The Road to Overflow

I’m moving to Cambodia!  This January I’ll be packing my bags and moving to Siem Reap for the next two years.  I’ve been given the fancy new job title of “Base Leader” for the new Adventures Base, Overflow Guesthouse, in Siem Reap, Cambodia. 

Overflow opened this past January and our squad was able to visit for its first month of operation.  Two of the racers and I got to spend the entire month helping clean it up and shake it out for its new life under AIM management.  Other racers from different squads came to help with the action as well.  In fact, during that first month we had over 100 people from 5 different squads visit Overflow and help with the opening! It has already proven itself to be a fantastic place for community building and fellowship.

 

Here’s what AIM says about Overflow:

“Now Adventures is leasing a guesthouse in Siem Reap, Cambodia, and using it as a base of ministry. We’re calling it Overflow Guesthouse, as the vision is to be an overflow of God’s love to tourists, mission teams, and all our ministry hosts in the country. This guesthouse will also be our central hub of operations throughout Southeast Asia. World Race teams will be routed through this base and do ministry throughout the surrounding areas.

Adventures Cambodia is a new brand of mission base, tapping into a model of business as missions as we run a guesthouse complete with a cafe and restaurant. We look forward to discipling locals as we serve alongside them in business.  Overflow plays a large role in filling the gaps between ministry funding sources and long term sustainability. Through this guesthouse, we hope to leverage the movement of mission teams in coordination with long term efforts while providing essential ministry resources, facilities, and services. The vision is to pilot a progressive way of building sustainable missions.”

 

Here’s what guests are saying about Overflow, from TripAdvisor:

“A great home for a homesick traveler!” 

“It is a place of rest, relaxation, and refreshment.” 

“They’re all about helping their guests have an amazing time in Siem Reap.” 

“I have spent a good amount of time in Cambodia traveling and such and I have rarely gotten that from management.”

“I can’t believe such a majestic place exists!  I’ll never be the same after sleeping there!” (okay, that one was me)

 

Here’s what I have to say about Overflow:

I never would have guessed Cambodia was where the Lord would lead me, but He knew.  He grew my heart for Hospitality Ministry on the race in 2011, grew my passion for Business as Missions while living in Korea in 2014, gave me a taste of running a guesthouse while working in Argentina in 2013/15, and now He has led me to Overflow to launch it all.  I’m ready, I’m equipped, I’ve been kicked out of the nest.  

You can read more about my journey here! 

Since accepting the position in Siem Reap, God has been continually opening my heart to Cambodia and the Khmer people.  A few days ago my roommates walked in on me weeping.  I was reading a research paper from Jordan Bergren that Seth Jr. sent me.  The paper was all about the Khmer, an unreached people group.  Reading about the Khmer Rouge brought me to tears; I cannot imagine the horrors of the genocide that happened from 1975–1979.  

From the paper:

“Under communist rule a man called Pol Pot led a take over of the U.S. backed government in Cambodia at the end of the Vietnam War. No one would have guessed the horrors that were to follow. Immediately after the take over of Phnom Penh, everyone was forced to evacuate to the countryside. For the next four years around one forth of the population had been murdered through execution or starvation. Anyone with glasses, education, government background, intelligent speech, and many other traits associated with higher status or sophistication was considered a threat and murdered. The Khmer Rouge led by Pol Pot through manipulation, fear and abuse attempted to create a completely sustainable country through agriculture. The Khmer people were forced to work fourteen-hour days in the hot Cambodian sun. They were only given a little bit to eat every day, usually a handful of rice. Until the last ten or so years Cambodians did not open up to talk about the Khmer Rouge days. Today many suffer from PTSD and the generation after secondary PTSD.”

 

These are God’s people and the Lord has not forgotten them.   

 

Cambodia is hurting and so are its people.  Its reclaiming its identity and scraping together the culture that was once so rich and vivid.  From the 800s to the 1400s A.D., “The Angkorean period”, Cambodia was the mightiest kingdom in SE Asia.  Their ancient language and culture had influenced several other SE Asian countries and many Cambodians today still talk about those years with a sense of pride, according to Jordan.  Christianity first came to Cambodia in the 1500s and by the time of the Khmer Rouge there were about 10,000 Christians in the country, but only a few hundred survived the genocide. Immediately following the Khmer Rouge the country suffered Vietnamese occupation and the Cambodian–Vietnamese War, until 1991.  In 1991 the Paris Peace Accords were instated, which resulted in an opening of the country and the allowance of mission organizations to enter.  Since the opening of Cambodia in 1991 there has been a steady increase in the spread of Christianity but only 1.7% of the population are Evangelical, according to the Joshua Project. The Khmer people are the 35th largest unreached people group in the world.  

What turned my tears into weeping was the realization that I get to be a part of the Lord’s work there.  What an honor!  I believe God is starting a revolution in Cambodia and He is placing our team in His army of workers to bring it.  He is preparing the hearts of the Khmer and people will learn about the truth of salvation, the beautiful free gift of grace. God has blessed me with this opportunity, a blessing I never saw coming and it has weakened my knees in worship.  Yes, I love hostels. Yes, it’s cool I get to live in Cambodia.  But my heart is for evangelism and discipleship.  To share the Good News of the Gospel with the local Khmer and the guesthouse guests.  To disciple those who have faith.  To equip the short term missionaries to know how to share their faith and live a life that exudes Christ’s love.  As well as to create a sustainable business plan that will be able to fund other missions ventures. 

The more I learn about Overflow and Cambodia, the more of a blessing I realize this opportunity is.  I am beyond excited to start this next chapter of my life, but in order to do so I need to start fundraising for it.  God is doing something awesome in Cambodia, through Overflow, and He has called me to lead the charge.  In order to do so, I need your help.  I’m hoping to build a team of monthly supporters that will support my ministry, both spiritually and financially.  My support goal is $2,000 for each month I’ll be in Cambodia (Jan ’17 to Jan ’19).  I also have some start-up costs (like training, flights, set-up, etc.). Please let me know if you would be interested in partnering with me in this way and joining me in being a light to the tourists in Cambodia and the Khmer people!  As Paul Washer said “‘Missions’ is very simple.  There are only two ministries in missions.  You’re either called to go down into the well or you’re called to hold the rope for those that go down. Either way, there should be scars on your hands. Where are your scars?”  Thanks for holding the rope and for all of the love and support you’ve already given over my past few years on the mission field!  

You can donate through this link: http://bit.ly/1VYdZVQ, but if you are interested in being in the base of my monthly supporters message me separately, thank you!