Preface
After the first internship in Angk’jeay, I wrote a “Letter from One Intern to the Next”. Interestingly, I wrote that letter with an inkling towards becoming that next intern. So in the summer of 2019 I sought the opportunity to return to Angk’jeay for another internship. Now, after this second internship, I’m back at my desk in California– writing down my reflections. This time, with even deeper gratitude than before.
As you’re aware, this is not a traditional internship. In Angk’jeay, you don’t hear office chatter when you sit down at your desk. You hear the laughter of students playing outside your room. Your co-laborers are not fellow employees, but missionaries. You don’t have a commute home after a hard day of work. You step into the living room and sit down with Luke, Sokha, Hannah, and Asa for family worship.
For a number of months, you get to be a part of the lives of those in Angk’jeay! I continually treasure those months. I hope you will too!
If you are considering this internship, you might benefit from the following letter. I wrote this letter as if I were giving advice to my 2018 self, prior to ever setting foot in Angk’jeay.
I hope this “Letter from One Intern to Himself” will be a blessing for you!
– Chris Tak –
Dear Chris,
These coming months in Angk’jeay will impact you profoundly. I say that for at least three reasons:
1. You will get to fellowship with many Khmer brothers and sisters.
It will be such a joy to discuss Romans with Pastor Sopheareak, pray with Samuth before services, and see students teach Sunday school! At times you will hear Khmer hymns being sung. At other times you will listen to a Khmer brother’s struggles, while on the back of his moto! There is much joy awaiting you in these moments. Do your best to take each one of these opportunities as they come.
2. You will become friends with the students.
Time with the students will be some of the most wonderful times you will have in Cambodia. Please, please, please spend as much time with them as you can. Yes, there are going to be days when you are plain exhausted. Get some rest, then go out there and spend more time with the students.
Look forward to singing with the students and teaching them how to play cajon! Get ready to make the same puzzle over and over again with Hannah, Srey Nou, Srey Nee and Channee. Play lava monster with the girls at least four times a week. Play basketball with the guys after every evening class. Make sure to breakdance with Srat and Rathana (you’re going to make Srat almost die from laughter). As soon as you meet Wandtime ask him to show you how to make a slingshot. That way you can spend more time shooting things with him and the boys. Keep riding on the back of Sophea’s moto, he won’t crash- I promise. Oh, and also watch how Samady and Srey Nich cut coconuts at least five times, then you try it.
As much as you can, do whatever you’re doing with the students! You will gradually become friends through the weeks. When you do, you will learn so much about friendship from Chung, Sophea, Sovann, Chandara, Darlin, Srey Nich, Srey Noch, Samady, Srey Touch, Srey Ky, Srey Mao, Reaksar, Chantrea, Reaksmey, Leaksmey, Mongkol, Channee, Srey Nee, Srey Nou, Rathana thom, Rathana toit, Srey Sor, Peter, Sothy, Srey Heng, Mitona, Totnah, Srey Pich, Srey Poch, and all the rest =) Lastly, start memorizing these names as soon as you can.
3. You will have many meaningful conversations with Luke.
Sometimes those conversations will take place at the dinner table. Sometimes you will be taking a walk with Luke around the village. There will be times when you sit down with Luke over a book or a few articles. Other times your most meaningful conversations will take place on the road from Phnom Penh to Angk’jeay. While in the village, you’ll be having conversations while burning trash, old planks of wood, or palm tree branches. Actually, a lot of your conversations with Luke will happen while you’re burning something. I guess fire makes for good conversations?
Anyways, all of these conversations, with all their laughter and depth, will be some of the most meaningful conversations of your college years. These conversations will change your perspective on God, the Church, worship in the church, family, ministry, shepherding, missions, baptism (slightly), Covenant theology, Dispensationalism, hermeneutics, fatherhood, discipleship, calling, church planting, approaches to cross-cultural ministry, spiritual leadership, grace, patience, faithfulness, and how good Von’s chicken is.
Chris, these conversations will shape you in some of the most important areas of life. I know all your friends are landing internships in the Silicon Valley. But don’t give up your conversations with Luke for just another line on your resume. Use as many summers as you can to be in Angk’jeay because those conversations with Luke will profoundly impact your ability to fear, love, worship, and glorify God.
There are so many other ways that you will be impacted by the coming months in Angk’jeay. But the ones listed above should be more than enough reason to be grateful and excited for this opportunity. Before you head over to Angk’jeay though, please remember what I’m about to tell you.
The life of a missionary is not one that’s spent accomplishing glorious things for God. I know you’re dreaming of one day seeing many unreached peoples coming to faith through your future ministry. Chris, I believe Jon Bloom is spot on when he says, “Our lives are not about pursuing our dreams. Many of our dreams are self-exalting pride fantasies and gratuitously selfish when we really examine them.”
Again, the life of a missionary is not one that’s spent accomplishing glorious things for God. It’s a life spent believing the glorious things that God has accomplished. These glorious things allow the missionary to accomplish the little things God has given the missionary to do.
So every day, be in awe of the holiness and love of your Father. Then, play on the playground with the kiddos. See the wonderful life of humble obedience that your Lord lived. Then, sweep the classroom floor. Adore the One who can open the scroll and make all things new. Then, pick up the toys, wash the dishes, wipe the table, and replace the water jug. Ponder the incredible reality that God’s Spirit dwells within you. Then, pick up the manure, shovel out the trash, move the logs, wash up, teach the lesson, put the tables back, stack the chairs, wipe the board, talk, laugh, and feed the cats. Chris, earnestly meditate on the glory of God among the nations. Then, spend more time playing lava monster with the kids, corral them to the living room, and calm them down for family worship.
As you head to Angk’jeay, fill your thoughts with the glorious things of God so that you can do the little things of God. That’s the life of a missionary.
Yourself,
Chris Tak