough...we were going for extremely remote. So we exited the van, put our packs on our backs and set out for Kraviek. We had a 5k, 1 1/2 hour walk ahead of us. Just 2 weeks before I had been out there with another team and we had to wait a day for the river to go down before we could cross. It had rained and the river was about chest deep with a swift current. This day, however, the water was down and we crossed it getting only up to our knees wet. Through deep mud, rice paddies and several shallow rivers, we finally crested the hill into Kraviek.
It was wonderful to be out there again. The villagers never know for sure when we are coming (they aren't as bound by time there as we are so it probably wouldn't really matter anyways) but are always glad to see us. We set up camp again at the VC's (village chief's) house and headed to the river to wash the sweat and mud off our bodies. When we returned to the house, we made our dinner: 1 package of noodles/person. Not completely satisfying but somehow enjoyed by all. As night fell, it got dark (obviously). The kind of dark that you experience when you are camping away from the city and you can see the stars beyond the stars that are beyond the stars that you normally see in the city. I love those nights. They are without electricity so when the sun goes down, there isn't much to do. This is the time that I probably love the best in Kraviek. That's when we all gather under the house and spend time worshiping our Father. We always ask if the family would mind and they always say no and that they would enjoy it.
Under the stilted house is a large wood platform where the family sleeps and eats. It is probably about 10 feet wide by about 20 feet long. It is also where the VC's father-in-law lays all day and night. He was the VC until he had a stroke. Once we all gather, get the guitar out and begin singing, it is like the atmosphere changes. The darkness outside turns to black as we all sit around a small kerosene lamp praising the One True God! It was at this point on our last trip that I was reminded of the verse "But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel." (Ps 22:3 KJV). I felt like God was telling me that we are His people and we are praising Him in this tiny village and He is inhabiting our praises. He is right here in our midst. In the midst of a village full of people who are lost. They worship the spirits of their ancestors and are trapped in the grips of a false religion. Yet God is here, inhabiting our praises. As we continue singing and the light flickers, we catch a glimpse outside our circle and in the darkness we can barely make out shapes surrounding us. It is the majority of the villagers gathered around to listen to us. Partly out of curiosity, partly because there is literally nothing else to do but regardless, they are hearing praises being sung to their creator. And despite the fact that they are being sung in English, God is present and his power can break through the strongholds of false religion. His light is piercing the spiritual darkness through the simple praises of his people. For a moment, he has a place to inhabit in this tiny village in Cambodia.
Please pray for these precious people of Kraviek. Pray for Lao, the Village Chief. Pray that the truth of God's word will transform this community for himself. Pray also for a Cambodian to have a heart to move to this community full-time or that God would raise up a believer from within to start a church there.