With the holiday over, school was back in session this week. It’s for slum kids though, so if they can’t afford school, they can come here.
Our day started at 7:30 when we started packing away our things (because some of our team sleep is the same room for class) and start setting up for class. Pre-school starts at 9 am when a bunch of cute littles come in with their little backpacks.
First, we play for about 45 minutes. Next, we help wash their hands one by one as the others go in two’s to the front of the class and say the ABC’s, the numbers, the Khmer alphabet, and numbers in Khmer (which is very precious). Then the team and I lead a couple of fun songs for the kiddos. Next, we help teach. There are two university girls who help our hosts by teaching the pre-school. There are four stations: One where they learn Khmer (tracing the letters, etc.), one where they learn the English alphabet (also tracing letters, practicing words, etc.), one where they practice numbers, and one where they practice colors.
There are many personalities in this group. There is sweet Sophe who is little and beyond precious–she is one of our favorites. Then there is Mayhem which is not his actual name, but it is what is sounds like and he is a little active tornado. Then there is Chan–another very active boy who can’t sit still. However, besides their occasional hitting, pouting, wiggliness–they are extremely precious boys who just want to be loved.
Pre-school ends at 11. We eat lunch and then have a four hour break which we normally use for blogging, napping, relaxing, and lesson planning. Then at 3 we start setting up for the next three classes. At 4, we teach English ages 8-13, then at 5 a class with ages 13-15, and then at 6 the oldest 15-18. During this time there is also typing. This week we have taught about prepositions to one age group, when to use is and are to another group, plurals to another, etc. Then at 7, we eat dinner. After that we have team time and normally follow it up with having my teammate Saraya read “Into the Air” to us.
While the rest of the team and Boeurn (our host) teach music class on Saturday, I normally go spend time with our other host Moo (his wife) and their son Manna (who is about 2 1/2). Manna is a sweet and rambunctious boy. He is often watching videos about dinosaurs. Moo is strong woman who chases after Manna daily. She does a lot in helping her husband with the ministry they run. She also is a FANTASTIC cook and she takes great care of us by bringing us up ice cream or cold drinks on especially hot days. Moo is definitely like an older sister, too.
So what does the rest of the month look like?
Well, this ministry is coming to an end Tuesday, sadly. Our whole squad will be taking a 6 hour bus ride to Siem Reap for the “Awakening” which is a two-day conference for the local Christians. Our squad and a couple others are there to help assist in it.
After that, we have debrief–a time for us to reflect on the past couple months, spend time with our squad, etc. But we also have some big CHANGES going on. Our squad leaders (alumni racers who have traveled with us and mentored us) are leaving in Thailand so they are mentoring the raise up squad leaders from our squad. We also have TEAM changes. So I will no longer be on team Rhemas.
This makes me excited and nervous. Being on a new team is always scary, but I’m also excited to spend time and to do life and ministry with others from my squad because we do have a great squad. I’m also sad though. Team Rhemas has been a great team. We have had a lot of laughs and have walked through some hard times.
Now I will soon be entering into the next third of my Race. 🙂 Crazy.
