What if I told you your kids, siblings, or your own college education could be covered for less than $45 a month per year? With rising college costs in the states, a chance like that would be somewhat crazy to not do.
$45 can be used for 10 Starbucks drinks, 1-5 dine-out meals, a cute pair of shoes, clothing that will only add to the overstocked closet collection, and many other miscellaneous things. Yes, $45 can be a lot as well when living on a strict budget, I get that too. But man, college for only $45 a month (for all 12 months) for four years?? That’s a full college education for $1,800.
Now, imagine that there is literally no way for you or your parents to pay for that. There are no jobs that offer enough pay for you to have anything more than to make ends (barely) meet. Because of that, more likely than not your job choices can be limited to working at rice fields, in a jean factory, or taking over a family shop; none of which actually produce much of an income. If you need a lot more money, you may even choose to go into a bigger city to sell yourself to visiting tourist or local men to earn more than what you would at the jobs back home.
I don’t know about you, but that life does not sound appetizing to me. Unfortunately, that is the life of a lot of people in Cambodia. In December, I had the chance to teach English and Bible Studies in a village called Kampong Speu. The village was fairly remote and anywhere from 1.5 hours to 4 hours away from Penhom Penh (depending on traffic). We taught English because the villagers know that if you can speak, read, and write English: your future automatically has a chance of having more opportunities. Each of my teammates and I had a Khamer (pronounced cuh-ma-ee) teacher/translator to help in the classes. The ages of the teachers ranged from 13 to 21 and the kids ages ranged from 3-28. English classes were completely free and available 6 times a day.
The teachers we worked with were bright young men and women who love the Lord with all their heart, soul, and strength. They each have hopes and dreams of a greater future, but even most of them don’t know how that’s going to happen if they can’t afford the college education they need in order to receive what’s needed for that future.
When I was praying on what I can do for this village, I felt God was leading me to start a scholarship fund for this village. I want these kids to be able to have a chance to live their dreams and not feel as though they are trapped in a cycle that can’t be broken. I want to be a vessel God uses to bring His provision to Kampong Speu.
Right now I’m in the process of praying through what the qualifications of this scholarship will be as well as the name for the fund. I want to be able to help sponsor as many villagers as possible to help them get to school. Because the $450 a year only covers the actual schooling, I also am currently doing research on lodging and food. Fortunately I’m coming up with great, affordable results and will have numbers figured out soon.
What I’m asking you to do is pray. Pray that God’s provision overflows into this village. Pray that all the legal stuff that needs to happen happens. Pray that these kids continue to put their trust, hopes, dreams, and future into God’s graceful hands. Lastly, I’d like you to pray to partner with me in this.
A couple blogs ago, I posted that I am applying to school to go for a ministry degree. I still feel as though that is something God wants me to do, but I also feel like God is calling me to fully trust Him with the provision of funds for both things. If God says through the acceptance or rejection letter from the school that I should go back to work, I will definitely be putting money towards the fund. In either circumstance: God has asked me to open this up to His people to help. Whether it be by becoming a designated prayer warrior, a monthly donation, a one-time gift, referrals to different people, or help on setting up the actual fund, or anything else the Holy Spirit may stir in you to do any help is greatly appreciated.
I will be posting pictures soon of some of the villagers and of the village that I was able to call home for the month and pray you will consider joining me on this.
Let’s get Cambodia to college!!!
