Christmas prayers for Cambodia…

Christmas is in the air even in the heat of Cambodia. I have been listening to Christmas music on YouTube and teaching my English students some of the traditional carols. Around town I see Christmas trees and snowmen in the storefronts and a Santa Clause waving at me as I drive by. (I even saw a Khmer man dressed up in a red suite and beard which was quite the sight considering how skinny and small in stature most Khmer men are.) The backs of tuk tuks advertise Christmas sales with little babies holding presents and smiling.
 
But I can’t help but notice what seems to be lacking in all of these scenes…a true understanding of why the celebration of Christmas even exists. It is hard for me to enjoy all the glitter and bows and wrapping when I know that the people who are selling me those exact products don’t know the real reason behind all the festivities. They see it as a time to make some extra money because they know that a lot of foreigners who live in Phnom Penh will buy the decorations. I would bet that Khmer kids whose families have money are loving the gift buying and exchanging that seems to be a key component of this ‘Western’ holiday, too. (Of course…Christmas is not a Western holiday at all…it is for any and all who believe in Jesus, but the ‘face’ of Christmas in Cambodia is very Westernized)
 
But praise God! There are many who DO know the real reason behind Christmas! There are many churches in Phnom Penh who are organizing outreaches and having special festivities to celebrate the real Christmas. CCAMS is dancing at many of those events in the coming weeks!
 
I pray this year that the true message of Christmas would be shared with more Khmer who have never heard of Jesus and the intense love He has for each person in this world that caused Him to come down from the highest throne in heaven to earth in the humblest of forms to save any person who would believe in and follow after Him. The glittery things that come with Christmas are great, but this is the most important message.
 
Please pray for our dancers as they go out to dance at many churches and programs in the days leading up to Christmas. And please pray for our ‘family’ celebration where we’ll give gifts to each of the kids and worship together! Pray for all the churches as they celebrate this time, that it would be a time to be thankful for the gift of Jesus. And pray especially for those who see the Christmas excitement but have yet to hear about the true reason behind it all.