Hanging out with Cambodian Celebs..

That's right, we've been rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous of Cambodia's pop scene. Ok, maybe I exaggerated a little. We've been hanging out with one Cambodian Celeb. For anonymity we'll call him Peanut because he reminds me of a peanut.

On Saturday night (10th Jan) a Toyota Camry pulled up in the courtyard of CMS. Alvin and I have a perfect view from our place to see who comes and goes, we thought it was just some regular Khmer's wanting to see the Homestay.

Saturday night is usually prayer meeting night for the youth, so I went down to join at the normal time and found that there were only 4 youth out of the 20 or so who usually go. We found the of them in the homestay, hiding behind various pillars and pot plants, giggling away, staring at Peanut eating. Once he'd finished eating he was nice enough to talk to the youth, and then Alvin helped them to take some pictures with him. Afterwards they all went to touch his car and then join the prayer meeting - I have never seen them sing so loudly and so joyfully in the 4 months I have been here, they were all so excited. I guess for these guys, seeing Peanut is the equivalent of us seeing Robbie Williams or something like that.

Anyhow, Alvin didn't end up joining the prayer meeting that evening. He and Peanut somehow got chatting. Peanut was in Baray to host a concert featuring Cambodia's hottest new star, this was going to take place on Monday night in Tuol Dam Nak village 7Km north of us. One topic led to another and Peanut ended up spilling out his life story to Alvin. He started to become famous around 10 years ago, whilst he was a high school English teacher in Phnom Penh. He made it big in Cambodia, everyone loved him and his songs. It was all good at first being famous, but then it led to heavy drinking, gambling, drugs, casual sex, bankruptcy and then a breakdown. However, he has a friend, his Arts Director, who is a Christian. He told Alvin how his friend brought him to church and he likes how Christians accept him for who he is, that they treat him like a normal person and not like a god. So Alvin invited Peanut to come to church the next morning. He accepted, but he wouldn't be able to come to the adult service as it was too early, he'd come for the youth service at 9:30 instead. We of course didn't tell the youth this, there would be chaos otherwise.

So Sunday morning, everything's as normal, the youth are hanging around waiting for service to start and then the Toyota Camry pulls up. All the youth and the aunties from the adult service just stopped what they were doing and stood there staring and giggling for a good 20 minutes. Alvin and I however were having a conversation with Peanut about what Christians believe, and ended up asking him whether he had or would like to accept Jesus as his Saviour. His reply was that he thought Christianity is a very loving religion, but that he thinks it's not healthy to get too into something - I guess that's a no then.

He only ended up staying for the worship and the Bible reading in the end as he had to prepare for the concert. But he shared with the youth before he left how their singing had really touched him and that he could see that they loved God very much. After he had left Pastor Kea gave the youth an on the spot sermon about being ready, you never know who is going to come to your church service - be it Peanut or even Jesus coming back himself, so be ready...and please keep the church clean and tidy from now on!!

Later on that day, Alvin was able to spend a little more time with Peanut. He shared a little more about how after he had his breakdown all the people around him abandoned him. His long-term girlfriend left him and took everything with her, his so-called friends now didn't want to be associated with him. He shared how his Christian friend cared for him and took him fishing just to get away from it. He can see that Christians love each other very much, and he thinks it's cool that they even accept people like him and show him love. But now he's back on his feet, promoting himself and new stars, his fans are returning and he's earning back some of the money he lost, he's in a good place. It is so sad for Alvin and I to see the lies that have been planted in his mind, this thought that "I'm alright, I'm doing fine and I don't need God."

Peanut and Alvin exchanged phone numbers before he left, so we hope to see him in Phnom Penh before we leave Cambodia - assuming he's not busy with celebrity stuff. We pray that God would continue to work in Peanut's life, that he would come to realise one day that he too needs a Saviour and we hope that you would pray for him as well.

Thanks for reading guys! Sorry it's a bit long winded.