Baye Parrish is 18 years old, originally from Cookeville, TN where she attends Washington Avenue Baptist Church. She is currently a part of Potter’s Field Ministries IGNITE Mission Training Program in IGNITE Class 15 in her fifth month of field time serving in Cambodia! She wants to express her immense gratitude and thankfulness to the sponsors of PFM for their generosity and prayers that are impacting the lives of so many in Cambodia!
Dear Sponsors,
I am currently a part of Potter’s Field Ministries IGNITE Mission Training Program. Potter’s Field Ministries has seven different Potter’s Field Kids locations all over the world. My IGNITE Class began in July 2018, and now my class and I are serving in the field time portion. I have been serving in the Cambodia location for the last five months, with one more month left! In April, my class will be returning from different field locations and coming to Montana for re-entry.
IGNITE Class 15
The revival that is taking place here in Cambodia consistently leaves me speechless. PFM partners with a local church here in Cambodia called New Life Fellowship. My team and I teach at the school associated with the church on Monday and Tuesday, and I have been blessed to teach 1st-3rd and 5th-6th grade. Not only has it been a privilege to teach but also humbling. I just graduated high school last spring, so going from a student perspective to a teacher’s has been a growing experience for me. The Lord has had to teach me what it means to be a teacher.
Then, usually, the rest of the week is spent traveling to different PFK locations throughout the country. I love teaching Kids Clubs! So far, my favorite skit and lesson has been the parable of the lost sheep from Luke 15. The parable of the lost sheep expresses God’s love for us in a simple way that all the children can understand; if they call out to Him, He hears them and cares for them. We have also been able to see just how much they want to learn. Not only English or math but about Jesus. Especially with the older kids. One of the prayer children here named Pros Reach is an older kid in the program. I saw in him a genuine passion for the Lord as he consistently took care of other children and desired to grow in his relationship with God. It has been a blessing to witness desire in the hearts of children ignite like a match and continue to grow brighter.
A verse that consistently reminds me of what this season has been is 1 Corinthians 2:9, “But, as it is written, ‘What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him.” He has exceedingly and abundantly done more in this season than I could have ever imagined. A specific moment that reminds me of this verse happened in Oloch, a PFK location, where a little girl lives who is maybe six years old. Usually, when you meet kids, they are a bit shy at first, but not her. She was attached to my side. She wanted to be held, wanted all the hugs and kisses I could give, and simply wanted to be loved. She loved to play, and she was still by my side until the sunset. She looked up as the sun was going down and started telling me all the colors of the sunset and how pretty it was. My eyes welled up with tears because I realized: here I was in Cambodia with a little girl on my hip whom love is abounding from to all people. I saw Jesus in her. She loved me so much, and I had done nothing to deserve it. She showered me with affection when I didn’t even know her name yet. Jesus showed me, even in the smallest glimpse, just how infinite and affectionate His love is for me.
Since training in Montana, from July to September of 2018, until now writing this in February, on the field, I am able to see how faithful God is and the grace He has given me abundantly. I got saved in the summer of 2017, but I still held on to so much shame and attempted to prove that I had it all together not only to people but to God. During training, the Lord set me free from the bondage of shame and of feeling like it was my works that created a better relationship with Him. What reminded me of this was a few weeks ago, I read Romans 11:6, “But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works: otherwise grace would not be grace.” By His grace, He brought me to IGNITE and then to Cambodia. What the Lord has done in my life here in Cambodia has changed me forever.
I wish saying thank you did justice to how grateful I am for you, sponsors. By the grace of God, you said “yes” to sponsoring this ministry that has allowed me to know more of who He is and know these children you are praying for. They are able to have a fresh meal, education, and most importantly they are learning about the One True God. To the best of my ability, I want to say a sincere thank you. Truly, your help does not go unnoticed.
’Til the Whole World Hears!
With love,
Baye Parrish
