Meeting An Old Friend
Monday, we were working in the office and it was late in the afternoon. There were not many people around because we missed the notice that Monday was Cambodian Independence Day. They have a Fourth of July here, but what is more important is that Cambodia became a free country on November 9th of 1953. Previously, they were a French protectorate from 1863 until 1949 when the transition to a constitutional monarchy began and was completed in 1953. So just like in the United States, when the government declares a holiday, most people do not work and enjoy the holiday instead. The same is true in Cambodia.
Either way, because we had landed in Cambodia only a week earlier and had not made plans to do anything on the holiday, we decided to make use of our office and write some e-mails to family, partners, and friends like you. Suddenly, the light went on in the next office. OK, there was nothing unusual in that, it happens on most work days when staff comes in. Moments later a face we recognized appeared in the window of the door between the offices.
“Mummy, Daddy!” was the cry of Pastor Stephen, a man we have known since January, 2012. Pastor Stephen was the first Khmer Pastor we met, and has been a good friend. He is a short man, very typical of some men in Cambodia and walks with a bit of a limp. We have never asked him why he limps and he has never volunteered or complained about his walk. From our previous stay, he was responsible for drilling water wells throughout the country and frequently would appear in the office just like this because it provided him a place to stay. Here he was again.
“Oh, Mummy, Daddy, I thought I would never see you again.” He was just about in tears as we asked him if he was well. It was a wonderful reunion to see Stephen and it put a smile on our faces. We pray that we will have a chance to tell you more about him and his church in the future.
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